Tactical Tomahawk Question

Jim Rehrer

Jim Rehrer

Joined
Jan 11, 2006
Messages
686
I have a guy that I work with asking about making him a tactical tomahawk for a friend of his in the service. Now im a little hazy on what kinda steel to use. He said he wants it for heavy use, for instance he mentioned breaking out windshields and hacking through a car door. I know this sounds a little over the top but if hes willing to pay ill humor him. Any suggestions or thoughts are more then welcome.
Thanks
 
S7 o 3V off the top but they can get pricey.... or a coated carbon steal or 5160 coated maybe. The first two would be my choice.
 
If the coating is for rust protection then 3V will suffer from the same issues. I think 5160 would do just fine, I also think A2 would do just fine or any of the other steels mentioned.
 
i would say 3v as well, but L6 would be nice to. now i wonder who has large chunks of both of them :rolleyes: :eek: :D :foot:

man i love how you can convay how you feal with smilies.
 
Mark Williams said:
1050 and barbecue spray paint.
Click to expand...

I was looking online a little bit ago at other hawks and see that alot are made from 1060...might have to make one up and try it out and see how it performs...maybe im heading for the high tech steels too fast.
 
I would go with a one piece hawk (full tang) like the military tactical hawks. Add tough scales of canvas micarta, Corby bolts, and it will hold up to anything. Have David at Greatlakes cut your profile from 1/2 or 3/8 sheet and grind or mill the tang down to take the scales ( semi -integral). It should be able to take on any door made in Detroit.
Stacy
 
i made a couple of short heavy machetes from S7 and so far the one i have been testing has held up really well. i had paul bos do the heat treat to 57 RcH (about as hard as it gets i understand)...

the edge holding has been good chopping on hardwood, and at the hardness and thickness (12" blade, 1/8" thick, 1.75" wide) it has very little (basically no) flex. i'm going to destruction test it in about a month and a half...i'll post a review of how it does somewhere around here.

but i notice that all of coldsteel's hawks, hatchets and shovels are made from 1050 steel, and they all seem to have good reviews. maybe a simple medium-high carbon could be the way to go.

i second the integral idea...if you are bashing in car doors and smashing windows, you are probably not going to want to worry about taking care of wood. another option might be to have vector here on the forums put one of his famous handles on it...
 
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