A New Thread For Axes, Hatchets, Hawks & Other Striking Tools

[JD Spydo]

Before we get too far into this thread I have some pertinent information I've shared with you guys in the past that I think bears repeating. Way back in 1998 when I was subscribing to the old, Now defunct "Tactical Knives" magazine they had one issue that dealt with axes. At the end of the article they had the address and website to the US Forest service offering a video and book. At that time the US Forest Service was offering a VHS tape and a booklet entitled "An Ax To Grind">> which was produced and narrated by a professional forester named Bernie Weisgerber who once joined this forum for a short period of time. I seriously doubt if you would find anyone on planet Earth who knows more than Bernie Weisgerber about the subject of axes.

Mr. Weisgerber showed everything in his book about ax maintenance, ax sharpening and installing handles and about every other aspect of that tool that anyone could possibly imagine. I still have both hard copies of the book & video and I consider them priceless. The book is still available through the US Forest service in pdf form but I've heard you can buy a hard copy for around $20 >> so I was told about a year ago.

I have never ever seen such an exhaustive and comprehensive source of information on axes and other related striking tools. I do urge all you guys to check it out and let me know what you think.

You have got to be the only other person I have talked to that has seen and read his book. Amazing amount of info! If someone isn’t into axes before they will be into them after reading it that is for sure.

Here is the video! > https://youtu.be/22tBYD-HMtA

Hey thanks a lot for the link to that video and I do hope that several of the guys here take advantage of it. Mr Weisgerber's video really got me interested in collecting axes along with my obsession with knives. I had never seen an instructional and/or information video about hardly any subject as thorough as Bernie Weisgerber's "An Ax To Grind". Even how to select the right handle when you go to get yourself a replacement for a broken ax handle. I can appreciate anyone who has mastered their trade to the extent that he has.

The hard copy book of the same title has a huge selection of all the different styles and types of axes that have been used over the ages. I can't even imagine how much time he must have put into that project.

[JD Spydo]

I am sort of surprised and somewhat disappointed that no one has had anything good to say about Cold Steel's line up of axes and hawks. I have a lot of respect for Cold Steel's line up of striking tools.

I still own a couple of Cold Steel's two handed machetes. I also think that Estwing has great striking tools as well. But you don't hear either one of them mentioned very often.

[Bloke]

I still own a couple of Cold Steel's

[ladybug93]

Sorry goofed up . Some of my tools . MG2

i have that same cs two handed machete! what are you using as a sheath?

i also ordered a new weapon last night. i can't wait until it comes in the mail. i'll be sure to post it here. :)

[ladybug93]

I am sort of surprised and somewhat disappointed that no one has had anything good to say about Cold Steel's line up of axes and hawks. I have a lot of respect for Cold Steel's line up of striking tools.

I still own a couple of Cold Steel's two handed machetes. I also think that Estwing has great striking tools as well. But you don't hear either one of them mentioned very often.

their marketing is a real turn-off, but they're probably my second favorite company. i hate a lot of their stuff, but the stuff that's good is really great. and who doesn't love a stupidly large folder or melee weapon?

[Manixguy@1994]

I am sort of surprised and somewhat disappointed that no one has had anything good to say about Cold Steel's line up of axes and hawks. I have a lot of respect for Cold Steel's line up of striking tools.

I still own a couple of Cold Steel's two handed machetes. I also think that Estwing has great striking tools as well. But you don't hear either one of them mentioned very often.

their marketing is a real turn-off, but they're probably my second favorite company. i hate a lot of their stuff, but the stuff that's good is really great. and who doesn't love a stupidly large folder or melee weapon?

