Whats the difference THawk and AXE?

[jamesdevine]

I have been meaning to ask this for a while but what is the big difference between them.

I can see there is a difference in appearance but what else makes a Tomahawk and what makes and axe. Also what makes the Axe the popular choice of tool over the Tomahawk?


James

PS probably opened a can of worms here.

 

[Gary]

James,

In the simplist of terms the difference is an axe is a tool and a tomahawk, fransisca and all similar choppers are weapons. Of course each can be pressed into service either role but that it the basic difference.

To define the difference further I would suggest a tomahawk can be thrown while an axe isnt really meant to be. I include in the term tomahawk (which is native american) such europe weapons as fransisca's and the smaller hatchet type weapons used by germanic warriors back in the dark ages.

There are other differences too - for instance the shape of the bit - a hawks bit being made so that the throw angles the bit in such a way as to stick in a target while an axes bit should lay flat making it better for chopping.

Also the classic hawk handle was a straight shaft making it less than ideal for chopping while an axe has the classic swan neck type handle. The hawk handles length is decided by the arm length of the warrior in as much as to be effective it should turn 1 full rotation when thrown across a gap of 7 paces - an axes handle is choosen for its length in felling , limbing ect.

Nothing better denotes the difference to my mind than the fact that during the revolutionary war both american and british troops were issued axes for wood chopping ect and tomahawks for fighting in place of their bayonets when operating in dense woodland areas.

Hope that has helped.

 

[stevec]

i thought i read somwhere that a straight handle gives better control of the cut angle than the deers foot patern, can't rememer the right url, but the site was somehting like the outdoors magazine others on here might have seen it before.
sc

 

[jamesdevine]

Thanks Gary

A pretty comprehensive explanation.

My confusion arouse from reading Stephen E Ambroses book on Meriweather(sp) Lewis from the Corps of Discovery and he referres to them using Hawks as tool, weapons and trade items but I would imagine from your explaination that they would have had to have had different tools.

Like a hachet and a tomahawk even if it was only to ensure that if the weapon was not be damged in anyway by normal work making it usless.

Thanks again.

James

 

[stevec]

eureka i has it
http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_index.php?target=/s_article.php?id_article=11 try that link, it was the article i was looking for, just took a bit of time. there is some quite useful stuff on this stite in general.
sc

 

[stevec]

damn thats not the link i really wanted, cut'n'paste crud. oh well, just look for an article on advanced axe selection, and scroll down,
i'll have to try better next time :shock:

 

[sargey]

perhaps another difference lies in the fact that hawk handles are generally mounted by sliding in through the top of the head, with a taper preventing the handle going too far. hatchet handles slide into the head from the bottom, and are fitted with a wedge. the inside of the eye on a hawk is tapered, on a hatchet it's a sort of hourglass shape.

hawks tend to have a slightly softer temper and thicker edges, to absorb the shock of throwing impacts.

the two terms were often used interchangeably, IIRC on roger's rangers standing orders for example.

as far as handle preference goes, thestright handle was often used on double bit axes, but often with a boss or bulge at the base of the helve/handle.

cheers, and.

 

[the naughty boy]

seems to me that a tommahawks head is smaller than an axe head, you can clearly see the difference in manuverability between the two in a combat situation. i would always go for the hawk choice as youd get 4 or 5 hits with a hawk for each axe blow.

 

[Martyn]

...i would always go for the hawk choice as youd get 4 or 5 hits with a hawk for each axe blow.

...and I would always choose a lightsabre in preference to either, as you can never know when you're gonna run into Darth Vader in the woods!

...next fantasy? :roll:

 

[Buckshot]

Or maybe even a couple of thousand heavily armed troops stood in front of you

Mark

 

[Adi007]

...i would always go for the hawk choice as youd get 4 or 5 hits with a hawk for each axe blow.

...and I would always choose a lightsabre in preference to either, as you can never know when you're gonna run into Darth Vader in the woods!

...next fantasy? :roll:

I'm with Hans Solo

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

 

[C_Claycomb]

Solidarity in the Edged Tools Mods! I am with Martyn, I would take the lightsabre any day

I think that hawks tend to be lighter than axes. Some are purely fighting weapons, such as those issued in Vietnam, but the lots of the more traditional desings work as tools too. The most universal difference that I can see is the weight, and the straight handle.

If you are traveling light, a hawk would be good, 'cause you don't have to carry the handle with you, you can use any strong straight bit of wood.

Chris

 

[al]

you could also smoke a hawk some of them anyway, made specialy with a pipe in the handle and head, sposed to be where the saying "bury the hatchett" came from , in the ground that is not in yodas head :-D

 

[the naughty boy]

...i would always go for the hawk choice as youd get 4 or 5 hits with a hawk for each axe blow.

...and I would always choose a lightsabre in preference to either, as you can never know when you're gonna run into Darth Vader in the woods!

...next fantasy? :roll:

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ohh my aching sides.........

??? your point being?
the point i made was well within the realms of reality,albeit a hypothetical situation.
MODERATED
Remainder of the message deleted ...
naughty boy - personal attacks and profanity are not allowed or welcome on this forum. Please refrain from both in future.

Adi007

 

[Martyn]

Thanks Adi.

??? your point being?

My point (as a moderator) being, ...an admittedly clumsy attempt at using humour to moderate your post. Discussing your preference for the hawk in terms of how many blows you can get in, or in terms of a combat situation has nothing to do with bushcraft and nothing to do with the original question, nothing to do with reality (when was the last time you were actually in an axe fight? Do you know anyone who has ever been in one? Is it in the slightest bit relevant to this forum?) ...it might even be seen as offensive. This is bushcraftuk not combatuk.

If you persist in using such profanities (which have since been deleted by Adi) to address fellow forum members in such an aggressive manner, whether they are moderators or not, I'm thinking your membership of BcUK will be a brief one.

 

[the naughty boy]

oh i thought the question was about the difference between the two and their uses.and considering that the tommahawk is primarily a combat weapon i thought my point was pertinent.as for it being offensive,i find that a bit rich coming from a knife forum moderator.my post was everything to do with the question and not an opportunity for you to post garbage and belittlement at anyones expence.

a good portrayal of the tommahawk is seen in "last of the mohicans" film where it is seen being used by the indian warriors.you can clearly see the advantage it would have over an axe,and portrays the difference very well between axe and tommahawk-tool and weapon. do you get my point now?

anyway..lets have some more of your razor sharp wit,but post it in the appropriate thread please.and as for axe fights and personal experience.....none of your business.

MODERATED
Thread closed.
Martyn.