Premium Tactical Tomahawk

Hi,

Thank you very much for your insight in the earlier thread, I have contacted Hiko Ito and is awaiting for his reply. On the other hand, as the project goes, I will be drained of my disposable money for some other items I am curious about. The most obvious one will be the fancy Tactical Tomahawk.

I currently have a Hardcore Hardware Rhino ($200) at home in case I need to do some prying. I really like it because I do not need to care much with the partial corrosion of D2 at where I live. I had been very curious about RMJ as they had been applauded as the holy grail of tactical tomahawk (~$500). Then I read that they use 4140 is better because of the toughness and possibility to differential HT. There also exist a CRKT produced "RMJ Rune" which the design is quite nice ($80).

I had been looking back and forth but there are really not much good discussion. I really look forward to your insights:

1. Is D2 really that brittle? Or is it just not very durable in breaking down metal chains, doors and locks?
2. Is 4140 that capable to be nearly indestructible in performing such task over a long time?
3. Is the budget hawk in SK5 a good alternative that I shall observe little difference with the 4140 RMJ in the mentioned task? Or are there actual difference?

Again my biggest challenge would likely be old coconuts and perhaps breaking some lock and light door in emergency. Thank you.

D2 is a very poor choice for a hatchet. Low grindability combined with low impact toughness is a recipe for headaches with a chopper of any kind. Virtually any mid to high carbon steel would be a much better choice.

how about [www2.fiskars.com] or [cliffstamp.beyondt01micron.com] read more here as Cliff reviews knives hatchets and axes [cliffstamp.beyondt01micron.com]
4140 is a basic alloy steel used for everything from drive shafts to ax heads. it is not indestructible, just another choice.

scott
[www.etsy.com]

Hi,

Thank you for insight!

I do have some small hatchet, like the Gransfor Bruk Wildlife, the Small Forest, Friskar X7 and the Estwing Sportsman. They are good for prepping ordinary stuff, except for the Estwing which I think is a mistake. However I would want a spiky tomahawk against metal.

I would look into Helm Forge tomahawks if that's what you're after. Better price last time I checked than RMJ, but also probably a longer wait? I had one RMJ hawk and the geometry was very thick, but then again, it's going to need to be in order to be used for demo work.

Helm uses 4140 too, and Liam Hoffman who makes a Fireman's Axe uses 4142. If what you're after is destruction, you don't need more than that.

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Always in search of a good choppa'

Hi,

That would be a great alternative. For real I have a little bit of trouble throwing 500 into a Tomahawk when I can commission 2 knives for the price.I believe I would order a 12" with spike.

Thank you!

NP

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Always in search of a good choppa'

For demolition it’s hard to argue with a Trucker’s Friend, but tactical hawks aren’t really about logic.

I’ve got a Winkler Axe and it’s a beautifully ergonomic toy. It’s no better than a gransfors axe for chopping wood, but does feel indestructible (which I’m sure is not actually the case). The sheath is awesome though.

To answer the steel questions...
... assuming good heat treatment, I’d expect SK5 to be closer to 4140 than D2. D2 will likely blunt by chipping whereas, the other 2 by rolling or deforming. You’ve kind of gone for the two extremes for ‘hawks- D2 hard to sharpen and higher hardness and 4140 easy to sharpen and lower hardness, with SK5 somewhere between but closer to 4140. The Browning SA Tomahawk in 1055 would be even closer to 4140.

However, you’ve been talking about corrosion resistance, which neither 4140 or SK5 are famous for. Most people accept a coating to get the benefits in toughness, but you could consider 3cr13 or 420HC if stainless is important for you. 3cr13 has a reputation as a ‘junk’ steel, which i would agree with based on the heat treatment of my CRKT MUK, but I have a Gerber Bear Gylls hatchet in that steel which has really impressed me despite the horrible branding. The Gerber Downrange hawk is another option in 420HC, complete with pry function, but it seems expensive to me (although less than what I would expect to spend on a Winkler, so I don’t know what that says about me and my value judgements).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/25/2017 01:45PM by Eee.

