Make a tomahawk out of a simple axe. Tomahawk ax: types and photos
First of all, for those who decide to make a tomahawk, you need to purchase a forge. But since purchased horns are generally quite expensive, you can make a mini horn yourself. Secondly, you need, if you are not already a blacksmith, to acquire some blacksmithing skills. To do this, contact familiar experts, or read special literature, training on scraps of any metal.
Some metal forging technology is described in the sword making section. I think it will not be too different from forging a tomahawk hatchet.
So, in order to forge a hatchet, you need to find a piece of high-carbon steel grade 1095 and 15N20. You can ask the experts and try another brand of steel. But the author of this tomahawk, someone Joe Shilaski, recommends this one.
Before proceeding to forging, let's see what the tomahawk hatchet actually consists of. Look at the drawing and study all its parts, I think it is necessary to clearly imagine what you want to do. 
Next, we heat the steel billet in the hearth 
In theory, in order to forge a quality billet, the billet is made from several layers, forged separately and welded together by forging. The author forged a billet of 400 layers, first laying layers of steel grade 1095, and then grade 15N20. But, for such a complex forging technology, you must be a highly skilled blacksmith. We are ordinary do-it-yourselfers, and it is excusable for us to forge a tomahawk hatchet from a single piece of metal. Let's assume that you have already done this and forged a billet.
Now this workpiece must be upset to increase the diameter of the steel, heating one end for this and tapping it with a hammer. 
Next, we make the workpiece flat, after adding a flux to the steel and placing it in the hearth to bring the required heating temperature. When forging a workpiece, constantly inspect it from the sides and from above to achieve a symmetrical shape. To give the desired shape, make a wooden template and constantly check the size and shape of the hatchet against it. 
After you have achieved the shape you need, the steel must be "normalized". To do this, the workpiece must be heated to a "non-magnetic" state and cooled at room temperature. Then heat again and put to cool in a hot box filled with sand or sawdust.
Now that the draft blank is finished, let's proceed to its further processing, that is, giving the final shape according to the wooden template 
But first you need to remove the scale and do a rough grinding.
With a large drill, make a hole for the ax handle strictly at an angle of ninety degrees relative to the head of the hatchet. 
Now we clamp the workpiece in a vise and process the hole with a file, achieving the desired shape. 
In general, a rather laborious and tedious work with a file will now begin in order to select and shape the neck, chevron, butt, molding. But here it really depends on the desire to give beauty and authenticity to your tomahawk.
If you are in a bummer, you can leave the work with a file like this (although in this case the balancing of the tomahawk will be disturbed, so if you want to throw a tomahawk, and not chop poles with it, hammering nails along the way, I advise you to complete the work. Balancing is achieved by reducing the metal layer by neck of the tomahawk head), proceeding to the manufacture of the handle. 
I think it is not necessary to describe in detail how to make a tomahawk handle. If you have coped with such a complex process as forging, then carpentry is “seeds” for you.
Another labor-intensive process that we face when processing a tomahawk is rough and fine grinding. How to properly grind is described in the same section on making a sword, so I will not repeat myself and erase the fingertips on the keyboard for nothing.
After giving the final shape to the tomahawk, the ax must be hardened. You can harden metal in used engine oil by heating it to a temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit, for example with a torch. More detailed description steel hardening is described in the "steel hardening" section.
The tomahawk hatchet can also be polished to a mirror finish, or given a beautiful color by chemical treatment of the metal. 
And later I will lay out the methods of color that are mentioned above.
At the word "tomahawk" many people immediately remember the Indians. Indeed, this type of ax was masterfully used by North American natives. Reading books about the Indians, it is difficult to get rid of the impression that the small steel hatchet is a native Indian invention. In fact, the Indians only gave their name to this ax, and he himself arrived in America along with the colonists.
The first axes among the Indians of the pre-Columbian era were stone, impaled on a long handle, often flexible or wicker. Such an ax was a hybrid of an ax with a club and was used in war and in everyday life. Naturally, due to the unreliable design, such weapons were inferior to spears. Seeing the sharp steel axes of the settlers, and having received a few in exchange, the Indians were delighted and called them "what they cut" (tamahaken). Europeans, having heard this word, pronounced it as "tomahawk".
