Vintage Vietnam Lagana tomahawks?

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Oct 11, 2017
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Any tips on differentiation between the modern Cold Steel (and other copiers) and the original Lagana Vietnam era tomahawks will be appreciated. I know that the originals were wooden handled and leather scabbard, but what else? Are the Cold Steel “Vietnam” hawks being “aged” and resold as vintage?
Thanks, Keith
 
I do not know anything about Cold Steel "Vietnam" hawks being aged, but someone is always trying to scam folks. I do know that an original Lagana hawk was loaned to Cold Steel to copy when they first started to make them. How close they copied the original I also do not know. John
 
There might be some prior posting about this. A quick google search of
site:bladeforums.com authentic lagana vietnam hawk
gives these results:


looking for photos of original Vietnam Lagana Tomahawk ...
https://www.bladeforums.com › ... › Axe, Tomahawk, & Hatchet Forum
Oct 4, 2007 - Hello, Does anyone know where to find original photos and information on the Vietnam eraLagana tomahawk? Thankyou for your help.

Vietnam pattern Tomahawk | BladeForums.com
https://www.bladeforums.com › Forums › Archives › American Tomahawk Company
Feb 6, 2001 - Suffice it to say that there will be a combat/utility grade Vietnam Hawk, a collector gradeVietnam Hawk, and a presentation grade Vietnam Hawk...all approved by Peter LaGana, and all accompanied by certificate of authenticity, with his signature, period. Pricing and availability of all the grades will be ...

Vintage Lagana Vietnam Tomahawk... Maybe? Need Input | BladeForums.com
https://www.bladeforums.com › ... › Axe, Tomahawk, & Hatchet Forum
Mar 22, 2015 - It appears to be an original late production Lagana Vietnam Hawk. But I've never ... I think you have an old Cold Steel hawk with a stamped sheath or original lagana sheath. Any markings on the ... Another confirmation of authenticity is the "TAIWAN" stamp on the side of the Cold Steels. You have a true ...

Please Help, Vietnam Era Hawk | BladeForums.com
https://www.bladeforums.com › ... › Axe, Tomahawk, & Hatchet ForumJun 30, 2010 - 9 posts - ‎4 authors
I was able to get my hands on a vietnam era hawk (olive drab handle) ... I do know Peter LaGana created this "updated" tomahawk design and, from 1966 to 1970, sold about 3000 of them to members of the armed forces serving in Vietnam ... You don't want to do anything to alter or remove authentic patina.

Original 60's Vietnam Tomahawk Available... | BladeForums.com

https://bladeforums.com › Forums › Archives › American Tomahawk Company
Apr 2, 2001 - Price is $1,800. Original Head, Handle, and Sheath (rare for all three to be together)....coated in Olive Drab. Sheath is Oxblood and logo'd with silver letters "American TomahawkCompany". This Vietnam Tomahawk will also come with a very special parchment letter of authenticitysigned by Peter LaGana.

Ordering your Rogers' Rangers or Vietnam Tomahawk ...
https://www.bladeforums.com › Forums › Archives › American Tomahawk Company
Mar 7, 2001 - Combat/Field Grade Original Vietnam Tomahawks are $129.95, and come with an Eagle Cordura Sheath, and a Certificate of Authenticity donning "Peter LaGana's" signature. Now is the time to participate in getting yours from the first production run!!! The Vietnam Hawk also compliments your Rogers' ...

Is this a real Vietnam Lagana Tomahawk ?? | BladeForums.com

https://www.bladeforums.com › ... › Axe, Tomahawk, & Hatchet Forum
Oct 4, 2007 - Can anyone identify this as an original Vietnam Lagana Tomohawk?? I have never seen this type of ... It is not authentic and obviously, very overpriced. It appears to me to be a Taylor. ... If you want to get a QUALITY ATC Vietnam Hawk, go to Fehrman Knives and buy from them. They have the real deal.

Counterfeit, anyone? | BladeForums.com
https://www.bladeforums.com › Forums › Manufacturer's Forums › Cold Steel Knives
May 30, 2016 - My apologies to Coltelleria Collini! I've removed those two pictures, so I'll replace them with three new ones: a fake, a counterfeit, and a rip-off. . DShiflet said: ↑. That Vietnam Tomahawkisn't a ripoff of Cold Steel, it's a rip off of the LaGana Vietnam Tomahawk that Cold Steel openly admits to copying.

