Thinking about a tomahawk, any good suggestions

As do I, I figure why carry 4 different tools if I can slightly modify one tool that's already a good piece of gear on its own, and make it cover what the 4 separate tools do.
 
http://www.himalayan-imports.com/one-time-knives.html

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So I think I, going to go with the cold steel pipe hawk. I like the trail hawk but the blade is kind of small, I really would like the trail hawk design with a slightly larger blade. The rifelmans hawk was also a choice as that's the biggest blade of the 3 but it's not much bigger then the pipe hawk but it weighs a good amount more. So once I get the pipe hawk and try it out for a while I'm gona see what I like and don't like then have a custom one made for me. Before I do that I want to see what works and what I'd like to change. That's what I did with the custom knife I just had Bryan breeden make, I tried stuff out until I knew what I wanted and had him make me a custom tracker type knife.
Does anyone know a good custom hawk maker for once I'm ready?
 
Ragweed Forge Belt Axe. For not much more $ than a Cold Steel, and much better quality, imo. Plus, they're made in the States (not by a company posing to be an American Company, if that matters to you). Hammer poll, and the head is removable. And Ragnar is just a solid guy to deal with:

ragweedbeltaxe.jpg
 
I have a trail hawk and I had ordered a pipe hawk. The Trail hawk has a bit that curves to one side ever so slightly, not super noticeable so I didn't see it until after I started working on it. The bit on the pipe hawk was canted a bit in relation to the eye so I sent it back, the replacement was the same way so I requested a refund and haven't really bothered with CS hawks since. The CS hawks are good for the money if you can get a straight one but they're not G2G right out of the box, think of them more as a kit that requires a bit of fitting.

Personally, I've been on the hunt for a forged hawk that's not too much money but I haven't pulled the trigger on one yet.
 
I have a trail hawk and I had ordered a pipe hawk. The Trail hawk has a bit that curves to one side ever so slightly, not super noticeable so I didn't see it until after I started working on it. The bit on the pipe hawk was canted a bit in relation to the eye so I sent it back, the replacement was the same way so I requested a refund and haven't really bothered with CS hawks since. The CS hawks are good for the money if you can get a straight one but they're not G2G right out of the box, think of them more as a kit that requires a bit of fitting.

Personally, I've been on the hunt for a forged hawk that's not too much money but I haven't pulled the trigger on one yet.
 
Killinumsoftly said:
So I think I, going to go with the cold steel pipe hawk. I like the trail hawk but the blade is kind of small, I really would like the trail hawk design with a slightly larger blade.
Does anyone know a good custom hawk maker for once I'm ready?
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I think you made a good choice, I have several of these and the pipe hawk is my favourite. Not a lot heavier than the trail hawk, (compared with how heavy the rifleman is at least) but you do indeed get more edge. Also, it's got a more traditional look, which is what got me into tomahawks in the first place.

You will have a lot of fun modding it if you go that route. One thing, you will probably need to do some work to the edge, thinning it and evening it up a bit, but you can make it just the way you want it. And you will most certainly need to do some work to get a good eye to haft fit. Throw away the set screw, clean up any burrs in the eye, and rasp away some wood on the haft until you get a snug fit. Resist the urge to chop off the excess wood above the eye, it will continue to gradually slide up as you use it and it gets a firmer seat, especially if you are in a drier climate.

As to your second question, there are several great makers out there, but they vary in wait times, especially for custom work. I would spend some time in the axe and tomahawk section, a lot of them have ordered custom hawks and will help you a lot with any info and advice. There's a lot of great info there and you would really be missing out if you don't at least browse around and do some thread searches.
 
Smithhammer said:
Ragweed Forge Belt Axe. For not much more $ than a Cold Steel, and much better quality, imo. Plus, they're made in the States (not by a company posing to be an American Company, if that matters to you). Hammer poll, and the head is removable. And Ragnar is just a solid guy to deal with:

ragweedbeltaxe.jpg
Click to expand...

Whats the turn around time for this kind of hawk, does it take long before you get your hawk? Does he make them all the same, or can you decide the shape and size and he works with you?
 
I really like the look of that ragweed forge belt axe. Smithammer, could you take a picture of the top of the axe, I'd like to see its profile better.
 
I have several hawks, I'm a believer,

I have two TrailHawks, one plain and one in a Vector iteration. I think the CS TH is a good place to start. If you decide it's not for you, even if you lose money on the resale, your're only out about $20.00. I went with the Trail Hawk because it is light. And also I was swayed by the thread on what can be done to them.

My next one will come from 2Hawks or Lisa West. Both made here in the USA, both quality Kit. I totally agree with the hammer set-up. Tent pegs, nails, breaking rocks, it's amazing what you have to pound in the woods.

I convexed my Vec with a ladies nail emory board, it now cuts and chops much better than stock. I think most people that are disappointed in The Trail Hawk try to use them with a stock edge. It pretty much stinks.

The hawk is much more versatile than most people give it credit for. Handle on=hawk/hammer, handle off=knife, handle lashed=draw shave.

I think you are totally on track in your thinking, start cheap, test the waters. Then move on from there. You may find you don't have to. A proper edge geometry on a trail, rifleman or pipe makes them come alive.

I carry mine all the time on day hikes and everything else. An added benefit is most folks view them as a hatchet not a weapon like a knife. But truthfully it is one of the fiercest close quarter fighting weapons ever devised. That being said in 48 years of time in the woods, I have found very little need for the weapon side of things. The closest I have come to a bad encounter with wildlife was a moose with a calf in northern Maine, not sure much would have helped there. However if me or my dog were to be attacked by a rabid skunk or other critter with bad judgement, I'd rather have a hawk than a knife or an axe. Light, quick and lethal.

I have been hiking alone or with a dog in the woods since I was five years old. My dad gave me a carpenters hatchet and a knife at that age, he taught me how to use them safely, and sent me on my way, much to my mothers chagrin. I still remember my mother's question, "What are you going to do when he cuts his finger off?" and my dads answer, "Well he'll never cut that one off again". He'd probably be up on child abuse charges today, but I still have all my fingers. And I wouldn't trade those years for anything.

The carpenters hatchet was close to a Hawk in weight and appearance even the hammer part, I liked hawks before I even knew what they were!

Hope this helps!


 
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Not the greatest pic, but it gives you some idea:

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As you can see, they are a cast head. But I have yet to encounter any issues/shortcomings as a result. For $45, I think they're a worthy step up from the CS "kit" offerings, but certainly not in the same league with $100+ custom jobs. It's a good, no frills in-between that gets the job done.
 
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Smithhammer said:
Ragweed Forge Belt Axe. For not much more $ than a Cold Steel, and much better quality, imo. Plus, they're made in the States (not by a company posing to be an American Company, if that matters to you). Hammer poll, and the head is removable. And Ragnar is just a solid guy to deal with:

ragweedbeltaxe.jpg
Click to expand...

Ragwood Forge is where it's at! And he provides world class customer service. Ordered a hawk from him on Friday and received it the next Monday . . . not bad for New York to Tennessee. :thumbup:
 
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