Info about tomahawk uses?

[bugflipper]

I like to read up on something before I plunge into it so I'm not just wasting time and money on it. After reading up on them for a few weeks I decided a tomahawk would fit my needs better for the woods in my area. I read all the posts here and decided on the fort turner large camp hawk. It should be here next week. I don't plan on throwing it. Just want to use it for living off the land when I go out in the woods for awhile. They seem to be more useful than a hatchet with the removable head.
I was wandering if you guys had any links on their uses. I stumbled accidentally on a video where a fellow lashed a head sideways on a branch and dug a hole in a log (think it's called and adzle or something similar). On the same video he showed how to make a new handle with the head. Having never owned or used one I know there is a whole lot more that could be gleamed from those that have so I can get the most use out of it. Just looking for links or tidbits of info that you would want to share on uses and maybe customization to make them more useful or ergonomic.
Thanks

[pathfinder]

You can learn to throw ANY hawk or hatchet. Medium size is better all around for wood's use. Make a sheath with a strap over your shoulder. Mark Baker has an article on them in his book,I think the first one.

[gunmaker]

Wear a hawk carrier, that beast will cut to the bone if you slip on a wet trail....Tom

[bugflipper]

Thanks, already ordered a blade cover for it. I was wanting a spike hawk to knock into a log and drag over to not get into  ants, snakes, scorpions, spiders or centipedes hiding. Also to drag the wood to the fire if it was covered with stuff. Thought the spike would be less useful than a flat spot for hammering and more dangerous/cumbersome. Found out you can drag wood over with the bottom of the beard. Not the same as having leverage to flip one over but I've always managed to not get snake bit rolling logs over with my foot for this many years. Didn't figure a pointy spike was worth the added risk. On occasion I've had a double bit axe glance off.  That's something I'm practiced with, with years of use. Didn't want to add any more degree of danger to the hawk since it will take me awhile to get used to it. Been carrying a plumb Boy Scout belt hatchet that was 1 hand use. I think that big camp hawk will be more efficient.

[BE Wild Willy]

I had the same dilemma in choosing what type of hawk I wanted to get, especially when considering the cost of over a hundred bucks for a good one. I almost went with the Fort Turner, have heard nothing but good about their product. I ended up going with a 2Hawks Voyageur by Devin Price, a large camp hawk with hammer poll. I use it nearly every night around the wood burning stove splitting wood for kindling, to my wife's chagrin. I also used it to help with field dressing chores, splitting the pelvis on the buck I shot this year, and quartering out a cow elk my brother shot. Haven't thrown my hawk yet, I'll do it one of these days when I have some extra hafts.

Here's a demo of the maker butchering some goats http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy48dUHS6mA

[russ]

A camp ax is more use full than a hawk any day. A hawk dose not have the heft of a good ax.

[beowulf]

as you can see , tomahawks ,like many other things in our hobby / sport can be rather addictive !  the oldest one in the photo ( curly maple handled spike hawk ) was my first .that was 39 years ago !have bought and sold several others over the years and made a few from scratch that have also been sold over the years ! one day perhaps they will have a tomahawk patch to help us kick the habit ! till then I plan to have fun tossing one now and then ! 

[woody]

Amen beowulf on being addictive....but that's what I love aout it...so many things to get and hold your interest. Here is my small but growing collection.

[beowulf]

Amen beowulf on being addictive....but that's what I love aout it...so many things to get and hold your interest. Here is my small but growing collection.

nice group of hawks you have there ! used to make them out of railroad spikes !  did a small pipe ax once that turned out really nice , but the steel was so hard I broke three drill bits drilling out the bowl !  you should try turning out one of your own if you get the chance !

[bugflipper]

I have been able to take it out a few times and am pleased with the results. I got the head and handle in the shape I wanted for utility and blued the heads. Didn't worry about any fancy file marks or making a pretty handle. For my needs they do better than a hatchet. I just need a few poles cut for shelter. Some pegs to pull the tarp taught. A little wood work for triggers and fire sticks. All were quick work. I saw it fall behind a knife as a skinner. Using it like an Ulu was pretty efficient but not as good as a decent butcher pattern. It shined at scraping the hide and cutting the rib cage. I got the wife the smaller camp one and she is liking it better than her wildlife axe. Mine is a lot more efficient than the plumb hatchet I was carrying. One thing I like is putting it half way in the handle and using it as a draw knife to make chips for fire starting. So far I am liking using it a lot more than an axe or hatchet. It will break down for more compact carry in a pack. The long handle gives it a lot of leverage for making quick work out of stuff you wouldn't want a knife to do. It can double as a knife in a pinch but isn't as efficient as a knife. Just a good all around tool to compliment camping/hunting/trekking.

[beowulf]

get the right one , and they can be a great tool for multiple purposes ! saw one at a rondy about 30 years back that was interesting ! the feller who had it said it was a custom job he had made , supposed to be a copy of an original  just a wee thing . blade was about three inches wide at the cutting edge and rather thin .  had a small odd shaped three pointed spike on the back , and the overall length was about 15 inches . razor sharp , said it was a hunting hawk . used to gut , skin and cut up game ! the only one I`ve ever seen !

[Mongo40]

Beowulf, the one you have pictured as your first, is also my first, I have that same one, I bought it at Indian City USA in Anadarko Okla. when I was a kid, use to try an throw it all the time but broke so many handles that I gave that up, The eye is just so small that the handles would snap off if you threw it, Just hangs on the wall now for decoration, I do like the looks of it in that curly maple handle, I might have to redo it with one of those. Mine is also over 30 years old.
Yes Tomahawks are an addiction, I also currently have 7 that I can think of myself.
Chris

[beowulf]

those little devils are still available . but now they come out of india and pakistan , those old ones were made in italy . they are slightly different from the new ones , and I`ve owned a couple of those , prefer the oldie ! that handle was a piece of a skid that I brought home from work . the handle is 18 years old , and is probably the fifth or sixth handle it`s had !