Tomahawk/Hatchet - The Firearms Forum

Sackett · 12-24-2004, 05:57 PM

I was way impressed with Mel Gibson's usage of the tomahawk in "The Patriot". Then I saw the History channel discuss the military's usage of them today, even in Iraq.
I thought about getting one, more as a collectors item from the American Tomahawk Company that apparently supplies the military, but they do seem a little costly.
Does anyone have one? Been trained in how to use one? etc. I've never seen myself as a blade person, but the idea of having workable piece of "americana" does have an appeal for me.
Any thoughts?

IShootBack · 12-24-2004, 09:46 PM

I feel the same.

A good hawk is really expensive around $120 and up. I have seen some cheep ones, and know they would probably not hold an edge.

Some day, I'll get one and have it for a lifetime.

In the intrim, I got myself an Estwing roofing hatchet. I do not throw it. I carry it in a leather hammer holder. It holds a razor edge and is not very heavy. It has a hammer head oposite the blade. It works great for trimming branches outta my tree stand.

I am sure it does not compare to a nice hawk, but it's what I got now.

LIKTOSHOOT · 12-26-2004, 03:29 PM

My thought`s are this. Most troops (please read "most") are not even trained on the use of their combat knife and they add a hawk. Use-less weight. Trained in the hook & pery along with the rest of the gammit concerning the hawk, is more than just a last line defense.

LTS

45Smashemflat · 12-27-2004, 03:42 PM

Eastwing also makes a nice Camp Axe - call it 24-28" long or so. That's my truck axe. Has been used to "imply violence" as well as to open up more than one wrecked car to get at a stuck occupant. Any small axe or tomahawk is a very useful tool.

Sackett · 12-27-2004, 08:14 PM

I saw some firefighters on the History Channel's program discussing the usage of the tomahawk. I think they were showing how to break into problematic cars with it. An interesting scene was when the instructor was demonstrating how to use the tool to first flatten the tires of a car in order to rescue someone. At least I think thats what he was demonstrating before he broke the windows. I did not understand why he flattened the tires.
I suppose I'll just have to lay out the bucks to get a good quality tomahawk.
I visited the American Tomahawk's website and they showed some videos of defensive/offensive usage.
I think it is a pity that more of our soldiers are not taught a variety of skills using a variety of weapons. Though my nephew, who was in Artillery, could drop a rocket in a barrel at 20 miles, and qualified as a marksman with his M16, he never mentioned using other weapons in his training. Perhaps one has to become more specialized in other areas to get that training. I'll talk to him some more about it.

armedandsafe · 12-28-2004, 01:06 PM

If you have the firefighter's hatchet or axe with the spike, flattening the tires is faster than setting chocks. It makes the car much less likely to roll away while you are battering on it, trying to get someone out.

Pops

Sackett · 12-28-2004, 06:23 PM

Much obliged Armedandsafe.

12-24-2004, 05:57 PM	#1
Sackett V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: SW Mississippi Posts: 266	Tomahawk/Hatchet I was way impressed with Mel Gibson's usage of the tomahawk in "The Patriot". Then I saw the History channel discuss the military's usage of them today, even in Iraq. I thought about getting one, more as a collectors item from the American Tomahawk Company that apparently supplies the military, but they do seem a little costly. Does anyone have one? Been trained in how to use one? etc. I've never seen myself as a blade person, but the idea of having workable piece of "americana" does have an appeal for me. Any thoughts? __________________ "I'm not someone to be as good as. I'm someone to be better than." -->

12-24-2004, 09:46 PM	#2
IShootBack Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Virginia Posts: 2,306	Re: Tomahawk/Hatchet I feel the same. A good hawk is really expensive around $120 and up. I have seen some cheep ones, and know they would probably not hold an edge. Some day, I'll get one and have it for a lifetime. In the intrim, I got myself an Estwing roofing hatchet. I do not throw it. I carry it in a leather hammer holder. It holds a razor edge and is not very heavy. It has a hammer head oposite the blade. It works great for trimming branches outta my tree stand. I am sure it does not compare to a nice hawk, but it's what I got now. __________________ "The Lord is a warrior, the Lord is his name." Exodus15:3

12-26-2004, 03:29 PM	#3
LIKTOSHOOT Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 9,367	Re: Tomahawk/Hatchet My thought`s are this. Most troops (please read "most") are not even trained on the use of their combat knife and they add a hawk. Use-less weight. Trained in the hook & pery along with the rest of the gammit concerning the hawk, is more than just a last line defense. LTS

12-27-2004, 03:42 PM	#4
45Smashemflat Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,494	Re: Tomahawk/Hatchet Eastwing also makes a nice Camp Axe - call it 24-28" long or so. That's my truck axe. Has been used to "imply violence" as well as to open up more than one wrecked car to get at a stuck occupant. Any small axe or tomahawk is a very useful tool.

12-27-2004, 08:14 PM	#5
Sackett V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: SW Mississippi Posts: 266	Re: Tomahawk/Hatchet I saw some firefighters on the History Channel's program discussing the usage of the tomahawk. I think they were showing how to break into problematic cars with it. An interesting scene was when the instructor was demonstrating how to use the tool to first flatten the tires of a car in order to rescue someone. At least I think thats what he was demonstrating before he broke the windows. I did not understand why he flattened the tires. I suppose I'll just have to lay out the bucks to get a good quality tomahawk. I visited the American Tomahawk's website and they showed some videos of defensive/offensive usage. I think it is a pity that more of our soldiers are not taught a variety of skills using a variety of weapons. Though my nephew, who was in Artillery, could drop a rocket in a barrel at 20 miles, and qualified as a marksman with his M16, he never mentioned using other weapons in his training. Perhaps one has to become more specialized in other areas to get that training. I'll talk to him some more about it. __________________ "I'm not someone to be as good as. I'm someone to be better than."

12-28-2004, 01:06 PM	#6
armedandsafe Former Guest Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Moses Lake, WA Posts: 10,344	Re: Tomahawk/Hatchet If you have the firefighter's hatchet or axe with the spike, flattening the tires is faster than setting chocks. It makes the car much less likely to roll away while you are battering on it, trying to get someone out. Pops

12-28-2004, 06:23 PM	#7
Sackett V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: SW Mississippi Posts: 266	Re: Tomahawk/Hatchet Much obliged Armedandsafe. __________________ "I'm not someone to be as good as. I'm someone to be better than."