Cold steel axe opinions

[Blood]

Good evening All.
Been smacking my lips for a tomahawk now for some time. Having decided there's no chance of a hand forged replica of a 1700/1800 pattern til the funds get sharper, however I've been sharing reviews of the different available patterns from Cold Steel.
Does any one of this parish have direct experience of either the riflemans/trail or pipe hawk?
Many thanks

[BJ]

I use a cold steel trail hawk (modified) and I am quite happy with it for light work.http://www.naturalbushcraft.co.uk/forum/album.php?albumid=171&attachmentid=6526

[Blood]

Links not working BJ, but I will have a search...

[Paul De Fitter]

Yeah, I have the trail hawk, just needed a bit of sharpening up & works a treat, it's not too heavy, splits very well.
I use it in combination with a saw & hardly ever use my knife anymore.

[Blood]

For me it's to match the period I want to learn the most from and prior to and so it will 'match' the look I want to have. I also want to make sure it is fully practical and after watching reviews and first hand views from brothers of this parish, I'm ordering today :-)
Going for the pipe hawk version and already have a piece of maple waiting to be shaped nd fitted

[headshot]

good luck with it blood,look forward to a few pics when you get sorted T^...atb kev

[OakAshandThorn]

Saxonaxe has one which he did some mods to, as well ;).
I know a lot of other folks who own them, too, and I've heard naught but favourable reviews - the steel is good, but it's a project to make it into an ideal demahigan. Still, it's better than spending twice or three-times that amount :).
Eager to see your progress and pics :D.

[biker-bri]

Hi Blood, have you tried this place for ideas http://jas-townsend.com/tomahawks-c-20_59.html
ATB Bri

[Blood]

Nice find bri, shame there US otherwise the prices are very good. Import duty would make them same if not more than buying here. Love the long trade knives and the throwing blades.

[SteveW]

I'm a big fan of these little Tomahawks. Lightweight, adaptable, versatile, cheap-ish and collapsible, they tick all my boxes for a small camp axe, and they are eminently modifiable too.
I have two now. I bought my first one and did a few mods on it after reading a thread on a bushcraft site and have recently picked up another secondhand to have a play with.
http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s580/shiroyama196/012_zpsdeaeef39.jpg (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/shiroyama196/media/012_zpsdeaeef39.jpg.html)

The two heads side by side, as you can see the paint has been stripped off with somee Nitromors and the heads have been given a re-profile of both the cutting edge and the profile. A vinegar patina makes the heads less susceptible to rust and gives a somewhat matt finish.
http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s580/shiroyama196/013_zpsb5abea14.jpg (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/shiroyama196/media/013_zpsb5abea14.jpg.html)

The wood was just sanded and given a bit of flame distressing before several coats of Danish oil to protect it. I got one leather mask with the secondhand axe, and now just need to make a new one for the first and they are good to go.

There are lots of youtube videos on this little hawk that show just how versatile a tool this is, and remember if you get bored, you can even throw it.:)

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/snowdogs777/Knives/Steve191.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/snowdogs777/Knives/Steve189.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/snowdogs777/Knives/Steve188.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/snowdogs777/Knives/Steve194.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/snowdogs777/Knives/Steve186.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/snowdogs777/Knives/Steve187.jpg

[FishyFolk]

Just picked up my Trail Hawk from the post office. My jaw kind of dropped when I saw how tiny the head is. I've never even seen a Tomahawk up close before. And imagened them as some kind of cool designed hatchet with a longer shaft. Nope...looks like a toy to me. But okay...I have never used one, and held mine for about 30 seconds. So will not pass judgement. And my good will towards it has been somewhat restored by this thread.

Will probably only use it to process kindling and fuel for the wood gas stove anyway. But time will tell if it can replace the Leuko for the task :-)

And fun to own, and even funnier to mod :-)

[Blood]

This is what I ended up getting my hands on :)
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/23/yry9a9e4.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/23/a5uhemyb.jpg

[FishyFolk]

I was in the shed trying to strip the paint off mine. It's obvious that the carburator cleaner that I used on my cheap hatchets for the same purpose is not doing anything to the paint on the Trail Hawk.

What have you folks used?

Oh and it's pretty much clear that had I tried to use this weapon on anyone, the charge would have been "Violence with a blunt instrument"...so it will need a lot of love before it's even remotely usefull....I like that :-)

[Blood]

Nitro mors is the most common I heard of dudes using to get it off. Having fun? And shame on you, no real man had a shed. It's a creative hub for the other half of the wilderness widows....

[FishyFolk]

I need my pouting shed!

Mike of the Bushcraft Bartons used ordinary paint thinner on his. I don't have that so will need to go to town in the morrow and get some!
Meanwhile I am sanding down the the woody part, shortening it down and giving it some oil...

Well...it's getting late, so saving that for tomorrow :-)

Wow that thing is blunt...bloody fingers next!

[bikebum1975]

The CS hawk is a fun little chopper that being said they suck out of the box. Did the usual to mine when I had it stripped the paint gave a good sharpen. The steel is a bit soft on them kinda easy to roll the edge but again that said nothing a quick touch can't handle be it a diamond stone file or what have ya. For 30 bucks they are fun to play with. Rather have a full sized axe for heavy work

[bikebum1975]

Just picked up my Trail Hawk from the post office. My jaw kind of dropped when I saw how tiny the head is. I've never even seen a Tomahawk up close before. And imagened them as some kind of cool designed hatchet with a longer shaft. Nope...looks like a toy to me. But okay...I have never used one, and held mine for about 30 seconds. So will not pass judgement. And my good will towards it has been somewhat restored by this thread.

Will probably only use it to process kindling and fuel for the wood gas stove anyway. But time will tell if it can replace the Leuko for the task :-)

And fun to own, and even funnier to mod :-)

For kindling processing they are great even for liming a log they work well I just wouldn't use for much heavier than splitting maybe forearm branches. They beat having to baton a knife through a branch

[jus_young]

Keep hearing folks saying that their hawks came blunt??? I ordered three to use for axe throwing and all came sharp...

Weird

[FishyFolk]

Lats just say that if I wanted to cut trough butter with mine, i'd have to heat it up first....

[bikebum1975]

Well let's say it was sharp just not sharp enough lmao :D

[SteveW]

Nitromors was what I used to to strip the paint on mine, it worked like a charm but I have no idea if you can get it in Norway.
I never had a problem with soft steel on either of mine, but the one from the shop was blunt when it arrived. I was also a bit surprised how small the head was, even if I did go on to make them even smaller :) The pipe and spike Hawk are larger and every bit as good for modding so it's easy to get something you like.