- Joined
- Aug 14, 2008
- Messages
- 25
I`ve had a few tomahawks over the years, some from Cold Steel, some custom. I've never been too interested in the Vietnam style hawks but I picked up SOGs interpritation of it a while back just for grins.
To date, my fav. hawk has been Cold Steels Norse Hawk. It is in my opinion the best of the Cold Steel line of tomahawks- I've owned or played with most of them. Once one reworks the edge it comes with (this is lacking on all of there hawks in my experience) it has been a chopping, hacking, digging, throwing machine! I even split a brand new cold steel handle on another hawk sticking out of a target with it! The Norse Hawk went through the handle and still stuck into the target! (that was not intentional BTW, but still cool!)
SOGs hawk may give my Norse hawk a run for its money though. While a little shorter than I'm used to, it hits like a truck both in hand and thrown. ( I sent it THROUGH one inch pine on a throw- I'm not a big guy!)
It clears brush well, though predictably, not as well as a machete, digs well, though predictably not as well as an E-tool, chops great in both green and dead wood and pounds both stakes and nails well, though predictably not as well as a hammer. It throws very well and hits its target with authority with either the back spike or the blade, flat on or up to about a seventy degree lead point first angle.
The edge holds up pretty well under all this abuse and comes back easily. So far, no chipping or folding either.
The (fiberglass?) handle worries me a little in so far as UV resistance and overall durability, but so far, so good. I will break it eventualy I'm sure, I always do, but it looks to be easily replaced as long as SOG offers replacements. I will point out here that this is the first such tool I have had that didn't have an ash or hickory handle. I do like the langets projecting down the haft into a protective metal sleeve. The langets provide a secondary function of protecting the haft but looking at the construction of the tool, I would guess the primary function of them is to disperse the point of stress on the haft. Good engineering SOG!
As a weapon I would hazard a guess that it would perform admirably. Light and fast, it moves quickly and recovers easily. The small (two and a half inch) edge backed by the weight of the weapon and the power of a swing would yeild vicious, deep wounds, though I prefer a curved blade for greater penetration. That is offset by the back spike however- I have no doubt that it would penetrate deeply into protective gear and into the flesh and bone behind it. In defense, the haft is protected by the aorementioned langets and sleeve about four inches down the haft.
As a thrower it is quite decent. Throws well, hits hard, sticks solidly. The grooves on the handle, while aiding in grip with in hand use, don't interfere with a release on the throw.
The only thing I don't realy like about this hawk is the sheath it comes with. Bulky, poor retaining system, not deployable quickly and smoothly and one undersized belt loop. I will undoubtably make a leather one that suits my needs at som point.
I have always said the German Shepard Dog is not the best at anything, but is second best at EVERYTHING. I would call this hawk a solid German Shepard. If you need to do a lot of hacking, get a machete. If you need to do a lot of chopping, get an axe, if you need to drive a lot of nails or stakes, get a hammer, if you need to split a cord of wood, get a neighbor kid, if you need to fight off bad guys, call air support.
If however you need one tool that can to a greater of lesser degree fill all of these shoes, you could do far worse than SOGs interpritation of the Vietnam Tomahawk. Awsome tool, good price. Once again, SOG does not disapoint!
Peace
John
To date, my fav. hawk has been Cold Steels Norse Hawk. It is in my opinion the best of the Cold Steel line of tomahawks- I've owned or played with most of them. Once one reworks the edge it comes with (this is lacking on all of there hawks in my experience) it has been a chopping, hacking, digging, throwing machine! I even split a brand new cold steel handle on another hawk sticking out of a target with it! The Norse Hawk went through the handle and still stuck into the target! (that was not intentional BTW, but still cool!)
SOGs hawk may give my Norse hawk a run for its money though. While a little shorter than I'm used to, it hits like a truck both in hand and thrown. ( I sent it THROUGH one inch pine on a throw- I'm not a big guy!)
It clears brush well, though predictably, not as well as a machete, digs well, though predictably not as well as an E-tool, chops great in both green and dead wood and pounds both stakes and nails well, though predictably not as well as a hammer. It throws very well and hits its target with authority with either the back spike or the blade, flat on or up to about a seventy degree lead point first angle.
The edge holds up pretty well under all this abuse and comes back easily. So far, no chipping or folding either.
The (fiberglass?) handle worries me a little in so far as UV resistance and overall durability, but so far, so good. I will break it eventualy I'm sure, I always do, but it looks to be easily replaced as long as SOG offers replacements. I will point out here that this is the first such tool I have had that didn't have an ash or hickory handle. I do like the langets projecting down the haft into a protective metal sleeve. The langets provide a secondary function of protecting the haft but looking at the construction of the tool, I would guess the primary function of them is to disperse the point of stress on the haft. Good engineering SOG!
As a weapon I would hazard a guess that it would perform admirably. Light and fast, it moves quickly and recovers easily. The small (two and a half inch) edge backed by the weight of the weapon and the power of a swing would yeild vicious, deep wounds, though I prefer a curved blade for greater penetration. That is offset by the back spike however- I have no doubt that it would penetrate deeply into protective gear and into the flesh and bone behind it. In defense, the haft is protected by the aorementioned langets and sleeve about four inches down the haft.
As a thrower it is quite decent. Throws well, hits hard, sticks solidly. The grooves on the handle, while aiding in grip with in hand use, don't interfere with a release on the throw.
The only thing I don't realy like about this hawk is the sheath it comes with. Bulky, poor retaining system, not deployable quickly and smoothly and one undersized belt loop. I will undoubtably make a leather one that suits my needs at som point.
I have always said the German Shepard Dog is not the best at anything, but is second best at EVERYTHING. I would call this hawk a solid German Shepard. If you need to do a lot of hacking, get a machete. If you need to do a lot of chopping, get an axe, if you need to drive a lot of nails or stakes, get a hammer, if you need to split a cord of wood, get a neighbor kid, if you need to fight off bad guys, call air support.
If however you need one tool that can to a greater of lesser degree fill all of these shoes, you could do far worse than SOGs interpritation of the Vietnam Tomahawk. Awsome tool, good price. Once again, SOG does not disapoint!
Peace
John
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