Tightening tomahawk head on handle.

[Tallbald]

New here. Thanks for allowing me to join. At age 60, I have bought my first hawks. All Cold Steel as they are in my budget. They please me and I like tinkering so I don't mind fitting and finishing. Have the Rifleman, Frontier, and waiting for a Norse.
Searched several ways here but didn't find what I hoped to learn. I had to fit the handle better on my Rifleman. But that meant losing a small portion of handle protrusion from top of head. I read that with throwing of any hawk, the head can compress the wood fiber and become loose on the handle.
So what is a proper material to shim the handle thicker at the head contact area? Or does it reach the point you must toss the handle and start anew? How much handle is good to have above the top of the head to begin please?
I couldn't learn an answer with my searches here. Likely this has been asked, but I haven't found the thread(s).
Thank you as always. Don

 

[22MEANTXGUNS22]

I've run into a similar problem with a few CS hawks that I recently purchased myself. I too tried whittling excess wood where the top of the hawk and handle met, due to over compressing the head onto the handle as well (this seems to be the case with most if not all of them) but it seems that there was no real way properly repair the handle. With that being said, I can only suggest you take the same route I did and purchase a replacement handle on Knifecenter.com. They are relatively inexpensive and you also get the option of purchasing a 30 inch version of the handle as well if you want. Hopefully this helps...

 

[ScottB65]

It seems worse with the heavier heads ( I cut off the hammer portion of my Rifleman's hawk).

Still, the pair I have fit snug, but after sanding and a good wrap or two on the head end they are about 1/4" to 1/2" further up the handle. I know in time I'll run out of handle. I also have several spare handles, so now worries. I've also found they can get a little loose sitting in a low humidity/AC run house, but snug up when sitting outside for a bit.

Do what you can with the original handle and buy a few spares.