- Joined
- Oct 7, 2011
- Messages
- 68
SBG Handforged Hawk by Butch Silver & Avery Pierce
Marc Kaden Ridgeway
16 November 2012
Atlanta , GA
Not long ago the SBG staff was kicking around ideas for contests and projects on SBG . Knowing that moderator Avery was an avid axe thrower, and ax forging hobbyist, I half-jokingly suggested a tomahawk project, not realizing that near Avery lived some of the best Hawksmiths in the US. Avery contacted one of them , Butch Silver , who agreed to work on the project with us... and here we are.
Everyone will please have to excuse the quality of this review , after 50 sword reviews , I realize all too well that I have no idea how to review an axe.
Historical Overview
A tomahawk is a hand -ax with a straight haft native to North America. The word tomahawk comes from one of several possible Algonquian root words , the most likely being the Powhatan tamahaac.
Originally tomahawks were sticks with bladed or spikes rock or bone on the end, or even a wooden knob. These were used by Native Americans and clubs, or thrown weapons .
With the advent of European settlers came metal bladed tomahawks , which were popular items for trade with Native American tribes.
Tomahawks may be defined as having a spike poll , a hammer poll , a rounded poll , or a specific Early American trade variety , a pipe poll.
Specifications
Head Material : 1080 ?
Haft Material : American Hickory
Head Weight : 1 lb. .03 ounces
Haft Weight : 7.4 oz
Haft Length : 18.75 in
Head Length : 9 in
Spike Length : 3 in
Cutting Edge : 2 .75 in
POB : 2 inches below head
Arrival
There's not a whole lot of need to talk about the order process , we all know it is a SBG Special Project. Butch shipped the hawk to me by USPS Priority Mail, and it made it from the foothills of North Carolina to the foothills of Georgia in about 48 hours.
The hawk was well packed and protected with newspaper, plasctic wrap, and tubing over the spike.
The Hawk
Haft
The haft is 18.75 inches long , and crafted from American Hickory. It has been sanded and stained.
The haft has an oval shape at the head end, and shrply tapers in thickness and becomes round towards the handle end. It is canted on the bottom. A prominent ridge runs all the way down the front of the haft, aiding grip and making edge allignment intuitive.
Unlike a wood ax which attaches the head from the top utilizing a wedge , the tomahawk heads slips on from the bottom , the taper and shape eventually securing it snugly to the haft. A sharp tap on the ground with either end of the haft is sufficient to set it or dislodge it.
The haft is light , smooth and very comfortable in the hand.
The Head
The head of the Hawk is hand-forged from a 24 ounce ball-peen hammer. This most likely makes it 1080 steel. After rough forging , the head is further refined with hammer work and hand grinding.
The result is a flowing lines and a sleek , elegant look.
The head has been darkened , and the letters SBG (Sword Buyer's Guide ) and the Hawk number , 001 have been etched onto it. The bright , sharp steel of the bevel gleams wickedly in contrast to the dark steel cheeks.
The hawk head has been differentially hardened , or edge-quenched . This leaves the body of the head tough and ductile , while allowing the edge to be harder for a good sharp edge and edge retention. This creates a "temper line" which is very visible.
The bevel itself is wickedly sharp and robust enough to handle the kind of use you'd expect a tool/weapon like this to be employed for.
The curved cutting edge is about 2 .75 inches, ands quite sharp. The spike is 3 inches long, and slightly down-curved. It is actually more claw shaped , making useful as a tool for prying yet still very able to punch right into wood ( or whatever). The underside of the Spike bears Butches makers mark, a stamp reading " R. Silver". The transition from the back poll to the spikd is "rough hewn" and looks rugged .
Handling and Use
I am not an experienced ax-thrower like Avery , nor have I ever been trained in any hand-ax fighting techniques. I have, however , chopped a lot of wood.
The tomahawk is balanced about 2 inches down the haft from the head , and has plenty of authority in hand without being clumsy or tiring.
In-hand it feels very powerful.
I do not have a target , and did not do any throwing, but both the bit and the spike bite easily into wood .
I wish I had more experience and could offer a better commentary.
[youtube]fcUIp0nBrv0[/youtube]
Goliath approves!!
Conclusion
The SBG Handforged Hawk is a fine example of the blacksmith's art. It is at the same time elegant and powerful ; useful and powerful, utilitarian and deadly.
Butch has taken a ball-peen hammer, and with his skills turned it into a work of art.
We would like to thank Butch Silver for agreeing to participate in the SBG Handforged Hawk Project, SBG moderator Avery Pierce for his hard work helping Butch forge the Hawks and all of you SBGers that participated .
