Survival tomahawk?

W

wade

Joined
Sep 22, 2005
Messages
493
I would like to get some kind of a hawk for choppin and such chores. Any suggestions? So far I reall like this one, but not sure how practical it would be for outdoor use, it seems like its made more as a weapon, but I like the taticool stuff too.

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My experience with the ATC VTAC in the outdoors wasn't a real good one. In short it seemed a fine weapon, and probably great for destrying things on a battlefield, but for chopping firewood, building shelter, etc. It couldn't even come close to $20 Fiskars Hardware store hatchet.

My K-5 goes through wood like an angry beaver on Methamphetamines, and is pretty much indestructible, but man is there a weight penalty for that one!

My Son and I both have Fort Turner Tomahawks

http://www.fortturner.com/store/index.htm

(Camp tomahawk for myself, Trapper tomahawk for the boy)

They've both taken a beating and continue to work real well. good edge holding, edge geometry, etc. And Dana was fantastic to deal with. The only knife/ tool maker I've ever met that actually beat the ETA he'd given me. (he'd been pretty backlogged with lots of hawks going to Iraq and Afghanistan)

Only thing I somewhat regret, is that I'd like a Trapper Hawk for myself, and also the handles are very tapered. A quick fix with a leather wrap did the trick though.

And that's pretty well tapped out my thimble of knowledge and experience.....:D
 
I don't think a tomahawk has to be a high tech tool or weapon. I'm still using one that I bought 25 years ago at a rendezvous, I've used it for chopping kindling, clearing brush and throwing. Even won a prize.

I like primitive hawks, just because. I also have an original that I re-handled.

The blade on mine is made the old fashioned way, hand forged, soft steel with an imbedded hard steel edge. The eye is tear-dropped, it takes a tapered handle that will pop out. There is a good reason for that: If you're throwing and hit handle first, it will pop out rather than shatter the wooden handle. The handle is easily re-inserted into the blade for the next throw. Because of the taper, the head will not fly off the handle.

Mine cost $15, but that was a long time ago. Ragnar has good hawks; there is no perfect hawk just like there is no perfect knife; pick a style you like and try it; you'll probably end up owning more than one.
 
i also prefer primitive style tomahawks.... i would recommend checking out ragweed forge.... he has a few nice ones....:D
 
mtnfolk mike said:
i also prefer primitive style tomahawks.... i would recommend checking out ragweed forge.... he has a few nice ones....:D
Click to expand...

I personally like your standard axe over a tomahawk, but Ragnar at Ragweed forge does have some very good looking hawks. You can special order them in 6150 alloy steel for finer woodworking! Thought about buying one for a thrower. Ya know... in case I get attacked by Orges, or Trolls while I'm out:eek: ;) :D
 
I have a CS Trailhawk that's been great. I'm usually one to stay away from CS products but they did well by me with this hawk. I love it.
 
I would think anything with a hammer head on the one side would be perfect. I know CS has one. I think it's the hunters or maybe the riflemans hawk. I just use my fiskers camp hatchet. Works great.
 
I have a few hawks but I prefer a hatchet like the Wetterlings small hunter. Hawks are fun to throw.
 
The Cold Steel Rifleman's hawk is very sturdy and capable. I wouldn't want to be without mine in camp. Plus, you can get them for around $30. http://budk.com/product.asp?pn=CS90RH
It's pretty heavy, if you're a thrower you could knock stuff for a loop even if ya don't stick the blade :)
 
Something Else To note, Unless it specifically has a hammer on the back, many of these Hawks have relativley soft steel on the back(handle jucture), Especially the cheaper throwing models if you want it as a camp tool and not just a thrower this could put you at a disadvantade. Look for one designed to be a tool, not just a thrower. and watch out for the really cheap Cast metal ones.
 
All of my hatchets / tomahawks are full-tang jobs, just like all of my fixed blades.This was just a personal choice; I see nothing wrong with a wood hafted one, but FWIW, I am secure knowing that I wont have a handle failure in a critical situation.
Just my two cents.
 
I know I would go for something with a wooden handle, probably closer to a GB or wetterlings.
 
anyone ever tried to baton with one of those full tang spike hawks like the atc pictured above? i was curious if you could baton on the tang behind the spike and get good results.
 
I have a CS Rifleman's Hawk; it's my in-car hatchet, as the weight's less trouble there, and that way I have a hammer, too. That said, the CS Rifleman's Hawk is a very, very heavy tomahawk, and would not be my first choice for most applications.

One thing I like about the CS 'hawks is their thin blades, that make for easier cutting than some. (I've actually used them more than once for cooking--for example, to cut half-frozen blocks of meat that I haven't had time to defrost fully.) I convex the edges, to replace that very-obtuse edge they come with. I imagine they won't stick as well with a convex edge, but I'd rather be able to tug it out of wood easily than have it stick.

I'm curious: has anyone here ever broken a CS tomahawk head? Or seen it done?
 
This is my Plumb Rigster "Survival Hatchet" Project.

So far I have redone the blade according to alot of the input from the guys around here. Next up it gets paracorded and then retested.

All told the project has cost next to nothing.



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