Thats about it, its more of the look, or style that makes it more favorible, I also like just tucking the hawk' in my belt and go, theirs just something about my wetterlings that doesnt sit right when I do that.
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Sources for Usable Tomahawk
- Thread starter Triquetra
- Start date
Thats about it, its more of the look, or style that makes it more favorible, I also like just tucking the hawk' in my belt and go, theirs just something about my wetterlings that doesnt sit right when I do that.
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- Jul 27, 2007
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ohhh i like,,, ok shoot me an email at ThomastaylorIII@hotmail.com , i like the look of your hawks vector.
Thats about it, its more of the look, or style that makes it more favorible, I also like just tucking the hawk' in my belt and go, theirs just something about my wetterlings that doesnt sit right when I do that.
You might consider buying (or even making) a tomahawk 'frog' for your belt. It's more comfortable to wear a 'hawk that way especially on a long hike through the woods or rough terrain.
That would be kinda neat, have to look into it furthur.
The metal ring type works ok but there's a tendancy to make a sound with every step when the 'hawk shifts in the ring and its head clinks against the metal ring. This is easily remedied by sewing some buckskin around the ring.
The other common type is like a leather tube for the tomahawk shaft to slid in hanging from the belt. They're silent and the 'hawk won't wobble around much like with the metal ring type... but they can be tricky for a rapid draw of the tomahawk.
Another way is to not use a frog at all... instead use a sash tied around your waist and slide the tomahawk in like you would a normal belt. This is a fun way to do it if you like to roam the woods like an 18th century coureur de bois.
One of my sashes:
The other common type is like a leather tube for the tomahawk shaft to slid in hanging from the belt. They're silent and the 'hawk won't wobble around much like with the metal ring type... but they can be tricky for a rapid draw of the tomahawk.
Another way is to not use a frog at all... instead use a sash tied around your waist and slide the tomahawk in like you would a normal belt. This is a fun way to do it if you like to roam the woods like an 18th century coureur de bois.
One of my sashes:
There's sites to buy them online, including some ebay stores. They're also often sold at powwows, black powder rendezvous, and knap-ins.
They're tacks. You just tap them in with a hammer.
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yessiree!
the length does a few things.
1) it allows more energy, of course, with less effort, due to the longer distance between the fulcrum point (your hand) and the head. - you no longer chop - you peck, just with wrist movement, to the same effect.
- feel free to hack away with both hands or full arm swings though ...just don't chop in the same place, that is axe technique ...a hawk will bite right up to the cheeks ...it is not a splitting tool like hatchets and axes are ...it cuts ...you just make V's... come to think of it, that's good technique with any chopper...;
high angle shop, low angle chop, done.
tree falls down.
i dig it.
2) it also allows you to use two hands, which can be advantageous in combat with a hawk, not so much for power, but for gross changes in strike direction.
3) the hand naturally goes to the point on the handle (IME) where the second third meets the last third of the handle, and you get a nice fulcrum effect from the extra length acting as "ballast" for lack of a better word.
4) (i hope this isn't spam - i'm just trying to demonstrate a point, brethren) in my handle design, i added a composite strike plate, ...which gives lateral stiffness to the hawk, while allowing the handle to still flex in the direction of the strike ...it also has a special slurry i developed in the edges of the strike plate, which allow the hawk-man to break bones and split scalps/cheeks/etc. in a match where the head has been cleaved away (unlikely with a strike plate) or is locked perhaps in a clutch, or you are in a tight space like a hallway and choose not to use other methods available to you (tomahawk fighting has a lot of possibilities, fellow-babies)
5) any indexing on a long handle is nice to have, not just with my handles ...the tacks on the marvelous wooden handles shown here (good work, brothers!) might've played to that need years back ...the strike plate on my handles does that too, when coupled with paracord wrap.
6) i like the long-length hawks when cutting along stream banks where the other side is just out of reach ...the long hawks are just enough ...to prop me as i zip through when scouting through the backcountry here in San Diego ...i didn't explain that too well but anyone who has tried to keep his feet dry in bouldery streams will immediately see what i mean ...hahaha...!
7) long handles (not just mine, kind moderators; any long handles ...(wink!)...) are nice as hammock poles, i like propping my hawk up in the back of a pitched tarp too, for head space when the back of the tarp is made flat with the earth, for wind and rain considersations, then i don't have to worry about pulling out my bag, which also suits that purpose....
8) the long handle also makes it nice when hammering nails and pegs, we have found ...the lighter, long head of the Trail Hawk coupled with an indexable handle makes it easy to nail with, amazingly enough ...i didn't expect that! ...and it sure saves on back pain at the end of the day! ...hahaha...!
have i confused every buddy enough with my opinions on long hawks...?!!!
....har...!
a little more discussion;
....now if you want to fell seqouias, get an axe, fellow-babies - they are better for that purpose - a long hawk shines because it is light and low energy, especially compared to its cousin the hatchet.
the strength of a well-designed hawk (in my mind) is that...;
1) you can carry it for a long time, which is great if you are roaming...
...the long handle distributes the load better when you are carrying it (i can't mention the web page where that is demonstrated yet because i don't have the proper membership currently, but i intend to get it - i completely understand, hope you cats do too ...hehehe...!)
2) the long handle and small cutting surface lets you make low-energy/high impact cuts ...with a proper handle design we have found that novices to any kind of chopper can keep the strikes centered on a 1/4 to 1/2 inch area of the edge at FULL SWING. - can you imagine that...? that's like a heat-seeking chisel...!!! ....har...!
3) a hammer poll does more than hammer ...and the trailhawk by Cold Steel adds inertia efficiently behind the chop.
mostly it's a lot of talk before you have handled a good one.
thanks for your patience, brothers.
it's the sabbath so i can't do "work" today ...but i need to find out where "appropriate membership" is to advertise i guess ...any buddy who can point the way would be a true brother!
moderators, if i have trespassed yet again, i beg that you give me a day or two's amnesty before erasing me again, so that i might acquire proper membership after the Sabbath is over with ...
....TIA.
vec
third_option@hotmail.com
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At the very top of the page is a link that says upgrade your forums experience, click on it and it will enlighten, I am interested to see your wares, as are others I am sure. Chris
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i will, brother, after i get proper membership here.
i'm all about trying to do the right thing to everyone i meet.
thanks for your intererst!
vec
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i really appreciate that, brother!
....remind me that you helped me out!
(wink!)
tomorrow.
vec
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Those at H&B Forge are great. I have two that I have been throwing for years. (and a short one I experimented with carrying hunting but I think it is too heavy.)
Pics here.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=482967
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Check locate upholstery supply stores.
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That's a poor technique, not an axe technique. Good axe technique in felling or bucking involves cutting a "V" in the wood -- about the same width as the diameter of the wood.
If the wood is soft enough. With hardwood this is very unlikely to be the case.
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good post!
right you are on the technique, without question.
as to the deep bite on hard wood ...it is still deeper than with wider blades, on shorter handles, if you do your part.
again, i was being too general ...what i meant to get across is that i see that technique used frequently, ...especially with axes, ...and that the geometry of axes might be more forgiving.
i love axes too; ...they just aren't hawks.
i aim to take a long hike up the Pacific Trail nearby, or maybe through the Bob Marshall Wilderness sometime soon ...and a hawk is a nicer thing to carry (for me) than one of my other old favorites, ...like an axe or a Fiskars Camp Hatchet, thought they are both great IMO.
why do people hurry so when chopping something up anyways...? ...testosterone overdose...?
maybe i am just getting old, fat, and lazy....
i am definitely lazy.
....
....vec