Source for Tomahawk heads

[Allan Gray]

I've been kicking around the idea of making myself a tomahawk. Nothing fancy. I'm really after a good solid tool for the next hunting trip.

Can anyone recommend asource for a good quality head? One that will take some abuse and keep a good edge.

 

[Claude Mathis]

It sounds like all you'll be "making" is the handle. What will you use for that?

 

[Allan Gray]

I'd like to use something local but I don't think anything around here is strong enough. I have Redwood, Fir,(way to soft) Madrone, Tan Oak, Western Maple and Bay Laurel on my property. But I have to think that a nice piece of curly Maple or Hickory would be nice. To be honest, I haven't given too much thought to the handle. I'd like it to be strong but I'd also like to add form to function.

Higher up in elevation we've got Manzanita shrub here, which is really hard and beautiful as well. Blood red color. The burls were once used as a substitue for pipe Briar during the 2nd W.W. when getting it out of Italy was not an option.

Now you've got me thinking, Claude. :hmm:

 

[BrownBear]

This is a link to the knife and hawk page at The Gun Works site. They're in Springfield, Oregon. I just stopped by there last week, and nice folks, great shop.

As for the woods you listed, I'm acquainted with madrona and manzanita. Either would be mighty fine, though you may play heck finding a piece of manzanita straight enough and long enough for your needs. Either one is going to be a woolly bugger to carve, they're so tough. Haven't tried the laurel, but secondhand accounts cite it's toughness, too. If you're looking for maple, it might be interesting to hack on some vine maple like you get in the clearcuts in the northern part of the state.

 

[Claude Mathis]

ITo be honest, I haven't given too much thought to the handle. I'd like it to be strong but I'd also like to add form to function.

On your first hawk, you can save yourself a lot of trouble by buying a hawk that comes with a handle. You can carve, color, and decorate it any way you like. :wink:

 

[BrownBear]

Claude has a good point. Kits like this at Gun Works won't set you back a lot, and the major work is already done. I'm not pimping TGW, rather I just saw the kits on the shelf there. Other sources sell the same or similar kits. Cruise a bit and I bet you find a style that tickles your whiskers.

 

[Rancocas]

I bought an old carpenter's hatchet at a fleamarket. The kind with a hammer poll and a notch under the blade for pulling nails. Then I used a hacksaw to take off most of the long hammer poll. I left just a short poll, enough to pound in tent stakes. Next, I used a grinder to remove a lot of metal from the blade side. I used a grease pencil and marked out the shape that I wanted, then started in to grinding. I had to go slow so as not to "burn" the metal and destroy the temper. I ground-out the nail puller and reshaped the blade until I ended up with what I think is a pretty good looking tomahawk. It won't pass muster at a juried PC event, but it looks good to my eye. I made a handle from a hickory sapling.
I think that manzanita should work fine, or mesquite, maybe palo verde.