Want a Vietnam-Style Hawk

J

JNieporte

Joined
Nov 1, 2004
Messages
3,352
I'm looking for a Vietnam-style tomahawk. The one side is a more-or-less flat blade and the other is a spike; the handle is pretty straight. It's made for last-resort combat, but can serve in a pinch as a tool. You know what I'm referring to. My problem is budget: my price range in anywhere under $60. This leaves me with a few choices, but I have a few concerns about each.

United Cutlery Vietnam Tomahawk
UC2603.jpg

440-series blade, black coated. Black hardwood handle. Black imitation leather sheath. 12-5/8" overall. Made in China. $19.
Something tells me to stay away from this one, but I don't know anybody with any experience with it. Thoughts?

Cold Steel Vietnam Tomahawk
CS90VTa.jpg

1055 carbon steel blade, coated black. Hardwood handle. Oxblood leather sheath. 13-1/2" overall. Made in Taiwan. $36.
I've held one and it seemed as if the head would come off without much effort. I like the carbon steel over stainless for a hawk. Any opinions of this one?

Cold Steel Spike Hawk
90SH.jpg

1055 carbon steel head, coated black. Hickory handle. No sheath provided. 19" overall. Made in Taiwan. $27.
This hawk isn't available yet, but it looks promising; I like the extra handle length. I've had problems with my Rifleman's Hawk and Trail Hawk becoming loose after only a few whacks, and this might be problematic in the Spike Hawk as well. Any input?

Cold Steel Trench Hawk
90PTH.jpg

1055 carbon steel head, coated black. Black polypropylene handle. Black polypropylene sheath. 19" overall. Made in Taiwan. $36.
Again, not out yet. The handle seems problematic if it breaks and not easily replaceable; the other Cold Steel hawks could easily accept a new handle. Thoughts?

SOG Fusion Tomahawk
f01tsg.jpg

420 stainless steel head, painted black. Black FRN handle. Black nylon sheath. 15-3/4" overall. Made in China. $42.
Everything I've read (with the exception of one knife magazine) has told me to stay away from this one. Your opinion?

Condor Combat Tomahawk
tomahawk.jpg

1075 carbon steel head, coated black. Full tang with hardwood handle slabs. Black leather sheath. 13-3/8" overall. Made in El Salvador. $54.
This hawk barely fits in my price range, but I've not heard any reviews of it. Thoughts?

Which one should I go for? Keeping in mind the $60 limit, is there a Vietnam-style hawk that I should check out that's not listed?

Thanks for any help :)
 
I picked up the Condor for under 40 bucks. I think it was right about 48 bucks with shipping. Seems like a solid hawk for the cash. I did reshape the handle because I wasn't real happy with it. But for the price its a great hawk.
 
I'd go with any of the Cold Steel hawks.

The CS 'Nam Hawk and Trench Hawk can be used as is, the Spike Hawk might need some tuning of the head-handle-fit. Spare handles can be had for all three.

The bad reviwes for the SOG Fusion were mostly for the wood handled version. The current synthetic handle is supposed to be much stronger.

If you choose the Condor be advised that there is a throwing version which is cheaper, but has no handle scales. That's the one I'd get if I were on a budget and wanted one. I'd make my own scales or wrapping.


Ookami
 
...it's good for the money but it depends on what one wants to spend and the look one wants to achieve. I don't believe it's an accurate reproduction of a Vietnam style. Personally, it works for me based on what I paid ($40).
Picture076.jpg
 
Gerry: The Sog is real nice looking. Would like to get one to mess around with.......
 
I like it but I'm on the waiting list for a custom from Vec. Six month wait, trying not to think about it and move on until the project is underway. :)
 
the VN hawks are a joke until they get a longer handle on them, or you shave a lot of the useless mass off of them IMHO.

if you get one, get an ATC, at least it is quality. the CS version's weakness is its crappy wood handle with its weakness and zero ergonomics - nice if you can get a different handle on it though. the SOG version of the VN is adequate. i'd get the ATC if i couldn't mod the hawk myself.

that said, if you want a spike hawk, this one will beat the rest, hands down, i reckon. - better weight and balance.
90SH.jpg


i'm going to mod a bunch of them at my first chance.

they scream to be Multicam'd. :D:thumbup:

vec
 
Gerry.GEG said:
I like it but I'm on the waiting list for a custom from Vec. Six month wait, trying not to think about it and move on until the project is underway. :)
Click to expand...

There worth the wait....................:thumbup::thumbup:
 
stay away from the SOG fusion hawk... the head is nice but the handle is atrociously bad, plus because of the attachment mechanism it's hard to put anything else on there in terms of handles.
 
The ATC is a little out of your price range, but its worth saving for. The Condor one looks promising, but I would like to see how balanced it is before I put down money for one.
 
I had bad luck with the SOG hawk. Handle broke while I was chopping through a three inch maple log. Had bad luck with SOGs customer service too in trying to get it replaced- I sent out e-mails and such and never heard back from them. This BTW was the second time I had brought that hawk into the woods with me.
I don't have any experience with CS Vietnam hawk but I got one of there early Norse hawks and one of there rifleman hawks and had good luck with them. Handles break throwing them but that is to be expected. Never had a problem with handles breaking from use and a little sanding helps make for a really nice fit.
Peace
John
 
I have the "throwers" version of the Condor hawk. Had it for a couple years now and I like it. :)

I made my own sheath for it, and made the handle from leather and cord wrap.

I sharpened the spike a bit, and convexed the blade. It's pretty darn sharp now.

It feels good in the hand, throws well, and I've used it to chop fire wood when out camping and it did OK. My homemade handle would probably get a bit uncomfortable if used for an extended period of heavy chopping though.

Over all though I'd say it's a great deal at around $30 or so. :thumbup:

Chrysler300cSRT-8024.jpg

Chrysler300cSRT-8023.jpg

Chrysler300cSRT-8025.jpg
 
I obtained a United Cutlery Vietnam Tomahawk in a trade. It costed $17.50 (the sticker was still on the box) so I traded some Opinels for it. Here's a mini-review.

The spike was pretty good right out of the box, but a ceramic stick made it nearly perfect...
008-53.jpg


The edge, however, was almost non-existant. A complete regrind was necessary, and I also made a swedge on the underside...
007-52.jpg


I also wrapped the handle in black 550 cord for a better grip, as it was pretty slick right out of the box...
011-49.jpg


With the cord-wrapped handle, the tomahawk no longer slid into the sheath. So a larger hole was needed. Enter a quick pass with the razor blade...
012-47.jpg


It goes in and out just fine now...
013-43.jpg


With some other tomahawks...
006-48.jpg


A few observations:
The handle is damn slick. Cord-wrapping or grip tape will be necessary.
The handle is not interchangeable with the spare Cold Steel Vietnam Tomahawk handles; I tried. You'll have to really sand down the Cold Steel handle in order to fit into the eye of the United hawk.
Reserve this tomahawk for use as a last-ditch weapon or decoration; it sucks as a thrower and the handle nearly broke on some light chopping.
The head isn't carbon steel; it's 440 series stainless. But it really put out some sparks when I put it on the belt sander.
The imitation leather sheath is pretty decent. About the same quality as the Cold Steel Vietnam Tomahawk's sheath, just not as as soft.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top