Latest Hawk from a ball peen hammer

[messerist]

Here is a photo of my second attempt at transforming a old ball peen hammer head into a tomahawk. No power tools were harmed in the making of this hawk(the usual result of me using power tools is damage or injury). I found some nice curly maple handles from R.E Davis Company. The head weighs 23oz and the handle is 20" long. Steel type is a WAG since the head was very old and showed no markings. It did harden up nicely although.

 

[Gordon]

this is very nice work

 

[BHP FAN]

Words fail me...and that don't happen often.It's no secret I'm a big fan of thrrowing axes and 'hawks, but that...that's a work of art!

 

[cleardiddion]

Very impressive!

 

[bannockburn]

messerist

Very well done! I've always been a big fan of tomahawks, hatchets, and axes. That one there is a work of art, especially with that curly maple handle. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Sgt.Saputo]

A wise man named Chumlee once said this....."AWESOME"

 

[MikePaiN]

Words fail me...

Really, there is just that "something" about messerist's hawk....
nice

 

[bikerdoc]

Darn if that aint nice.

See you found some free time and put it to good use.

Now I got to finish some of the stuff I got on the bench to keep up.

 

[armoredman]

Beautiful work sir, beautiful.

 

[Fergy35]

The first thing that came to my mind was "Wow!". Very nice looking work there.

How did you re-size the hole for the handle?

 

[hso]

Nice work!

Old ball peen hammers make pretty good hawks. The local guys that make tomahawks scour the junk shops and flea markets for them. They complain about the quality of the steel in new (Chinese) hammers.

 

[Digger Odell]

Be Proud

Hi messerist!!

That is quality workmanship. You seem to give it life. I would imagine it must have a nice heft to it. I never thought about the using of hammer heads before,must try. Meanwhile enjoy.

Digger

 

[doubleh]

That is great. I would much rather trust the steel in an old hammer than a new one unless the new one had the name of a brand that had been around a long time. No Harbor Freight tomahawks, thank you.

 

[messerist]

Fergy. I bought a tomahawk drift online from Hawkins Knifemaking supplies. I also have one that I made several years back at a workshop put on by a local blacksmith. Thank you all for your gracious comments. I hope to have another to post soon. They are as addictive as making knives I am finding out(much to the Wife's chagrin).

 

[zignal_zero]

WOW! that looks really nice, good job. it's so cool that it started life as a hammer, too, it's kinda like my nunchaku made from the butts fo pool cues, except FAR FAR more attractive

 

[BHP FAN]

LOL! I had nunchuks made from pruning shears!

 

[Harley Quinn]

Looks nice, did you temper, if so, how?
What kind of forge do you have?

Regards

 

[federalfarmer]

Very nice, AND a quality photo!

How many hours do you have into that project?

 

[messerist]

Harley Quinn. I used a NC Forge LP "knifemaker forge" for this hawk. It is relatively new and this hawk was one of the first things I have forged with gas. I have been using charcoal for the past few years on my knives and coal for other smithing duties. The hawk was quenched blade first about an inch into the oil while I kept a torch on the spike to keep it at quenching temperature. Once the bit has cooled enough I invert the hawk, quench the spike and then remove from the oil and allow to cool to room temp. The residual heat around the eye tempers the hardened bit and spike. Federalfarmer. I figure I have around twenty hour in a hawk but I never get to work non-stop. Too many rug-rats running amok for me to sit still for any period of time.

 

[Winston_Smith]

Very nice work.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

That is extremely nice.

 

[BRad704]

Looks great! and now I get to have ANOTHER project plan floating around in my brain!

 

[Harley Quinn]

Thanks for the get back, I use to do quite a bit when I had my horses, making various tools also...

I still have the forge, have not used it since they changed the propane tanks over to a different valve, still has 1/2 a tank and old valve

NC Tool Co. is the one I have, 2 burner... Whisper model, I made a side entry on it, worked out good...

I have to get back using it, had a lot of fun with that lots of work also...



Regards

 

[unloved]

I love it.

I really have to stop looking at the pics people post of stuff they make. Now I have to learn how to 'smith. I could have drawn out the hammer poll of my Estwing, for a longer spike on my 'hawk.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Very impressive!