tactical, outdoor survival tomahawk

best bang for your $ is a matter of debate! please specify more clearly.
Do you want a traditional hawk?
Do yo want a modern tactical?
What are your requirements?
 
"tactical, outdoor survival tomahawk" was the header for his thread post...I don't think that means "traditional" hawk. Though, I may be reading that...tactical/survival thingy wrong. :D
 
Tactical and outdoor survival are two radically different concepts, you want two tomahawks, or better yet an entry tool and a small axe.

-Cliff
 
harpers ferry said:
best bang for your $ is a matter of debate! please specify more clearly.
Do you want a traditional hawk?
Do yo want a modern tactical?
What are your requirements?
Click to expand...

Sorry, should have said Best Bang for your Buck IMHO. I read tactical outdoor survival tomahawk as meaning something nearly industructible, decent steel and hardening, and not outrageously expensive. When I looked for that myself, the K5 hawks fit the bill, and I looked A LOT. :p :D
 
Cliff Stamp said:
Tactical and outdoor survival are two radically different concepts, you want two tomahawks, or better yet an entry tool and a small axe.

-Cliff
Click to expand...

As far as small axe goes, which would you recommend? GB? Which model if so?


P.S. my apologies for attempted hijacking if taken that way.
 
GB small forest for packing and general not dedicated axe trips, as in going to fell wood. It is small enough to handle one handed and use for precision work but still can benefit from two handed swings.

-Cliff
 
LSkylizard said:
"tactical, outdoor survival tomahawk" was the header for his thread post...I don't think that means "traditional" hawk. Though, I may be reading that...tactical/survival thingy wrong. :D
Click to expand...
well, I was , and am not trying to start a whizzing contest here. But a traditional hawk was the original tactical/survival/outdoor hawk. Just some food for thought. IMO there have been more people killed /kindling chopped by traditional hawks than the modern one piece K5's and their ilk have been or probably ever will be. I guess I'm not really sure what a survival/tactical/ survival hawk is?? I do believe that you can get one for alot less than a K5 though! But for an indestructible hawk it may be a good deal? The K5 does look like an indestructible hawk with a nice handle length.I believe that "tactical" hawks should be no less than @15"OAL for good leverage and no more than?? This is just my opinion and what I feel comfortable with. Bottom line is that if you stay away from the really cheap, bad sub-continent stuff you can find a use for it and make it work. However and again, as always, YMMV.
PS sorry for rambling
 
harpers ferry said:
But a traditional hawk was the original tactical/survival/outdoor hawk.
Click to expand...

The defination of tactical has changed, tactical tomahawks now cross over into entry tool uses due to the urban influence which moves the profiles away from cutting tools to more general purpose edges.

-Cliff
 
since the entry tool has been brought up has anyone *Clif* actually used a ranger entry hawk? It llokssweet and is in the same price range as the k5, I would love to see a side by side comparison. Hell I would love to just see a hands on review of the entry hawk that Justin makes.

The k5 looks good, ranger knives is the other place I would look.
 
There are piles of direct feedback on them and his knives in general on his forum on Knifeforums.

-Cliff
 
harpers ferry said:
...IMO there have been more people killed /kindling chopped by traditional hawks than the modern one piece K5's and their ilk have been or probably ever will be...
Click to expand...
What?:confused:
I'm guessing your saying more people have been killed and more wood chopped with traditional? Is that a correct interpretation of what you were saying?
 
LSkylizard said:
What?:confused:
I'm guessing your saying more people have been killed and more wood chopped with traditional? Is that a correct interpretation of what you were saying?
Click to expand...

In this I agree. But it is a matter of time span, not preferred usability. For hundreds of years, hawks were hafted with wood, because it was MUCH easier, and MUCH cheaper than trying to forge an all metal one. The time span for technology enabling efficient all metal hawks is miniscule in comparison. Also, the need for a hawk as a weapon for killing your enemy was greatly reduced as firearms technology improved. In the end, IMHO :D technology raises the overall usability. I like wood stocks on my firearms. I like the look, I like the feel, I like the resonance of wood stocks when you fire them, as opposed to synthetic. The firearms that I have for tactical deployment however, have synthetic stocks for a reason. I apply the same philosophy to my tactical hawks.
 