Vietnam Tomahawk Celebrates 34th Anniversary!!!...Important ...
https://www.bladeforums.com › Forums › Archives › American Tomahawk CompanyFeb 22, 2001 - 12 posts - ‎6 authors
The Original Vietnam Tomahawk is BACK!!! All American, All Peter LaGana, and All For Real!!! TheVietnam Tomahawk will be offered in a variety of configurations....original, customized, collector, and commemorative. Each will come with a certificate of authenticity graced with the designer's signature, ...

Origional LaGana | BladeForums.com
https://bladeforums.com › ... › Axe, Tomahawk, & Hatchet Forum
Apr 5, 2006 - Thought I would share photo of early LaGana fiberglass with heavy leather sheath.

Welcome to our Forum!!! Please read... | BladeForums.com
https://www.bladeforums.com › Forums › Archives › American Tomahawk Company
Jan 30, 2001 - During the latter part of the Vietnam War, WWII veteran Peter LaGana, accessed the depths of his native American heritage and re-created a combat tool... ... Reproduced from historical documents provided by the Ranger Training Brigade (RTB), the Rogers Rangers Tomahawks areauthentic in every ...

How's Your VTAC Stack? | BladeForums.com
https://www.bladeforums.com › ... › Axe, Tomahawk, & Hatchet Forum
Feb 22, 2011 - However, I'd really like to hear from some other VTAC purchasers about how their hawkmet their expectations. ... My uncle was a LRRP in Vietnam and used a wood haft one and became a collector after nam. ... The thing I don't really like about the LaGana or CQC-T from ATC is the short, synthetic hafts.

business section | BladeForums.com
https://bladeforums.com › ... › Axe, Tomahawk, & Hatchet Forum
Nov 16, 2001 - He tries to be as authentic as possible when making reproductions of early American tomahawks and knives. Johnson's customers ... The wronged man was Peter LaGana, an ex-Marine who designed and manufactured the Vietnam Tomahawk until 1970 when military orders stopped. LaGanagave Prisco ...

Recent additions | Page 6 | BladeForums.com

https://www.bladeforums.com › ... › Himalayan Imports › H.I. Cantina
Apr 2, 2015 - It's an original Peter Lagana Vietnam tomahawk. It's part of the ... It's definitely not very old and its not "authentic" in that no aboriginal carried it around chopping heads off with it. It was made ... I couldn't pay the money for a real Viet Nam Hawk but I got a Chicago Cutlery knock off which is pretty durn close.
 
Thanks Steve for the help.... I thought I had searched all of the archived entries, but apparently missed a few.
Regards,
Keith
 
Any tips on differentiation between the modern Cold Steel (and other copiers) and the original Lagana Vietnam era tomahawks will be appreciated. I know that the originals were wooden handled and leather scabbard, but what else? Are the Cold Steel “Vietnam” hawks being “aged” and resold as vintage?
Thanks, Keith
Cold Steel stopped making these ages ago I discovered when looking to buy a Vietnam era Lagana replica. However, American Tomahawk Company (ATC) continue to sell a replica of it which they brand their "Model 1".
Dealers seem to have exclusivity from ATC in respect to selling the fully OD version of it; it could NOT be purchased ATC directly when I was looking to buy one.
So I bought my Lagana replica from MonkeyEdge.com in AZ (great company BTW; 5 stars from me) as they were the only dealer with stock left in the OD version of the ATC Model 1 model.

Although the tomahawk apes the original, it varies in (3) immediately obvious ways:
1) The newer ATC version has "RMJ USA" in raised letters on the side of the head when held with tomahawk is held with the blade facing to the right making it hard to pass-off as an original. If buying online if there are no pics of it with the blade facing to the left, be suspicious ;-).
2) It has the ATC logo lasered into the same side of the handle on the same side as the "RMJ USA" on the head
3) The Model 1's sheath is a modern KYDEX quick-draw one and is a great innovation from the original leather sheath which didn't survive the jungle climate. Obviously this is removable so only seeing both sides of the head can be used to quickly identify if what is being sold is the newer replica.

Overall build quality is very high and weight is not excessive.
If outdoorsmen, soldiers or contractors working in dangerous locations are looking for a functional tomahawk and not bothered that it's a replica, the ATC Model 1 a great tool to have at hand; highly recommended.
And for me, the quick-draw KYDEX sheath makes a great tomahawk even better.

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A couple vintage howard hess Hawks and a winkler rnd compact.
 

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