wrapping the hafts

[norca]

Help NEEDED
What benefits wrapping the hafts just under the heads is it to stop the head from slipping or just decorating seen some nice hawks with rawhide
and some with leather or cloth is there a spacial way to do this and were can I find out
thanks

 

[Mark Williams]

The wrap does help in retention. I've heard the term "nature's fiberglass" used. I dont suppose there's a wrong way of doing it. Just wrap around below the head and cris-cross wrap around the head with wet rawhide and let dry. In most cases where you are going to throw the weapon away the head slipping off could be a blessing instead of it breaking the haft. It takes a pretty precise wrong hit to made the head come off in my experience.

 

[norca]

Seen them wrapped by two hawks and others "nature's fiberglass"
good reply thanks

 

[Two Hawks]

I have used rawhide head/upper handle reinforcement for many years. The rawhide over the top of the head and spiral-wrapped on the upper (most frequently broken) part of the handle not only ensures that the head will not loosen up but reduces handle fractures from a "bad hit."
The rawhide is soaked in hot water and stretched as much as is possible during wrapping. Interim parts of the wrap are secured with artificial sinew. When the rawhide dries, it is hard as iron but would loosen up again if it got wet. Therefore it is heavily varnished to prevent absorbtion of moisture. That is also your maintenance chore (just like the rawhide web on your traditional Alaskan snowshoes) - when it gets scraggy, varnish it again!
Hope this information helps.
Best regards,
Two Hawks
www.2hawks.net

 

[norca]

Thanks Two Hawks for your reply much has been learnt from this and your knowledge can only help in knowing whats what
Hows the UK orders going?

 

[glockman99]

I have a question on wrapping the handle of a 'Hawk with a leather boot-lace: What is the BEST way to anchor the start and end of the lace wrap so that it won't loosen-up with use? (I want to wrap the handle of both my Cold Steel Vietnam Tomahawk*, and my ATC Roger's Rangers Light Infantry Tomahawk.).

*Please don't laugh...I only paid $10 for it, including shipping..

 

[norca]

Try A Dab Of Pva Glue On Your Lace Then Wrap Making A Loop First Like You Would With A Hangmans Knot Put End Trough Loop And Pull The End Through Your Wrap The Pva Acts Like A Lube But Must Be Wet Then Add Some More To The Ends Let It Dry You Should Have A Leather Wrap That Will Not Slide Or Budge

You Could Do The Handle Wrap With Rawhide Lace This Will Dry Rock Hard Then Seal The Top With Pva Or Varnish
My Thanks To Two Hawks For His Advise [ Hope You Are Well]