Hey buddy ! The sheath came with it . I have had it for quite some time , not sure if it was an option . I have beat the crap out of it and still keeps ticking . I agree what you are saying referring to CS . I only have a two blade Lucky CF slip joint they make in CTS-XHP steel . I do like the Outdoorsman may get it someday to play with . The other two handed is made by Council Tool it’s a beast but haven’t used it much . Use these for cutting down thorny ground vines , poison ivy , oak and wild grape vines . Anything invasive I don’t want to get close to , cut chunk out at base and use a heavy herbicide at base . I like Estwing tools but have what I need the Gerber are light and heads are SK steel made in Finland . The little back pack hatchet is really handy . I will post one of two tools a friend made and gifted to me to cut out smaller ground roots sometime today . MG2

[Manixguy@1994]

This homemade root chopper is only about a foot long . Buddy made two for me . I haven’t used this one yet and other is with some of my gear below in shed . It’s very handy , takes a beating . I’m not sure what steel he used but holds up well, never worry if I get into rocky dirt , railroad spikes and plates that are from old tracks that ran through back of property for around a hundred years . MG2

[kennethsime]

I am sort of surprised and somewhat disappointed that no one has had anything good to say about Cold Steel's line up of axes and hawks. I have a lot of respect for Cold Steel's line up of striking tools.

I still own a couple of Cold Steel's two handed machetes. I also think that Estwing has great striking tools as well. But you don't hear either one of them mentioned very often.

their marketing is a real turn-off, but they're probably my second favorite company. i hate a lot of their stuff, but the stuff that's good is really great. and who doesn't love a stupidly large folder or melee weapon?

I agree on both points. All due respect to the departed, but the videos of Lynn using Cold Steel's products made me really dislike Cold Steel products. I'll probably never buy a folder from them, but I love the diversity & the affordability of their axes, machetes, and swords. Some of the fixed blades offer pretty incredible value as well.

[ladybug93]

I am sort of surprised and somewhat disappointed that no one has had anything good to say about Cold Steel's line up of axes and hawks. I have a lot of respect for Cold Steel's line up of striking tools.

I still own a couple of Cold Steel's two handed machetes. I also think that Estwing has great striking tools as well. But you don't hear either one of them mentioned very often.

their marketing is a real turn-off, but they're probably my second favorite company. i hate a lot of their stuff, but the stuff that's good is really great. and who doesn't love a stupidly large folder or melee weapon?

I agree on both points. All due respect to the departed, but the videos of Lynn using Cold Steel's products made me really dislike Cold Steel products. I'll probably never buy a folder from them, but I love the diversity & the affordability of their axes, machetes, and swords. Some of the fixed blades offer pretty incredible value as well.

i have a tuff lite, finn wolf, 4max scout, recon 1 clip point xl, voyager tanto xl, and rajah ii. they're all great. i still want an espada xl to add to the collection. it's fun having ridiculous knives.

the tuff lite is like everything i could want in a mini yojimbo. great work knife when there's a blade length limit.
the finn wolf is a nice bushcraft folder for a lot less than pretty much any other competition. it's like a folding mora. who wouldn't want that?!
the 4max scout is what the shaman wishes is was. way more robust for a beater camp knife and about the largest/heaviest pocket knife i would actually carry.
the voyager tanto xl rides in my glove box because it's a great urban survival option. the thick spine all the way to the tip, paired with the triad lock will hold up to a lot of abuse.
the rajah ii stays with my camping gear for playing in the woods. it's a good chopper and just silly big, though it's actually quite small for a khukri.
the recon 1 xl was my first big knife and i only grabbed it for giggles because it was being discontinued. i never use it.

i don't mean to derail... i just wanted to say not to dismiss all their designs. they make some really good folders too and that triad lock puts spyderco backlocks to shame. they lock up super solid.


but, yes. they really excel in the silly. i can't wait to get my shipment so i can share a picture here.

[MacLaren]

I've really enjoyed this Hardcore Hammers Survivalist Hatchett. I also really love my $40 Schrade too.
The Hardcore is very well made. The head is 4140 steel. Gets super sharp and bites deep.

[kennethsime]

i don't mean to derail... i just wanted to say not to dismiss all their designs. they make some really good folders too and that triad lock puts spyderco backlocks to shame. they lock up super solid.

but, yes. they really excel in the silly. i can't wait to get my shipment so i can share a picture here.