Quote
Eee
For demolition it’s hard to argue with a Trucker’s Friend, but tactical hawks aren’t really about logic.

3cr13 has a reputation as a ‘junk’ steel, which i would agree with based on the heat treatment of my CRKT MUK, but I have a Gerber Bear Gylls hatchet in that steel which has really impressed me despite the horrible branding. The Gerber Downrange hawk is another option in 420HC, complete with pry function, but it seems expensive to me.

Exactly. This is the fun side of tools.

I really wanted the Gerber Downrange, maybe I would get that. Love the prybar, But Trucker's friend is awesome.

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Eee
For demolition it’s hard to argue with a Trucker’s Friend

So I looked into the Trucker's Friend and the lil Trucker. The steel is mysterious "cast alloy steel".

Anyone has any clue about what is it?

Thanks.

What about a Stanley Fubar if destructcion is your main goal?

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Always in search of a good choppa'

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C Amber
What about a Stanley Fubar if destructcion is your main goal?

Because it's irrational love for axe like tool toy

Btw I just learned that the Truckers are made with 1055 at 45-55 HRC.

That's gonna take some beating.

Tactical Tomahawks are rather silly, but for coconuts and similar, they are a nice tool.

For locks and doors, there are much, much better tools. You are gonna mess up the blade edge right quick.

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Resident Emerson Fanboi

Folding knives are fun, fixed blades are important.

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vigiloconfido

1. Is D2 really that brittle? Or is it just not very durable in breaking down metal chains, doors and locks?

Again my biggest challenge would likely be old coconuts and perhaps breaking some lock and light door in emergency. Thank you.

i know this is years old.. but i thought id just cross reference this for anyone reading

Why D2 is a terrible choice for an impact tool

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It's not Cliff, its Dr Stamp
#kebabstickcut, it's a thing - make it happen

cKc,
I remember that video. I kept thinking of the Kershaw knife that came out years ago when D2 was first being put into everything. It was a large camp knife, the Kershaw Outcast:



[www.knifecenter.com]

"I am still discussing issues of steels and performance at this stage." -- Cliff Stamp, May his memory be a blessing
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i think a number of those did fail, and they just made them thicker

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It's not Cliff, its Dr Stamp
#kebabstickcut, it's a thing - make it happen

i made a few d2 8" blades.. they work great.. unlikely to fail in the intended uses.. but they might if they hit the wrong thing accidentally

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It's not Cliff, its Dr Stamp
#kebabstickcut, it's a thing - make it happen

I've come to like S7 for a rugged use steel. I have a hawk from Gav and a huge chopper from Mccullen, both in S7. They seem every bit as durable as something like 5160 but they keep their edge better. When I say keep their edge better I'm talking about chopping dirty wood, hacking at limbs and roots that are in the dirt, and throwing... which leads to the blades slamming into the dirt.

I'm pissed at myself, because I lost all these photos of me removing a stump with the Gavko S7 hawk (my favorite throwing blade btw.)

Removing a stump with a hawk is stupid, but I did it to test out how much punishment it could take, and because I was bored. Several times I had the hawk dug very deep, and I put all my weight and force into the handle. Gav's hawk is 1/4" thick. I could bend it, but it just went back to true. No permanence in the bend.

There are several steels that are as tough or tougher than S7, but I couldn't break mine, and most importantly it keeps its edge better than the other tough steels I've used.


Chumgeyser on Youtube
E-nep throwing Brotherhood. Charter Member

S7 is a very good choice.. more readily available than the Calmax i was using.

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It's not Cliff, its Dr Stamp
#kebabstickcut, it's a thing - make it happen

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cKc
S7 is a very good choice.. more readily available than the Calmax i was using.

I always wanted to try out one of your calmax choppers.


Chumgeyser on Youtube
E-nep throwing Brotherhood. Charter Member

i wish i still had one Colin, Cliff and Bruce are the only ones lucky enough

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It's not Cliff, its Dr Stamp
#kebabstickcut, it's a thing - make it happen