Why buy a Tomahawk when. . .

[Dusty One]

I would buy a hawk because life is too short not to indulge yourself a little.

I imagine I could live my life to the full without once having touched a tomahawk, katana, or suchlike. Weapons fascinate us. Owning and playing with such implements does in a little way fulfil the boyhood fantasies of being Hawkeye or Miyamoto Musashi. We wonder what it would have been like living in older, more turbulent times when man often met other men in close quarter combat.

My mom forbade the ownership of "weapons" when I was young and foolish. But now that I'm 37 (much older but still a little foolish) I can make my own rules.

Very well said !!!

 

[CitizenQ]

We wonder what it would have been like living in older, more turbulent times when man often met other men in close quarter combat.

Or snuck up on 'em whilst they were sleeping.

 

[Unsub]

I live in Canada where even if you are attacked in your own house you WILL be charged for defending yourself and the type of weapon will enter into it. You are also better off legally in the US using a gun to defend yourself than a knife(or bladed weapon) because of a predisposition to see blades as more violent. I keep my beloved modded Norse hawk next to my bed. I am also shopping around for an 870 with some nice wood and engraving of dogs and ducks as my home defence shottie.


One of the reason I much prefer a Hawk to a hatchet or bowie is it is much lighter and the useful hammer poll. Even the rounded poll on the norse hawk is quite useful.
I used it on Christmas as a hammer to put together a shelving unit. The chopping power of a long straight handle is better than a short curved one.

It also makes a much better weapon because speed is much more important than the extra force. You don't need a lot of weight behind a hawk to do a LOT of damage but speed is very important.

The indians/furtraders did not throw their hawks but the Vikings often did. They had little hawks they threw all at once to try to break through the shield wall. Not the least bit useful unless you are facing a cordon of riot police but still interesting.

I love a Hawk small knife combo for bushcrafting. I use my modded Norse and my Scrapyard SS4 but for those on a budget a CS Hawk and a Mora is a great 40$ combo.
I plan to pick up a trailhawk next time I am in the city.

I thought since the stone tomahawks and war clubs were mentioned some of you would like to see some pics of real ones. These are from the local Prince Albert Saskatchewan Museum and are the real thing.


The big ones here are tools but the one with the long handle and little rock is a war hawk.


This one is not native but looks cool,it is an antique sugar axe.

 

[redvenom]

Very interesting pictures. Gunstock tomahawk - wanted one ever since I saw Russell Means use one in The Last of the Mohicans

 

[upnorth]

you can buy a hawk with a very functional hammer poll then you have both the usefull hammer, use full cutting edge and a fun thrower.
CS has the Riflemans hawk with hammer poll for around 25, heavy.
or the trailhawk with a functional hammer poll, much liter.

Yes a guy could buy an Estwing hatchet and do the same work but what fun is that?, I'd rather shriek down the road on a motorcycle than pitter patter down the street on a mountain bike. Hawks have panache/romance/history/utility and a quiet authority that is known and respected. I love my Rifleman for it's practical utility and slight historical look. The Rifleman is the perfect weight for me and chops like all hell, which is mainly why I bought it. Well, actually, I was living in bear country and wanted something with heft to bury in a black bears skull if need be. I liked the Trailhawk but it was too light. I still feel that the Rifleman is the more usefull all round tool of the two.

 

[Ole Coot]

I don't care what you use up close it makes a mess. I still have my EK edge & 1/2 and my K-Bar from the '60s, and wouldn't hesitate to use either. I have played with hawks & throwing knives but can't understand why one would throw away their weapon without a backup. I have carried concealed for many years and always carry a decent knife. If I am somewhere I can't carry either legally I have my trusty hickory walking stick, which I don't need but it is a better weapon and nobody knows how deadly it is. Dead is dead so give me the hammer or Home Depot hatchet, either will do the job.

 

[upnorth]

I don't think that it is mentaly/emotionaly healthy to be sharpening up a hawk with the thoughts of hacking people up with it. I'd rather think of mine as a cool historical tool to build a shelter or start a camp fire with. We aren't living in the 1700s anymore.

 

[Cutshaw]

And I clean my Glock 30 and Bushmaster with only thoughts of a paper target.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

The reason I buy Hawks?

Cuz' they're fun!

The handles DO fit my hand more comfortably, and I do like a longer handle, lighter head moreso than a heavy head short handle. A little more versatile for me, and doesn't hurt my tendonitis tenderized forepaws.

I also like the ease of making handles for them.

All in all I like things that are different, and more unique to me- not like every other dude whose strolled down the hardware aisle gets a hold of.

using it for defense? Don't think it'll make a big difference either way. I have a foot and a half long kukri beside my bed also, as well as a Golok. I don't think one is gonna be more jury friendly than the other, especially after I cut up said home intruder and insert him into my wood chipper. (just kiddin'...I keep the hawk beside my bed cause of earthquakes, windstorms and such, thoe other two just often rest there after being fondled or sharpened for an evening in front of the television.)