Tomahawk recommendations?

[imadork]

I'm interested in a CQB tomahawk, such as the American Tomahawk Corp. "Vietnam" tomahawk. Has anyone tried this model or others that have worked well? Thanks.

[ahenry]

Why?

Seriously, just for fun or for actual defense? If the latter, then may I recommend you think long and hard about it?

[imadork]

Both. The state and my local police dept. have shamelessly prevented me from carrying a concealed *or* loaded pistol in public, and since I commute to a high crime area daily, I like to have something on me at all times. The city I spend all my time in has an ordinance against knives over 3", so the fighting knife is out. Batons are illegal to possess here. And I don't like pepper spray. Make sense?

[ahenry]

Are you sure hawks are exempt from the statutes?

BTW, American Tomahawk Company has a really good reputation. I don’t own any so I am only passing on what I’ve heard, but its all been positive.

[Chugach]

Just stumbled on this while surfing. I have no experience with either American Tomahawk or 1 Stop Knife Shop.

http://onestopknifeshop.com/

[Chugach]

or here...I remembered seeing these in their catalog:

Dixie Gun Works

[eggroll]

move out of california.

what makes you think that a hawk is any different from any other concealble / deadly weapon - not to mention are you trained in its use?

I'm sorry but there is no way that you can realistically expect to carry on of these in public.

think about it, the american eagle hawks are about 19" in length, and made of solid steel - its a good few pounds at least

in my analysis, it would be counterproductive to own of these - not to mention the media outcry if one of these were to turn up in some Kali street :-0!!!!


EGG

[M700]

American Tomahawk makes a heck of a weapon. Do a search over on http://www.Bladeforums.com .

[[email protected]]

Feasibly you could carry one on a tool belt with your hammer and such if you are doing demolitions tasks, but past that, I'd be hard pressed for a valid non-ccw reason. You going to carry a tool belt with you everwhere you go?

Kevin

[JGGonzalez]

If I were buying a tomahawk, I would probably get one of these. Check out http://www.rmjforge.com/index.htm.

[imadork]

Are you sure hawks are exempt from the statutes?

Yes. Contrary to popular belief, at the state level you can carry almost any non-prohibited weapon openly, unlike some other states. E.g. a spear, sword, unloaded firearm, and others. You don't need a reason. Not that I would carry a pike around, but the penal code does not prevent me from doing so. I challenge anyone to find a place in the penal code that prohibits carrying a hawk. Since billy clubs/batons/truncheons and certain other dangerous weapons defined by 12020 are illegal to possess, they obviously may not be carried. Strangely enough, certain potentially more deadly weapons like an unloaded firearm or a sword may be carried (not concealed though). Don't take my word for it, just look at the law.

The only possibilities as to your question are that a spiked hawk could be classified as an "ice pick" for arbitrary reasons or as a dagger if it is "capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon to cause great bodily injury" (see penal code 12020-12040). I'm awaiting clarification on this from the DOJ. A hawk that has a blade on one side and a hammer on the other is nothing more than a hatchet or axe. The words "hawk" and "tomahawk" are not found anywhere in the penal code, nor are "hatchet," "axe," "ax," or "adz." Yes, I'm afraid I *can* carry at least a non-spiked hawk almost anywhere, including concealed, absent statute or case law to the contrary. If they want to include hawks in the law against concealed dirks/daggers or pistols/revolvers, the legislature can pass a law to that effect. In the meantime, I'll carry one. City ordinances, however, may prohibit the carrying of items like hawks. The particular city I spend all my time in does not. Lucky me.

[jmlv]

I went to my local home depot and bought hat they call a drywall hammer. went home and chopped up a bunch of old plaster board just to give it thsat "used" look. carried it everywhere. if you check one out its a vicious weapon looks sort of like a warhammer. ax blade on one side hammer on the other. also at about $25 a whole lot cheaoer than that stupid $170 nam tomohawk (i'm sorry buts thats wat too much money for what is basiclya hand ax). check out your local home depot for a wide variety of "egal" impact weapons. JMHO

[Iggy]

After you get your Hawk, contact my wife for throwin' lessons..

She's won competitions in 3 states..

[[email protected]]

Maybe I should offer a TFL special on American Tomahawk products...

The Vietnam Tomahawk is an impressive piece - during Best Ranger this year, the guys at ATC put the spike through a Kevlar helmet with one shot; they said it didn't take much force at all.

http://www.1sks.com/store/american-tomahawk.html

Kevin

[Joey]

Why I'm getting a Eagle Talon hawk of course. It's been proven in combat over in the stan with USAF Security Forces troops among other "special" units. It's been tweeked and fine tuned and now it's extremly impressive.

Chek out the website and drop Ryan a e-mail.

