Tomahawk help

A

abraves

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As everyone knows blades are a super deep never ending hole. I am wanting a tomahawk that I would use when going camping so would get some use chopping and splitting small wood. I want the kind that has a hammer vs a spike on the back side. I realize I could just take a hatchet or axe but that's like saying no one needs a custom or high end pistol just get a glock. I am looking at the Winkler hunter axe LT. I want that style vs the style that the head is installed like a pick axe. I'm sure someone on here has some experience with a similar tool so please share.

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abraves said:
I don't like or want the style where the head is installed like a pick axe. I'm sure its good. Thanks
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Gotcha, I thought you meant had the spike on the back.

My mistake. That Winkler looks nice. Good luck with your search.
 
abraves said:
As everyone knows blades are a super deep never ending hole. I am wanting a tomahawk that I would use when going camping so would get some use chopping and splitting small wood. I want the kind that has a hammer vs a spike on the back side. I realize I could just take a hatchet or axe but that's like saying no one needs a custom or high end pistol just get a glock. I am looking at the Winkler hunter axe LT. I want that style vs the style that the head is installed like a pick axe. I'm sure someone on here has some experience with a similar tool so please share.

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If you use the Winkler to split wood you will destroy the handles.
 
After a few reviews about handle damage I looked some more and am now considering the Hammer Combat Axe maple sculpted handle with partial cord wrapped.
 
Gransfors bruks are really nice. They have a few options that are fairly small. Not sure if they quite fit the "tomahawk" style or not but as far as a hatchet goes it's definitely not just a Glock.

The smallest options they offer are almost too small. If they tickle your fancy I'd go for one of the medium sized ones.
 
Shady Grady said:
Cold Steel Trail Hawk has the hammer. It's a great hawk.
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I've got/had several different hawks by them and with a little work they are fantastic for camp tasks. Pretty sure they'd split a wig just fine if you go all Mel Gibson.
 
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abraves said:
Already got those. But I've never tried chopping and splitting with them. Hmmm
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Replacement barrel with a captive piston capped by a splitting wedge, load with blanks and press against the log.

Hope your wrists, lower and luck hold out!
 
I got a CRKT Woods Chogan several years ago and after a few lil mods it's been great. It gets packed in so the ability to remove the head helped for making it less cumbersome.
I cutoff the hammer head on the back nice n flat so it still hammers and lost some weight. I also shortened the handle so it'd fit inna molle fanny pack. Made a lil sheath for it and called it a day.
I'm not a huge fan of swinging edged weapons in the wilds I frequent. The Skraama and folding saws gets most of the duty. But I like the hawk for some things and sometimes I just feel like piddlin with it. 😀
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opaul said:
Interesting- why would it be any different than a normal camp hatchet?
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With a hatchet, the head is bigger across than the handle when you look at it from above.

All you have is a handle attached to a flying wedge. If the handle is thicker than the wedge where it enters the wood, you destroy the handle (unless it's an Estwing) because the handle is gonna hit the two sides of the piece being split.

This particular Winkler that the OP posted is even worse, because not only is the head narrower than the handles, the handles ride higher than the splitting plane of the head. You won't break the full tang underneath, but the wood scales are gonna get destroyed in short order.

The Winkler is a fighting tool. Terrible at processing wood (this really applies to most all tomahawks). You can use it with great care and slow deliberation and possibly accomplish some bushcraft tasks. But not well. Splitting with something like that is terribly difficult. And the more force you have to exert (can blame light weight of head here as well) and the more often you have to swing the more likely you are to get hurt.

The tomahawks can chop a little better than they split, but not nearly as well as hatchets and axes due to the geometry of the head.

A better analogy is buying a tomahawk to process wood/bush-craft is akin to buying a high end custom pistol to drive nails. It can be done. But not well. It's not what the tool was meant to be used for.
 
thrillhill said:
With a hatchet, the head is bigger across than the handle when you look at it from above.

All you have is a handle attached to a flying wedge. If the handle is thicker than the wedge where it enters the wood, you destroy the handle (unless it's an Estwing) because the handle is gonna hit the two sides of the piece being split.

This particular Winkler that the OP posted is even worse, because not only is the head narrower than the handles, the handles ride higher than the splitting plane of the head. You won't break the full tang underneath, but the wood scales are gonna get destroyed in short order.

The Winkler is a fighting tool. Terrible at processing wood (this really applies to most all tomahawks). You can use it with great care and slow deliberation and possibly accomplish some bushcraft tasks. But not well. Splitting with something like that is terribly difficult. And the more force you have to exert (can blame light weight of head here as well) and the more often you have to swing the more likely you are to get hurt.

The tomahawks can chop a little better than they split, but not nearly as well as hatchets and axes due to the geometry of the head.

A better analogy is buying a tomahawk to process wood/bush-craft is akin to buying a high end custom pistol to drive nails. It can be done. But not well. It's not what the tool was meant to be used for.
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The learning never stops here. I'm going to reread this post several times
 
thrillhill said:
With a hatchet, the head is bigger across than the handle when you look at it from above.

All you have is a handle attached to a flying wedge. If the handle is thicker than the wedge where it enters the wood, you destroy the handle (unless it's an Estwing) because the handle is gonna hit the two sides of the piece being split.

This particular Winkler that the OP posted is even worse, because not only is the head narrower than the handles, the handles ride higher than the splitting plane of the head. You won't break the full tang underneath, but the wood scales are gonna get destroyed in short order.