All good!

To get us back on track, I wonder which of their tomahawks would make the best thrower? I like the looks of the Norse Hawk and the Frontier Hawk.

[JD Spydo]

I still own a couple of Cold Steel's

BLOKE I think you're haunting me like an old episode of "Dark Shadows" >> I bet you even resemble Barnabas Collins ( Jonathan Frid). Oh my goodness!!

But I will admit that Lynn Thompson's sales videos do have a lot to be desired. Maybe he should have you as his PR guy

[JD Spydo]

i don't mean to derail... i just wanted to say not to dismiss all their designs. they make some really good folders too and that triad lock puts spyderco backlocks to shame. they lock up super solid.

but, yes. they really excel in the silly. i can't wait to get my shipment so i can share a picture here.

All good!

To get us back on track, I wonder which of their tomahawks would make the best thrower? I like the looks of the Norse Hawk and the Frontier Hawk.

Glad you brought up "tomahawks" "kennethsime". For a long time I've wondered what was so special about that Viet Nam tomahawk that so many people raved about. I wonder if it was a "thrower"?

[ladybug93]

i don't mean to derail... i just wanted to say not to dismiss all their designs. they make some really good folders too and that triad lock puts spyderco backlocks to shame. they lock up super solid.

but, yes. they really excel in the silly. i can't wait to get my shipment so i can share a picture here.

All good!

To get us back on track, I wonder which of their tomahawks would make the best thrower? I like the looks of the Norse Hawk and the Frontier Hawk.

i have their trench hawk. i've never thrown it, but i've seen videos of it be thrown successfully.

[Manixguy@1994]

I've really enjoyed this Hardcore Hammers Survivalist Hatchett. I also really love my $40 Schrade too.
The Hardcore is very well made. The head is 4140 steel. Gets super sharp and bites deep.

I like that hatchet ! 4140 steel is good stuff , it was used for tubing in aircraft .

[MacLaren]

Thanks Manixguy@1994

[kennethsime]

Glad you brought up "tomahawks" "kennethsime". For a long time I've wondered what was so special about that Viet Nam tomahawk that so many people raved about. I wonder if it was a "thrower"?

I think so! The American Tomahawk Company made tomahawks for American soldiers headed to Vietnam. DLT carries them, I've looked a few times, but $200 is more than I want to spend on one for now.

The cool part about the tomahawk is it's such a multipurpose tool - kind of like a KABAR. You can split wood, make kindling, fight close-up, and throw it if you need to.

[ladybug93]

newest melee weapon arrived today.

[Wartstein]

...

The cool part about the tomahawk is it's such a multipurpose tool - kind of like a KABAR. You can split wood, make kindling, fight close-up, and throw it if you need to.

I feel the same way... but actually just about smaller, lighter, more "nimble" Tomahawks, ideally with a spike instead of a hammerhead.

When a Tomahawk gets too large and heavy, imho it looses some of the cool Tomahawk aspects, and a dedicated hatchet might be the better choice and most times a better wood splitter.

And a spike adds (again, imho) a lot more "multipurposeness" than a hammer.

[kennethsime]

...

The cool part about the tomahawk is it's such a multipurpose tool - kind of like a KABAR. You can split wood, make kindling, fight close-up, and throw it if you need to.

I feel the same way... but actually just about smaller, lighter, more "nimble" Tomahawks, ideally with a spike instead of a hammerhead.

When a Tomahawk gets too large and heavy, imho it looses some of the cool Tomahawk aspects, and a dedicated hatchet might be the better choice and most times a better wood splitter.

And a spike adds (again, imho) a lot more "multipurposeness" than a hammer.

Yea, I definitely hear that. I can’t stop thinking about that SOG fasthawk - truth be told, I haven’t bought one yet simple because I don’t think I’d ever use it.

Maybe it’s time to start trail running again! :p