Varieties of the Indian tomahawk ax
Although the tomahawk for the townsfolk is associated with the so-called "Missouri ax", the type of tomahawk could be different, in particular:
- Celts. The very first tomahawks made of iron, which were hammered into the handle with a butt. To the same group can be attributed the Celts with a point, more like klevtsy;
- Ear tomahawks. Exactly those that advertised the cinema and books about the Indians. In another way, they were called "Missouri axes" and were a traditional form of an ax with an eye. They were used for military operations, very rarely in everyday life (mainly for quickly cutting carcasses);
- Pipe tomahawks. They could be of any type, but they had a feature - a channel along the entire length of the handle. Often richly decorated, they were rarely used in battle because of the hollow handle. Their main purpose was in diplomatic ceremonies between tribes, often given as a sign of friendship;
- Expontoon tomahawks. They were a mixture of esponton and an axe. Most likely, they were remade from espontons taken away in battles with settlers;
- Halberd tomahawks. They were brought from Spain, they were either shortened halberds, or hatchets made according to the same scheme. The rarest variety, the North American Indians had mainly among the leaders, emphasizing their status.
Along with these models, there were homemade tomahawks. Usually they were made from standard models.
The appearance of steel tomahawks among the Indians
The first metal axes were traded by the settlers for furs. Quickly learning how to wield tomahawks, the aborigines surpassed their teachers in this art. The Indians received the basics of owning a tomahawk from British sailors who used axes in naval battles during boarding. Moreover, the Indians were able to master the throwing technique forgotten in Europe since the time of the Franks and even surpass the ancient Europeans. Throwing masters could throw several tomahawks in a couple of seconds. For throwing, the Missouri type of ax was most suitable. The Spanish halberd-type ax was only good for close combat. It was possible to throw an ax at a distance of up to 20 meters.
A new surge in the popularity of tomahawks came in the 2000s, in connection with the fighting of the US Army in the east. He was perfect for opening doors. Now the so-called "tactical" tomahawks are produced by many companies and everyone can choose an ax for themselves, taking into account their needs.
Disadvantages of modern models
The modern industry produces many types of tomahawks for every taste. From the frankly predatory SOG m48, to the quite peaceful looking Jenny Wren Spike, advertised as feminine. In general, modern tomahawks can be conditionally divided into three groups:
- Identical. Such axes are produced only by Cold steel. They are a forged hatchet on a wooden handle, put on by the reverse drive;
- Tomahawks attached to a plastic handle. This is the notorious SOG m48 and similar models;
- Tomahawks carved from a single piece of metal, with overlays in the handle area.
Let's take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of each type.
The identical tomahawks are a classic ax design that has remained unchanged for hundreds of years. Usually made independently or ordered from blacksmiths. Despite their unprepossessing appearance, they are formidable weapons, proven by many battles over the centuries. They are distinguished by a simple design, perfect balance, the ability to adjust the handle specifically to your hand and ease of repair. The ax itself is “indestructible”, and the handle is easy to make with your own hands.
Tomahawks on a plastic handle have a very menacing look. Due to their low weight, they can work at high speed. The butt is often made in the form of a pick, a hammer, or even a second blade. These axes during operation revealed many shortcomings. The round handle often twists in the hand on impact, resulting in a slippery impact. Absolutely not suitable for throwing, despite the assurances of the sellers (the handle breaks after several hits against a tree). Practically unsuitable for household work. This type of tomahawk is more suitable for scaring than for serious work.
One-piece tomahawks can be called an ax with a big stretch. Rather, they are blades shaped like an axe. Due to the design features and the low weight of the working part, they are not able to play the role of a powerful penetrating weapon. Very rubbing on the hand when using. Their only plus is in the one-piece construction, which is very difficult to break.
If you want to buy a really real combat tomahawk, choose identical Cold steel companies, or better, do it yourself or order from a blacksmith.
Cold steel tomahawks
Cold steel has become famous for the production of knives, axes, swords and other weapons, which is a symbiosis of the best vintage models with the latest developments. Cold steel tomahawks are forged from 1055 steel and are capable of handling chopping and throwing. Despite a good reputation, like any serial product, it may need to be improved. It is not uncommon for the backlash of the ax on the handle, it happens that it does not lie well in the hand. When buying, you should carefully inspect the purchased product, and after the purchase, conduct a test cabin. If you need to plant an ax more efficiently, put the skin on and smear it with epoxy. If possible, try to make a tomahawk yourself.