[115grfmj]

lockheed-martin makes excellent tomahawks. Just imagine the look on the perps face when you whip one of them out. Actually probably just as useful for defense, as the one your proposing. would get you the cool titile of AXE MURDER

[ohen cepel]

Cold Steel makes some pretty good hawks and they have a very wide variety. I also like the fact that you can buy replacement handles from them readily.

Not as extreme (or expensive) as the ones mentioned above.

You may want to get one of theirs. If it works for you then you could always upgrade.

Would hate to spend that amount of money and not get to use the item much.

Stay Frosty.

[Mark D]

Another option:
http://www.terragon.com/secureserver...i?partno=50307

And yet another (heavier) option 15", 24" and 36" serious axes:
http://www.terragon.com/secureserver...i?partno=40226

[Kentucky Rifle]

I DO remember that my boots were on fire and
then, my hands from trying to beat out the burning plastic ON my boots. But, I'd love to have had any of the above. I bet any one of them would be quite handy in an emergency situation.

KR

[FireForged]

I own a American Tomahawk called the Vtac. Its every bit as tough as they say and more. I bought it to carry in the woods after I lost my little Gerber Hatchett. Comes with a nice Spec Ops sheath with kydex insert.

[strambo]

imadork, I won't say your wrong...but I do have a 4 year CJ degree (so maybe I'm slightly ahead of a "jailhouse " lawyer?). Most laws regarding CCW are not worded to be a list of prohibited items and anything else goes. Most are worded such that "concealed weapons" are illegal and then they provide common examples, and/or specific examples that they especially want outlawed by name (like extra scary "butterfly knives" ). They are usually a little vague for a reason. Like most laws there is a "reasonableness" type factor. Would a reasonable person define a tomahawk as a weapon? Would a reasonable person think the intent of carrying a 'hawk is for its qualities as a weapon? I would think so, and advise you closely re-read and re-think your position.

Good luck, I don't care what you carry if you're a good guy, I don't want you to go to prison on a mistaken assumption though. Even if you are technically right...I wouldn't bet on it mattering a whit to a CA DA and jury, there is probably enough "grey area" to convict.

[Erik]

Imadork - I'd be shocked to find that your interpretation coincides with the how the law is understood and applied by members of your criminal justice system.

That said, a three inch folder will do if you will. Furthermore, it won't make anyone think your a loose cannon should you come under the type of scrutiny you will should you have cause to ever defend yourself with it. Something I dare say will be a given should you use a hawk.

[AK103K]

imadork,
I have one of the ATC's Lagana Tactical hawks sold by OSKS and a Cold Steel Viet Nam hawk. There really is no comparison between the two, the ATC hawk is by far the better tool. It has a practically indestructible handle and comes very sharp and ready to go. These are nothing like a standard hawk and are light and very quick to handle. Throwing it would be my last choice, as would be throwing away any weapon.

One Stop Knife Shop is a good place to deal with. Good prices and great service.

If your looking for a way to carry it, here's a link to a sheath for you:
http://www.survivalsheath.com/flash.htm

[VaughnT]

Like others, I strongly discourage the purchase of a 'real' hawk for civilian defense and daily carry. Not only are these things large and very obvious, but they look like a weapon and nothing else.

You would be far better served with a short-hafted drywall hammer or roofer's hatchet (same basic thing). Trust me, nobody, and I mean nobody, will want to be on the receiving end of either of those common tools. You can find them for less than ten dollars at any flea market or buy them NIB at any supply store.

Also, I would strongly suggest that you look into yourself for defense and not for some crutch, which weapons can be. The more time I spend in the circle of defensive arts, the more I see that it is the person that makes the difference and not the tools. This is why an Army Ranger or Recon Marine can kill you quickly and easily without any weapons other than their bare hands and a lot of training in how to kill with them. Would you want to go up against Evander Hollyfield even though you have a knife and he's unarmed?

Stephen King said it best when he said something to the affect of, 'they paid more attention to the weapons that they wore than the weapons that they were.' He was speaking of two rotund, and now dead, cops that carried wondefully clean and oiled pistols.

In the above example, a fitter, trimmer, more resourceful officer might have lived through the fight, even if they had a slightly rusted, lint-covered pistol on their hip. In most real life encounters, you get into some hand-to-hand fighting before you have the time and space to bring a weapon in to play. And, if you're weapon is exposed for all to see (like a tomahawk on your belt) you just might get blindsided and be dead before you realize there's even a threat.

Long story short, I'd spend the money on a gym membership and build my size and endurance. Then I'd take some empty hand training of one kind or another. And then, I'd enroll in some pistol-shooting classes, some knife-fighting classes, and whatever else was offered by the top tier instructors travelling around the country.

Focus on building the foundation and then worry about the weaponry. For once you have the foundation solidified, you realize that just about anything can be used as a weapon.