Throwing hawks

[50cal.cliff]

Not getting what I am looking for from the search engine. So is this particular tomahawk something that could go for a Mountain Man! https://www.midwayusa.com/product/...-3-1-4-blade-22-overall-length-hickory-handle

It appears there cheaper than on Cold steels own site. It also looks as if it has a shorter handle for throwing.

I watched some throwing hawks at a local event and I even got to try my hand a couple of times, and well,............I got the bug to get one to work with! Anyone got any ideas on the subject!!!

 

[Kansas Jake]

The heads on these are probably drop forged or cast and not really historically correct, but should pass muster at most "mountain men rondies." A forged hawk would probably be more correct. I have several hawks I bought about 40 years ago that had the cast type heads. They were fun and I didn't have anyone bring up the hc/pc issue.

 

[jrmflintlock]

Try googling Crazy Crow, Track of the Wolf or Jas Townsend.

I prefer a smaller hawk, like a Mouse hawk or a Squaw hawk. They are easier to throw and lighter to carry. From My experience with Hawks is Bigger is not better. Some May say the weight of the head helps it stick, but you have to also throw it harder. I see little kids stick their little hawks all day. In fact that is how I discovered using the mouse Hawk. My full size hawk got left at home so I used my boys Mouse hawk and it only took a little to get better than I ever was with my big hawk. Big hawk stays in camp now.

drop forged are ok but I have seen them break when thrown really hard (heavy) and hit a rock.

After My discovery of smaller hawks I notices most the guys who were really proficient with their Hawks, used smaller custom hawks. (Some guys take the competition very seriously!)

A single turn stick is easy with a heavy hawk but step back a few turns and it takes considerable force to make it happen.

I have found Cottonwood, Aspen and Chinese Elm to be the best hawk blocks. They are a nice spongy fiber. Every time I see a city park trimming the trees I stop and they gladly give me a stump. Dry Pine is ok but sometimes there are hard spots where the hawk will not stick.

That's my experience, as with everything your experience may differ.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Mouse hawk? Nah, chunk big iron!
http://the-kraken.de/2015/images/events/KRAKEN2014-280.jpg

:wink: :rotf:

 

[jrmflintlock]

Well They say everything is bigger in Texas!

:v

I'm just a scrawny little nine pound weakling.

Work Smarter not Harder is My motto. :grin:

 

[Brokennock]

Cold Steel hawks are forged, maybe drop forged, not cast. In my experience they are tough as can be. And if I recall correctly, there are some videos out there of them surviving some heinous abuse. Some time spent at a wire wheel and with some sand paper can eventually get that horrid black coating off. With time and a lot of elbow grease, the "trail hawk" and some others can be made to look passable,,,,, at a distance.
But they do the work needed very well, they take a great edge.

 

[necchi]

For $20 and free shipping I'd jump on it!
I've already got 8-9 hawks the kid won. It's kind of an oxymoron to give a kid that wins the hawk toss a hawk,, ain't it?

 

[50cal.cliff]

Thanks to all that responded to this thread. The link is about the cheapest! Right now I am just looking to get one to throw.

Later I can see about something a little more authentic to PC's!

I honestly had never thrown a hawk till a local event and WOW, I like it!!! :idunno: :rotf:

 

[Kansas Jake]

If you can spring the money and are ordering, go ahead a buy two or three. It saves a bunch of steps when you are just throwing for fun or if you get into an impromptu match in the back yard. Of course you will also want a few extra handles for when one gets hit by another hawk. :grin:

 

[Shiloh1944]

50 cal.cliff, This is one that I embellished. Probably not period correct but sure made it look prettier, if pretty is your thing. I just like making them different.

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[50cal.cliff]

50 cal.cliff, This is one that I embellished. Probably not period correct but sure made it look prettier, if pretty is your thing. I just like making them different.

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Pretter than a speckled puppy dog!!

If you can spring the money and are ordering, go ahead a buy two or three. It saves a bunch of steps when you are just throwing for fun or if you get into an impromptu match in the back yard. Of course you will also want a few extra handles for when one gets hit by another hawk. :grin:

Yep, that does make sense!!