Drawing for making a tomahawk with your own hands
There are two ways to make your own tomahawk:
- Forging method;
- With the help of a donor ax, a grinder and an electric sharpener.
Let us consider in detail these two methods, after which we will figure out how to make a handle.
For forging an ax you will need a forge and an anvil. A hearth can be made from an old pan by drilling holes in the bottom and partially cutting off the side walls. To blow air, you can use an old vacuum cleaner or a fan from a computer. A piece of an old rail is suitable as an anvil.
For an ax, metal grade 65g is suitable. As an alternative source of steel, a car spring can be reforged. First, a rectangle of suitable thickness is forged, and an eye hole is made in it with a chisel or punch. Then, with a forging (or ordinary) hammer, the workpiece is given the desired shape. The workpiece is hardened, after which metalworking is performed.
The hardening of a forged tomahawk should be zone-hardened - the blade is hardened, and the butt is usually not hardened. After locksmith processing, the ax is mounted on a previously prepared ax handle.
To make a tomahawk, you need a donor - an ordinary ax. As the first prototype, you can take a cheap Chinese ax. Only a quality tool will not work out of it. Although if you are afraid to ruin a quality ax, you can try it in Chinese.
If you want a quality tomahawk, use old Soviet forged axes. Axes from army warehouses of the forties and fifties of release enjoy good fame.
First you need to make a drawing of a tomahawk. To do this, a donor lies on a sheet of paper and is outlined along the contour. Then this drawing is given the desired shape. The next operation will be to transfer the drawing from paper to an ax. Having drawn the desired shape on the ax, you should cut off the excess metal with the help of a grinder. Be sure to use protective goggles and gloves when cutting. Don't cut too fast or the metal will overheat and lose its hardness. It is recommended to periodically cool the part with water. After trimming, the workpiece is sharpened on an electric grinder and polished. If you have a dremel, you can decorate the ax with an inscription or pattern. If the metal overheated during the work, the ax must be re-hardened.
Making a handle for a tomahawk
Usually ax handles are made of birch, but for a tomahawk it is better to choose another wood. Cold steel uses hickory wood for tomahawk handles. In our latitudes, the best wood for an ax handle is ash. It is not inferior in strength to oak and at the same time has good flexibility. You can use dogwood, pear and cherry plum.
I am fond of martial arts with weapons, historical fencing. I write about weapons military equipment because it is interesting and familiar to me. I often learn a lot of new things and want to share these facts with people who are not indifferent to military topics.
We could not afford to just leave this topic, and decided to figure out in detail what it is - tactical tomahawk Where did it come from and where is it used? You will be surprised, but the tomahawk as a special tactical weapon exists in the armies of the world almost in the mid-50s.
History of the tomahawk
The Tomahawk is an extremely unusual weapon for its pale-faced brethren. Having a huge history, this type of edged weapons remains a highlight supplied to the troops in small batches. But this unusual weapon today, he is increasingly winning the hearts of the military as a convenient and practical weapon for close combat. Why? Let's go back to history...
Tomahawk(tomahawk in English), or in other words "battle ax" is a cold weapon used by the Indians of North America.
A real Indian tomahawk looked completely different from what we used to see them in films about Indians. However, he is not even "Indian". In pre-Columbian America, the word "tomahawk" (tomahiken, tomehogan, tummahakan, tomahak, tumahguac, etc.) denoted a club with a pointed stone tip, which often served simultaneously as a smoking pipe. So, during the war - a weapon, in peacetime - a pipe of peace. And the very name of the hatchet "tomahawk" in general, in fact, is not Indian, but rather European. It comes from an English transliteration of the term in various Eastern Algonquian languages. Initially, this was the name of a variety of combat clubs and clubs, later - small iron, bronze or brass axes on a straight handle. Used by the natives of America as a melee weapon and for throwing.
white man's gift
The Indians did not initially use tomahawks en masse in combat or hunting, as we are used to seeing in feature films. It was the Europeans who brought iron axes to the American continent, which made an indelible impression on the locals and became one of the most popular goods: the natives gladly exchanged them for furs. Tomahawks were produced right there or imported from Europe.
