United M48 Tomahawk FAIL!

Bigfatts

Bigfatts

Joined
Mar 12, 2012
Messages
2,453
So I went to my local pusher's shop today and saw these M48 Tomahawks. I've been looking for something less expensive to use than my 2Hawks and thought it was a nice looking piece. Maybe some light chopping, some throwing maybe. Well it was right at $40 so I took it home. Stopped by my mom's house on the way home and took it out in the woods. Doing some light chopping on a Rain Tree that needed some cutting back and it lasted exactly 3 chops. Chop- chop- SNAP! The handle snapped right below where it attaches to the head tang. Thank God I was only swinging lightly. If I had really been chopping hard, I might have gotten stuck. The head shot past and I was left with a useless little stick. Not even 5 minutes of use. I didn't have a camera with me so I couldn't get pics until I got home. Couldn't get a pic of what I was chopping. Soft light wood though.

I emailed United and told them what happenned. Waiting to see what they say.

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Crazy. I was just looking at one on line today. I know the steel is some of the really low end stuff, but who'd of thunk the handle was a piece of cr*p too? That's just incredibly bad. I mean, WTF bad.
 
I had a Barco half hatchet last three wacks before due to a bad wedge. After the third wack the entire head came flying off. I was able to reattach it and it was nothing like your break. Wow.
 
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I have had one of those for a while and beat the snot out of it all the time, that must have been a blem, I throw mine a lot and once it hit a pile of bricks behind my target with no damage. My m48 is seemingly invincible, I don't know how or why yours broke so easily...
 
I'm not sure what the problem is. If you look at the pic where the broken ends show, on the side with the head, the left side of the broken end there is a void. It looks like an air pocket/hollow. Don't know if that could have contributed, maybe created a weak point?
 
This happened to one of my friends M48. It snapped right below the head. He just returned it and got a refund though.
 
Huh, weird, I wouldn't expect much from united cutlery in the first place, but I'm kinda surprised how much tougher mine is than these two other exaples
 
You know I felt the same "Eh, it's United" but after reading the article about it in the recent Blade I thought it would be neat. Felt good in the hand and looked good. Oh well I guess.
 
Not to be a wise guy but what did you expect ?

I would return it to the store you purchased it at
 
The snapped plastic looks like the moisture level isn't sufficient. Sometimes it even warps.
 
JParanee said:
Not to be a wise guy but what did you expect?
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I was expecting a cheap beat around hawk. The mag review and every other review I've read made it sound decent. There are plenty of very inexpensive hawks that perform great. Just my luck to get the turd of the bunch.
 
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When you injection mold nylon there is always a chance for voids in thicker sections like that. We had a similar issue with the Shrikes when we were using glass filled nylon - one of many reasons we switched to a high durometer rubber handle. Voids like this are not that common, but we felt one was too many.
 
surprising, even for a united. maybe a fluke like described rmj tactical? it would be fun to see if the replacement united gives you or the retailer gives you holds up?

i got one of those cold steel cheapo trenchhawk versions, and that thing has taken multiple overstrikes that would have destroyed hickory. that said i have no faith in the cold steel trenchhawk, it's a fooling around fun beater and bought exactly for what you bought the united for.
 
Well I just got an email from United asking for my address so they can send me a new handle. Not a bad response time seeing as I only emailed them Saturday. We'll see how long that one lasts.
 
if you do opt for refund have a look at the Smith & Wesson Extraction and Evasion Combat Tomahawk. never threw mine but its beastly piece of 1070 steel. Condor also has some economical hawks that look more sturdy
 
Bigfatts said:
Well I just got an email from United asking for my address so they can send me a new handle. Not a bad response time seeing as I only emailed them Saturday. We'll see how long that one lasts.
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Reply from united?!?!?!?! Your luck must not be all that bad :D
 
I wonder if the color has anything to do with it ? Maybe not but just a thought.

On a side note: I wish someone would make after market aluminum handles for some of these other wise good hawks. I have 2 with composite/plastic handles. I love them, but just don't trust them. SOG Tac Tom & CS Trench Hawk.
 
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