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tomahawk
- Thread starter chuck1973
- Start date
Leftytwogunz
Gold Member
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- Apr 30, 2013
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- 2,324
It would help if you indicated things like intended uses and what price range you are looking for.
By best for the buck I'm going to assume you are looking for a cheap one. I'd start with something
from Sog or Cold Steel.
CRKT has a couple designed by the guys at RMJ, I believe. The ATC Lagana is pretty affordable.
Winkler's hawks are supposed to be very nice, but they are pricey.
Personally I go with RMJ. Out of all of the hawks I've owned the only one that has stayed forever
is my RMJ shrike. Top notch in my opinion.
Best of luck.
By best for the buck I'm going to assume you are looking for a cheap one. I'd start with something
from Sog or Cold Steel.
CRKT has a couple designed by the guys at RMJ, I believe. The ATC Lagana is pretty affordable.
Winkler's hawks are supposed to be very nice, but they are pricey.
Personally I go with RMJ. Out of all of the hawks I've owned the only one that has stayed forever
is my RMJ shrike. Top notch in my opinion.
Best of luck.
Leftytwogunz
Gold Member
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2013
- Messages
- 2,324
oh.
The M-48 tomahawk is probably all you need.
The M-48 tomahawk is probably all you need.
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2010
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- 10,844
If you like it, that's all that matters...
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2015
- Messages
- 221
I have the SOG, its.. Meh.. Maybe for people who like the whole black polymer tactical look.. But I grew up in the woods and watched tons of westerns, so to me no matter the intended purpose a hawk should have a hardwood handle. My modified CS Trailhawk is perfect for camping and hiking and is surprisingly light. If you want a chopper get the Rifleman, and if you want a fighter get the spike hawk. If you just love "The Patriot" get the Pipe hawk.
If you do get a Cold Steel, strip the ugly paint and blue it or vinegar patina it. Then sand the handle down and stain it. Time and use will give it a much better looking finish than CS gave it.
If you do get a Cold Steel, strip the ugly paint and blue it or vinegar patina it. Then sand the handle down and stain it. Time and use will give it a much better looking finish than CS gave it.
CRKT's line of tomahawks released last year are really, really good, and affordable too. Cold Steel's hawks are solid too, though they come with basically no edge so you'll need to sharpen it up out of box. The CRKT ones are better than the CS, but they're pretty close. CS are a bit cheaper if budget is an issue, $40-45 for the CRKTs, $25 or so for the Cold Steel.
Here's the CRKT hawks:
Woods Kangee:
Woods Chogan:
Cold Steel Spike Hawk:
If you prefer the more "tactical" style, Cold Steel's new War Hawk costs around $40-45 as well:
Here's the CRKT hawks:
Woods Kangee:
Woods Chogan:
Cold Steel Spike Hawk:
If you prefer the more "tactical" style, Cold Steel's new War Hawk costs around $40-45 as well:
Excellent, since a tomahawk is a weapon. Its not designed to be a woods tool, like a hatchet. Though it can be used as one in a pinch, chopping wood is not what they are "for."
The SOG you like will do an excellent job doing what tomahawks are designed to do, i.e., inflict horrific damage on somebody.
The Zieg
Gold Member
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- Jan 31, 2002
- Messages
- 5,043
I have the old Plainsman hawk from Cold Steel, which isn't available anymore. It was the Rifleman hawk, which is still available, without the raised hammer poll. It has a flat poll that can be created if you were to grind off the Rifleman's poll. It is a very effective weapon, no doubt, but it has always been a woods tool for me and has done an excellent job in that role since 2000 or so, when I bought it.
If there's a knife and gun show near you, go and handle a half dozen. See what you like. If the prices are too high, make notes and then order online.
If you plan on it for self defense, Cold Steel has a cheap poly practice hawk. Play with it to learn cuts and thrusts and parries. Before you whip the real one around. Or put a leather cover on the real one for practice.
Have fun!
Zieg
If there's a knife and gun show near you, go and handle a half dozen. See what you like. If the prices are too high, make notes and then order online.
If you plan on it for self defense, Cold Steel has a cheap poly practice hawk. Play with it to learn cuts and thrusts and parries. Before you whip the real one around. Or put a leather cover on the real one for practice.
Have fun!
Zieg
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2012
- Messages
- 78
Best value, dollar for dollar goes to Cold Steel. They are tough and will last. People say the Lagana Vietnam era hawk is better but at $100, you can buy a couple of Cold Steel hawks that are just as tough. The best tomahawk for combat (craftsmanship, design, durability) goes to Winkler and RMJ, just be prepared to spend the dough (we're talking $400 for the RMJ and $600 for the W)... prices seem outrageous but these are hawks you can pass down to your kids. The toughest and most versatile would probably go to Swamp Rat Kill Devil (KDSH). Made of very tough steel, can be thrown, used as a pry bar, breaching tool, etc. Only downside is that it doesn't come with a sheath. If you hunt on the forums, they usually go for about $200 - $250. I went with the Swamprat and couldn't be happier. It's a lifetime piece and will probably outlast me. The Cold Steel didn't do it for me design wise (too tactical looking for the most part) and I didn't want to pay $600 bucks for a chunk of metal that doesn't go bang... Good luck in your search and I hope you find what you are looking for.