Tomahawk

[St Samwise]

For a number of years I have wanted a proper tomahawk. My grandad was a partime blacksmith while he worked as a gamekeeper and mademe a very small tomahawk when i was 5 or six, it was and is blunt and yet brilliantly balanced and was my most prized position as a child, it went everywhere with me and i have lent it out to a small cousin on the condition that breakges are payed with by death Anyway i was wondering if andbody knows a tomahawk that is not a gransfors, i do use their axes, SFA and double bit working, but as this is for playing around with i dont want to shell out 135 quid, i wish i could. I have seen theese http://www.woodsmithstore.co.uk/sho.../Product/Tomahawk+Single+Handed+Throwing+Axe/ but wonder if they would be suitable for bush work as they are advertised as a throwing axe, if you know any models or makes i dont please let me know




Thanks

Samwise

 

[Draven]

I can't say for certain, but I imagine that most axes advertised as throwing axes will be a bit on the soft side for real cutting/carving, since they're meant to withstand solid impacts. The same is usually true for throwing knives. I imagine this may be quite a common problem with tomahawks, though can't be sure - I'd really like to get my hands on a small tomahawk myself, so I'll be watching this thread intently. I really love the look of one hatchet shown in Nessmuk's Woodcraft:

Which, while probably not technically a tomahawk, is at least tomahawk-ish If you're looking for a small one, and want a hammer poll (may as well IMO!) you may be able to find someone who will forge one out of an old cross pein - I'm going to try that route if I can't find one I like that's small enough (about 1-1.5' helve) but I've no idea how much it would cost. Bigger axes can be done this way too of course, with a bigger hammer, but I daresay it may be more cost effective to buy one ready.

Pete

 

[St Samwise]

yes i supose you have a point about the hardness of blade, although mine will be used for coppicing and the odd thicker tree i bet it would still be a problem

Samwise

 

[British Red]

Looks like a perfectly serviceable hawk that. Probably not much use as an axe (as they state). Cold steel do a decent range - the riflemans is quite like the one Draven illustrates and the throwing more like the one the woodsmith store has.

They are cheap and cheerful but fun

This one is also fun...but not made any more

Red

 

[Draven]

You always get the nicest shinies Red

Cheers for the heads up on Cold Steel, I've seen them but expected them to be rubbish - do they hold an OK edge? They say they're 1055, which I thought would be a bit low carbon, but I know little to nothing about what steels are good for axes.. reckon I'm torn between the rifleman's hawk and the trail hawk, the former having a longer cutting edge and the latter looking to have a better finish... according to the pics on cold steel UK anyway. Reckon they'd both look fine cut down to about 14" handles too!

Cheers
Pete

 

[Mesquite]

Have a look at the hawk that Pignut posted about on this thread

 

[British Red]

Riflemans is a heavy old beast. More like an axe than a hawk in my view. I'd sooner carry a "proper" axe. The throwing hawk is fun though,

Both seem to keep an okay edge tbh.

I like Pignuts one too

 

[Old Pa]

The two Cold Steel hawks I have were both made in China for American Tomahawk years ago. Both of mine are of the rifleman type with a hammer face on the poll. Both were made of steel that my file says is significantly softer than, for example, Council Tools axe heads, but on a par with the steel hardening Council puts on their ground grubbing implements. The up side is they are less likely to chip. The downside is they don't hold an edge like a harder steel.

 

[Barney]

I have always wanted a Tomahawk ever since I was a kid all the others wanted to be cowboys, not me though.

 

[Torak]

What about these
http://http://www.heinnie.com/search.asp?s=ayplaz105126&strKeywords=tomahawk&submit=Search

 

[Draven]

What about these
http://www.heinnie.com/search.asp?s=ayplaz105126&strKeywords=tomahawk&submit=Search

Fixed your link mate

I reckon I'll get a cold steel hawk, probably the trail hawk since I want a lighter one - may review, if you want to hold out St Samwise!

Pete

 

[woof]

There's some starting at £14.99 on ebay, at the moment.

Rob

 

[trail2]

I have a CS Trail hawk. First thing I did was clean off the black paint.Holds an ok edge. I use it camping,hunting (handy for splitting pelvis bones) and light cutting work around the
place.Not bad for the money if you understand its limits.
Jon R.

 

[Bravo4]

Quite a selection of tomahawks here:
http://www.crazycrow.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=842-100-000

 

[St Samwise]

i too fancy a cold steel trail draven, so may wait for the review though i may not, i am an impulsive chap



Samwise

 

[Lurch]

You've made me want a Gransfors Tomahawk now!

 

[Draven]

Bravo4 - they don't ship overseas unless you spend upwards of $200 sadly

St Samwise - same here I won't be able to get a hold of one until a bit into next month though sadly. Cold Steel have videos of their hawks though, just in case you want to know if you can chop into a car door with one

Lurch - They do look like sweet hawks!

 

[Matt.S]

Turning ball-pein hammers into tomahawks is quite popular with some smiths. Perhaps try on British Blades?

 

[Lurch]

Dunno whether to go for the french or the British version.
Reckon I'll get both and see which I prefer when they come.

 

[The Cumbrian]

Dunno whether to go for the french or the British version.
Reckon I'll get both and see which I prefer when they come.

Have you got an "Axe Room" in your house Mark?

I've got an image of a room like the one on "Highlander" where Conner McLeod stabs himself, but instead of being full of historical artefacts is just full of fine axes.

Cheers, Michael.