Tomahawk as weapon,spike or no spike?

i would prefer to have a hammer poll because you can hit a target and keep moving but ive never killed anything with my hawk so im just going on what makes sense to me
 
Yes it has been hashed out before. But, to answer your question, are you accident prone? If you are, then leave out the spike. If not, then the spike has good advantages in piercing hard items and kevlar vests. (ooops I wasn't supposed to mention that. Sorry LEO's...) The spike is a good striking point when throwing them for combat as well. Imagine all the force getting behind an edged spike and then hitting someone in the chest. i use the spike for more regular stuff though,and hit the side if I want to drive nails or stakes. It is your choice.
 
On a 'hawk, I prefer a hammer poll for the very reason mentioned by Calebklyne: for when you have to hit and keep going, and digging into the target would be a bad thing.
 
I think this discussion is an old one with many really good arguments on both sides. I've sort of changed my views on this. I personally am not a big fan of the back spike; However, when you look at it from a training perspective it is probably a good idea to learn how to use it and how it behaves in your hand. That said, if you are just getting started, begin with the hammer poll, it will serve you well till your ready for something exotic. That's my experience with this, hope it helps.

Best
Dwight
 
Anymore I find myself preferring neither. Just a plain tomahawk with neither a hammer poll nor spike. Effective simplicity.
 
for my 2 cents some tnink on the none blade side well add balance &keep your ax from twesting on the strick be it a enemy ore a tree just a thought
 
I've got my Grandfather's hatchet and as Wolf said it has neither and does the same things just as well. I think I may start working out with it a bit if only for sentimental sake. Good Point.

Best
Dwight
 
Somewhere in this section of the forum a US soldier that was in Afghanistan mentioned using the spike end of a hawk to dig out a bomb (he was EOD) out of the ground. So the spike can have other uses as well. Right now I have one of each a LaGana VTAC and a Craig Barr/Deer Mountain Forge custom hawk head with a hammer poll.
 
The topic titles states "Tomahawk as weapon,spike or no spike?" Therefore...IMHO...

Employed as a weapon: Spiked

Employed as a tool: Polled

Indeed both are weapons...and both are tools...but which lends itself BEST to an attack or a defensive weapon? Spiked...hands down.

YMMV
 
CitizenQ said:
The topic titles states "Tomahawk as weapon,spike or no spike?" Therefore...IMHO...

Employed as a weapon: Spiked

Employed as a tool: Polled

Indeed both are weapons...and both are tools...but which lends itself BEST to an attack or a defensive weapon? Spiked...hands down.

YMMV
Click to expand...
I disagree, both are just as effective as the other. Which one would you rather be hit with? A poll will puncture skin and skull alike. A poll like the trail hawk has four cutting edges on it and will cut when used as a hook. I make no hesitation viewing my hammered hawks as effective weapons. I make no hesitation using my spiked hawks as tools. It is a matter of knowing how to apply both correctly. Think about all of the things a spike can be used for. I think the biggest issue is a proper spike being forged onto the hawk head.
 
in terms of a WEAPON, the spike will crush the skull AND penetrate deeply, giving someone a very BAD day and most likely death. However.....a HAMMER will ALSO crush skull, and spread out the hurt over a wider area. BOTH are gonna mess someone up BAD, and possibly kill or do severe brain damage.

Pros of the spike:

can be used as entry tool to breach metal doors and punch out locks, pierce drums to snake cables thru for barricades or empty drums of their contents, can quickly deflate a tire, can pierce a skull/face and do major damage, can pierce personal armour, Can be useful when scrambling up steep hills, for grip (jab in fallen tree, ground etc), can be used to dig out IEDs etc, will pierce security film windows, security glass, auto glass, bulletproof glass (dont ask how i know this), can pierce concrete and brick and adobe,

add some more!
 
Fighting style is your key to what is better for you, as for any weapon.

My two cents

Do you want the kill to be quite? If yes remember that a blunt object death will most likely result in less noise than a fatal puncture or laceration.

I have seen both a pointed object and a blunt object hit skulls. In my opinion the blunt is hands down sick, fast and clean follow through. The spike if it penetrates is more than likely fatal, but slower, and does require some effort for removal.

Where the spike comes in for major bonus points are all of the above mentioned uses the hammer fails in, mostly jobs that require piercing capabilities.
 
GoatHerder said:
are you accident prone? If you are, then leave out the spike.
Click to expand...

Ha ha! ...so true, I like throwing knives/hawks, and I remember the first time I got my hands on a spiked hawk ...I went to throw it using the same form I normaly use with a hawk, and managed to cut open my own head with the sharpened spike!! :o Pretty smooth huh?

Anyway, after some practice I now find that the spiked end sticks better than the blade.
 
WHOA BRO...WHOA! Hold up and let's think this out first! I've got an 16 year old black lab. Her name is Molly and 'ol Molly's about at the end of her days...
 
CitizenQ said:
WHOA BRO...WHOA! Hold up and let's think this out first! I've got an 16 year old black lab. Her name is Molly and 'ol Molly's about at the end of her days...
Click to expand...
Well, then she's probably not going to be able to swing a hawk very well, that's where I come in...
 
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