my new hawk

[S.Kenton]

I just purchased a nice Hawk from the Smokey Mountain Knife Works. It's a " cold rolled" cheepy with a black finish on the steel and no finish on the wood..however, I would like to add my own touch to it. First I wanna strip the finish off the metal and brown it. Second, I want to stain the handle and add some other stuff to it. It seems though the hickory handle has some sort of sealer cause it won't take any stain..how can I remove the sealer so it will soak up the stain? Or should I simply make another handle..or buy one from the hardware store? Just curious..
thanks

 

[spudnut]

Handles for hawks are pretty cheap about 4 bucks.Strip ease should take the finish off just fine.Is the black finish on the head paint? if not I'd just leave it or leave it outside a couple days then card it off with burlap and oil it.Whatever you want to do is fine just remember it's gonna take a beatin if you plan on throwin it.

 

[S.Kenton]

ya..the Black is a more or less a powder coated finish i'm guessing...the part I'm unsure of is how to strip the waxy finish off the wood?

 

[necchi]

the part I'm unsure of is how to strip the waxy finish off the wood?

Sandpaper works pretty good. Some 150 aughta do the job.
Just a tip, If your going to use it for Hawk toss comp, avoid dark stains. If you miss and it lands in the tall grass or brush a dark handle is hard to find.

 

[omarick1948]

Just buy yourself a new hawk handle and use your tomahawk the way it is. That paint and light wood will get nice and "cruddy" in no time and then you can put that new handle on in and do what you want to do with it!

Rick :shocked2: