Cosmoline
Member
I'll stick with Ol' Painless.
Car doors, trees, old trailers, frozen blocks of meat at 40 below zero. Done it.
Car doors, trees, old trailers, frozen blocks of meat at 40 below zero. Done it.
Tactical Tomahawks Vs. A Regular Axe
- Thread starter Browning
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Well, reading through the list of prohibited weapons in the Texas Penal Code, tomahawks are prohibited for carry, while axes and hatchets are apparently allowed, because unless it's prohibited, it is permitted. Most other states seem to be similar. In the pre-LEOSA days, when I traveled out of state, I carried items of camping equipment in the vehicle, which included a hatchet and/or axe or two. When pumping gas, I would first unlock the rear hatch or tailgate, so that when standing at the rear corner of the vehicle, I was within arm's reach of a formidable weapon. Keep in mind these things have MOMENTUM; it's not easy to check a swing. That is why most tomahawks are lighter than the typical hatchet. I really like Gransfors-Bruks products.
To add to my above reply, I have found, in 24 years of police work, that gas stations and convenience stores along highways, even in "nice" areas, are a high-risk place to be. Two interstate highways intersect in my jurisdiction; travelers and locals being robbed and assaulted at such establishments is a daily thing. That is why I specifically gave the fueling-stop example.
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Joe Demko
Member
"Waste" money on a Randall? I'm not sure you can use those words together. Not only are they very fine knives, but they appreciate in value and can easily be re-sold at a profit. Also, I'm curious which model you saw_they make a passing few_and how hard it had been used previous to you seeing it.
I owned a great many knives over the years. Factory and custom both. Randalls are indisputably well over toward the right toe of the curve with respect to quality. One needs to step up to a true custom maker_and a skilled one at that_to find better workmanship. I've seen knives from more than one "custom maker" that didn't measure up to a Randall in craftsmanship.
DAVIDSDIVAD
member
I think some of the people in this thread fail to appreciate the swiftness with which a tomahawk can be used.
But yeah, I agree, all of these Craptical tomahawks are pure gimmickry.
But yeah, I agree, all of these Craptical tomahawks are pure gimmickry.
Line Rider
Member
Tactical Tomahawk... right newbie gear.
If I need a hacket I've got my old Boy Scout hacket.
If I need a hacket I've got my old Boy Scout hacket.
Patrick_Henry
Member
A few thoughts:
First I will say I hate all this plastic and strange curves we have started seeing attached to everything. Knives, tomahawks, guns... good grief apparently the pre-requisite for tactical is now PLASTIC. I don't think that I would pay $200 for any hand weapon unless it had collectible value.
That said I do own a Cold Steel Rifleman's hawk. It cost me somewhere in the $30 range and I believe it was a very good buy. It has served as a very useful tool, but contrary to the general consensus on this post tomahawks are a very formidable weapon (we are not talking about carry weapons as most of you are not carrying bowie knives either, this discussion is more of something of a back country weapon that you could carry open as a backpacking tool).
The tomahawk has several advantages on a knife. A good hawk has a reach advantage over most knives until you start talking about something like a machete. Lets assume a bowie knife for example. Most bowies have a 10 inch blade and there for about 11-12 inches of reach. My hawk has an 18 inch handle and by my calculation gives me about 15 inches of extra reach. 3 inches can be a big deal.
Second is power. A knife will almost never kill someone instantly. It can take time to really make sure someone dies. A hawk has several powerful blows which will take an assailant out with one solid hit. While the power of the hawk means it is harder to withdraw blows it also gives you an advantage as most people don't want to get hit hard with a hawk even once, whereas some will take a less weighted cut with a knife if it means they get you better.
3rd is stabbing. It seems most folks don't realize that you can actually stab someone quite well with a hawk. It is less intuitive than with a knife but it can be done quickly and easily. As most knife guys are ignorant to this it throws them completely off guard. And if they do block it well, you have often 'trapped' a limb or possibly there weapon which puts you at the advantage.
The hawk is very efficient as a weapon. I would never go after a guy who had one with just my knife, but now a hawk and a knife. That is deadly indeed.
The gun does own all, but when I don't have mine handy I personally feel safest with a hawk and a big knife around.
First I will say I hate all this plastic and strange curves we have started seeing attached to everything. Knives, tomahawks, guns... good grief apparently the pre-requisite for tactical is now PLASTIC. I don't think that I would pay $200 for any hand weapon unless it had collectible value.
That said I do own a Cold Steel Rifleman's hawk. It cost me somewhere in the $30 range and I believe it was a very good buy. It has served as a very useful tool, but contrary to the general consensus on this post tomahawks are a very formidable weapon (we are not talking about carry weapons as most of you are not carrying bowie knives either, this discussion is more of something of a back country weapon that you could carry open as a backpacking tool).
The tomahawk has several advantages on a knife. A good hawk has a reach advantage over most knives until you start talking about something like a machete. Lets assume a bowie knife for example. Most bowies have a 10 inch blade and there for about 11-12 inches of reach. My hawk has an 18 inch handle and by my calculation gives me about 15 inches of extra reach. 3 inches can be a big deal.
Second is power. A knife will almost never kill someone instantly. It can take time to really make sure someone dies. A hawk has several powerful blows which will take an assailant out with one solid hit. While the power of the hawk means it is harder to withdraw blows it also gives you an advantage as most people don't want to get hit hard with a hawk even once, whereas some will take a less weighted cut with a knife if it means they get you better.
3rd is stabbing. It seems most folks don't realize that you can actually stab someone quite well with a hawk. It is less intuitive than with a knife but it can be done quickly and easily. As most knife guys are ignorant to this it throws them completely off guard. And if they do block it well, you have often 'trapped' a limb or possibly there weapon which puts you at the advantage.
The hawk is very efficient as a weapon. I would never go after a guy who had one with just my knife, but now a hawk and a knife. That is deadly indeed.
The gun does own all, but when I don't have mine handy I personally feel safest with a hawk and a big knife around.
Here is a pic of my D. Hoskins TommyHawk. I ordered it when I thought I might be doing a lot of mounted patrols in Afghanistan, and wanted an ax to potentially extract myself from an ambushed vehicle. (And I'd seen some Hoskins blades do crazy stuff, for extremely reasonable prices.)
I *did* already have a very nice little 'hawk with a tec-lok sheath that Tom Krein was kind enough to make for me, but I didn't expect to go hand-to-hand with anyone, so I didn't take it with me.
Firearms are the way to go, especially if you're already holding a military shoulder arm (even jammed or unloaded)...BUT a hawk or hatchet is a fearsome close-range SD tool.
I *did* already have a very nice little 'hawk with a tec-lok sheath that Tom Krein was kind enough to make for me, but I didn't expect to go hand-to-hand with anyone, so I didn't take it with me.
Firearms are the way to go, especially if you're already holding a military shoulder arm (even jammed or unloaded)...BUT a hawk or hatchet is a fearsome close-range SD tool.
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