On behalf of all the staff at SBG Forums I would like to wish you all " Happy Hawking".
Marc Kaden Ridgeway
16 November 2012
Atlanta , GA
Not long ago the SBG staff was kicking around ideas for contests and projects on SBG . Knowing that moderator Avery was an avid axe thrower, and ax forging hobbyist, I half-jokingly suggested a tomahawk project, not realizing that near Avery lived some of the best Hawksmiths in the US. Avery contacted one of them , Butch Silver , who agreed to work on the project with us... and here we are.
Everyone will please have to excuse the quality of this review , after 50 sword reviews , I realize all too well that I have no idea how to review an axe.
Historical Overview
A tomahawk is a hand -ax with a straight haft native to North America. The word tomahawk comes from one of several possible Algonquian root words , the most likely being the Powhatan tamahaac.
Originally tomahawks were sticks with bladed or spikes rock or bone on the end, or even a wooden knob. These were used by Native Americans and clubs, or thrown weapons .
With the advent of European settlers came metal bladed tomahawks , which were popular items for trade with Native American tribes.
Tomahawks may be defined as having a spike poll , a hammer poll , a rounded poll , or a specific Early American trade variety , a pipe poll.
Specifications
Head Material : 1080 ?
Haft Material : American Hickory
Head Weight : 1 lb. .03 ounces
Haft Weight : 7.4 oz
Haft Length : 18.75 in
Head Length : 9 in
Spike Length : 3 in
Cutting Edge : 2 .75 in
POB : 2 inches below head
Arrival
There's not a whole lot of need to talk about the order process , we all know it is a SBG Special Project. Butch shipped the hawk to me by USPS Priority Mail, and it made it from the foothills of North Carolina to the foothills of Georgia in about 48 hours.
The hawk was well packed and protected with newspaper, plasctic wrap, and tubing over the spike.
The Hawk
Haft
The haft is 18.75 inches long , and crafted from American Hickory. It has been sanded and stained.
The haft has an oval shape at the head end, and shrply tapers in thickness and becomes round towards the handle end. It is canted on the bottom. A prominent ridge runs all the way down the front of the haft, aiding grip and making edge allignment intuitive.
Unlike a wood ax which attaches the head from the top utilizing a wedge , the tomahawk heads slips on from the bottom , the taper and shape eventually securing it snugly to the haft. A sharp tap on the ground with either end of the haft is sufficient to set it or dislodge it.
The haft is light , smooth and very comfortable in the hand.
The Head
The head of the Hawk is hand-forged from a 24 ounce ball-peen hammer. This most likely makes it 1080 steel. After rough forging , the head is further refined with hammer work and hand grinding.
The result is a flowing lines and a sleek , elegant look.
The head has been darkened , and the letters SBG (Sword Buyer's Guide ) and the Hawk number , 001 have been etched onto it. The bright , sharp steel of the bevel gleams wickedly in contrast to the dark steel cheeks.
The hawk head has been differentially hardened , or edge-quenched . This leaves the body of the head tough and ductile , while allowing the edge to be harder for a good sharp edge and edge retention. This creates a "temper line" which is very visible.
The bevel itself is wickedly sharp and robust enough to handle the kind of use you'd expect a tool/weapon like this to be employed for.
The curved cutting edge is about 2 .75 inches, ands quite sharp. The spike is 3 inches long, and slightly down-curved. It is actually more claw shaped , making useful as a tool for prying yet still very able to punch right into wood ( or whatever). The underside of the Spike bears Butches makers mark, a stamp reading " R. Silver". The transition from the back poll to the spikd is "rough hewn" and looks rugged .
Handling and Use
I am not an experienced ax-thrower like Avery , nor have I ever been trained in any hand-ax fighting techniques. I have, however , chopped a lot of wood.
The tomahawk is balanced about 2 inches down the haft from the head , and has plenty of authority in hand without being clumsy or tiring.
In-hand it feels very powerful.
I do not have a target , and did not do any throwing, but both the bit and the spike bite easily into wood .
I wish I had more experience and could offer a better commentary.
[youtube]fcUIp0nBrv0[/youtube]
Goliath approves!!
Conclusion
The SBG Handforged Hawk is a fine example of the blacksmith's art. It is at the same time elegant and powerful ; useful and powerful, utilitarian and deadly.
Butch has taken a ball-peen hammer, and with his skills turned it into a work of art.
We would like to thank Butch Silver for agreeing to participate in the SBG Handforged Hawk Project, SBG moderator Avery Pierce for his hard work helping Butch forge the Hawks and all of you SBGers that participated .
On behalf of all the staff at SBG Forums I would like to wish you all " Happy Hawking".