Axe throwing

  • Hey Guest, Early bird pricing on the Summer Moot (29th July - 10th August) available until April 6th, we'd love you to come. PLEASE CLICK HERE to early bird price and get more information.

tim_n

Full Member
Feb 8, 2010
1,726
124
Essex
So, if I fancy teaching axe throwing, how do I become an instructor? Seems to be a lot of instructors around with safety marshals but no courses to become one.
 

tim_n

Full Member
Feb 8, 2010
1,726
124
Essex
There's a link on the bushmoot forum bit. They're out at the moment!

Was hoping to teach scouts but I'm concerned that there will need to be a governing body or some such to provide safe rules and guidance on "range setup" even though most of it is either common sense or similar to my rifle range instruction. It's ask and prepare to be disappointed or not and await someone to tell us off.

Ho hum. One for Gilwell I suspect!
 
Sep 1, 2012
159
0
Manchester
The ones we used at the moot were from here, but they are currently out of stock: http://woodsmithexperience.co.uk/shop/category/throwing-axes
Round off the bevel and round off the inside edges of the eye, fit the handle nicely to the head. Spare handles are very cheap so buy two.

Cold Steel ones are okay after a little work : http://www.coldsteel-uk.com/store/Tomahawks-Throwing-Axes.html
These are also out of stock, but there are other sources for them. Frontier, Norse, Pipe and Spike are the best. The Trail hawk is very ugly and the Rifleman is much heavier than the others. Bin the grub screw, strip off the paint, round off the bevel and round off the inside edges of the eye, carve and sand out the damage done to the handle when they bodged it on at the factory. The spare handles are very expensive.

More modern choices:

SOG Fusion Tactical Tomahawk: http://www.heinnie.com/product.asp?P_ID=3806
I dont have one but they seem to hold up to real throwing. Expensive.

Bahco HFGS07400: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bahco-BAHHF...reglass-Hatchet/dp/B000Y8QXLS/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt
This is perfect out of the box in almost every way, apart from the orange plastic handle. If you can live with that, buy one.
 
Sep 1, 2012
159
0
Manchester
Was hoping to teach scouts but I'm concerned that there will need to be a governing body or some such to provide safe rules and guidance on "range setup" even though most of it is either common sense or similar to my rifle range instruction. It's ask and prepare to be disappointed or not and await someone to tell us off.

There is no governing body as such, but if there was it would be http://knifethrowing.co.uk/ and they already do throwing with Scout groups. Organize it in the same way as an archery range and you'll be fine. Suitable backstop and safe overshoot/rebound area, one thrower and one axe per target, everyone else behind the thrower, all done under control of an instructor.
 

tim_n

Full Member
Feb 8, 2010
1,726
124
Essex

SimonM

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Apr 7, 2007
4,015
6
East Lancashire
www.wood-sage.co.uk
We throw Cold Steel Norse 'hawks with or Explorers...we had a course run within our Scouting County and a few of us "qualified".

It's very addictive and great fun!

20130808_183623_zpsb6f5eb1c.jpg
 

tim_n

Full Member
Feb 8, 2010
1,726
124
Essex
I've sent an email regarding the mouse, worse comes to worse I'll get a "you've been tangoed" axe instead.
 
Sep 1, 2012
159
0
Manchester
Dave, are you able to give me a list of potential risks and what can be done to negate them? Have found this:http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/20...omahawk-throwing-to-your-next-scouting-event/

That is spot on. Risks include missing the target, so have a controlled area behind the target for hawks to land in. Hawks rebounding from the target when they dont stick, these can go sideways as well as back towards the thrower. Soft ground helps a lot to absorb the energy of rebounding hawks. The log round itself is heavy and takes a severe pounding so make sure it is securely mounted. When hanging a round I always use two independent lengths of paracord so that if one is cut the other will stop the target from crashing to the ground. Only one hawk per target, as hawk-on-hawk collisions are expensive.

Stand with the non-throwing side foot forwards (left, for a right handed thrower), raise the hawk with the elbow back alongside the shoulder and up at shoulder level or slightly above. Hold the hawk horizontally supporting the weight of the head, this needs a strong wrist. The handle should be aimed at the target. A common error is to let the hawk slope down and to the left, this results in angled throws that do not stick even though they hit blade-first. Use a big swinging overarm throw and pop the hand open on the release. If the hawk dives into the ground at the foot of the target, the grip was only slackened and not popped open, dragging the hawk low.

I learned a lot from this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLT4tSLU9G0
 

BCUK Shop

We have a a number of knives, T-Shirts and other items for sale.

SHOP HERE