Tomahawks in your arsenal

[claymore]

Closest I can come to a tomahawk is my Baileys 1.5 lbs Hudson's Bay axe I use for kindling (would go good in a BOB I'm sure).

[protus]

sharpen up a eastwing drywall/roofers hammer and be done with it..serves double duty then :)

[rockriver]

i attended an army ranger "best ranger competition" (spectator) a few years back.
one of the smaller competitions was throwing a tomahawk.
--
rr

[CLT46910]

I have used a Tommy for years. Around the camp they are very useful. Driving stakes, trimming firewood, also helpful in cleaning larger game. You can put a point on a stick a lot faster with a Tommy then a knife. You break the handle, you use the head to make you a new handle.

I also believe it would be better in hand to hand then most knives.

If I only had one thing to take in the wilderness with me, it would be a good Tommy. Number Two would be a good mills file to help keep it sharp.

[Boyd]

I carry a machete in the GMHB and that bag goes into my BOB which also has a hatchet.

I have a rambo knife that doubles as a machete in my gmhb :) Does that count?

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I have a rambo knife that doubles as a machete in my gmhb :) Does that count?

Only if you use it like him and cut open a cartridge and dump the powder in a wound and set it on fire!:D

[Boyd]

um.. I hope I never have to try that :)

[Klayton]

It is actually R M J tomahawks, ordered me the S13 Shrike (black of course).
They sell to the general public, but there is a fairly long turn around time, he gave me a 2-3 month estimation for delivery...

[RunAndGun]

sharpen up a eastwing drywall/roofers hammer and be done with it..serves double duty then :)

Estwing is the way to go. Home Depot has a great selection of Estwing products. The Carpenters Hatchet is the way to go in my opinion for a Hawk substitue. The drywall hammer is a close second. Roofers hatchet is an all together different animal and not a good hawk. These Estwings will get scary sharp and stay that way.

In Texas, Tomahawks are specifically listed as prohibited weapons. Unfortunately, allot of the these Hawks mentioned even have "Tomohawk" engraved on them. This is not going to give you any plausible deniability if law enforcement takes an interest in you. With a quality hatchet, or even better, a "Carpentry Tool" me thinks your going to stay out of trouble and have a better tool/weapon to boot.

I own every hatchet/axe Estwing currently makes with pride and use them all the time. But for a weapon/tool, the Estwing carpenters hatchet is the way to go.

[Swordarm4]

I've got a great hawk made from 5160 spring steel , it's irreplaceable in the woods. It throws , chops , splits , and will destroy bones from large game . In a fight you can push , pull , bludgeon , hack and slash. Not to mention you can remove the handle ( which is great for throwing at the back of rabbit heads for a quick kills) and use just the blade for hand to hand or as a primitive knife. There is a reason they have been used in many wars. If any body is interested I know blacksmith who will make you a quality wood handled hawk for a fraction of the cost of R M J. I've abused mine for three years now.

[snare]

I have a hawk that was hand forged by a blacksmith in Wisconsin. I bought it from a primitive skills school's site.

We used them often when I taught at a primitive skills school.

I agree with swordarm4. Very useful and versatile. Remove the head and it can be used as a primitive knife like swordarm said or a chopper or we used them (somewhat blunt the edge for this) as a hide scraper too. It is not an extremely efficient wood chopper...not really enough head weight, but the fact that if the handle breaks you can make another with.....just the head!.. is a big plus.

To be honest though chopping tools like axes, hatchets and hawks do not lend themselves well to stealth when used to chop wood. For that I prefer a saw, much quieter, much less of a distant sound signature.

As for training with it as use for a weapon, I feel kali/escrima lends itself well to this (and , obviously, machetes, knives, sticks too).

[Bear4570]

Been using the same "hawk" for 15 years now, Hunting, Camp chores, throwing, would not be without one. Been thru more than a few handles, but its easy to replace one if needed and I throw mine alot along with my knives, which sometimes are the cause for a new handle. But I'm a buckskinner by hobby and cannot fathom not have a good (forged, not cast) hawk.

[rice paddy daddy]

i attended an army ranger "best ranger competition" (spectator) a few years back.
one of the smaller competitions was throwing a tomahawk.
--
rr

I am not now, nor have I ever been, Ranger material. Wouldn't have lasted the first week's training.
But I just can't see throwing away my weapon. :D

[onebigelf]

I have had a Tactical Tomahawk for about 3yrs now and I love it. There is alot you can do with it for fighting or camping. I first saw one on TV being used be the U.S. army. After that I saw one at a gun show and got it. This is the link for the one I have, The cost is alot less then what I had to pay. If you don't have oen get one! Even if it's just one from chinamart. John1929

http://www.amazon.com/SOG-Specialty-.../dp/B000PICTYC

You can order them through WallyWorld .com and have it drop shipped to the local store for zero shipping cost.

JOhn

[4Adam41]

Protus,
I think you are spot on, my choice is a sharp roofing hatchet.