[Cwlongshot]

Anyone give any thought to one?

I have a Vietnam tomahawk from cold steel but like the looks of the Trench Hawk too. Any thoughts?

http://www.coldsteel.com/trench-hawk.html

CW

[Bushflyr]

Mall Indian.

Tomahawks do a lousy job chopping and splitting wood when compared to an axe, a lousy job stopping threats when compared to a gun, and a lousy job doing anything else compared to a knife.

They're a fun toy, but no substitute for real tools.

[bdcochran]

An excellent choice if you live in a wooded area and expect to be on your own for survival. You probably would want some beyond entry level leatherman and a quality folder first.

Not a viable choice if you live in a desert area, the great plains or above the snow line.

[Glocksanity]

Selko said the Tomahawk was his favorite and go to tool. Never went anywhere without it.

YMMV.

[quake]

I'd have to - strangely perhaps - agree with both Bushflyr and bdcochran on this. In the woods, a good tomahawk can be very effective; for defensive use, it would be far from my first choice. In the woods I'd prefer a normal hatchet over a tomahawk, but to be fair a tomahawk can still accomplish quite a bit.

That said, epsecially seeing as you already have a combat-oriented tomahawk, I could never see a 'need' for a second; but it doesn't always have to be about need. Sometimes "just because" is a good enough reason for a new purchase.


At least for me personally; my wife seems to feel differently about that. She didn't at all buy the "some of them are left-handed knives and some of them are right-handed knives" argument when she looked in the safe a while back.

[cyrsequipment]

Originally Posted by Bushflyr

Mall Indian.

Tomahawks do a lousy job chopping and splitting wood when compared to an axe, a lousy job stopping threats when compared to a gun, and a lousy job doing anything else compared to a knife.

They're a fun toy, but no substitute for real tools.

Name a handheld weapon that you would choose to stop a threat instead of a gun.

I personally don't see the need for one but as Quake said, you don't have to need something to buy it.

If I was going to chop down a tree or chop kindling, that blade style would not be my first choice at all. And I'm not seeing it as an effective weapon, but if it works for you...

[Batesmotel]

Originally Posted by cyrsequipment

If I was going to chop down a tree or chop kindling, that blade style would not be my first choice at all. And I'm not seeing it as an effective weapon, but if it works for you...

This. A good hatchet is a better tool and a knife is a better weapon. I play with one at the competitions at mountain man events. It would not be my first choice in a bug out bag. I have a hatchet, Estwing axe and a large knife in the tool box in my truck. Tomahawk is in my rendezvous junk at home.

[Cwlongshot]

Thanks for the tips guys. I liked the "look" and watched the Patriot last week end and it got me thinking I guess...

CW

[AK_Stick]

Several of my crew chiefs carried them in Iraq. Can be a very handy tool that can do most of the cutting/smashing chores you require.



I really want one to carry on my crash bag, but I just haven't found the tool I want. Probably going to break down and just order one of these

http://www.stanleytools.com/default....ty+Bar+-+30%22

[9mm +p+]

Keep a CS trench hawk in my Jeep, never know when it'll come in handy.

[lawman800]

I have a trailhawk with the hammer back so I can use it for pounding stakes and nails. Came in handy a few times when I needed to have a flat pounding surface and I didn't have a hammer with me. As for the axe part, yeah, a full sized axe would do better but for light chopping and all around coolness, the tomahawk wins.

My buddy has the trench hawk, vicious looking weapon... but not very utilitarian when you need it, it's more like a dedicated weapon hawk.

[Bushflyr]

Originally Posted by cyrsequipment

Name a handheld weapon that you would choose to stop a threat instead of a gun.

Your point?

I personally don't see the need for one but as Quake said, you don't have to need something to buy it.

Hell, he can buy whatever he wants. Like I said above it's a cool toy. But, since he posted in the S&P forum, I gave my thoughts on it as a S&P tool

Originally Posted by AK_Stick

I really want one to carry on my crash bag, but I just haven't found the tool I want. Probably going to break down and just order one of these..

Handle one of those before you buy. I've played with them just because they look so cool, but they are FREAKING HEAVY for what they are. They're also expensive and I couldn't really figure out anything that it could do better than a regular old cheapie crowbar. Honestly, do you need a board straightener in your BOB?

I picked up an 18" Eastwing prybar for ~20$ and it's been awesome. I used the crap out of it doing demo and construction and it held up pretty good. The only damage was I finally destroyed the nail notch by pounding it through nails and screws to shear them off the concrete forms. It's compact, light, cheap, and does an awesome job.

Originally Posted by lawman800

My buddy has the trench hawk, vicious looking weapon... but not very utilitarian when you need it, it's more like a dedicated weapon hawk.