 

[B.Habermehl]

It makes much more sense to me to use two blocks and tripods. Set them up facing each other about the distance it takes for two revolutions of the hawk. Throw at one block,retrieve your hawk then throw at the other. I hate hacked up handles.BJH

 

[jrmflintlock]

Wow, that sure is Purty!!

I would have never guessed that was a Cold Steel tomahawk. Well Done!!

So I don't know what kind the one was that broke when it hit a rock. So I guess I should not have made it seam that cast and drop forged are similar. :v

 

[Rifleman1776]

It is an immutable fact of life that the fancier your hawk/handle is the sooner it will be the target for those simple minded jerks who think playing 'handles' is fun. :cursing: Yours, while nice looking is for wall hanging, nothing else.

 

[tenngun]

I've had many the hours of fun playing handles, even without some one aiming at your handle if your throwing in competition you run a risk. Fancy Hawks were known and may have been used in battle. I don't know if throwing was a tactic used often in such hand to hand fight. A hawk in the hand beats one in the air or on the ground twenty feet away.
Throwing is hard on a handle at any time and using a hawk is also hard on a handle. Fancy handles look great in a belt or on display. They don't stay fancy if you put it to use.

 

[Shiloh1944]

Both Rifleman 1776 and tenngun are probably correct about your throwing hawk if fancy would be a target.

I never suggested my hawk was embellished for throwing although it could be. I too would use something I didn't spend a lot of time working on and didn't want destroyed.

My embellished hawk is however fully functional for most common hunting and camp chores and I am certain would account itself well if ever needed for self defense. I have used one on several occasion for field dressing and or quartering game, so it isn't just for hanging on the wall.

And a side note. All your quality hand tools whether Craftsman, Proto, Snap On, etc. are drop forged.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I've had many the hours of fun playing handles, even without some one aiming at your handle if your throwing in competition you run a risk. Fancy Hawks were known and may have been used in battle. I don't know if throwing was a tactic used often in such hand to hand fight. A hawk in the hand beats one in the air or on the ground twenty feet away.
Throwing is hard on a handle at any time and using a hawk is also hard on a handle. Fancy handles look great in a belt or on display. They don't stay fancy if you put it to use.

Did not intend to imply ye are a jerk. Apologies. But, I am still stinging from the time, many years ago, when I showed up at ronny with a fancy handled hawk I had made. Within seconds of first throw and stick it was chewed to pieces by guys 'playing' handles. I was, and still am :cursing: over that.

 

[Ron LaClair]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r6Qz0cxcEs&feature=youtu.be

 

[tenngun]

Well I only played handles with people playing handles, we knew the game before the first throw.
That said, ignoring the jerk that would throw at your handle when that was not the game, unless you throw and remove, handles get hit. A fancy handle still gets a lot of shock being tossed at a block, or even chopping wood or splitting kindeling. Lastly if you chop like me you miss the target your splitting and hit the handle just behind the eye.

 

[ddoyle]

Best money I spent in a long time was for two mouse hawks. Both are kind of ugly and a little twisted- BUT- they taught everyone in the family how to throw well and they have proven to be the cheapest, long lastingest- safest entertainment imaginable. I thought they were going to be ultralight camp tools but it turns they really are great throwing hawks.

I originally planned to swage the eyes into trueness with the blade and to generally clean them up but have discoved that the 'eye strap' is perfectly soft and the cutting/sticking edge is a nice hardness for taking and holding an edge. Doubt I could heat treat em back to that. With a few minutes of sharpening and without thier handles they would be perfection for gutting/skinning/quartering a moose. Better then a knife.

two of them and handles are easily packed.

Only realy draw back is the tiny handle does not feel right in the hand for chopping- but any chopping with a hatchet is dangerous businees no matter what handle you have so the tiny one's demand for attention is likely a benfit.

Next time I get a chance I'll buy a half dozen cause cash dollars wont appreciate in value any quicker then these gems.