Those that got to the Indians from Europe were steel, slightly modernized
British boarding axes marines.
The Indians turned iron tomahawk axes from a working tool into a formidable weapon. They were used in close combat, they learned to throw them with amazing skill, while the Indians were taught to fight with a tomahawk by European settlers who owned the technique of using an ax during a boarding battle. The natives of America turned out to be very diligent students, and soon trained Indian warriors threw a tomahawk at a distance of up to 20 meters, while accurately hitting the target. At the same time, the Indians appreciated the new weapon white man, because in close combat the tomahawk was more convenient than a knife and a spear, since due to the lever handle even weak person could inflict a terrible wound, for example, cut off a limb. Plus, due to the ax handle, not long and not short, it was easy to wield both in a dense crowd and in one-on-one fights.
Tomahawks were used not only in war, but also in hunting - to finish off wounded animals.
The preferences of certain forms of tomahawks by the Indians of different tribes changed over time and were determined by the proposal of the manufacturers. In the Missouri River region, until the middle of the 19th century, very wide, but on a relatively short handle, “Missouri battle axes". Another type, in the form of a spear or pick, often with decorative swirling processes at the base of the blade. This "spontaneous (spontaneous) tomahawk" came from a polearm of the same name, which was armed with sergeants in European armies.
To expand the market and increase demand, European blacksmiths tried to please the tastes of the natives: blade and handle decorations became more sophisticated and luxurious, more and more new original models were invented. For example, tomahawks were made for diplomatic purposes: with artistic engraving, inlaid with gold and silver. They were offered to Indian chiefs as gifts emphasizing peaceful intentions. The blades were made at first from simple iron, later from iron or brass with a steel insert of the cutting edge, from brass. On the butt (back side of the blade) they made a sharp spike, a hammer. The most popular were tomahawks with a hollow handle and a butt with a shank for smoking tobacco.
The Indians themselves began to master blacksmithing only at the beginning of the 19th century, but they preferred not to bother with ore mining and iron smelting, but most often they simply reforged the “iron scrap” of Europeans. They polished the handles, inlaid them with various materials, cut out and burned patterns, wrapped them with strips of leather or fabric, copper wire, and painted them. And, of course, various (often symbolic) decorations were attached: feathers, porcupine quills, pieces of fur, beads, hair, human scalps. Tomahawks become a symbol of power and status among the Indians by the middle of the 19th century. Dance and ceremonial tomahawks had various suspensions at the end of the handle in the form of beaded leather triangles with fringe, bells, strips of cloth or fur. Round mirrors could be sewn onto the latter. Tomahawks became so ingrained in the spiritual culture of the North American Indians that even peace pipes, which were made from the sacred red stone of Minnesota, began to be made in the form of this battle hatchet. Gift and souvenir tomahawks-pipes had handles trimmed with silver, where even the silver mouthpiece was closed with a cap on a chain.
Vietnamese tomahawk by Peter LaGrana
The tomahawk was used by European settlers: hunters, pioneers and, until the middle of the 19th century, by the military, along with a “belt ax” (“half-axe”) close to it in terms of parameters. They were in service with American troops during the Revolutionary War, the wars of the North and South, and the "Indian" wars.
For a long time, this weapon was not remembered, considering it lagging behind and not effective, however Peter LaGana (Peter LaGana ), a true descendant of the Mohawk Indians, convinced the world otherwise. A former member of the Marine Corps, he took part in World War II. After the war, he taught hand-to-hand combat. However, in addition to teaching unarmed fighting techniques, he also taught the work of a tomahawk. Information about this reached the higher authorities, as a result of which in the winter of 1965 he was called to the Pentagon to demonstrate the potential of this weapon.
« Tomahawks themselves, even after playing a huge historical role during more than one hundred clashes between Indians and colonists, were used by soldiers of the American army in significant quantities during the Vietnam War in the period from 1966-1975 and gained fame as an indispensable tool and weapon for a fighter».
Despite the successful performance, the battle with the tomahawk was not included in the official training program for the US military. But Peter LaGana was already on fire with the idea of an army tomahawk and did not want to retreat. A few months later, he made his own tomahawk, which has a specially shaped head section that significantly increases the combat capabilities of the weapon.
