I love this hawk. I can't stress that enough. Now bear in mind that when you get this you may need to do some work to it. However I feel that that little bit of work can take a 4/5 star tomahawk to a 5/5 star. That is how you get my rating.
First of all the tomahawk comes assembled but you'll want to take it apart. The handle is American Hickory so it's pretty strong and dense wood. Ideal for use in the fashion it's designed for. I sanded down the shaft just a bit with 150 grit sandpaper to get the light finish they put on it off. Then I chose a black stain for the wood and let that sink in over a couple coats. Then I sealed it with boiled linseed oil. Bear in mind that the stain and the linseed are probably not going to look ideal to you eyes at first but work with it and give it time. The real finish will come with time and use.
The head is the tricky part. There is a hole in the side of the head where a tension screw holds the head more firmly to the shaft. However I find that this screw is really not all that needed. I removed mine but later ran into some issues with the head becoming a bit loose. After that I put the screw back in and it fixed that right up. Unfortunately it didn't last because the head became a bit loose again after a day out at the farm hacking up brush. When using a tool that is usually made to be friction fit to the shaft, yes, this is common. This isn't a factory defect as some get their hackles raised about. I prefer now to keep the tension screw in and just make sure not to over-tighten it. It comes down to user preference.
The finish in the head is next. The factory has this ugly shiny acrylic lacquer on the outside. While, yes, this does help the 1095 High Carbon Steel to not rust, the finish is not going to hold up under use. I'm just going to warn you on that. In that regard you have a couple options available to you: Cold bluing or finding another finish method. I chose to cold blue mine and it looks great. However it doesn't hold back rust as well as I had hoped in humid environments. I left the hawk in my trunk for a few days and came back to some rust spots that I had to sand down and re-blue. As such I'm looking to see if Cerakote might be a good substitute. (Just have to get that done.) I'll update when that happens.
So in terms of functionality the shaft is pretty long for a hand-held axe so you will have lots of power and can easily manage two handed strikes. I've split small logs for firewood pretty easily with it. The hammer poll is great for its job and can drive anything from nails, to tent stakes, to even breaking concrete blocks. I did a lot of work this past fall working on a farm that was being cleaned out and let me tell you, I put this hawk through the ringer, and it kept right on chugging. I've had it for close to seven months and other than having to sand down some surface rust (my fault) and sharpen the blade a little it has held up extremely well and proved to be an indispensable tool for us outdoors.
Anyway, this review is getting long so I'll keep this simple.
This is an excellent tomahawk. Don't let some of the reviews fool you. You won't find a better hawk for less. A little work can take this handy tool for camping, hiking, or a tactical kit to a whole new level. Give it a try and you won't be let down.
| Brand | Cold Steel |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 22"L x 3"W |
| Handle Material | Hickory,Steel,Wood |
| Color | Light brown , Black |
| Head Type | Viking |
| Item Weight | 794 Grams |
| Style | Drop Forged Tomahawk |
| Handle Length | 22 Inches |
| Blade Material | Carbon Steel |
| Included Components | Drop Forged Tomahawk |
| Blade Length | 3 Inches |
| Blade Edge | Hollow Grind |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 22 x 7.5 x 1.5 inches |
| Package Weight | 0.79 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 1 x 1 x 1 inches |
| Brand Name | Cold Steel |
| Country of Origin | Taiwan |
| Warranty Description | Knives & Blades: We stand behind our products 100%. We subject them to the highest standards in the industry and strive to make each as perfect as possible. We warrant that this product is free of defects in workmanship and materials. This warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, resharpening, damage caused by misuse, lack of normal maintenance, or disassembly. Remember, anything can break or fail if subject to sufficient abuse. So please do not use this product inappropriately. No knife or sword should be used as an axe, hatchet, screwdriver or prybar. Non Blades: We stand behind our products 100%. We subject them to the highest standards in the industry and strive to make each as perfect as possible. We warrant that this product is free of defects in workmanship and materials. This warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, damage caused by misuse, lack of normal maintenance, or disassembly. Remember, anything can break or fail if subject to sufficient abuse. So please do not use this product inappropriately. |
| Model Name | Drop Forged Tomahawk |
| Material | Blend |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Manufacturer | Cold Steel |
| Part Number | 008934 |
| Model Year | 2013 |
| Size | One Size |
| Sport Type | Martial Arts, Hunting, Tactical & Military, Fishing |
| Hand Orientation | Ambidextrous |
