Rogers' Rangers

[Alberta Ed]

Discovered Kenneth Roberts' wonderful Rabble in Arms and Northwest Passage recently. Does anyone know what sort of hatchets Roger's Rangers would have been armed with?

 

[d762nato]

I believe it was some type of Tomahawk with a blade and a type of spike from what I've read some on.

 

[Alberta Ed]

I believe it was some type of Tomahawk with a blade and a type of spike from what I've read some on.

Thanks. Apparently they were very effective.

 

[burninatorzw]

Here's a link of an excellent example:

https://www.furtradetomahawks.com/spike-tomahawks--3.html

Scroll to the bottom for the photographs of a tomahawk carried by the Kings Royal Regiment of New York. This specific example photographed on the website has design features frequently seen in spike tomahawks from this region.

I design and tested tomahawks based on these battle proven spike tomahawks--I won't call what I make historical because theyare unique--changed to enable modern, concealed everyday carry. Still, each tomahawk duplicates the historic spike tomahawk's combative capabilities. The double-flared chopping blade increases probability of sticking into an opponent in the throw, and also improves chopping blade extraction from flesh, fabric, and bone. Hard to describe, but maybe these links help explain it.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-xLTPqD10l/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-0CArnDp9Y/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The straight spike also increases probability of wounding an opponent in the throw. Any rear facing spike, whether straight or curved, can be used to quickly transition from one attack to another.

 

[Yankee Josh]

Discovered Kenneth Roberts' wonderful Rabble in Arms and Northwest Passage recently. Does anyone know what sort of hatchets Roger's Rangers would have been armed with?

One of my favorite books! And favorite authors. I live in Maine, about 2 hours from where Mr. Roberts did. Absolutely love his writing style.
I have a signed first edition of Northwest Passage. The inner snob in me is BEAMING!!
I'll post some pics later.
Rabble In Arms is also an amazing read. May I recommend The Lively Lady and Captain Caution next?
Good stuff man.

 

[John A. Larsen]

I make no claim to knowing exactly what tomahawk(s) were carried by Rodgers Rangers, but from my background would think a Rifleman's Tomahawk, with the blade and hammer poll would be a lot more effective and useful for a soldier at that time in the field. Actual combat conducted by the Rangers was very limited, but they spent a lot of time in the field moving to and from their objectives where they might be building shelters, repairing boats and all the things done in field conditions where a hammer poll would be far more useful than a spike. I think the Indians pictured liked the look of the spike tomahawks, how many are sold today as they look cool? Women in Indian society did most of the manual labor around their camps and villages, and doubt a spiked tomahawk would be of much use to them, where as Rodgers Rangers had to do all the manual labor by themselves. John

 

[burninatorzw]

John, I think of the context back then. Flintlock muskets had a misfire rate of 1 in 7 shots, and that this got even worse in bad weather. The source of that info was from the guy that runs https://www.papercartridges.com/, historic black powder firearms are his business. So I could see why soldiers of that era expected to use their blades in combatives.

It wouldn't surprise me if individuals carried simplier hatchets. Still, their First Nation allies seemed to favor spike tomahawks, and there's the link in my earlier post to an excellent example spike tomahawk from the King's Royal Regiment, which Col. Rogers kick started during the Revolutionary War.

A hammer poll hatchet is a fine tool, but the spike's not for show. The spike tomahawks of that era were way lighter than the heavy "tactical tomahawks" on the market today--nimble to whip it back onto an opponent if a chop failed to land. Think of it like a meat hook on a stick. Very capable in combatives. For field use, spikes a good for grubbing through the ground for gathering, steadying a canoe on a steep river bank, etc. The folks back then got it done.

Best regards, Zac

I make no claim to knowing exactly what tomahawk(s) were carried by Rodgers Rangers, but from my background would think a Rifleman's Tomahawk, with the blade and hammer poll would be a lot more effective and useful for a soldier at that time in the field. Actual combat conducted by the Rangers was very limited, but they spent a lot of time in the field moving to and from their objectives where they might be building shelters, repairing boats and all the things done in field conditions where a hammer poll would be far more useful than a spike. I think the Indians pictured liked the look of the spike tomahawks, how many are sold today as they look cool? Women in Indian society did most of the manual labor around their camps and villages, and doubt a spiked tomahawk would be of much use to them, where as Rodgers Rangers had to do all the manual labor by themselves. John