The blade of the LaGan tomahawk on the butt had the most pointed shape and could pierce a Kevlar helmet or light body armor (which, alas, was not available to the knife). And thanks to its high penetrating power, coupled with its weight, the tomahawk inflicted serious damage, even if the blow was delivered from the elbow, without investing body weight in the blow. Consequently, it could be used in narrow passages and thickets, where the fighter simply did not have room to swing.
Interestingly, five of the seven edges of the sharp part of LaGan's tomahawk were sharpened, so a hit with a tomahawk along any trajectory inflicted a wound on the enemy. But the most amazing thing about this ax was its balance. Peter himself calmly threw any sharp object so that it stuck, but what was an unprepared fighter to do?
Peter LaGana offered to throw his tomahawk to unprepared people, mostly women and children. As a result, a total of 870 shots were made from a distance of 4.5 to 6 meters. After processing the data and making calculations, those proportions and weights were found that provided almost any person with a successful hit at such a range, even without special training.
Demonstration of the capabilities of the LaGrana tomahawk
The ax turned out to be so successful that the demand for it was hundreds of times higher than the supply. Therefore, LaGana opened own company"American Tomahawk Company", which on April 16, 1966 produced the first serial sample of a battle ax. Now LaGana offered the tomahawk to the Marines, and on October 3, 1966, at a military base in Quantico, Virginia, he conducted the most realistic demonstration of the capabilities of the new tomahawk ever held by the US military.
The first test consisted of confronting two Marines who were armed with rifles and bayonets. LaGana insisted that the protective scabbards be removed from the bayonets. A minute later, he disarmed both attackers, although he received a cut right hand, but continued the demonstration anyway. Then LaGana disarmed the fighters with a machete, and in the third test he easily defeated the attacker with a knife. The possibility of chopping properties of the tomahawk was demonstrated on dummies.
At the end of the tests, he showed how easy and effective it is to throw a tomahawk, including at a moving enemy, for this he best friend Kon Novak had a wooden shield strapped to his chest. Upon completion of the tests, all eighteen representatives of the Marine Corps, who were part of the commission, bought themselves tomahawks. But the response of the command of the US Marine Corps was the following: “ In order for the tomahawk to be accepted into service, it must replace one or more elements from the individual set of equipment of the Marine, so this weapon will not be accepted into service.».
However, thanks to the efforts of commissioned officers, the military was allowed to purchase tomahawks privately and carry them as weapons. Of the more than 4,000 tomahawks manufactured by the American Tomahawk Company before its closure in 1970, 3,820 were purchased by Marines in the Vietnam War. Thanks to this, LaGan's tomahawk was given the nickname "Vietnamese tomahawk".
Tomahawk in the modern army
It is interesting that the Soviet command considered the tomahawk as a weapon, however when conducting tests sapper shovel almost as effective as a battle ax, so it was decided to leave everything as it is.
Tomahawks resurface only during the US Operation Just Cause in Panama. There, gangsters of drug cartels actively used in hand-to-hand skirmishes not only machetes, but also battle axes, from which more than forty fighters were injured or killed. A light and maneuverable ax in dense thickets was several times more effective than a bayonet.
During the "Desert Storm" fighters are faced with the difficulty of entering the premises, the doors have to be broken into improvised means or blown up. The complaints of the fighters do not reach the command, or the command does not attach any importance to them. Therefore, soldiers wearing huge red fire axes were not uncommon.
Tomahawk VTAC
The tomahawk experiences a true revival only after 2000, this time already as a full-fledged element of a fighter's equipment. A year later, the American Tomahawk company, headed by Andy Prisco, begins to function again, which, with the support of the already elderly Peter LaGan, begins the mass production of the “Vietnamese Tomahawk” - VTAC.
The popularity of this ax exceeds all conceivable levels and a true boom in this weapon begins. However, major changes have been made to the design of the modern tomahawk, and are available in two versions:
- tomahawks with handles consisting of a polymer that significantly reduces the weight of the ax, and the ax itself is made of tool steel;
- tomahawks, which have a one-piece design, where the ax and ax handle are cut from a single sheet of metal.
