- Joined
- Sep 5, 2010
- Messages
- 2,691
Rustyrazor,
No offense meant here, but it seems like you're trying to re-invent the wheel. There's many hawk makers that have already done the kind of testing required to make a tough breaching hawk. These guys have already taken this path, and we can just follow their lead. Thus, my original answer about looking to some big names, Dan Winkler, RMJ, etc..
Any of these steels will be strong enough, a human just won't be able to create the power to break a typical sized full tang hawk when prying. I'd be more concerned about breaking the tip of the spike, or edge damage. Impact strength is going to be more of a concern in the field, any well made hawk will survive being pryed upon. Finding that balance between a useless thick edge and one that is way to thin for hard use will be a greater challenge. Heck, the steel manufacturers have already done the legwork for you by making such great steel choices.
The GG&G is a great example of an overbuilt hawk, it's too much hawk. It's 44oz, 3/8" thick throughout, and it will tear skin off your hand if you don't wear a glove. It's too heavy to pack around, the edge does not cut wood, it just breaks wood. It will cut through metal, and the spike is very effective. Yet, it would still see some damage if I spiked an engine. Point being that it is not indestructable, there are materials that will be harder than a tough hawk's steel, and they will cause some edge damage to a hawk.
I just think that if I were in a position to make a few hawks, I'd look to what the pros are using in theirs. Sure, there might be something slightly better, maybe it's too expensive to use in a hawk business, IDK?
No offense meant here, but it seems like you're trying to re-invent the wheel. There's many hawk makers that have already done the kind of testing required to make a tough breaching hawk. These guys have already taken this path, and we can just follow their lead. Thus, my original answer about looking to some big names, Dan Winkler, RMJ, etc..
Any of these steels will be strong enough, a human just won't be able to create the power to break a typical sized full tang hawk when prying. I'd be more concerned about breaking the tip of the spike, or edge damage. Impact strength is going to be more of a concern in the field, any well made hawk will survive being pryed upon. Finding that balance between a useless thick edge and one that is way to thin for hard use will be a greater challenge. Heck, the steel manufacturers have already done the legwork for you by making such great steel choices.
The GG&G is a great example of an overbuilt hawk, it's too much hawk. It's 44oz, 3/8" thick throughout, and it will tear skin off your hand if you don't wear a glove. It's too heavy to pack around, the edge does not cut wood, it just breaks wood. It will cut through metal, and the spike is very effective. Yet, it would still see some damage if I spiked an engine. Point being that it is not indestructable, there are materials that will be harder than a tough hawk's steel, and they will cause some edge damage to a hawk.
I just think that if I were in a position to make a few hawks, I'd look to what the pros are using in theirs. Sure, there might be something slightly better, maybe it's too expensive to use in a hawk business, IDK?
Its a start, If you're really interested, look at mechanics or materials, and stress strain in engineering. Nothing like 4 or so years of university to give you lots of marginally useful information, ...oh, and the ability to analyze designs... 
