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tomahawk talk to me.

precision308

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 25, 2013
144
0
Indiana
Im in law enforcement and have been looking at tomahawks. I want one tb use for possible entry to houses or cars and during disasters where it may be needed. Any suggestions. Im not made of money so 300-400 are out of question. Im looking around 100. Most of what I've seen runs $25-50 or they jump up well over $200.
 
Yay sometimes I think we carry more than Batman. This will ride in the trunk and only be used when needed. But there have been a few times that if I had a tomahawk to cut through a sheet of metal or break a window or cut a latch off that is locked it would have been real nice.
 
I picked up an Estwing EBTA Tomahawk recently. No nonsense, drop forged and about 27oz. Glass breaker it would be, melee tool also. $40ish.
 

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I made this one for a local PD officer. It rides in the trunk of his car all the time now. Eastwing claw hammer, hand forged into a good hawk. You can send me a PM if your intrested, I dont wanna post my website here in case it violates forum rules

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Tapatalk ate my spelling.
 
What about a wooden handled shingler's hatchet. You could add a longer handle if desired.
 
I picked up an Estwing EBTA Tomahawk recently. No nonsense, drop forged and about 27oz. Glass breaker it would be, melee tool also. $40ish.



Agreed, I picked up the same Estwing out of sheer spite. I like it. Forged and and made in U.S.A, handles just like an Estwing should, unlike most of the over priced tomahawks on the market.
 
Tomahawks are cool and I would kinda like one myself. But for your intended use, you should consider a halligan. A tomahawk/Haligan compromise might be the Gerber Downrange. A little above your price range (175.00ish) but seems like it might be a better investment given your intent.

Good luck
 
Gerber Downrange seems the most useful for what you're looking to do with it, prybars come in handy a lot.

I know they have fed/mil pricing, not sure about LEO. They're $185 retail on amazon.com.
 
Cop with a tomahawk? Wow.

I already giggle enough when I see you guys in your single color BDU's and leg rigs.

A tomahawk would take this to a whole different level.
 
Tomahawks are cool and I would kinda like one myself. But for your intended use, you should consider a halligan. A tomahawk/Haligan compromise might be the Gerber Downrange. A little above your price range (175.00ish) but seems like it might be a better investment given your intent.

Good luck
+1 on the halligan.( PRO-BAR by Fire Hooks Unlimited )this is what we use for forcible entry during structural firefighting and some vehicle fire situations. tough and light compared to other brands. so many uses, the only limitation is your imagination.
 
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When you make runs everything from an 8 year old that wont go to bed to someone shooting in the street you would be amazed. Anyone that has ever done the job can tell you that you can't have enough equipment. Like I said there have been several occasions where I could have used one. Unfortunately my department gives us very little equipment so about everything I have has been purchased out of my pocket.

Cop with a tomahawk? Wow.

I already giggle enough when I see you guys in your single color BDU's and leg rigs.

A tomahawk would take this to a whole different level.
 
CRKT RJ models or look at the Schrade unit. The Schrade will need some handle work to make it comfortable, but that is easy to do. beyond that SOG's or one of the others listed are worth a look.
 
If you want a quick lesson in breaking into stuff, talk to a firefighter. They will tell you get a halligan. That is a tool that has many years on the design and intended precisely for that. And it doesn't scare the onlooking crowd when you pull it out of your trunk. Might even go ask a department if they have an extra one you can get off them for cheap.
 
While I worked for the local ambulance service I carried a lot of my own gear. I had an aluminum "rescue tool" that was roughly shaped like a tomahawk. But it had cuts at different places to act like valve handles for water and gas meter cutoffs. It had a couple of points that were like claws on a claw hammer for prying.

For door entry either get a 20 pound sledge hammer or a steel post driver and add some more weight to it. Carrying a tomahawk or hatchet in our county will get you asked if you really want to keep your job.

Personally I think a tomahawk or hatchet either in an entry or rescue situation is asking for a law suit. And either would be about as useful as a condom in a maternity ward. If you decide to get one, get it approved ON PAPER from your chief or sheriff. File that paper in your safety deposit box at the bank.


I know these are not the answers you really wanted. But really think it over.

I really hope this helps.
Victor
 
Go to Home Depot and buy a Fubar Max. the greatest wrecking tool for its size ever made. I am aware of many hatchets and hawks, the Fubar is a fantastic wrecking tool. I have used one extensively and with great force. It will and can literally tear a wall down. Leverage is a wonderful thing. You can also bash the heck out of stuff.
 
