Why not tomahawks?

[tedw]

Having an idle moment and just started wondering why tomahawks are not more popular with bushcrafters. They'd seem to be light, handy and the shaft is easily replaced if broken. They were obviously the right thing for North American conditions, Cold Steel make a variety and even Woodlore used to do one (?) but everyone now seems to go for the GB SFA and clones.

Just bushcraft fashion, or is there a good reason why tomahawks are not more popular?

Ted W

 

[ssj]

Ted-I agree. Tomahawks were standard woodcraft equipment for a least a hundred years on the American frontier. I don't pretend to be an expert but to me, that was one of the golden ages of bushcraft (There were probably many others but we know less about them). The combination of light weight and chopping power makes the tomahawk worthy of consideration.
Steve

 

[Doc]

Well, if you watch 'Last of the Mohicans' you see lots of tomahawks.....and none of them being used on trees.......

GB make tomahawks and they are very pricey but good. Cold Steel make a cheap one but quality is lower.

I did wonder about it as it would save weight - but at the end of the day a proper axe chops wood much better. I remember discussing this in a previous thread and commented that some people would view it as a weapon.

 

[scruff]

If you do a search for 'saxon axe' or something along those lines you'll find a link about these type of axes (?) or at least their european derivative. There's a guy makes 'em to order on there too.

 

[BlueTrain]

Nessmuk went into an involved discussion about light belt axes versus "full-grown" axes and insisted that the light belt axe was all you needed if you actually had to carry it with you. His story involved a small party that included a couple of men who had stashed a regular axe at their camp site, then couldn't find it. They were certain they were out of luck as regards all the duties performed by an axe but they were proved wrong.

You probably know that Nessmuk went to considerable trouble to have an axe or hatchet of his own design produced, though it was not really a tomahawk. You probably could call it one without harm, however. Older camping belt axes were actually quite small and light and, as a breed, have practically disappeared. But he would probably have been pleased with most tomahawks that I've seen and might have appreciated a pipe tomahawk.

 

[tedw]

Tomahawks do seem to get classed as weapons and I know a previous similar thread got shut down when it got silly . But they must been just as useful as tools or, like ssj says, they would not have been traded and carried for so long on the frontier - anyway, someone must have used something to chop wood for the fire in "Last of the Mohicans" (and how come nobody ever goes to the toilet in these films? ).

I'd think a tomahawk could be easily disassembled for carrying until needed but then maybe that would make it less safe in use. Dunno; it's a genuine query and I'd like to hear from anyone who's compared the two for bushcraft uses.

Rest assured, I'll probably join the SFA Owners Club eventually!

Ted W

 

[Buckshot]

I've actually got a hawk on order atm !
Hopefully I'll get it early in the new year???

Mark

 

[Carcajou Garou]

You have to put yourself in the era of that time, "tomahawks" were simply hatchets that were traded to the "natives" for furs etc... Before that era first nations did not have steel axes, they were made out of stone. Later, local smiths made similar tools that became the "tomahawk" . The steel tomahawk/hatchet was a great leap foreward from the stone ax and was adaptable in a dual role as a weapon, but many warriors still carried traditional war clubs of different patterns. "Hawks" were carried by my ancestors in the small of the back tucked in the belt/sash that carried their pouch, knife, charms etc... A GB SFA, Westerling LHA are about the same style and lenght (20" handle x 1-1/2 - 1-3/4lbs head), they are as convenient as a 'Hawk. The Husdon's Bay ax pattern was designed with angles 90/45 deg built in the head itself to help in building wooden accessories and lodges. Some mentioned the combo ax/pipe that is a post Columbian design, stone pipes were made of different stones available to first nation locally. Still today stone pipes are held sacred and used for ceremony, they are carried by trusted members of the tribe called "Pipe Carriers", they would not be used for war. CG :yo:

 

[Hoodoo]

Hmmmmm...I guess it's true what they say: timing is everything. A very timely thread.

Just got this one in the mail last night from Lee Reeves. I'm very fond of it already and we haven't known each other very long.

 

[Carcajou Garou]

Very nice hawk, Hoodoo, I like the clean style

 

[tedw]

I guessed Hoodoo would have a least one!

