This is JMO
I would be very much interested in some handles that had a weight close to the stock hickory setups. How do your materals compare in weight?
The "tunable" setup really does not appeal to me, as I just dont have a need to throw any of my hawks, but I can see how that would be nice for those that do.
For me, its more about peace of mind, knowing I have a handle that is nearly indestructable.I love my hawks, but a little itch in the back of my head would always make me grab a modern Fiskars if my life depended on it. Sad I know.
Something with a good weight, and that secures firmly, with no chance of comming loose, or "throwing" the head. Perhaps offer different lengths. The complexity of the attachment really does not scare me.
Let us know what you plan to do. I can say for myself, that you can put me down for a few already, as I wouldnt have a hawk without one of your handles, if they were offered for sale.
Keep up the good work Bro, looking forward to what you come up with
hey, first of all, i really appreciate your advice, brother!
before i made these hawks,
i always went to my Fiskars products for reasons you have stated.
hawks are
not hatchets, nor are they axes -
they are hawks! and i prefer them because of their (1)
agility in combat, (2)
lightweight to carry long periods, and (3) their
magnificence in action in hands that are aware of their basic
design idiosyncracies, ...that can appreciate their
deep-sinking bits over their cousins the hatchets, and how fast they can
turn and correct, compared to the same.
i wouldn't add anything to my hawks that i didn't believe in -
there is only so much weight i would add to a handle, for example, ...at a point it gets ridiculous to a point where
you want a crow bar because it is no longer a hawk, from all the added mass...;
which brings me to my next point...;
as to the weight issue with composite vs. wood - the original Gen 1 Mk 1's (they all look the same, the internals are different) were a touch lighter than the wood on average - folks have been really abusing them and everyone i have been talking to has been agreeing that they are tougher than straight grained
(perfect) wood handles, hickory and such, you know the drill there...;
but everyone is getting the idea that they are indestructible -
i don't think i ever said that or implied that, but folks are getting pretty excited! hahaha! -
they are tough though, and the design can be strengthened
just in slight changes of materials - they are as strong as they are
because they are made in a special way out of
average materials used in aerospace applications, not because they are made out of special weaves, Kevlars, etcetera - so we can make them a lot better with materials that are on the docket, ...but because of how so many folks are really beating the Hell out of them
(frankly), i just started adding what i call the
Molar Strike Plate - which is an internal structural reinforcement that
increases the weight slightly - which most folks that have owned the old ones and the new ones, with the molar "implant" haven't admitted noticing yet -
we continue to back all our hawks and future handles with
Happines Guarantees, because i can't stand bullshit, if i may be so eloquent - i am selling you something that
i would use to defend my family's life - i figure you shouldn't have to second guess it.
i had a point there
...oh yeah! - so although i
personally use the original Gen 1 Mk 1 handles for my own hawks, which are lighter than the wood, but arguably stronger, the
new ones have the internal Molar Strike Plate, which has the added benefit beyond its intended purpose of letting you really carve down the haft/eye area, to potentially use it for heads other than the standard Cold Steel eyes - we haven't tested that yet, but the design indicates that is a pretty safe bet - the investors in the Gen 1 Mk 1 hawks have been our test body so far, and any one who buys a handle from us in the future will get the assurance that we will cover them with our Happiness Guarantee, as long as you do your part and give us feedback.
i think that is a good deal, and i hope i haven't bored you brethren too much, explaining my humble way of thinkin', ya dig...?
perhaps ya do diggit.
....(wink!)....
we will have to work on getting those handles out.
Merry Christmas,
hawk-philliac vec
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