On that note one of the harder training groups reviewed hawks in general. (I don't recall where the write up was) The consensus was that a spike on the back posed just as much, if not more, danger to the wielder than his opponent. You could do some serious damage with a hawk, but for real fighting, a hammer back was a better choice. But overall a hawk was WAY down the list of HtH weapons.

[AK_Stick]

Originally Posted by Bushflyr

Handle one of those before you buy. I've played with them just because they look so cool, but they are FREAKING HEAVY for what they are. They're also expensive and I couldn't really figure out anything that it could do better than a regular old cheapie crowbar. Honestly, do you need a board straightener in your BOB?

I'm looking for something for my crash bag, so I need the ability to break armored windows, punch through steel vehicle sides/aircraft skin etc. My crash bag is more of a special tool/incident bag that a BOB.

[Bushflyr]

Ouch. You're going to be hard pressed to find a hand tool that does all that. Maybe the old style crash axe?



It would be interesting to kludge together a crash axe and a p38 and see how it did.

[cyrsequipment]

My point is that that two types of weapons have completely different purposes and you were comparing apples to oranges...

Outdoor Hub mobile, the outdoor information engine

[kimo]

I carry a heavy machete rather than a hawk. Good for chopping, cutting, clearing, shaving

[Bravo 1]

Originally Posted by Bushflyr

Mall Indian.

Tomahawks do a lousy job chopping and splitting wood when compared to an axe, a lousy job stopping threats when compared to a gun, and a lousy job doing anything else compared to a knife.

They're a fun toy, but no substitute for real tools.

Toys for unskilled posters maybe, but you really shouldn't assume that everybody is unskilled and unconditioned.

I'll wager a lot of indians will disagree with your informative post.

[AK_Stick]

Originally Posted by Bushflyr

Ouch. You're going to be hard pressed to find a hand tool that does all that. Maybe the old style crash axe?



It would be interesting to kludge together a crash axe and a p38 and see how it did.

Crash axes are a great idea, wrapped in terrible execution. Every helicopter has one. Having actually used one, I find them about useless.

[Big Bird]

Well, to be fair, a spear is probably the best handheld weapon an untrained person can use. It provides standoff and also gives you both slashing and stabbing capabilty.
It also requires the least amount of skill vs say a knife or tomahawk. Needless to say, there is a reason the spear was THE infantry weapon of choice for eons.

But a well designed tomahawk has way more utility than a big honking knife. I think the Vietnam style tomahawks are not that great--I find the cutting edge has bad angles.
I also would rather see a hammer poll opposite the cutting edge vs a spike. Certainly a tomahawk is not a master of anything. But a good one can chop wood fine. Its a fearsome CQB weapon if you understand its limitations (forget throwing it). Trust me, a tomahawk wielding Indian ruined more than a few white men's days.

I have used a tomahawk on deer and its adequate. Not great. But you use the head like an eskimo knife and it can do the job. Not as well as a 3" hunting knife. But easily as well as something like a Cold Steel Trailmaster knife.

Don't dis the tomahawk.

[lawman800]

I thought pikemen were standard formal infantry weapons but for eons, it was just a club or whatever stick or blunt object was at hand... then if you were a little more successful, you had some type of chopping bladed weapon that slashed but no stabbing capability.

[Veedubklown]

Originally Posted by Bravo 1

I'll wager a lot of indians will disagree with your informative post.

I'll wager most will show you how to open a beer with one.

[FireForged]

Originally Posted by Bushflyr

Tomahawks do a lousy job chopping and splitting wood when compared to an axe, a lousy job stopping threats when compared to a gun, and a lousy job doing anything else compared to a knife.

They're a fun toy, but no substitute for real tools.

As a person who has used a lagana (aka VTAC) tomahawk for several years... I tend to agree with bushflyr's comment.

A tomahawk can be a great weapon for battle.. just not much of a utility.

[Aceman]

There are wood tool axes, and there are war axes.

Tomahawk is definitely "in the middle" I'd think the "in the middle" axe I'd want/like does not exist: Heavy enough for woodwork, balanced enough for war...

It's a light single hand war axe that CAN be used for other duties, IMO.

But let's definitely don't be confused - after a lot of Okinawin Kobudo, I would definitely put a hurt on you with one...or a lot of goofy things ranging from a big stick to my belt.


For the skilled person, with the right axe, I'd say it would be a great choice. Don't know that many of the "right" tomahawks exist...

[Big Bird]

Here's my favorite hawk--a hand forged hammer poll hawk from Beaver Bill Keeler. It sharpens up wonderfully with a file and a DMT stone. Will cut all the kindling or tent poles you could ever want. Pound in the pegs or hammer in some nails. Very versatile.

The beautiful thing about a tomahawk from a S&P perspective is the friction fit handle. If you break the handle its no big deal to fashion another using nothing more than a pocket knife.

[Bushflyr]

Wow, that is gorgeous. I still stand by my previous assertion, particularly regarding spike hawks, but I would definitely be proud to own that.