Tomahawks

brianksain · 10-21-2007, 15:58

Any of you fellas using them / training with them?

The things just scream "America" to this Cajun.

The RMJ Forge Talon is a wicked piece.

**The Reaper** · 10-21-2007, 16:04

Brian:

That is a lot of weight to be humping around for a very limited purpose weapon.

Frankly, I would rather have a handgun and ammo of equivalent weight, a large knife, or a more practical tool (with a secondary weapons use), like a hatchet or small axe.

I'd say the number of people who have had the opportunity to 'hawk someone in the past few years have been pretty small.

They look mighty cool though.

TR

x-factor · 10-21-2007, 16:18

Question - What is the technical difference between a tomahawk and a hatchet/hand axe? I have no practical experience in this matter, but based on what I know about frontier history, a tomahawk would qualify as a "practical tool" as much or more than as a close combat weapon.

**The Reaper** · 10-21-2007, 17:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by x-factor

Question - What is the technical difference between a tomahawk and a hatchet/hand axe? I have no practical experience in this matter, but based on what I know about frontier history, a tomahawk would qualify as a "practical tool" as much or more than as a close combat weapon.

X, is your google not working, or do we need to explain how to do your own homework?

Look at current tomahawks being made for sale and tell me how practical a tool you think they are.

Then try to imagine where and how you will carry one.

TR

brianksain · 10-21-2007, 18:27

Roger that TR.

I keep hearing that QPs and others are have been using them but have yet to see even one pic of one hanging off a ruck or elsewhere.

Cool factor is definitely off the chart

**Jack Moroney (RIP)** · 10-21-2007, 19:10

I carried a hatchet for my entire career. Used it for everything and anything and have saved many hours of having to restore a decent edge to my knives where the hatchet was the better tool of choice.

Surgicalcric · 10-21-2007, 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianksain

...I keep hearing that QPs and others are have been using them...

I know of two guys who carry them on their DA armor but neither has used them for anything other than throwing them...

I was thinking about getting one myself but think I may get a smatchet instead.

Crip

x-factor · 10-21-2007, 19:57

TR - I understand your argument that a tomahawk isn't worth the weight compared to a gun, knife or utility tool. (I always used a machette for clearing light overgrowth growing up in Florida.)

What I didn't understand was your distinction between a tomahawk and a hatchet. I looked over whats currently available and the size and weight are about the same. As best I can figure it, a tomahawk is distinguished from a hatchet by the slimmer head and a spike, pick, or hammer opposite the blade. (Is this not an accurate distinction?)

You said a tomahwak isn't as useful as a hatchet or a small axe, but I'm not understanding what you could do with a hatchet/small axe that you couldn't do with a tomahawk. Compared to a hatchet, is a tomahawk not useful because the head isn't heavy enough for serious chopping work? Do you find the spike on the backside just get in the way? I'm not challenging your expertise, just trying to learn something new.

incommin · 10-22-2007, 08:22

I've got a throwing Hawk that I have had for close to 40 years. I carried it when I was humping a ruck in SF and thru the rest of my military career. I found that it along with a small knife did better duty that a large knife or machete. But then, back then we were not humping the amount of weight that today's soldiers do.......never whacked anyone with it but I thought of it a time or two

Jim

**Bill Harsey** · 10-22-2007, 08:53

The word "tomahawk" found its way into the english language as an adaptation of the Algonquian Native Amercian term for their tool and weapon of this type.
Early tomahawks had stone heads.

Both tomahawks and hatchets are relatively short handled whacking tools that are now usually made from steel.

B219 · 10-23-2007, 05:32

The difference between a "Tomahawk" and a "Hatchet" is utility.

One is designed for fighting, one for chopping (wood, etc.)

A small hatchet is sometimes referred to as a "mouse-hawk", but the purpose is chopping.

Carrying a fighting hawk made perfect sense for Robert's Ranger's. However, as firearm technology increased the practicality of a fighting hawk decreased.

There were designs that clearly tried to achieve both, but were utilized mostly as trade items and often pounded or melted down because they neither "fought" or "chopped" as well as available items.

For a definitive source of examples I would first suggest:

Collector's Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution

and...

Battle Weapons of the American Revolution

both by George C. Neumann.

I realize there is a popularly marketed "Viet-Nam Fighting Tomahawk", but I will leave comment regarding it's usefulness to those who carried it in SEA.

To kill or to chop...and if the reason to carry is to kill...like other's have stated, I'd go with more ammo.

**Bill Harsey** · 10-23-2007, 07:43

B219,
There are those who say that the tomahawk was also an important utility tool in the hands of the native Americans. Many original residents of this nation did a lot of wood working. Even stone tools can fall trees.

It's use by native Americans went beyond fighting as the tomahawk was also an important in ceremony, presentation and medicine.
Some traditional tomahawks had pipes built in the head and hollowed handles for smoking. This was usually associated with peaceful use.

crash · 10-23-2007, 11:52

I haven't used a hachet since I was a park Ranger, only ever used it for chopping and hammering.

I received a Gerber LMF ASEK as a gift, carried it in the field ever since. Awesome knife great for everything chopping, cutting, hammering. Nice thick heavy blade, stays very sharp with a little use of the sharpener in the sheath. Dropped in on concreat, didnt break the blade but chipped the concreat.

I carry this, a Gerber Multi tool and a Gerber MK II in the field. Had a gerber flashlight too but wasn't impressed, they should just stick to knifes.

Chris · 10-23-2007, 18:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by B219

Carrying a fighting hawk made perfect sense for Robert's Ranger's. However, as firearm technology increased the practicality of a fighting hawk decreased.

To kill or to chop...and if the reason to carry is to kill...like other's have stated, I'd go with more ammo.

Not arguing it's practicality hasn't decreased, but...

Corporal Toloza of El Salvador might disagree on the usefulness of edged weapons in combat, somewhat.

**The Reaper** · 10-23-2007, 20:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Not arguing it's practicality hasn't decreased, but...

Corporal Toloza of El Salvador might disagree on the usefulness of edged weapons in combat, somewhat.

Bet he would have preferred a loaded and functioning firearm.

I know I would have.

TR