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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2009 16:27:35 GMT
So, last week I ordered a Cold Steel Trail Hawk from a local retailer and today I got the package. I open it and lo and behold, it's a trail hawk with a big sticker marked "American Tomahawk Company"(!) It is also marked "Taiwan" on the other side.
So, is the dealer trying to fool me or is ATC just another, perhaps older name that Cold Steel used (perhaps I got an old axe)?
Also, being a dirty old-worlder, I have no real idea on what hickory is supposed to look and feel like. The handle I have is very hard (it was able to support my body weight while hanging on it) but it has also very visible grains and if I try I can pick out splinters.
So basically, should I return this hawk or not?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2009 16:52:10 GMT
It's not uncommon for a company to contract out to other producers and [re]sell items. (Or it could be that CS acquired this company). I've seen these at the gun shows and they seem well made, sharp and with superior hickory handles. (The higher grade heartwood is probably reserved for other uses like canes).
I have an ATC Norse Hawk with a hickory handle. It's not as grainy as yours appears to be. Sand it and/or wrap it.
If there's nothing "wrong" with the hawk head (no voids or irregularities), I'd keep it.
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Avery
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Post by Avery on Jan 20, 2009 20:26:20 GMT
Yeah, like larry said sand down the handle. Hickory is a very hard tight grained wood. ATC, I think, is a distributer of cold steel. If its the same axe type as you expected, I'd say keep it. If not, send her back. Either way, you can email cold steel and ask them directly. Their customer service has always been good to me.
Edit: Not to plug my video or anything, but you can get a good look at a hickory handle on the "basic axe throwing" video I did a while back. Its in the cutting vid section.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2009 20:59:00 GMT
It looks good and everything and I planned on wrapping it anyways. I was just worried that I got some piece of crap that will break the first time I try to hammer a nail or cut firewood. I've emailed Cold Steel and I'll wait and see what they have to say. If they don't think it's crap I'll probably keep it. BTW, does anyone have any suggestion on have to make the axe head stick really well? The shaft is a bit in the thin side and I want to make sure it REALLY sticks. PS: Absilitis, you're videos are awesome. As soon as I get out from the city I'll try some axe throwing.
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Avery
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Post by Avery on Jan 20, 2009 21:05:43 GMT
BTW, does anyone have any suggestion on have to make the axe head stick really well? The shaft is a bit in the thin side and I want to make sure it REALLY sticks. PS: Absilitis, you're videos are awesome. As soon as I get out from the city I'll try some axe throwing. thanks for the compliment. How exactly do you mean "stick" ?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2009 21:59:56 GMT
I suggest buying a new axe if you want it to "stick" into the target, or risk having an extremely brittle edge and sharpen it. I have two trail hawks and they are just no good, I liked them at first but after using them they just won't stick into anything but tree stumps unless you sharpen the heck out of them. The handles will splinter like crazy for some reason, hickory doesn't usually act like this from my experience.
Also, if you're not going to sharpen it, you need to backup about a half a pace than normal so that when you throw the axe you hit on the top point of the edge, otherwise you might have a lot of difficulty sticking it.
EDIT Oh and grab an Allen wrench and take out the little screw in the side of the axe head or every time you throw it will create a huge ugly notch in your handle.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2009 22:18:11 GMT
Cold Steel bought American Tomahawk Company a few years ago. The handles are hickory. I have thier norse and frontier hawks I have no problems with them. They throw real well for me.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2009 22:26:10 GMT
Cold Steel bought American Tomahawk Company a few years ago. Exactly. Scroll to the bottom of this page: www.coldsteel.com/tomahawks.html. ![8-)](//storage.forums.net/forum/images/smiley/cool.png) P.S. bishop, sorry to hear you've had trouble with them. I've owned two of Cold Steel's Frontier Hawks and had no trouble with them (I, too, removed the set screws, however).
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Avery
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Post by Avery on Jan 20, 2009 22:30:04 GMT
Cold Steel bought American Tomahawk Company a few years ago. Exactly. Scroll to the bottom of this page: www.coldsteel.com/tomahawks.html. ![8-)](//storage.forums.net/forum/images/smiley/cool.png) P.S. bishop, sorry to hear you've had trouble with them. I've owned two of Cold Steel's Frontier Hawks and had no trouble with them (I, too, removed the set screws, however). Ahhhhhhhh, learn something new every day. ![8-)](//storage.forums.net/forum/images/smiley/cool.png)
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2009 23:03:57 GMT
I'm not having problems with them that nobody else is having, like he said, the handles are really splintery. The axe head itself is just not as high quality as other things I've seen. The sharpness just isn't up to par for throwing against anything other than logs.
I just don't like them, so I'm going to order some axes that absilits suggested.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2009 23:59:29 GMT
thanks for the compliment. How exactly do you mean "stick" ? Ah, sorry for being a bit unclear on that one, I'm a bit tired. What I mean was that the shaft/handle is rather small for the eye, which means the axe head is slightly loose. Do you have any suggestion for securing it? I don't want the axe to come flying of and I'm a bit worried that the Allen screw will damage the wood if I chop to hard. fallen: Gah, thanks. I totally missed that, I just checked the Swedish website where I got it from. Do I feel stupid now. ![:P](//storage.forums.net/forum/images/smiley/tongue.png) To everyone else: This hawk will mainly be used chopping fire wood and such. Call me old-fashioned, but I guess I adhere to the school of thought that thinks it's a really bad idea to throw your weapon away. At least if you're not an expert like absilitis. ![;)](//storage.forums.net/forum/images/smiley/wink.png)
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2009 0:06:23 GMT
Take the allen screw out, the axe head should slide up and get stuck near the top of the handle, that's what you want. I've abused the heck out of mine and neither have come off the handle.
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Avery
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Post by Avery on Jan 21, 2009 1:17:05 GMT
If taking the screw out doesn't work, get 4 furniture tacks and put them above and below the axe head on both sides. that way the head can't " walk" up or down the handle. The problem of the handle being to small is most likely something you'll have to deal with whenever trying to get replacement handles for these heads. It sounds like the eye is just too big for standard handles. If thats the case I am surprised at cold steel. They normally fit handles pretty good.
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