And now for something completely different

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

messerist

Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2009
Messages
875
Location
Faribault Minnesota
Well it is a change for me. While reading on the Muzzleoader Forum I came across some very nice photos of tomahawks made from ballpeen hammer heads. I decided to give it a whirl. I normally just make knives but this project was completely different. Man that is alot of metal to move by hand. The smith who posted the thread uses a power hammer. I do not have alot of tongs in my forge and those I do have are for holding nice flat knives. It was fun trying to keep from dropping a red hot hammer head!. I used a drift to reshape the hole so that I could use a tomahawk handle. The ballpeen hammer only cost $13 and is 4140 steel. It hardened up nice. Enjoy:)
sept09130.jpg
017.jpg
015.jpg
 
OH, COOL! Now I've gotta try that too!

My previous attempts at hawks have failed due to my inability to accomplish a decent forge weld, but your hawk neetly avoids that!

Very nice work, and good eye on the form!
J
 
Thank you for your generous comments. HSO I do the shaping with files and a hacksaw. No one believes me when I tell them but with good sharp files it really is not difficult. Over the years I have probably spent more on files than I would have for a decent grinder but it has become second nature now so I continue. Thanks again guys and if you have any questions on making the hawks please ask!:)
 
messerist,

What shape did you drift the eye out to? I don't ever see real hawks, so don't know what a traditional hawk handle shape is....

What did you do to HT the 4140?

I'm really itchin' to try this out this fall!

J
 
I was thinking the same thing as Lee. Dancing Frog forge has excellent drifts. Another source is http://hawkinsknifemakingsupplies.com. Chilmau I HT the hawk by heating it to the critical temp(non-magnetic) and just quench the first inch of the blade. I did not ht the spike because I think it will do the job no matter how hard it is! I tempered the hawk to purple with a simple propane torch by applying the heat to the eye and watching the colors move to the edge. When it turned purple I just stopped the temper by a quench in water. I did this three times just like my knives. Now I have been told that straw is a more appropriate color for an ax so further research is necessary. I don't think I will have a problem with that because I sent a photo of the hawk to my brother in Iraq, he showed some buddies...now I need to get some more hammer heads. p.s. I used a 20 oz. head for this hawk so hopefully you can gauge the size you will need to make the size hawk you want. The drift I used enables you to select the size eye you need to fit most commercial or handmade handles. I happened to have a spare lying around for my throwing hawk that I bought from Track Of the Wolf.
 
So, much like a hatchet drift, but not as elongated. I'll just bang one up outta some scrap steel before I start the hawk...

I assumed you used a 20 or 28oz hammer to start.... Looked "meatier" than the average little 16oz.

I like your HT plan. That I can do in the open forge, no trouble. I'll likely harden the entire head, and then differentially temper (heat at the eye, hope for blue eye and straw/brown edge/point)....

I REALLY like that hawk!

J
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

M
  • Locked
Latest Hawk from a ball peen hammer
Replies
24
Views
2K
Deltaboy1984
Deltaboy1984
JShirley
  • Locked
Messerist tomahawk, RTAK-II, Camp Defender 2
Replies
13
Views
1K
JShirley
JShirley
D
  • Locked
A new weapon for US troops (no, not the OICW!)
Replies
11
Views
3K
JShirley
JShirley
Michael Tinker Pearce
  • Locked
Now for something completely different...
2
Replies
29
Views
2K
Rex in OTZ
Rex in OTZ
7
  • Locked
Been laid up for a bit, so I got to playin'...
2
Replies
27
Views
2K
7X57chilmau
7
Back
Top