The first version of the ax is more mobile, as it allows you to quickly and easily replace one blade with another, for example, with a different blade shape, and is also ideal in hand-to-hand combat since it is light, the second option provides high structural strength, and is more suitable for hard work on opening doors or breaking through barricades.
Since 2003 tomahawk VTAC along with a sledgehammer, wire cutters and a crowbar is included in the so-called Modular Entry Tool Set (a modular set of tools for penetration), which is included in the equipment of each detachment of forces special purpose American army. In addition, VTAC tomahawks are included in the equipment of a number of infantry units and the 75th Ranger Regiment.
Also, the VTAC Tomahawk has been assigned the state inventory number NSN 4210-01-518-7244, that is, it is included in the list of equipment approved for purchase by US government agencies. Tomahawks from other manufacturers also find their customers among military personnel and employees of various law enforcement agencies.
Prospects for the tomahawk as a tactical weapon
Currently, countless modifications of these axes (including the "Vietnamese" one) are produced by Western firms. Many modern models of axes with this name are designed for military use. Magnificent steel army tomahawks were widely used by the Americans in Afghanistan and Iraq.
But what did the military find in the tomahawk? Of course, first of all, its versatility. With an ax, you can perform a wide range of work, and not just demolish the heads of the enemy. The pointed spike on the butt of the tomahawk easily opens both metal barrels and truck tires reinforced with steel tapes. You can cut through the doors of houses, knock down locks, make holes in brick walls with a long spike, climb walls (rocks and trees) and simply use them for household needs and as a survival tool, along with the same tactical knives or "multi-tools".
Well, as a melee weapon, the tomahawk is several times superior to the usual bayonet-knife, especially when it is impossible or undesirable to shoot from a rifle or pistol (where ammunition or fuel depots are).
The most common modern tactical army tomahawks today weigh a little less than 500 g, the length of the handle is 14 cm, on the butt there is a pointed spike about 8 cm long, which can be used as a chisel when landing doors.
Of course, the tomahawk is a weapon that is not suitable for everyone and not for every occasion. But taking into account the need for a high skill in working with such weapons, and the opportunities that it gives, we can definitely say that the tomahawk is the choice of only professionals.
It will be possible to give someone as a valuable gift or even sell. And everything is collected from the available materials, which you can probably find at home. As a basis, the author used the most common hatchet, with which we all chop firewood. Moreover, you can use an old and no longer suitable ax.
The made ax is hardened, so it will be strong and will remain sharp for a long time. So, let's take a closer look at how to make such a hatchet!
Materials and tools used
List of materials:
- axe;
- wooden beam (for the handle);
- leather, cord, feathers and stronger (for decoration);
- wood impregnation oil;
- wedge;
- bolt and nut (to make a hammer).
List of tools:
- Bulgarian;
- vice;
- hammer;
- blacksmith's furnace and hardening oil;
- metal files and sandpaper;
- welding machine;
- grinder;
- pickling acid;
- planing machine;
- hacksaw for metal;
- sewing accessories.
Hatchet making process:
Step one. Cut out the main profile
As a starting material, we need an ordinary ax. We knock out the handle from it and clean it from rust, if necessary. Next, take a marker and draw the desired hatchet profile that you want to get. That's all, you can start cutting. We clamp the ax in a vise and arm ourselves with a grinder.
Step two. Change mounting hole
We need to make the mounting hole into which the ax handle is hammered round, so the hatchet will become more beautiful, and it will not remind us of an ordinary ax. For such purposes, you will need a forging furnace, the metal will need to be heated to a red glow. Next, we hammer a wedge of a suitable diameter into the hole so that the hole becomes round.
Step three. Rough grinding
Next, we proceed to rough grinding to form the main profile. The author installed a thick grinding disc on the grinder and got to work. You can also process some areas on a grinding machine. You will need to work manually, here we will need files. The author made the grooves on the blade manually with round files.
Step four. Ax head
A small hammer is mounted on the butt of the hatchet. It gives weight to the ax, and they can also hammer something if necessary. To make this hammer, we need a suitable nut and bolt. These parts must be made of high quality carbon steel, then they can be hardened. First of all, we weld the nut to the bolt, and then cut off the excess. That's all, now the resulting figovina needs to be polished to make a hammer. Later we will weld it to the axe.
