A new tomahawk handle

[John Fenna]

At the moment I am doing my QFC level and to relieve the pressure of Academia I decided to make a new handle for my 'Hawk.
The head and original handle were obtained from Biker of this Parish and are excellent (if French ...) but I felt I would like a longer handle...
After finding a suitably sized bit of Ash, well seasoned and straight as I could hope for I set to with axe, drawknife, knife, rasps and sandpaper and came up with this ... and some firewood!
Those who have seen me working wood will understand why there is one axe handle and lots of firewood...
Still - I am pretty pleased with the new handle and am in the process of making a leather throat guard for it to match its mask... it will also have a wrist loop - more to stop my hand sliding off the end of the handle than to hold it if I drop the axe
with original handle alongside

Alone and unashamed

 

[knifeman]

That's a nice hawk!


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[Dean]

That is a nice looking bit of wood and iron John bachgen

 

[Mesquite]

Very nicely done Mr Fenna

 

[Robson Valley]

How did you decide on a longer handle? Certainly well done. Has it had an effect on your striking accuracy?

 

[redbranchwarrior]

Lovely bit of work and a lovely looking hawk.....

 

[John Fenna]

How did you decide on a longer handle? Certainly well done. Has it had an effect on your striking accuracy?

I have yet to try the new handle out apart from a couple of swings at my chopping block - but it seems to improve accuracy and power. The edge on the hawk is stunning and bites really well. I will use the short handle for throwing practice - I have two of the short handles as I originally wanted the axe purely as a thrower - but it is a great chopper as well so the extra length (18" top to bottom) makes it more of a practical tool.
I decided on the longer handle as my other hawk has a handle this long and feels good ... but as it is purely decorative (a decorators idea of a pipe hawk I was given ages ago... made of mild steel....) I have never really used it an action apart from waving it at the TV when watching westerns
Decorators hawk

 

[Clouston98]

Looks great John! Cracking work .

 

[John Fenna]

Dressed!

 

[Tony]

Looking good John

 

[crosslandkelly]

Very nice work John.

 

[John Fenna]

Thanks guys
I just used the hawk to cut some kindling - the extra length really does make it a better tool to use ... I think I have cut a months supply of kindling...

 

[Tony]

Burn it all John, just go for it, let your demon out in the fireplace Then you can split some more tomorrow

 

[John Fenna]

I have just realised that the hawk is almost the same length as my GB SFA - man I like that size!

 

[topknot]

Top man John.

Andy

 

[John Fenna]

I have given the hawk a bit of a workout up in the woods - it really is good to work with - and it still throws well!

 

[Robson Valley]

Nice to know = a top result in both form and function.

 

[Pantherapardus]

Very Nice! Interesting that you decided to go for the long handle. have you heard of the extra long handles that some native Americans used (apparently) specifically for cavalry combat? as I under stand it the handles could be up to a meter long. I haven't had a crack at something like that but it would be interesting. are you still happy with a longer handle?