Thinking about a tomahawk, any good suggestions

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Killinumsoftly

Joined
Apr 14, 2013
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I always carry a hatchet, I have a couple but usually I take my fiskars as its nice and light and a good little hatchet, but I've been thinking about getting a tomahawk lately as I like the ability to take the head of for finer work and also being able to make a handle out of a thick branch in the wilderness. I know some hatchets you can replace the handle but a fiskars would be tough. Anyways I don't want to get into what is better a hatchet or tomahawk or anything like that. I'd just like to know what all the tomahawk users out there are using & if they have any suggestions. I like the design of the cold steel pipe hawk and also I believe it's the rifle or trail hawk. Either way, I'd like it to have a hammer type design on the back end and not really a spike, I don't want it for throwing or tactical stuff. It'll be mainly for camping and messing around in the woods maybe chopping threw some bone on larger game when I process it, just basic stuff nothing crazy. I don't need something that you can smash with a sledge hammer while it's in a vice or can chop threw steel pipe or cinder blocks, i won't be using it for anything like that at all so just a decent quality user will do, don't wana spend a fortune on it either.
Thanks in advance to everyyone for taking the time to read and respond, be safe out there everyone.
 
I know others will recommend the cold steel ones. But I've seen some that are American made for about the same price. I forget which site it was. Someone will likely post a link. But they're out there.
 
I didnt know if I should put it there or here because I want it for outdoor and bushcraft type stuff and I've seen others post about theirs here, maybe I'll check it out thanks
 
JK Knives, here on the forums, makes some hawks. I'm not sure they will meet your needs but you might check them out.
 
I think you're on the right track. My woods hawk is a CS Trail Hawk. A decent all around inexpensive woods hawk. My .02
 
Go with Cold Steel, I would suggest the Rifleman, or Norse hawk. Cold Steel Hawks are effective and inexpensive.
 
That what I was thinking, I have a cold steel machete and I've beat the crap out of it for years and it still is in perfect condition. I was thinking if their hawks are the same quality that I couldn't go wrong for the price, but I wanted to see what people on here said and maybe see about a custom one.
Does anyone out there have a custom, like from JK knives or anyone else? If so about how much do they go for?
 
So I was looking at my cold steel catalog and some online reviews. I think if I were to get a cold steel it's down to 3 that I like. The trail hawk, the pipe hawk, & the riflemans hawk.
I like the trail hawk but the blade is kind of small which does make it lighter, the riflemans has a big head which is also long and very heavy, and the pipe hawk seems to be kind of in the middle it has a decent sized blade but isn't to heavy and still has the fake pipe/hammer that I want. So right now I'm leaning more towards the pipe hawk, that could change once I think about it and research it a little more. I also could find a quality custom maker who will give me everything I want for a decent price. Which brings me to another great thing about the cold steel hawks, all the ones I want are under 50$ with a sheath and from what I've read a little touch up work on them makes them really nice. I will probably end up making my own handle just because I like to make wooden handles for my hatchets just how I like them and that way I can control the quality and do it how I want. I know a custom will run me a bit more cash wise but do you guys think it would be worth it? The CS hawks are drop forged 1055 carbon steel, I'm not sure what the custom guys are using but that could be a factor to make me go custom along with controlling exactly how I want it built which really wouldn't be to far off from those 3 I talked about. Basically a decent cutting edge with some sort of hammer on the opposite side. I'm trying to thing of any cool other stuff I could have a custom builder add but besides a few holes and shaft shaping notches for making arrows and maybe a divot for bowdrill which really is all stuff I can do and actually have a hatchet head I made with all that stuff, I'm not sure of any other stuff.
I'd like you guys to weigh in as the opinions of the guys here are important to me. Also if anyone has any cool custom stuff they have done to hawks or hatchets that I might add to a custom job please let me know, and any pictures would be greatly appreciated.
THANKS AGAIN GUYS
 
It was a toss up last night on ordering the eastwing or the sog tomahawk. I finally decided on the sog fasthawk for the price $29.99 on the large rainforest. It will only gave to put down tent stakes and cut small trees/limbs as I plan on carrying it backpacking and camping.
 
I had the CS TrailHawk...done a few of the simple MODs & it rode on my ATV for about 2yrs & only got used to throw a couple of times for fun...I traded it off. Like you, I kept seeing all these hawks & I just had to have one until I actually got one then I realized I had no need for one. I already had a nice Wetterlings wildlife hatchet & it done everything I needed the hawk to do only the Wetterling was better. Not trying to be negative on the Hawks, everyone is different & to each his own...this was just my personal experience with a hawk. Hope you find what you want !
 
WA Martin said:
JK Knives, here on the forums, makes some hawks. I'm not sure they will meet your needs but you might check them out.
Click to expand...

John makes some really cool hawks. I would certainly take a good look at them.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1056175-DBH-Pictures-and-impressions
http://www.jkhandmadeknives.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=13977997

DSC_3356.JPG

Not only are they great tools but John is also one of the greatest people you will ever know.
 
I'm looking for one that I can slide the head off so I can use it for some finer work. I'm going to do a few mods to the head so I can use it to make arrow shafts and a fe other things. So although that does look very nice I want one that the head slides off. Plus I enjoy doing a few little things to the wooden handles. I usually make my own axe and hatchet handles and may end up making my own for the tomahawk that I get. Just something to keep me busy when I get a spare few minutes and like to mess around when I don't have any other projects going on.
 
Killinumsoftly said:
I'm looking for one that I can slide the head off so I can use it for some finer work. I'm going to do a few mods to the head so I can use it to make arrow shafts and a fe other things. So although that does look very nice I want one that the head slides off. Plus I enjoy doing a few little things to the wooden handles. I usually make my own axe and hatchet handles and may end up making my own for the tomahawk that I get. Just something to keep me busy when I get a spare few minutes and like to mess around when I don't have any other projects going on.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a plan. :thumbup: I'll be watching to see how it works. You've gotten my attention. I love multi-purpose tools.
 
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