Taking Carcajou Garou's point on 'hawks being a similar size & weight to a SFA but expanding on their usefulness as tools, one of the things that attracted me to the idea was the hammer heads built into a couple of the Cold Steel designs. Useful or not? Axe blade in the forehead (DIY scalping? ) or safe?

Can you really break down a 'hawk into axe head and inoffensive, non-treatening stick? Or is the head there to stay once you've used it a few times?

Ted "hawkeye" W

 

[Carcajou Garou]

Tedw, sorry my mis-phrasing, the GB HA and the Westerling LHA are approx. the same size, a hawk has a handle of a similar lenght but the handle/head is lighter (at least mine is). In usefulness I like the GB hunter's ax (better steel) a bit better than my hawk as they carry the same. I carried a modified HB hatchet (a bit lighter) with a long 18+" handle inserted in my sash when travelling in my youth. If you take them side by side you will notice very similar characteristics of GB/Westerling and Hawks their virtue is their ease of carrying and use with one hand but allowing two handed use if needed. You'll also notice that the steel eye on the hawk is round and thinner, it would offer glancing blow at some point and possibly split the eye, not really a hammer. My hawk can be dissasembled by pounding the butt end of the handle back through the tapered eye in the head and but frankly have never seen anyone do this to carry it as such. I would imagine the constant assembly/disassembly would make the head/handle contact area very loose over a period of time not a good thing. My HB mod hatchet has a thicker back end and eye than usual to it, allowing it to hammer with less chance of splitting the eye. My "voyageur" ax is what I carried I carried most often on the trap line, being a bit heavier (2lbs+ head - 24" handle) than the hatchet it was more effecient and faster with each blow to construct various items that I needed. Today the Voyageur ax is relegated to my canoe kit and I carry the GB HA in my walk about, my mod HB hatchet had the handle broken when I lent it to a friend who promptly used it as a pry bar :aargh4: (I don't lend anymore) re-installed an original lenght handle. What ever you get, use it on small jobs and aquire skills and you will eventually be comfortable with any job that comes about. CG :yo:

 

[Paganwolf]

Heres some pic's of the GB French trade hawk, i use it regularly its a light and beautiful tool to work with ideal for light tasks, oh i mod'ed the handle and sheath

 

[Carcajou Garou]

Paganwolf, nice hawk I darkened the handle on mine then added large headed brass tacks a la aboriginal style. Also grooved the bottom of the handle and added a leather loop to add a better purchase of the hawk. I really like the style of the GB hawk, Is it available to the general public? or was it custom made? My hawk has a steel head that is quite hard, not easy to sharpen. CG :yo:

 

[Doc]

I had a look at a GB tomahawk at the last meet and it was undeniably very nice indeed. Feels like it an antique, even though it is new, if you see what I mean. I liked the light weight.

They are very expensive but I suppose compared to hand made knives, they are cheap!!

 

[Paganwolf]

Paganwolf, nice hawk I darkened the handle on mine then added large headed brass tacks a la aboriginal style. Also grooved the bottom of the handle and added a leather loop to add a better purchase of the hawk. I really like the style of the GB hawk, Is it available to the general public? or was it custom made? My hawk has a steel head that is quite hard, not easy to sharpen. CG :yo:

These Hawks are hand made by GB's top smith and are about 130 quid mine was a gift from my best friend so that makes it even more special to me, it sharpens to a razor edge as do all GB's and if i was stuck out in the middle of back and beyond i think this is what id want with me..

 

[Hoodoo]

Well, it's not like I have a whole drawer full.

Actually, I'm kinda new to hawks.

I got this one several weeks ago. This one is kinda burly.

That GB Hawk is a beaut! Pricey though.

 

[george]

Paganwolf - that certainly is a lovely hawk

Christmas time soon - I can feel a wish list coming on.

George

 

[Lost_Patrol]

Sorry to ask a daft newby question, but what is it that defines a tommahawk ?
Is it the fact that it can be disassembled, or are there other factors ?

 

[Carcajou Garou]

Paganwolf, :You_Rock_ Well that was such a post you made with those pictures that I went and ordered one. Will find out tomorrow what the delivery time and damages will be They are very nice if anything like the GB HA.
CG :yo: