Tomahawk as a tool or weapon ...

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SharpDog

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I have been looking at Monkey Edge Knives and Gear and they have some new Winkler Knives in stock. One series that caught my eye was the various tomahawk models:

Here is their 'Combat Axe':

WKK0013-1041-T.jpg
https://www.monkeyedge.com/Winkler-Knives-II-Axe-Combat-Axe-p/wkk0013.htm

Here is their 'Medic Axe':

WKK0031-2T.jpg
https://www.monkeyedge.com/Winkler-Knives-II-Axe-Medic-Axe-p/wkk0031.htm

The difference is the handle material and the 'butt end can opener cutting tool':

WKK0031-4T.jpg

Several decades ago during the 'tomahawk fad' I was interested in tomahawks as a general purpose tool with weapon usage. After buying a few inexpensive examples I decided that a proper axe (longer handle) was a better axe and that the weapon uses of the tomahawk were not great enough for it to earn a place on my back.

The Winkler tomahawks have a length of just under 14" and just under 1 lb 12 oz.
which closely mimics the Cold Steel Vietnam Tomahawk:

41fK6XbjPhL._AC_.jpg

smile.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-Vietnam-Tomahawk-American/dp/B0013LLO0U

What brought this on is that I am listenng to Jack Carr's (Former SEAL) series of audiobooks, 'The Terminal List'. After initially dismissing this as hype (although he is very accurate on all of the other details I can identify), I realized the similarity between the tomahawk and the midieval knight's war hammer. It is my understanding that the war hammer came into vogue specifically to combat foes wearing armor:

Mediaval-Weapons_War-Hammer_Poland.jpg

https://medievalbritain.com/type/medieval-life/weapons/medieval-war-hammer/

My conclusion was that the tomahawk was not useful enough to replace a hunters axe or other short axe (with a longer handle) for axe work but I wonder if folks who have to fight modern armored foes for a living would still find it useful enough to hump around.

Final thought, would a large cleaver style knife of a similar size be more useful,

a. As a weapon ?
b. for axe work (e.g. batoning). ?

ESEE Junglas:

?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.jpg

https://www.eseeknives.com/product/junglas
 
I'm a devotee of the tomahawk, hatchet. Even have a few with 30" plus handles.
Never used on in anger, unless you consider a stubborn branch or two!
They have been taken on numerous outdoor adventures including a caribou hunt in Alaska. I prefer them over chopper style knives.
 
The war hammer reminds me of the little silver headed axes that some of the tribal guys in the Mussandam (Oman) mountains carried. I gathered they were largely ceremonial as they also had some hefty kanjars at their belt that looked more used and useful. Never could quite figure out who these mountain folk were. Some people said they were Baluchis, and others that they were ethnic Ethiopian and spoke a form of Amharic. They weren't Arabs and only the children spoke any Arabic, learned at school. We would sometimes see them with walking staff length spears with big old harpoon sized iron broadheads as well. But the elders carried these 2 foot handle little silver axes that looked like that war hammer except with a small blade instead of the hammer bit.
 
Yeah, I think the sharp parts only belong on one end

The tomahawk can be a useful tool, but the thin profile of the bit makes them pretty crappy choppers. When my daughter was little, we would go on "bug hunts". We'd turn over stones and roll logs on the wood pile to see all the little creepy crawlies. An old tomahawk was good for busting into really rotten logs.

I just bought a Cold Steel Spontoon to train myself to throw at the target to hit with the bit more edge first. I just got into axe throwing at a local venue, and I still throw too point-first which makes scoring harder. The Spontoon is completely unsharpened sporting nothing more than a nasty diamond shaped point that is driven into the target by force and aided by the mass of the hammer poll on the back. Short of throwing it into a competition target, about the only thing it will excel at is a lobotomy with extreme prejudice.
 
I like a 'hawk as a light cutting tool around camp. Want a pole on the back of it for tent stakes, etc though instead of the spike as I have limited use for that. I had an ATC I took to OEF, it left the wire a few times with me at first but then I opted against the weight and it stayed in my trunk for the next year. Sold it off when I got back.

