gransfors hatchet

[paulvallandigham]

It all depends on the era. Wings are more often seen in 19th century axes, than in 18th century or earlier axes. That does not mean you won't find something in a museum that has them- it just was not done when making trade hawks for the Indian trade.

 

[tg]

Neumanns Encyclopedia of the Rev War shows a bunch of axe heads with ears on them. I don't know if he is all wet on that, one was supposed to come from a 1776 regimental campsite.

 

[horsetrader]

As Greenmtnboy said - Gransfors are great tools, so I was toying with the idea to change the handle...

 

[paulvallandigham]

From my observations of tool museums, Not secondary sources like books, you find the ears on Carpentry axes, hewing or " framing " axes, but not on the Tomahawk back at this time. The ears also appear on ancient Pike/axe combinations, and on battle axes even before that. The tomahawk was consider to be a light axe for cutting camp fire poles, and sticks, and a secondary combat weapon to accompany the short sword or long knife.

Granfors, not being commercially stupid, now makes some tomahawks, and other axes similar to those offered by other makers here, such as H&B Forge, etc. I didn't note their prices when I checked their site the other day.

 

[tg]

These would not likely fall into the "Hawk" category but would be fopund on hatchets and light axes which would more likely be the choice of whites over NDN's the hatxhet/Hawk was looked upon a bit differently by the two factions and the whites hatchets may easily have been termed hawks from time to time by those recording items who did not get down to the semantics of things.I find a poled hatchet much more usefull in the field than a Hawk, and it is still a formidable weapon if one was to need it for that use.Even my little bag axe that hangs from my shoulder bag, could do serious damage in close quarters,even thouigh it is but 13" long and only has a 2" cutting edge, it can hack thru joints in a deer and do light camp work,handy and out of the way.

 

[Greenmtnboy]

I find a poled hatchet much more usefull in the field than a Hawk.

I agree,
I need a ax that can cut,chop,and POUND! where a Hawk doesen't nessarly have a square butt and can slip off your stakes as your pounding them in to the ground for your fly etc... causing a potentialy dangerous situation.
A poll ax is my choice.

 

[paulvallandigham]

I have one of each- a traditional " wrap around " hawk, and a second with a poll at the back end. I bought the second after bending the steel on the first pounding stakes! The first hawk is still much easier for throwing contests. I throw the second one underhanded(like a bowling ball). :surrender: :rotf: :wink: :thumbsup:

 

[Rancocas]

I wanted a good pole hatchet. I don't throw any hatchets. I'm not overly concerned with being pc. I'm a cheap sob.
So, I found an old carpenter's hatchet at a flea market for $5.00 I brought it home and marked out a more traditional design on it. Then, I did a lot, and I mean a lot, of grinding, being very careful not to over heat the metal. I hafted it with a piece of local hickory.
Result; I have a useful pole hatchet that looks somewhat pc at first glance. I don't care what any one else thinks of it - I like it. :v

 

[tg]

I carry a small pole hatchet on my shoulder bag as shown below, and the larger pole hatchet/small axe in the backish area of my sash, on the big one the sheath is held by a long thong over my neck, a quick tug on the right thong on either and the sheath is opened and the hatchet is avalable to lift out quickly,I carried a hatchet with no cover on the edge once when I was a kid,...pain...blood...lecture...I don't do that anymore. I am not into quick draw hatchetry.

 

[dyemaker]

I found a photo of tools excavated from Jamestown. These are older still. There is a hatchet. I'm not sure what you are calling "ears".
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16277/16277-h/images/065.jpg

"A few of many tools unearthed at Jamestown which were used for timbering: felling axes, a hewing axe, adze, hatchet, wedge, and saw fragment.

 

[tg]

Follw the plane of the bottom of the head and at the handle a small triangle of metal drops down on both sides for extra support, this is shown on many axe/hatchet heads in Neumanns Book on the Rev War.

 

[n ohio]

http://tatcalite.tripod.com/id2.htm
Eared "tomahawks" are very common, especially before the 1800s.

 

[n ohio]

I've read all good stuff on the GB hatchets and axes but on their hand forged "tomahawks" i saw this a couple months ago. Note the drift was rotated several degrees off of being parallel to the blade and cutting edge. Awfull work for about $300. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=649406

 

[ameling]

http://tatcalite.tripod.com/id2.htm
Eared "tomahawks" are very common, especially before the 1800s.

Be a little cautious of a "collector's" web site. Especially when they do not have GOOD documentation to back it up.

"Ears" on AXES did exist in the 1700's, and did become common by the late 1700's. But "tomahawks" were different from axes. "Ears" on tomahawks will generally push their time period into the 1800's, not the 1700's.

Neumann's books have a lot of ... questionable ... parts and dating in them. They are a good introductory source of information - especially for WHEN they were first written back in the early 1970's. But research has progressed, and it is best to find other sources to document or corroborate information than just relying upon Neumann.


In the end, it still comes down to a matter of personal choice. If you like and want a polled tomahawk with ears, then that becomes your choice. Other people seeking a different level of accuracy may choose a different path.

Mikey

 

[n ohio]

"Ears on tomahawks will generally push their time period into the 1800s, not the 1700's."

I did'nt know that. I guess, i assumed because early axes seem to have ears in archaeological site reports i've seen , that tomahawks followed the same pattern. Thanks! for the info Mike

 

[dyemaker]

I made that assumption too.

 

[ameling]

"Ears on tomahawks will generally push their time period into the 1800s, not the 1700's."

I did'nt know that. I guess, i assumed because early axes seem to have ears in archaeological site reports i've seen , that tomahawks followed the same pattern. Thanks! for the info Mike

Too many people just think that a tomahawk is a scaled down version of an axe. But they are different tools, and often have different methods of construction. And a tomahawk is generally different from a hatchet. But a hatchet IS often just a downsized axe. So it is easy to get confused when thinking about all the variations of these tools.

Axe
-felling
- splitting
- hewing
- morticing
- cooper's
- shipwright's
- Half-axe
- Broadaxe - in several variations
- Squaw axe - often just a half or 3/4 sized axe
Hatchet
- hewing
- splitting
- morticing
- shingling
- cooper's
Tomahawk
- tool
- fighting
- spike
- wrapped eye or polled
- pipe
- small/medium/large
- military issue equipment
- or for trade and then for which time period and national/cultural origin

Just a few things to consider when thinking about an axe or tomahawk. And all have differences in construction, shape, style, culture, and intended use. And also have similarities amongst themselves as well. So the question of what to get/use can be as simple or as complex as you wish to make it. And then more "modern" features start creeping in, along with lots of "decorative" touches. Is it primarily a working tool, or a belt "ornament" that occasionally is used for work?

Just a few things to ponder ... about a "simple" tomahawk.

Mikey

 

[dyemaker]

There are a few artistic examples of bag axes here... Link