Cliff Stamp said:
GB small forest for packing and general not dedicated axe trips, as in going to fell wood. It is small enough to handle one handed and use for precision work but still can benefit from two handed swings.

-Cliff
Click to expand...


Great Thanks!
 
Hi, This is Jack Harrill from Moose Trax Forge. We forge custom tomahawks and axes for every purpose. We have several designs that are time tested and proven. We are also more than happy to discuss your specific needs and work to develop a solution that fits your particular situation. If we can be of service please let us know at jackmharrill@hotmail.com . Thanks, Jack
 
Hello everyone, I have a few thoughts on hawks in general and as I have made and used them for over 20 years I have a pretty good feel for what works in different situations.

First, you need to decide what you expect the tool to do. Most hawks are capable of doing a lot of different things, but it is up to us to try to find a hawk that fits the bill for our particular list. As additional information, I will use the tomahawk of the 1700's in this country. The designs were multi use. There were manual's that taught the british non regular troops to use the hawks to hook an opponents leg and pull it toward the user. This was a little tip learned from the indians. Additionally, spiked hawks were basically only popular with the Iroquois in the Great Lakes area. There was a good reason for this. Spikes tend to be difficult to extract from the recepients body. At the minimum, they had to be wrenched out. This is a problem in close combat as it is quite fluid and one had to keep moving to stay alive. Second, as far as recovered hawks go, there are far more axes that have either no or flat type polls. Another indian technique was to hit someone with the poll of the axe rather than the blade. This accomplished the same result without the danger of having to wrench out your tool. The second thing to consider in terms of a survival or general use hawk is that there are many more tasks that will be asked of it than killing things. Are you planning to carry a hammer behind your back in a horizontal case, or are you willing to use your hawk for this purpose. The same is true if you have to crack a bone or nuts or anything else. A flat place on an axe is simply a useful spot on the tool. So, you have to think about a lot of different situations to come up with the tool that will do the best job for you. Everything is a compromise in a multi use tool.
Now, with all that said, I really love spiked hawks. Who doesn't think that they are impressive looking pieces. If you decide that a spike is the way to go, get a small beef roast that you can afford to give up for supper. Wait till it is on sale. Take it out and hang it on a good piece of small rope. Get a 20 penny nail and jab it in. Now try to get it out with out using your off hand. That is similar to what happens when a spiked hawk with a long spike penetrates meat. In contrast, take the same nail and drive it in just one inch and try to retrieve it the same way. You will get the idea. Short broad spikes will do a lot of damage, but not tend to penetrate and get stuck like long slender spikes. A flat poll will crush things or break appendages effectively without the retrieval problem. In the end, the choice is up to you. Don't be afraid to test your thoughts and theories. Don't just take someone else's word for it. It is your life you might be gambling with.

I guess I had better quit as this is quite long, but if anyone wants to discuss this further, I have read historical records pretty thoroughly and have used hawks a great deal in a variety of situations. I have more thoughts but am always interested in other folks views and experience. Thanks for reading this message. Jack Harrill
 
Jack,

I agree with your comments on the spike on a hawk getting stuck in a human target. I know TwoHawks also felt that this was a problem, and he knew 'hawks as well as anyone. Add clothing and a moving opponent and the problem only becomes worse.

My issue with the spike hawks is more everyday..they are a lot harder to carry than a polled or round backed hawks. Poking you, catching on things, sticking out the back..etc. That spike is always getting in the way and it limits the utility of the hawk in a non-combat role, which is far more common.

Take Care,
Jeff
 
GB make a couple of replica tomahawks , I have a French trade type. It is light ,
sharp, looks right and is hand made too.
I took mine for a walk at the weekend , trimming brambles along a path I often wander along.
Paul.
 
Make One A American Tomahawk Co Vtac
And Have Some Fun With It ...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top