Tomahawk instead of knife

For what purpose? A tomahawk head alone might serve most cutting tasks, but it would never be as useful.
 
You can do most things with a hawk that you can do with a knife you can remove the head from the haft and skin slice among many other things even if I have a knife I find myself using my hawk instead.
 
Maybe a hawk with a swiss army knife but never just a hawk. If I could only take one implement i'd probably choose the machete as it's more versatile as a stand alone tool but again why not a pocket knife too as it weighs nothing?
 
If you're dealing with small branches and brambles then I have to agree that a machete would be better.

If you're not dealing with the small stuff then yes you absolutely could. I firmly believe that a small belt axe like a hawk or a gb mini is an excellent 1 tool option. If taking in weight and size into account, I don't believe there's anything better. A machete will be longer and a knife that will chop as well will be heavier. Most guys look at them and dismiss them as toys but if you actually get out there and use one it's amazing what they can do. I've made a fajita dinner and carved trap triggers with a gb mini. Once you get the hand hold down it's almost as easy as a knife. Not quite but close enough for government work.:D Here's a small vaughn(~12 oz head) with an extended handle. (not my pic)

14splittoend.jpg
 
You get odd looks when you carry one IWB on the bus:D. But otherwise, a light ax or hawk is a very versatile tool in the bush. Many experienced outdoorsmen consider an ax to be the one cutting tool they couldn't do without. My preference is a Snow & Neally 3/4 bit Hudson's Bay model. It's a bit longer and heavier than a hawk, but still light enough for backpacking.
 
I've given it consideration. The tomahawks by Browning and Ontario look promising in nature. But factoring in the length with the spike makes it rather awkward compared to my bowie knife.
 
I always take 3 cutting tools when in the woods, a saw, hatchet, and medium sized fixed blade. I wouldn't want to be without any one of them.
 
At the very least a 3 1/2 to 4" blade, fixed or folder. It's the knife you keep sharp and don't destroy by hacking up the environment. It's the real camp knife.

Machete or hawk, depends on the latitude and vegetation. Machetes have kept their reputation in the tropics because it's largely third world and they are still needed. In northern latitudes, there's much more technological advancement. You have to look back one hundred and fifty years or more to see what was preferred. That was the axe, hatchet, and hawk.

A machete is good with soft fast growing vegetation, but to tackle the forests of Europe or North America, it takes something that can chop away at tough, fibrous and woody brush that can survive subfreezing temperatures and hot dry summers.

Choose what matches the task. The well equipped outdoorsman from most regions didn't make a choice of "either," it's usually "all of the above."
 
Hawks are very versatile tools but they can't do everything. A large folding knife helps to fill the gaps. I use a Cold Steel Rifleman's Hawk. At 2.25 lbs it is capable of moderate wood processioning. With the handle removed, a hawk is good for skinning and some carving. For medical emergencies a knife is the best tool. In a self defense situation (large cat or bear) a large knife to back up the hawk is advisable.
 
I actually designed the hawk In my avatar to be able to handle knife tasks so it could be the only tool you bring with you on the trail. It's can do the knife work but honestly there's no substitute for a thin slicing blade. I'm going to try to fully processes a deer with it this fall and see how it does for a really in depth performance test.

When I bring a hawk with me on the trail i usually pair it with a multi tool and my M390 Nessmuck. You've got all the bases covered with a knife, a hawk, and a multi tool and the extra weight is worth the utility to me.
 
I like a hawk over a hatchet for sole reason it can be removed from the handle and used for many purposes. Also, if your handle breaks, use the head itself and carve a new one. A hatchet would be a little more complicated to rehandle, especially in the field.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top