Why a Tomahawk?

Unbreakable

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Let me preface this with the fact that I don't have anything against tomahawks... I just don't get it. Is there something special they can do that a regular axe or hatchet can't? I've never owned one... mainly becuase I never saw the need for one. But I was wondering if so many people love them maybe there is some skill set they have that I'm missing out on. So tell me... why do you like tomahawks. And what are the best reasons for having them. What to they do best? Do they out perform an Axe or hatchet in any areas? Thanks.
 
A tomahawk is a better weapon than a hatchet. It's lighter and thus faster and has a straight handle to allow for an easier release when throwing.
 
A tomahawk is a better weapon than a hatchet. It's lighter and thus faster and has a straight handle to allow for an easier release when throwing.

Yes, it is my understanding that a tomahawk is neither an axe or a hatchet...it is a weapon.
 
Functionality & art in one package, plus a bit o' nostalgia! Most of us have at least a tad of Kelt in our genetic recipe and they had celts.
I processed an entire deer with a hawkchet hybred, from field dressing to ziplocks. An axe would have been too unwieldy for such finesse, although I suppose it would have been possible.
Personally I find the definitions for hatchet & tomahawk to waft across the gray areas, like the difference between a violin & a fiddle. Mostly just a semantic superfluity.
My CS Norse hawk has a longer cutting surface than most common hatchets. The ulu style curvature of the blade, and the top/bottom "horns" allow for many uses. You can 'roll cut' fine thongs and laces from rawhide easily. Bindings are handy in many outdoor skills. The "horns" are good for awling rough holes for laceing material together & preparing sockets for fire drill use. A good hawk will perform all the functions of an axe, hatchet & knife with a few additional defensive & offensive surprises all its own. The uses are really only limited by imagination.
 
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A tomahawk is the original multitool.
Cut wood, hammer, make traps, skin in a pinch, kill bad guys. What more could you want?
 
They make better weapons, they are easier to re-handle, and they look cool (no, I don't have one).

Or, you can split the difference and get a hatchet with a Hudson Bay type head:
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i always chose a hawk because they were more durable. to be fair though my only experience with a ax/hatchet was very cheap ones where the heads were not firmly attached so i gave up on them.

after seeing what the wilderness survival guys do with their small axes i have been thinking about getting a nice one to try. i'm more interested in the tool aspect of these things anyways and it looks like from what i read the hawk will be a runner up to the small ax just by the head design.

i am trying to decide between briangandrews snow and nealy like pictured or a gb sfa.
 
Functionality & art in one package, plus a bit o' nostalgia! Most of us have at least a tad of Kelt in our genetic recipe and they had celts.
I processed an entire deer with a hawkchet hybred, from field dressing to ziplocks. An axe would have been too unwieldy for such finesse, although I suppose it would have been possible.
Personally I find the definitions for hatchet & tomahawk to waft across the gray areas, like the difference between a violin & a fiddle. Mostly just a semantic superfluity.
My CS Norse hawk has a longer cutting surface than most common hatchets. The ulu style curvature of the blade, and the top/bottom "horns" allow for many uses. You can 'roll cut' fine thongs and laces from rawhide easily. Bindings are handy in many outdoor skills. The "horns" are good for awling rough holes for laceing material together & preparing sockets for fire drill use. A good hawk will perform all the functions of an axe, hatchet & knife with a few additional defensive & offensive surprises all its own. The uses are really only limited by imagination.



So do you take a hawk instead of a knife when going into the woods? Or do you take both? I'm not sure if a Hawk could complete replace a knife. But that's my own brain damage talking LOL. As far as taking apart a deer... would you say you did this because you could or was it truly easier to do it with a hawk then the normal tools one would use for such a chore?
 
Oh I still carry knives & multi-tools. Who carries just one blade? I just never remember to use them, lol, unless I'm splitting a small critters legs to save the fur.
The day I did that deer I'd forgotten my field knife & it was far and away too cold to strip down to an inner pocket knife. I started the deer with the hawkchet and decided to finish it that way. The experience taught me that for medium/large game a hawk is far more utilitarian for the task at hand than a knife. I'll never, by choice, use a knife on deer/elk/antelope again. And they make a surprisingly good kitchen tool as well.