Step five. Ax finish grinding
We weld the previously made hammer to the ax and carefully grind the weld to make the product monolithic. We carry out finer processing with sandpaper. Next, the hatchet will be hardened, so we must remove all gross defects, since then it will be much harder to do this.
Step six. heat treatment
Let's start heat treatment, as a result of simple manipulations we will get a strong, durable ax that will serve us long years. First, the author normalizes the metal to remove internal stresses. This is done so that the ax does not deform during hardening. We heat the product to a red glow and let it cool in the air. That's all, now you can temper, heat and cool. The author separately hardened the blade and the hammer separately.
After hardening, we check the metal, trying to scratch it with a file. If there are no scratches, then the steel is hardened. But that's not all, we need to release the metal, otherwise it will be brittle. For such purposes, you need a household oven, we send the blade into it and heat it at a temperature of at least two hours. We determine whether the vacation turned out by color. The metal should be a golden or straw color. That's all, now we have a quality ax!
Step six. Etching
To make the ax dark in color and not afraid of rust, etching can be performed. But before that, the metal must be cleaned of oxide. Here, sandpaper dipped in water will help us. Well, then we immerse the ax in the reagent and wait for the acid to do its job. After that, it remains only to wash the hatchet well under running water. It will not be superfluous to use detergents. To make everything look good, you can perform light polishing.
Step seven. Manufacturing and installation of an ax handle
You can start making an ax handle, here we need a wooden block. The author first walked through it with a planer, and then cut out the main profile with a grinder. When the ax is perfectly fitted to the ax, you can install it. Here we need a hacksaw and a steel wedge. We hammer in the wedge, cut off the excess. Ideally, the ax should be hammered in with carpentry glue, then it will always be securely fixed, regardless of the moisture content of the wood.
Step eight. We decorate the hatchet
To decorate the ax, we need leather. We cut out the desired piece, glue and sew the workpiece. Subsequently, the author installs feathers, beads and other details.
In addition, the handle is decorated with interesting patterns. First we draw them with a pencil, and then we burn them out. You can burn it with a burner or just a hot piece of iron. Such a pattern looks beautiful and is not erased.
There is probably nothing more pleasant than throwing a tomahawk and hearing it hit the target. This is a very relaxing and mesmerizing activity that anyone can learn. You just need to train properly and master the right technique. Throwing a tomahawk correctly can be a kind of yoga for hunters. Awaken your inner hunter. See step 1 for more details.
Steps
Part 1
Begin- You can even search Amazon for throw tomahawks that cost $20-$30 for the lowest quality models.
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Get the target. You need something wooden where the tomahawk will stick. It is desirable - a dry tree so that it does not suffer from the notches that will remain from your masterful throws. As a rule, lovers of throwing a tomahawk use a cut of a dry stump at least 15-20 cm thick. The cut is placed on a stand.
- If you throw a tomahawk not at a tree, but at another round target, it may not get stuck and bounce in any direction.
- Never throw a tomahawk at a target it won't hit. Knocking cans off the fence can be fun, but it can damage your tomahawk and dull the blade badly. Besides, it's dangerous.
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Keep the blade of the tomahawk blunt. Tomahawks don't cut into soft woods due to their sharp blades, they stick because they're thrown accurately and correctly. No need to risk serious injury and sharpen the blade so hard that they can cut paper. Chances are you won't need to use the tomahawk again, except for throws for fun. So keep the blade blunt and it won't be dangerous.
Always be careful about everything around you. Throw tomahawks only on the street. It's important to take safety seriously when practicing throwing tomahawks. Treat it like you're shooting a gun. Find an open area on which to set up a target stand. It is important that there are no overgrowth or obstacles in this place that may be in the way of an abandoned tomahawk.
Part 2
We stand correctly and take the tomahawk-
Take your starting position. When throwing a tomahawk, it all depends on your movements and whether you can release the tomahawk as naturally as possible at the peak of your swing. You need to stand straight, feet shoulder-width apart, so that it is comfortable. Hands should be free, nothing should interfere with them, and you should stand perpendicular to the target.
Hold the tomahawk correctly. Point the pen towards you and at a distance of 4-7 cm from the end of the handle, grasp it as you would shake hands in a firm business handshake. Place your thumb under the handle the way you would hold a hammer, and not on top of the handle - not the way you would hold a knife.
