tomahawk

Pipe tomahawk made by RMJ Forge

A tomahawk (also referred to as a hawk) is a type of axe native to North America, traditionally resembling a hatchet with a straight shaft.^[1][2] The name came into the English language in the 17th century as a transliteration of the Powhatan (Virginian Algonquian) word.

Tomahawks were general purpose tools used by Native Americans and European Colonials alike, and often employed as a hand-to-hand or a thrown weapon, much like the African nzappa zap.^[1][2] It originally featured a stone head, but later iron or brass heads were used. The metal tomahawk heads were originally based on a Royal Navy boarding axe and used as a trade-item with Native Americans for food and other provisions.^[1][2]

Tomahawk made by L.C. Hansen

Composition

A pipe tomahawk dating to the early 19th century.

The tomahawk shaft is usually less than 2 ft (61 cm) in length, traditionally made of hickory, ash, or maple.^[1][2][3] The heads weigh anywhere from 9–20 oz (260–570 g), with a cutting edge usually not much longer than four inches (10 cm) from toe to heel.^[2] The poll can feature a small hammer, spike or simply be rounded off, and they usually do not have lugs.^[2] Stone tomahawk heads were typically made of polished soapstone, and ornately carved examples were used in some American Indian rituals.^[1] These usually had a pipe-bowl carved into the poll, and a hole drilled down the center of the shaft for smoking tobacco through the tomahawk.^[2] There are also metal-headed versions of this unusual pipe.^[2] Pipe tomahawks are artifacts unique to North America: created by Europeans as trade objects but often exchanged as diplomatic gifts.^[1] They are powerful symbols of the choice Europeans and Indians faced whenever they met: one end was the pipe of peace, the other an axe of war.^[1][2][3]

In Colonial French territory, a very different random tomahawk design, closer to the ancient francisca, was in use by French settlers and Indigenous Peoples.^[3] In the late 18th Century, the British army issued tomahawks to their Colonial Regulars during the American Revolutionary War as a weapon and tool.^[4] Its most notable difference from conventional axes is a smaller 'head'.

Modern use

Tomahawk throwing^[5] is a popular sport among American historical re-enactment groups, and new martial arts such as Okichitaw have begun to revive tomahawk fighting techniques used during the Colonial era.^[6] Tomahawks are also a category within competitive knife throwing. Today's hand-forged tomahawks are being made by master craftsmen throughout the United States.^[7][8]

Traditional form tomahawk made by Steve Opperman

Modern tomahawks designed by Peter LaGana included wood handles, a hatchet-like bit and a leather sheath and were used by select US forces during the Vietnam War and are referred to as Vietnam Tomahawks.^[7][9] These modern tomahawks have gained popularity with their re-emergence by American Tomahawk Company in the beginning of 2001 and a collaboration with custom knife-maker Ernest Emerson of Emerson Knives, Inc.^[7] A similar wood handle Vietnam Tomahawk is also produced today by Cold Steel. The tomahawk was later redesigned featuring synthetic shafts by American Tomahawk Company and named VTACs ("Vietnam Tactical Tomahawk"'s) and are manufactured by Fehrman Knives. SOG Knives Inc. has also entered the field with its own version of the Vietnam Tomahawk, the Fusion Tactical Tomahawk. Original Vietnam Tomahawks are rare and expensive.^[7]

Many of these modern tomahawks are made of drop forged, differentially heat treated, alloy steel.^[10] The differential heat treatment allows for the chopping portion and the spike to be harder than the middle section allowing for a shock resistant body with a durable temper.^[10]

Military application

R&D Hawk by Sayoc-Winkler Knives 2

American Tomahawk Company's "VTAC" ("Vietnam Tactical Tomahawk") is in use by the US Army Stryker Brigade in Afghanistan, the 172nd SBCT Team based at Grafenwöhr, Germany, the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division out of Fort Lewis, a Recon Platoon in the 2-183d CAV (116th IBCT)(OIF 2007-2008) and numerous other soldiers.^[7][10] The VTAC was issued a National Stock Number (4210-01-518-7244) and classified as a “Class 9 rescue kit” as a result of a program called the Rapid Fielding Initiative; it is also included within every Stryker vehicle as the “Modular Entry Tool set”.^[7][10] This design is enjoying something of a renaissance with US soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan as a tool and in use in hand-to-hand combat.^[11]

The Sayoc-Winkler Knives 2 "R&D Hawk" was developed by ABS Mastersmith Daniel Winkler and Sayoc Tactical Group Tomahawk Instructor Rafael Kayanan's design of a hawk for modern applications.^[12]

According to military after action reports, apart from use as a CQC (Close Quarters Combat) weapon, the tomahawk's modern use includes non-explosive dynamic entry, obstacle removal, lock/hasp removal, opening crates, ventilating fuel drums, digging fighting positions, personal defense, and IED removal.^[10]

An example of an inexpensive Taiwanese-made Cold Steel Trail Hawk that has been modified to suit the users tastes.

Manufacturers

Current tomahawk manufacturers include:

• American Tomahawk Company
• Branton Knives in collaboration with Walter Brend
• Cold Steel
• Delia Tactical International
• Fury by Joy Enterprises
• LC Hansen
• K5 Tactical
• Ranger Knives
• RMJ Forge and RMJ Tactical
• Sayoc-Winkler Knives 2
• Sims Tactical Solutions
• Strider Knives
• Joe Szilaski
• Winkler Knives
• SOG Specialty Knives & Tools
• Old World BladeWorks
• Benchmade

See also

• Hurlbat

References

External links

Media related to Tomahawk at Wikimedia Commons

• Photo-History of 19th-19th Century Naval Boarding Axes - American, British, French, Swedish