Tomahawks For Beginners

J

Jay.Mac

Joined
Sep 11, 2006
Messages
13
Hi guys,

Just wanted to ask for some general advice on purchasing/learning to use a tomahawk. I picked up a Cold Steel Rifleman's 'hawk some time ago, intending to use it as a general purpose tool- and it's a pretty handy item to have around. Since then I've wanted to buy a lighter, handier tomahawk and learn to throw it, etc. I've got my eye on Cold Steel's Vietnam hawk or one of the new SOG hawks. I want to get one that doesn't cost too much to start with.

Any tips or advice you can offer?
 
I have a CS Trail Hawk and I bought it because it was light and good for throwing. It's extremely good for the money and I haven't encountered any flaws in the tomahawk. The best part is that if you bust it up, it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to replace it.
 
There are several good companies that produce affordable and well made tomahawks. A few to check out are...

http://www.hbforge.com/products/tomahawks.php
http://www.fortturner.com/store/index.htm
http://www.beaverbill.com/products.htm
http://www.ragweedforge.com/ThrowingCatalog.html

Personally i'm not a huge fan of coldsteels hawks because compared to all the others I tried the head to handle fit is poor and they tend to come loose easier than others. I still own several of them though to mess around customizing them.

H&B Forge makes a tough hawk but their a bit heavy, I own their shawnee hak with an arrow spike on the back and it throws pretty well. I havn't purchased a Fort Turner hawk but will eventually, from what I understand they are light and have narrow handles. I've been thinking abotu picking up their iroquois hawk. I heard about Beaver Bill on this forum and liked the look of the hawk so i'm gonna order one soon. Theirs a better picture here than on their site...

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=318278&highlight=Beaver+Bills

Ragnar from ragweed forge also sells some pretty good hawks to start out with and for a few bucks will thin out and sharpen the edge up real good. The slasinski hawks are nice but on the smaller side, at least the one I bought being the hammer hawk.
 
Jay.Mac said:
Hi guys,

Just wanted to ask for some general advice on purchasing/learning to use a tomahawk. *snip* Any tips or advice you can offer?
Click to expand...
What are you looking to use your tomahawk for, or rather, what is it you'd like to learn to do with it? For learning to use it to fight with, check out my thread in this forum here. Its got a lot of good links to several sources of training. If you're looking to use it for woodcraft, then check out this link and the links along the side of that page for a write-up on the Boy Scout axe and it's uses. There's a section or two on throwing the axe and tomahawk, and lots on how to use it to correctly work wood and whatnot.
 
FSCJedi said:
What are you looking to use your tomahawk for, or rather, what is it you'd like to learn to do with it? For learning to use it to fight with, check out my thread in this forum here. Its got a lot of good links to several sources of training. If you're looking to use it for woodcraft, then check out this link and the links along the side of that page for a write-up on the Boy Scout axe and it's uses. There's a section or two on throwing the axe and tomahawk, and lots on how to use it to correctly work wood and whatnot.
Click to expand...

That is exactly what I'm looking for- become interested in survival lately and as well I'm looking to learn to throw a hawk and knife, use a bow and throw a spear. Came about because I was discussing some survival situations with some friends and while they all "knew" how to light a fire with the hand drill/bow method, none of them had ever actually done it. When I got a couple of them to try they were unable to get more than a faint whisp of smoke.

I'd like to learn a few more skills- hopefully never need to use them but it saure looks like fun to learn.

Really appreciate the feedback guys.
 
Jay.Mac said:
That is exactly what I'm looking for- become interested in survival lately and as well I'm looking to learn to throw a hawk and knife, use a bow and throw a spear. Came about because I was discussing some survival situations with some friends and while they all "knew" how to light a fire with the hand drill/bow method, none of them had ever actually done it. When I got a couple of them to try they were unable to get more than a faint whisp of smoke.

I'd like to learn a few more skills- hopefully never need to use them but it saure looks like fun to learn.

Really appreciate the feedback guys.
Click to expand...
Glad I could help. You might want to also do a Google search for an old viewable pdf file titled An Ax to Grind: A Practical Manual by Bernie Weisgerber, put out by the US Dept. of Agriculture Forestry Service. It's got a good bit of useful information on proper technique for chopping, sharpening, and whatnot. A really good read, though some sites have it broken up into pieces to download individually.
 
I started out with a CS Trailhawk and the one big plus about it was the price. If I lost interest, I was only out 20 bucks. The one thing it did was give me the incentive to make them better and end up with a nicer hawk for 20 bucks.

I've since collected hawks from other makers but because I re-worked the CS hawks myself, they are still my favorites.

th007.jpg
 
hatchetjack said:
I started out with a CS Trailhawk and the one big plus about it was the price. If I lost interest, I was only out 20 bucks. The one thing it did was give me the incentive to make them better and end up with a nicer hawk for 20 bucks.

I've since collected hawks from other makers but because I re-worked the CS hawks myself, they are still my favorites.
Click to expand...

hatchetjack,

What process did you use to get the patina on the heads of those reworked CS hawks? (Great work BTW!)
 
Strip the epoxy off and then some sanding and grinding to remove as much epoxy as you can. Next, make sure they are clean and dry then apply gun bluing to the metal. Several coats of light oil and there you go! Lot's of linseed oil on the handles too.

Thanks for looking,

hatchet-
 
Nice work! I am looking to wrap the handles of my hawks, both leather under the heads and possibly the grip area. Any suggestions for the type of material, or more importantly, types of knots and techniques to make sure it stays secure?
 
Soak the leather before wrapping. It shrinks when it dries. Soak rawhide, cut into thin strips and do the same. Stretching it also improves the grip when it dries.

You can also brush linseed oil on before wrapping.
 
Hey hatchetjack, what kinda blue do you use, cold blue? Also is the oil nescesary and will it wear off quick with use?
 
Yeah, plain old Birchwood Casey or whatever your sporting goods store carries.

I oil to clean the blade. The bluing will wear regardless from use/throwing and creates its own patina over time.

Re-blue if needed but I let them wear and age on their own.
 
Due in part to HatchetJack's pics in other postings, I am the proud owner of a CS Trailhawk. I stripped of the paint and blued the steel using Birchwood Casey Cold Blue, gave it a dull grey look on an older tool. I sanded down the handle and since I had shellac out working on my MN-38, I applied a few coats to the handle. I added leather lacing, and made a sheath. I will probably cut the handle a few inches. I have a Green River Hunter that matches up well with it. I wanted a light handy axe to carry hunting etc.

I am very happy with my purchase. Granted when I opened the package, it was a let down. But under the paint and poly is a good tool.
 
Thank you FSGJEDI

I have a hatchet. Not intrested in learning to throw a hawk or it! But for use in woodwork and camping. I have used the same Ewing Hatchet for over 25 years. I was tought by my Grand Father how to respect and use it!

I help with the boyscouts in this area from time to time. The link you gave was, and will continue to be, of great assistance.

Thank you again!

Dill
 
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