The Winkler is a fighting tool. Terrible at processing wood (this really applies to most all tomahawks). You can use it with great care and slow deliberation and possibly accomplish some bushcraft tasks. But not well. Splitting with something like that is terribly difficult. And the more force you have to exert (can blame light weight of head here as well) and the more often you have to swing the more likely you are to get hurt.

The tomahawks can chop a little better than they split, but not nearly as well as hatchets and axes due to the geometry of the head.

A better analogy is buying a tomahawk to process wood/bush-craft is akin to buying a high end custom pistol to drive nails. It can be done. But not well. It's not what the tool was meant to be used for.
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Thank you. Lots I hadn’t thought of. 😊
 
opaul said:
Thank you. Lots I hadn’t thought of. 😊
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I've lived in the woods most all my life.

And I love tomahawks and wanted to think off them as a multipurpose piece myself.

But I had to find out the hard way myself as a younger man!
 
thrillhill said:
I've lived in the woods most all my life.

And I love tomahawks and wanted to think off them as a multipurpose piece myself.

But I had to find out the hard way myself as a younger man!
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Thanks for sharing. You and opaul are my go to's for blade info.
 
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thrillhill said:
With a hatchet, the head is bigger across than the handle when you look at it from above.

All you have is a handle attached to a flying wedge. If the handle is thicker than the wedge where it enters the wood, you destroy the handle (unless it's an Estwing) because the handle is gonna hit the two sides of the piece being split.

This particular Winkler that the OP posted is even worse, because not only is the head narrower than the handles, the handles ride higher than the splitting plane of the head. You won't break the full tang underneath, but the wood scales are gonna get destroyed in short order.

The Winkler is a fighting tool. Terrible at processing wood (this really applies to most all tomahawks). You can use it with great care and slow deliberation and possibly accomplish some bushcraft tasks. But not well. Splitting with something like that is terribly difficult. And the more force you have to exert (can blame light weight of head here as well) and the more often you have to swing the more likely you are to get hurt.

The tomahawks can chop a little better than they split, but not nearly as well as hatchets and axes due to the geometry of the head.

A better analogy is buying a tomahawk to process wood/bush-craft is akin to buying a high end custom pistol to drive nails. It can be done. But not well. It's not what the tool was meant to be used for.
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Speaking of sharp bladed instruments, I was playing around with that AI Imaging software and this fell out. I can imagine this guy prepping fat wood right now.
BrownGnome.jpg
 
Make no mistake, the Winkler's are fine pieces. I've owned a few and he knows what he's doing. It's just not the task they are made for.

In the vein of what I "THINK" @abraves is vibing, I'd like to offer the suggestion of looking at "Hardcore Hammers".

hardcorehammers.com

Hardcore Hammers

Hardcore Hammers
hardcorehammers.com hardcorehammers.com


The one below is mine. Picked it up at the Blade Show in Atlanta back when they were just starting out.

It's an awesome woods/camp tool.

When I was "rolling heavy" for the day of rage last week, yeah, had my usual pistols and threw a long gun in too.

But, my Hardcore Hammer was laying in between the gear shifter and the 4wd shifter within easy reach.

Processes wood like a champ and makes a HECK of a weapon too!


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Although if someone were simply looking for the "Cadillac" of hatchets/axes, as @C-doodle mentioned above, that would be Gransfors Bruks, followed by Wetterlings in a close second (if they are still being produced, not sure, some rumors a while back about closing).

Utilitarian awards go to Estwing and surprsingly enough Gerber and Fiskars. All 3 can be great contextually but somewhat soulless (Glock analogy time again).

And there is a lot of nice stuff in between all those.
 
thrillhill said:
Make no mistake, the Winkler's are fine pieces. I've owned a few and he knows what he's doing. It's just not the task they are made for.

In the vein of what I "THINK" @abraves is vibing, I'd like to offer the suggestion of looking at "Hardcore Hammers".

hardcorehammers.com

Hardcore Hammers

Hardcore Hammers
hardcorehammers.com hardcorehammers.com


The one below is mine. Picked it up at the Blade Show in Atlanta back when they were just starting out.

It's an awesome woods/camp tool.

When I was "rolling heavy" for the day of rage last week, yeah, had my usual pistols and threw a long gun in too.

But, my Hardcore Hammer was laying in between the gear shifter and the 4wd shifter within easy reach.

Processes wood like a champ and makes a HECK of a weapon too!


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The background has my attention.
 
J R Green said:
The best camping axe ever.
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I use the cheapest of the cheap knock off kukri. A Kershaw camp 12 (I think). I like the heft and the longer edge compared to a hatchet/axe.

I've beat on that thing for years and it is the single "best" combo tool I have come across. The shape and weight combine to chop pretty nicely. It's a heck of a trail clearing tool and has enough heft to split kindling on its own. Also has plenty of length to baton. When I have beat the cheap steel into submission. A little time with a file brings it right back to useful. Since there is that belly to the tip. The back of it stays sharp for more delicate tasks.

Now for "I'm going camping and will be splitting firewood" my boys axe is awesome and combined with a 3-4" fixed blade. I think it is ideal.

But for bushwhacking in and a "who knows" kinda trip. That Kershaw is most likely going to be with me.
 
opaul said:
The background has my attention.
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Ride on out sometime. As others on here can attest, there is a LOT more of that background that's not in the pictures! And there's a fire going every weekend in this weather. From now until mid-May!
 
opaul said:
Might have to bring this 🎃😜View attachment 686718
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LOVE the micarta! "Grippier" than folks would imagine once the blood starts flying!

One thing that I do use "hawks" for that are not their "modern" intended use, is processing large game and farm animals.

That one makes me hungry! (And slightly thirsty as well, but really, what doesn't?!)
 
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