S35VN for Fighting Hawk

EMCEE

EMCEE

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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May 13, 2018
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New to forum after years of lurking. Any thoughts on use of S35VN for small tactical tomahawk? I have a couple of fixed blades and folders in this steel but no idea how it performs with a tomahawk. Thank you.
 
i would think if its good for a chopper style blade, then using it in a hatchet/tomahawk would be alright.
Certainly not a steel metallurgy expert.
 
Duriensbane said:
i would think if its good for a chopper style blade, then using it in a hatchet/tomahawk would be alright.
Certainly not a steel metallurgy expert.
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Thank you for thoughts. I have the Spartan-Harsey Difensa in S35VN which will probably never see the same amount of impact as a tomahawk….thus the concern. The Difensa does great with all things that it’s designed for, though. I’m contemplating which tomahawk to buy with steel as a major factor for consideration.
 
It's fairly tough as far as high-alloy stainless steels go, but its advantages as a steel are not really well-aligned to the requirements of a tomahawk. That is to say, you could probably successfully make one from it, but it will not have a meaningful advantage in use over less expensive steels due to its context of use.
 
Agree with FTB.
You want a tough steel for a 'hawk, not merely a somewhat tough one relative to some steels.
Also, S35VN tends to be toughest at fairly high hardness, and is hard to make tougher. It has a local maximum at a fairly low tempering temperature, and I don't like it for knives tempered higher (temp) than that.

If I had to pick a stainless for a 'hawk it would be AEB-L.
But what a pain to make even if it could be had in the right dimensions (casting or forging stainless requires WAY more heat!)... And heat-treating a stainless block that size would be a pain, and then differential tempering possibly required, etc. vs. just heating the bit for a short time with a simple, tough, carbon steel and quenching. My head hurts thinking about it!
 
Now my head hurts too. Lol ! I appreciate the advise from both of you.
 
Furthermore if you hit something with it you shouldn't, it'd be a pain to sharpen the damage out on 61 RC S35VN without resorting to a grinder. A file would blunt quickly on the vanadium carbides and would struggle with the high hardness.
 
daizee said:
If I had to pick a stainless for a 'hawk it would be AEB-L.
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100%.

daizee said:
But what a pain to make even if it could be had in the right dimensions (casting or forging stainless requires WAY more heat!)... And heat-treating a stainless block that size would be a pain, and then differential tempering possibly required, etc. vs. just heating the bit for a short time with a simple, tough, carbon steel and quenching. My head hurts thinking about it!
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Seems like it would be a simple matter to cut one out of a sheet of 1/4" and go all stock removal. Through hardened at 56-57 I imagine will produce a tough stainless hawk.
 
EMCEE said:
New to forum after years of lurking. Any thoughts on use of S35VN for small tactical tomahawk? I have a couple of fixed blades and folders in this steel but no idea how it performs with a tomahawk. Thank you.
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How small are we talking? What about the ones made by CRKT or American Tomahawk Company? Would any of them fit what you're looking for, outside of the steel?
 
I was considering the Half Face Blades Bleeding Heart. Chasing after a Toor Knives Tomahawk now (1/4” by 12””) in D2. Ultimately, I want a Winkler Combat Axe.
 
S35VN would likely be fine for "fighting" (or looking pretty) if that's the actual intended use. But if you're going to chop stuff with it there a lot of superior options. Although if the HT is good, it probably won't ever matter. Especially of you use it to only when you get into tomahawk fights 😉
 
I dig the humor. Until the Zombie Apocalypse or WW3 hits, I’ll use it for hiking, camping, and having a menacing appearance at my next poker party. I like to throw axes and hatchets but the G10 handle scales probably won’t hold up.
 
So if the goal is chopping wood with a tactical tomahawk, the edge thickness/geometry and heat treat will be your biggest factors IMO, followed by ease of sharpening. Most of the tactical stuff has thick edges because the intended market is smashing metal stuff and having fun, not knocking that either, it's a blast.
 
Same here, but Suretouch would absorb the shock better than anything but straight rubber, being more comfortable for the user.
 
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