- It is very important not to put your finger on top of the handle. This greatly affects the rotation of the tomahawk, that is, when flying, the tomahawk will spin a lot. Such a throw usually ends with a loud chime when the tomahawk misses its target. Wrap your finger around the handle so that you feel comfortable.
- If you're in the right stance but the tomahawk is spinning too much, try lifting your thumb up to slow it down a bit. Practice a little to get a feel for how the tomahawk spins and how to throw it correctly.
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Hold the tomahawk straight. When standing with a tomahawk, you want the blade to be perfectly perpendicular to the target. If the blade is deflected even slightly, the tomahawk will fly weakly, and the throw will be inaccurate.
- To straighten the tomahawk, loosen your grip a little and let it lean forward a bit (don't let go completely!). Gravity will align the tomahawk for you. Due to the fact that the weight is concentrated at the top, the tomahawk will level itself.
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Practice swinging to the side. To check if you are standing and holding the tomahawk correctly, lower your arms in a natural position at your sides. The blade should be parallel to the legs and should not point towards or away from you. If it is not parallel, slightly loosen your grip and twist the handle, while keeping your hands in the same standard position.
Part 3
We throw aptly-
Take the required number of steps back. The biggest secret to well-aimed tomahawk throws is to get the right distance from the target. Tomahawks are not thrown from a distance. To throw a tomahawk, first turn your back to the target, as in the old days in a duel. Take five normal steps and turn around, aligning parallel to the target.
- Mark where you'll be throwing from so you don't have to count the distance each time you want to throw. To make it easier for you, draw a line with a sock or a stick.
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Raise the tomahawk up in a slow, smooth and controlled motion. Keep your arm straight and hold the tomahawk firmly in your hand. Before you bring the tomahawk to the top point and start moving forward, bend your elbow slightly. In this position, your elbow should be right next to your ear.
- You are not throwing with a brush. If you use your wrist to throw, the throw will be less accurate, and the weight of the tomahawk may cause pain in your wrist.
- Be very careful. If you swing the tomahawk back too hard, you can lose control, accidentally release it too early and it will fly back.
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Move forward. With the same speed that you swung back, begin to lead the tomahawk forward. Before releasing it, you do not need to push it forward too much. A motion similar to throwing a ball over the head in baseball or American football. Stand straight with both feet on the ground. Do not step forward or backward while throwing.
- The whole point of throwing is the weight of the tomahawk and your natural light movement, not a quick or snapping throw. A common misconception is that you should throw the tomahawk with all your might, but in fact correct technique the throw is based on a fairly slow movement. You need to try to make the tomahawk fly in a straight line.
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Release the tomahawk. Soon you will see that the middle of the pen in your field of vision is in the upper right corner. In this case, the hand should freely continue to move down its side. By the time your hand is at eye level, you should have released the tomahawk.
- Don't let go later, because the tomahawk has to spin, and if you let it go too late, it will hit the ground. Conversely, if you let go too soon, the tomahawk will fly too high. You will need to practice, but after a few throws you will be able to calculate the moment of the throw.
- As a rule, wood is used for the purpose, because it can be used again and again. Wood is cheap, readily available, and won't damage your tomahawks. Instead of ordinary pieces of wood, get thick firewood and throw tomahawks at their flat cut.
- Don't forget to take into account the distance factor in the throw. For a longer distance, you need to twist harder, and for a short one, respectively, weaker.
- Put on sturdy boots. If you accidentally release the tomahawk too late, your legs won't get hurt.
- Always keep axes, knives, and tomahawks sheathed when you're not throwing them.
Warnings
- Always wear eye protection, as the splinters that fly off when the tomahawk hits the target can bounce into your eye.
- Tomahawks are not toys, they can be fun to toss, but if you don't know how to handle them, they can be deadly weapons.
- Never do not throw tomahawks at people, animals, buildings, vehicles, etc. Throw only at specially made targets.
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Get a tomahawk suitable for throwing. Throwing a camping hatchet or hatchet can be fun, but dangerous. It is also not recommended to use such axes due to the mechanical reasons described in this article. Pull out a traditional tomahawk made specifically for throwing. The weight of these tomahawks is specially designed for throws. Due to their lightness and precision, they are ideal for throws.
