Which company makes the best Tomahawk Self Reliance Essentials or RMJ?

E

Evian

Joined
Jul 19, 2011
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Taking a poll on which one you think is the best Tomahawk and why. If you think there is another company that deserves mentioning please do so. My only beef with these companies is the price. RMJ has the longest wait time which can be a problem if you pay them using Paypal. Paypal only give you 45 days to file a claim. After 4 months of waiting you lose. You will not be allowed to file a claim. I prefer the Jackal Tomahawk from Self Reliance Essentials. It is a more practical Tomahawk especially out in the woods. What do you guys think?
 
Sounds like you already picked the winner.
Jared and Ryan are both knowledgeable in their crafts.
 
Well, my preferences run toward the RMJ Eagle Talon over any of the SRE models.

I'd not consider any of the tactical tomahawks to be stellar choices "out in the woods". For one thing, they are all too short. Even the Eagle Talon is only 18" long -- not big by any means.

You need to understand the purpose behind these designs and compare them to your purposes to pick the right one. The RMJ hawks are designed primarily as breaching tools -- chopping cement, glass, metal, etc, with a secondary job of breaching skulls so to speak.

The SRE hawks look designed primarily for CQB, and the fact that they are made from 1095 (rather than the 4140 ordnance steel that RMJ uses) I don't think they's hold up to chopping cement, glass or metal for long. So do you want a breaching tool or a CQB tool?

If you want a CQB tool, I'll throw out the Winkler/Sayoc hawks as another contended, but hold your breath, they cost twice what the SRE ones do. But look up EdWood7's posts here. He uses them and has used them in real CQB and swears by them.

RMJ also makes the Jenny Wren, but they won't even quote a ship time for them.

A for woods use, I'd still prefer RMJ. The deciding factor comes in when you look at them:
The RMJ Shrike 13 and Kestrel (same size as the Jackal) have a longer "neck" below the head, which will make splitting rounds larger than the cutting length of the edge easier then with the Jackal. The Eagle Talon has the same longer neck and the longer haft which yields better speed and hitting power than a shorter hawk.

Now, I suspect you like the Jackal because it looks cool. If you really like the design, you might as well buy it, and you probably will anyway, only after spending a lot of money on everything but. You can gain the skillset necessary to use the tool in the woods if that's what you want to do, you just need to spend some time with it to figure out howe it wants to be used, and adapt to it.
 
I also see a difference in design purpose of hawks. Fighters aren't wood choppers, but wood choppers could be used as a weapon, but so can a rock. If I were going camping, I'd be worried more about wood/shelter/fire than self-defense. A true weapon is too specific in design to be a good tool, in most cases.
That said, I'd love a couple of Winkler's hawks, but I'd want the fighters not the camp axe. I'd gladly carry an RMJ as well, never know when you might need to breech, and then pierce some skulls.
 
I think that it depends on what you’re going to use the hatchet for? Are you carrying it on your belt?
Are you going to be carrying a lot of weight?

I carry an R&D Hawk or a Winkler combat axe, they are light and highly portable and they are excellent weapons.

The R&D is more of a weapon than a tool, but it can be used for light breeching activities (slash tiers, braking glass, making a hole through a door, etc.) and I have even use it to split a few small logs and food preparation.

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The combat axe is more of a breacher. I take it with me when I have a good idea of what I’m going to be doing during my work day. It also is an excellent weapon.

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The RMJ hawks are excellent tools but are limited as weapons; (except for the kestrel and the Jenny Wren) they don’t handle that well. I carry a hawk as a weapon first, tool second. I know the Winkler’s are very expensive, but well I do depend on these things with my life, I only want the best with me when I am out.






The RMJ is a better hard use tool.
The Jackal is a better weapon (just don’t go for the one that has does spikes on the end of the handle, you will just hurt yourself)
 
I prefer a defense Tomahawk that can be used for defense, door penetration and can be used in the woods for making stakes, clearing brush, or killing game.
 
I had an Eagle Talon and would hate to get in a duel with it. It is slow and heavy with a strange balance because of the solid construction of it. It might look menacing but a fighter it isn't.
 
Jenny Wren or the Kestrel is what you want. Bought have their strengths and weaknesses.

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I like the Kestrel for its size without compromising the power. The head is exactly that of Talon but packs a stealth yet nasty punch outta sheath.
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This is how i would usually carry it; underneath the arm (Thanks to Etwood7, he made it looked really cool yet practical) or in front of the chest if i'm carrying a backpack.

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Having read your previous posts, I would say go with the Jackal. The maker is a nice guy and though I have not used his hawks I have handled them and they are very well made. I have heard of no complaints with him or his hawks.
Your assertion that RMJ hawks are stamped out in a few minutes is a little misguided - yes the forging takes a few minutes but that leaves out the six different heat treat cycles, the machining, the grinding, injection molding, thermoforming and finish work. The devil is always in the details.
RMJ hawks are not meant to be everything to everyone. We have a very specific and dedicated audience and that is ok.
The buying public is fortunate to have such a good variety of designs and styles in tactical tomahawks - it is my belief that we will soon be in a "golden age" of tactical tomahawks.
Ryan Johnson
 
It is impossible to make a product that will be the answer to everyone's needs. If you look at history there have been thousands of axe designs, because one design to fell trees, although it will work for making shingles it will not do nearly as well as one designed for the job. If you have seen the modern marvels which highlighted RMJ the next segment on axe collection should give you a good idea of how many styles have been made, Look at current manufactures of axes and look at how many different styles available today. The truth is that something designed to making you next trip in to the woods less work while will hold up to what we expect from our products for a very short period of time it will not for long. We offer a lifetime guarantee is because the abuse we expect our products to withstand will eventual kill even our hawks if you chopped concrete long enough even a maul will fail. We make combat tools
 
Ah....the Guillotine SPAX?:D

Oh yes the Kestrel's been very helpful. I'm more concerned not to get bitten by the beard.
I did send some thoughts to Ryan about the holster. Love the idea. Awesome.

How's your new line of sharpies going?

Be safe John.

Jay
 
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