tomahawks thrown?

Joined
Aug 5, 2007
Messages
28
Anyone got any written references of tomahawks actually being thrown as a weapon in fighting by frontiersman or natives during the frontier era ? Not Allen Eckert novels, Mel Gibson's "Patriot" movie, Spike Tv, or Walt Disney shows, etc. but real first hand written accounts.
I've been researching several white captives, adapted by Natives of my local river area for about 30 years now, so have found dozens of, recorded in writing, examples of people being struck with tomahawks during conflicts, executions, etc. but none of them being thrown.
 
If you pick up Dwight McLemore's book, The Fighting Tomahawk, I'm fairly certain there is an example or two in there. I'd have to check my copy again to make sure, though.
 
Never throw your weapon away. More useful in your hand is probably. Throwing hawks and knives are for fun.
 
Dwight McClemore's books have tons of reference points listed, I'd look there for the info. Just my opinion but back when hawks were supreme on the battlefield most folks only had a single shot rifle,some may have also had a pistol but thats still only 2 shots. I would'nt think a man would throw his hawk onto a crowded battlefield. Maybe at a (single) enemy he was pursuing..but I'm thinking 1,perhaps 2 shots then you were going to be close enough for the conflict to be hand to hand. You would'nt throw your weapon at an opponent when they are 10 yards(30 ft) and closing.
 
The warrior battle show on spike showed the validity of the thrown hawk, at 15 to 20 feet it is almost an assured hit at the 27mph they clocked them at. Like the apache guy said, they would carry multiple tommies and knives and as ambush attackers it makes sense that they would carry an extra to throw from ambush before closing the gap to close combat.
I have been to one blackpowder rendezvous and when you see these guys throw their hawks there is no question to their effect thrown on the battlefield.
Vikings used them thrown to break shield wall's etc.... been used for throwing for thousands of years.
 
Back
Top