My first impression of the hawk was that it was very light. Second thought was that the handle was very long, yet very stiff. I liked it.
I wasnt sure if I was going to be able to review the hawk very well, seeing as last night the temperature was -18 Celsius (about 0 for all you folks that use that crazy Fahrenheit scale). But by this afternoon it had warmed up to about -8 and was rather sunny, so I was able to venture out.
The hawk came from Vec with what I assume to be a Cold Steel factory edge. Not worries, as a few strokes from a file, then a bit 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper, then a leather strop with some compound soon put a nice working edge on her.
I'm not exactly sure how the head is held on, but it seems very secure, and the work is very neatly done. The hawk came with these cord wraps already on it, and it is very uniform and tight. I did a little test wrap on the haft, but it made the grip too fat for my liking, so I left the haft plain.
Here is a pic of the ingenious ring that is in the but of the hawk. it makes a very nice place for a lanyard.
A word about balance. I ordered the hawk at Vec's recommended length, 28 inches. I'm glad I did. When I first hefted it, it seemed a little off. Then I recalled Vector saying that the long hawks are best when grasped about two thirds of the way down that shaft. I tried it, and it worked beautifully. Now, the head is very light for this length of shaft, and some folks might have a problem with that, but I ling it ideal.
You see, I'm a "wood frame carpenter" by trade, so I know a thing or two about swinging tools all day. My "EDC hammer" is made by Vaughn, and has a 16 oz. titanium head with a removable steel face on an 18 inch wood handle. This hammer is light, yet hits like a much heavier hammer because of the speed afforded by the light weight. Same thing with this hawk.
Here is a branch about two inches in diameter.
Two hits later, and we are through. this hawk hit like a ton af bricks. Very, very nice for chopping light green wood.
Here is some unidentified hardwood, very dry and very hard.
It took quite a bit to get though this, but not at all bad for such a small light hawk!
By now it was too cold to take any more pics, so I put my gloves back on and headed in.
In conclusion, this hawk will not be replacing your axe or maul for chopping stove wood, but for booting about in the bush, this one is king. I used to chop some green pine limbs, like those you would use for a shelter, and one stroke will take down an inch and a half limb. With this hawk and a small fixed blade, you could accomplish most bushcraft tasks you would encounter in the north American bush.
I wasnt sure if I was going to be able to review the hawk very well, seeing as last night the temperature was -18 Celsius (about 0 for all you folks that use that crazy Fahrenheit scale). But by this afternoon it had warmed up to about -8 and was rather sunny, so I was able to venture out.
The hawk came from Vec with what I assume to be a Cold Steel factory edge. Not worries, as a few strokes from a file, then a bit 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper, then a leather strop with some compound soon put a nice working edge on her.
I'm not exactly sure how the head is held on, but it seems very secure, and the work is very neatly done. The hawk came with these cord wraps already on it, and it is very uniform and tight. I did a little test wrap on the haft, but it made the grip too fat for my liking, so I left the haft plain.
Here is a pic of the ingenious ring that is in the but of the hawk. it makes a very nice place for a lanyard.
A word about balance. I ordered the hawk at Vec's recommended length, 28 inches. I'm glad I did. When I first hefted it, it seemed a little off. Then I recalled Vector saying that the long hawks are best when grasped about two thirds of the way down that shaft. I tried it, and it worked beautifully. Now, the head is very light for this length of shaft, and some folks might have a problem with that, but I ling it ideal.
You see, I'm a "wood frame carpenter" by trade, so I know a thing or two about swinging tools all day. My "EDC hammer" is made by Vaughn, and has a 16 oz. titanium head with a removable steel face on an 18 inch wood handle. This hammer is light, yet hits like a much heavier hammer because of the speed afforded by the light weight. Same thing with this hawk.
Here is a branch about two inches in diameter.
Two hits later, and we are through. this hawk hit like a ton af bricks. Very, very nice for chopping light green wood.
Here is some unidentified hardwood, very dry and very hard.
It took quite a bit to get though this, but not at all bad for such a small light hawk!
By now it was too cold to take any more pics, so I put my gloves back on and headed in.
In conclusion, this hawk will not be replacing your axe or maul for chopping stove wood, but for booting about in the bush, this one is king. I used to chop some green pine limbs, like those you would use for a shelter, and one stroke will take down an inch and a half limb. With this hawk and a small fixed blade, you could accomplish most bushcraft tasks you would encounter in the north American bush.