I have most of the Cold Steel ones as they are cheap and I find them useful. Plus enjoy redoing them and making them more to my liking. I would suggest trying a cheap one like that for a bit before you drop that amount of $$ on something. You may find its not the best fit for you in the long run.
 
Pardon me sir, but what modern armored foes are you thinking of? Give me a useful tool not a fantasy weapon.

I am wondering if there is a military reason that a soldier would carry a tomahawk. Are they useful against Kevlar ? If it was only a more efficient way to split skulls then I don't see a reason.
 
I like a 'hawk as a light cutting tool around camp. Want a pole on the back of it for tent stakes, etc though instead of the spike as I have limited use for that. I had an ATC I took to OEF, it left the wire a few times with me at first but then I opted against the weight and it stayed in my trunk for the next year. Sold it off when I got back.

I have most of the Cold Steel ones as they are cheap and I find them useful. Plus enjoy redoing them and making them more to my liking. I would suggest trying a cheap one like that for a bit before you drop that amount of $$ on something. You may find its not the best fit for you in the long run.

Oh I wasn't going to spend the money on that. It does look nice though. In practical circumstance I would spend the weight on a proper hunters axe or short shovel. Here's what I carry in the truck:

These were $63 when I got them:

upload_2020-10-23_20-15-19.png

https://smile.amazon.com/Husqvarna-...e/dp/B07NPJ13RB/ref=psdc_554566_t1_B00D74JBCY

And this, which I think is a more useful resource than a tomahawk for my 1.6 lbs:

upload_2020-10-23_20-17-14.png

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00169V99K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The only problem I have found with these is that are 'Spetsnaz' shovels so when I pick one up I feel the craving for Vodka :confused:
 

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I'm a big 'hawk fan.
I carry one in my truck always. It's more for cutting sprouts than splitting skulls.
I have made one for all three sons, and one for a friend's son HS graduation gift.
I do a little custom carving on the handles...
My latest one was a bit of custom carving and a leather belt sheath .it was a CRKT .
It turned out great.
I reccomend the CRKT.
 
I like my tomahawk and have had it for around 20 years. They are useful tools, but a lot of the modern ones have short handles.

I have a Cold Steel Trail Hawk with the original 19 inch handle, still going strong. I have had the CS Riflemans hawk, but it was to heavy for the handle length.

As far as fighting ability, one can do a lot with a good tomahawk. I would recommend reading McLemores "The Fighting Tomahawk." I believe he had a youtube video posted at one time with the same name. I think they are worth carrying in the woods, and do so when I am out n about.
 
they are carried/used by

Carried by some and not universally accepted. As pointed out in the same article a hooligan tool and/or bolt cutters are preferred. Some modern US troops have carried them, but lets not get carried away and think that they're widely carried in combat. COs control the carry of knives and 'hawks and few want troops carrying anything other than what's issued.

I have 'hawks by James Horrigan, former Ranger/LEO and current Fireman as well as other makers and an original LaGana. I like tomahawks, but wouldn't carry one since there are better tools.
 
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Modern Soldiers carry more armor than any previous soldiers except heavy mounted Calvary.
Yeah I guess that's true. I was thinking more of conquistador style armor. Back when I was in there were flak jackets with the rigid plates and they were so heavy and hot they weren't used all that much by anyone on foot. I hated them.
 
I do keep a convertible hatchet/ shovel in the truck but I pack an Ontario sawback machete when humping it. More useful for light brush and, IMO, a better weapon of necessity thanks to the longer reach and pointy end. Ive cut throuh some pretty thick limbs with that thing amazingly fast. Not sure if the hatchet would actually be much faster and certainly louder.
 
pointed out in the same article a hooligan tool and/or bolt cutters are preferred
YoungSon confirms Hooligan hooks throughout 3/75th deployments.
Hatchets -- tho' present -- less so back in mid decade timedrame. He will reach out...
 
I can't see a use for them vs a chopper knife for the woods.

Sure they are lighter than a chopping knife of the same size but they have a couple of inches of blade and usually a breakable handle. Full tang axes are different obviously but not much lighter then.
 
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