tactical hawk handle width question.

[jdm61]

I have noticed that some of the very well thought of tactical hawks seem to have ahdnles that are fairly narrow front to rear. Some seem to be drawn close to square when looked at from the butt end in proportion if not in shape. Any reason for that? I contrast these with say one of the Winkler hawks or hatchets and traditional wood handled hatchets, camps axes, hammers, etc. I guess the narrow ones may be looking to go for traditional tomahawk handle proportions, but is that the best profile? Ensuring minds want to know.

 

[chuxwan]

I will pass on anything with a square handle. If that registers well in your hand, good for you, but you probably have pretty weird hands. I think about a 3:5 thickness to width ratio is right for me. Ovoid is nice, slightly egg shaped pointing forward is good too, the rounder part of the egg fills your palm and the pointier end directs the blow.

 

[jdm61]

I was talking more about square in proportion. Now that raises another interesting question, I a "breaching" hawk, do you want the egg shaped handle or would a regular oval be better. I look at other tools where both ends of the head are used for hitting stuff like say a double bit axe or riggers hatchet and they have a handle is typically straight and oval.

I will pass on anything with a square handle. If that registers well in your hand, good for you, but you probably have pretty weird hands. I think about a 3:5 thickness to width ratio is right for me. Ovoid is nice, slightly egg shaped pointing forward is good too, the rounder part of the egg fills your palm and the pointier end directs the blow.

 

[idaho]

I believe it is just a styling choice, not to mention that many tactical hawks are simply a stylish product, not a tool
More elongated shape will offer better control, but rounded might be easier on the palm with prolonged work.

I would go with oval, but not very "radical"

 

[chuxwan]

I was talking more about square in proportion. Now that raises another interesting question, I a "breaching" hawk, do you want the egg shaped handle or would a regular oval be better. I look at other tools where both ends of the head are used for hitting stuff like say a double bit axe or riggers hatchet and they have a handle is typically straight and oval.

It really depends how often you're going to be using the back end, and for what. On a breaching hawk, I think I would want a pretty even oval. Even though the poll or spike would certainly be used less than the bit, when you do use it, you'll be swinging it hard and fast- not a good time to compromise on how it fits the hand. There are middle ground tomahawks also, such as the Omnivore Bladeworks 3B, which has a handle that is definitely geared for use in one direction, but the functions of the spike aren't so intense that you'd need as solid a purchase as you would when chopping (or apparently combat ;] ). That's like my GB Scandi, it's not a very comfortable axe to use backwards, but how often do I really use the poll? And when I do, it's more than good enough. There's also something to be said about the size of the tool. As head weight or handle length increase, the ergonomics will become increasingly important in controlling the tool.

 

[jdm61]

Maybe I am just a geezer, bt why it is when I grab handles of "double ended" tools like that, the most comfortable ones seem to be something that you might find on say a 16-24 ounce Stanley framing or ball peen hammer in the 14 to 16 inch range or one of the 16 inch House handles for say an old school Plumb riggers hatchet? They are actually shaped a little better IMO than the handles on my not so cheap Peddinghaus forging hammers. sure, the bigger ones could stand a little slimming down sometimes, but the shape and resulting ergos still the same, In contrast, the ergos of a traditional hawk handle seem more like a broomstick tapered the wrong way with a pointy end added sometimes and designed more for ease of installation and removal than for comfort.

 

[The cow]

Well, my winkler's handle is flat front/back and rounded on the sides, which has been pretty comfortable for me.
My RMJ ( is much the same style as the winkler
Both are very secure when swinging.

To contrast, my ATC LaGana is a oval (almost circular). Its never felt secure in my hand, even with ranger bands. Same goes for the knockoff wood handle LaGana I had a while back.

However, I'm sure a lot of it goes into personal preference. But I assume, like axes, a longer front/back than side/side offers a more secure grip with fewer ways to hold it and vice versa grips with rounded handles.

edit: the winkler is VERY narrow anterior/posterior and side/side. A-P is only little wider than my thumb, S-S is only about half my thumb. Its never felt unsecured in my hand.