I gotta add that processing the deer was far better than simply "taking apart a deer", it wasn't the redneck version of Lizzie Borden at all. I've processed stock & game all my life, only once paying for second rate work. The hawk truly impressed me.

By the bye.. my favorite knife is a pair of SkyHawk throwers, the larger size. I've found the steel in them to have exception edge retention, and I've also processed a deer with one of those. No resharpening nor touch-up.
 
Unbreakable. But I was wondering if so many people love them maybe there is some skill set they have that I'm missing out on I initially thought you had some agenda here but after reading the other replies and responses here is my 2 cents. I sure hope it is of use. The bottom-line is that I don't really have an answer to why so many of us start drooling all over ourselves when it's 'Show & Tell' time and a group of guys get together and talk/train tomahawk. My wife has asked me this so many times that she has finally stopped shaking her head and started smiling. I think she's got it. At the risk of sounding emotional and esoteric here, all that can be said is that we like tomahawks not because they are all that practical in today's world or they present us with some great superior fighting skills. Most of us don't run around with it in a carry position unless we are indeed in the woods ,'the Bush'or prehaps a war zone. The tomahawk is both tool and weapon and it has been around a long time. For me it's not a dueling weapon, although there are some 'names' out there that can make it do anything they want. It's 'Fighting weapon' that has evolved into something that is uniquely American. It's OUR folklore, buddy. It cross cultures, you see axes and tomahawk like weapons used widely. Pick up a tomahawk, get outside and swing it around. Throw the hell out of it and you'll get the strangest feeling, that maybe, just maybe "I'm supposed to be doing this." It is almost like touching the face of one's ancestors and history. Asking guys why they like tomahawks is sort of like asking the guy on the big Harley why he likes motorcycles.....he just does. Is it practical ?....sometimes. Is it the ultimate fighting weapon? On occasions. There is nothing at all very practical about getting together with friends and training/throwing tomahawks, the odds of us having to use on these days are not very high but it sure does fulfill some need. Some ancient calling. Like the Bowie Knife when you say 'tomahawk' people get interested. You see my friend I don't have any answer for you. All I can say is that using the tomahawk is like dancing with a beautiful (redneck) woman, till you feel those hips move beneath your hands you probably won't understand. Go train with one and you'll find out. (The Hawk I mean). Sorry to wax foolish but I am afraid that is about it.

All My Best
Dwight
 
Dwight, at first i didn't fall in line with your reply as i am always looking for the best piece of gear when woods bumming and from the experts on the W/S forum the small ax is it. then i read your comments on the bowie and it dawned on me that i carry it just for the pleasure i get from it. it doesn't fill a need really other than i like to bring it. so your answer fits me to a T except i like bowies better than hawks:foot:

here are my favorite toys!
pictures011.jpg
 
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MNJON:

That's a modified ("customized") Snow and Neally small axe, from an outfitter site... about $85.

I'm with you...it just strikes a beautiful pose between art and business...! :thumbup:
 
I like bowies and hawks.

The main advantage of a traditional style hawk like the CS norse or Trail hawk is the weight! They are much lighter than an axe or hatchet and while they are not as useful as a big hatchet ,what they can do is impressive for the ease of carry.

I really recomend a CS Norse or TH for bush bumming. They can do an amazing amount of work both as an axw or hammer.

I love your fighting bowies and study the bowie/sabre fighting style but prefer a more
forward weighted chopping tool for in the bush like my custom in the pic or my Busse SH-E.
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I like that coffin handle!
Wanted to put one on a smatchet blank a dear departed Uncle gave me, but found an alluring (and free) moose horn.

Thinking of sharpening about an inch on the top back edge of the hawk. Then I can try it on those furbearer leg slits & tail splits! Troublesome areas for most trappers. Hah!
 
Crossada:

it doesn't fill a need really other than i like to bring it. so your answer fits me to a T except i like bowies better than hawks
There it is. Me too.

All My Best
Dwight
 
Crossada:

it doesn't fill a need really other than i like to bring it. so your answer fits me to a T except i like bowies better than hawks
There it is. Me too.

All My Best
Dwight
I agree you " hit the nail right on the head " and I like them both...
 
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