New handle for my Tomahawk

[Flying Crane]

Hi everyone, I just wanted to share my latest project that I recently completed. I had purchased a tomahawk online from a blacksmith who smiths them out of ball peen hammers. The head of the hawk is really nice, and he had fitted a beautiful handle made of curly maple. I loved the handle. The problem was, it tapered down a bit too much and wasn't quite comfortable in my grip.

So I took it upon myself to make a new handle. I got a bit of hickory, cut out a blank and shaped it down on a belt sander. It was a bit of work but not too onerous, and I kinda liked the challenge of making something new that I'd never done before. it turned out really nice, comfortable in my grip and a very tight fit in the hawk head. I gave the handle a light burn with a torch, re-sanded again, and then finished it with linseed oil. It's not as pretty as the curly maple, but it's still attractive, and is more appropriate for solid use and durability.

I was gonna post some pictures, but the battery pack in my camera died. I'll try and add some later.

anyway, it was a fun and interesting project, and I thought i'd share with you all.

 

[Flying Crane]

See if this works, pictures...

OK, this is not working.

can someone give me some guidance on adding pictures? I've got a Macbook Pro, with IPhoto. I hit the "insert image" icon here, dragged a pic from Iphoto into it, and it's only listing the photo address, not actually posting the image. Any help?

 

[lklawson]

Try posting the pic on a hosting sight such as flickr, picassa, or photobucket. Then link to the pic with an image tag.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

 

[Flying Crane]

Try posting the pic on a hosting sight such as flickr, picassa, or photobucket. Then link to the pic with an image tag.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

yeah, that's the word I've gotten. I don't have a paid membership at the moment and that's limiting what I can do.
might need to change that...

 

[lklawson]

I've never used photobucket so I don't know about them, but neither picassa nor flickr require paid services. However, both limit the total space available to you. I think picassa sets it at 1Gb.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

 

[Flying Crane]

I've never used photobucket so I don't know about them, but neither picassa nor flickr require paid services. However, both limit the total space available to you. I think picassa sets it at 1Gb.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

Ah, I meant paid membership here on MT. If I pay up, I think I can post photos.

 

[MaxiMe]

I've never used photobucket so I don't know about them, but neither picassa nor flickr require paid services. However, both limit the total space available to you. I think picassa sets it at 1Gb.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

FYI Photobucket is the same.

 

[jks9199]

Ah, I meant paid membership here on MT. If I pay up, I think I can post photos.

Yep. Along with some more perks, too... Supporting Memberships. It's less than $2 a month... and the more folks that pay, the more Bob can give us.

 

[Flying Crane]

OK, I paid up my membership, lemme see if I can get some pics here...

 

[Flying Crane]

Yay, it worked!

I went back to the maker's website where i bought it, and discovered that he had been making these from different size ball peen hammers, and I got one of the bigger ones without even realizing it. Mine was made from a 32 oz. hammer, and most of the others he made were from 24 oz hammers. Truth be told, I could probably put a longer shaft on this one and it would be big and heavy enough to be a serious battle axe, while the 24 oz might make for a better, quicker, tomahawk.

Unfortunately, I don't think the guy is making anything right now, I believe he had some health issues. His store on Etsy.com is empty, and I had tried to communicate with him a couple times and he never replied. Before that, I think he mentioned some health issues. Hope he's OK, he made some interesting things.

 

[jks9199]

Nice handle... and thanks for supporting the site!

 

[Flying Crane]

Nice handle... and thanks for supporting the site!

word.

 

[Blindside]

Hey, you look good in red!

If you are looking for a good tomahawk maker, try H&B Forge, great quality, great prices, though admittedly not the prettiest things in the world.
http://www.hbforge.com/products/tomahawks.php

 

[Flying Crane]

Thanks, they've actually got some nice looking stuff, and the price is very very reasonable. My hawk was quite a bit more expensive, but it was made by a guy who I believe works by himself and doesn't have a big shop. Mom-and-Pop craftsman. I support that kind of thing when I can, but sometimes there's a good deal to be found in a bigger outfit as well.

 

[Blindside]

Actually H&B is is a small family business as well, I seem to remember that there is only one guy acting as their blacksmith, though that info could be out of date.

 

[Flying Crane]

Actually H&B is is a small family business as well, I seem to remember that there is only one guy acting as their blacksmith, though that info could be out of date.

oh, wow. Well, their prices are quite nice. I couldn't find any solid info on the website on the type of steel that they use. That would be good info.

 

[Blindside]

A quick search found a mention on BladeForums that they use 1095 for the blade with a softer steel for the handlewrap.

This is my Shawnee, been a great camp axe for 8 years or so now. The sinew wrap is mine, the lack of humidity in Wyoming caused the head to loosen, so I wrapped it just in case.

 

[Flying Crane]

nice. I appreciate the info and the link. Always good to get a tab on the sources of the goods.

 

[lklawson]

The burn looks good. It's subtle and gives the (otherwise boring hickory) wood a nice color.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

 

[Samurai]

I know this thread is over a year old, but I just found it.
I love working with the tomahawk. Such a practical weapon with many traditional and modern applications.
They are fun to 'smith out of railroad spikes, hammers, and other metals.

I would also put in a plug here. I make a plastic training tomahawk. It is stiff plastic much like your hard plastic training knives I would imagine you have in your dojo, dojang, kwoon, etc (think Sharkey). Check them out at http://www.WoodlandArchery.com I have had mine for over 8 years and train with it about once a week.
Thanks
Jeremy Bays