I've been looking hard at the gerber down range 'hawk. An additional use for a hawk is making observation ports on privacy fence... Obviously, your freedom to do that would depend on your admins aversion to breaking things.

Halligans are great, but the useful ones are big/heavy. Stanley tools make a few demo/forcible entry tools that could be useful.


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Cop with a tomahawk? Wow.

I already giggle enough when I see you guys in your single color BDU's and leg rigs.

A tomahawk would take this to a whole different level.
Keep it in the trunk! Not on your duty belt! Also ask other officers what they use, and why/why not. And your supervisors, who may know a thing or two.

In my former department, the leadership allowed some deputies to wear BDUs for a few shifts on a trial basis. It didn't go over well with the public, and I agree, law enforcement in a constitutional republic needs to look professional and respectful, not like Peacekeepers from the Hunger Games. One or two deputies tried leg rigs, without asking the leadership first, which didn't go over well either. I never had a gear conflict between carbine and duty belt, or plate carrier and duty belt, so I never saw any use in pseudo-SWAT gear.
 
Cop with a tomahawk? Wow.

I already giggle enough when I see you guys in your single color BDU's and leg rigs.

A tomahawk would take this to a whole different level.

YEP, one of my old patrol partners (and fellow Marine) had a tomahawk strapped to his armor under his uniform shirt. We had a call one night that convinced him that he "needed" a tomahawk and he carried that damn thing for the rest of the time we worked a high-crime area together. Our LT and Sgt used to just laugh and shake their heads.

He was the same guy what would wear his wife's underwear to work and show it off at the end of shift telling us how it made him feel sexy. Or even worse, would drop-trow to an arrestee and taunt him that he'd just had his ass beat by a guy wearing a G-string. He was one of those guys we all loved to work with: he kept shit fun, was a hell of a cop, and made some of the rest of us lunatics seem normal by comparison.

To the OP, if you want a tomahawk, then rock on brother. Everyone will laugh until you pull that bitch out and solve a problem with it.
 
Every time I've cleared a building, I've had a handgun or long gun and a light in my hands. Where in the world are you going to stow the tomahawk? My duty belt had (retired now) nothing in the back and no more real estate up front after cuffs, mags, radio, ASP, Taser, OC, etc. Also, where does the tomahawk fall on your use of force continuum? IA is going to have a fit about that.


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[MENTION=96559]Spots[/MENTION],
Did you just heat up the head and pound it out? If so, did you have to heat treat it again? Love that idea! Forgive the lack of terminology nowhere near a smithy yet.
 
[MENTION=96559]Spots[/MENTION],
Did you just heat up the head and pound it out? If so, did you have to heat treat it again? Love that idea! Forgive the lack of terminology nowhere near a smithy yet.

Yeah, I used a coal forge and heated it and worked the head out with a hammer. Then I cut the claws shorter, hammered them tight and drew them to a spike, then heated it and hardened it with an oil quench, then I tempered it to about 54 Rockwell, which would be soft for a knife, but it being a weapon designed for impact and cutting, I wanted it a little tougher to keep it from cracking or breaking. This is one I made last week for someome.

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Tapatalk ate my spelling
 
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Did you ever check out the SOG F01TN-CP Tactical Tomahawk .Sog makes the best tomahawks available in the market according to my opinion.I have one that has lasted me for 10 years.I just have to sharpen it .That is it.A found this one while researching tomahawks for a friend at "Discover the best tactical tomahawk" website.
 
It is not to be used as a weapon, it is for breaching (Cars, Doors) It is a tool
 
I bought both of these through Amazon because I couldn't figure out which one I wanted. The Kangee is neat but I think the Chogan is more practical. These are nicely built and feel like a quality product. Haven't abused them much but will be using them this spring and summer quite a bit.

 
If it's going to be for duty, although it probably is overkill, like some stated a Halligan tool will do what a tomahawk can do but better, but here is what I would use. Benchmade tomahawk with the blade sharpened just a bit, Yeah its a pounding tool, so why the sharp edge? Same reason you want to carry it in your trunk, because you can. Here's some pics of it, has a handy little crowbar on the bottom, haven't preyed anything with it, but the spike on the back will go straight through a metal security door and destroy most padlocks and eats master locks.




 
I thought about sharpening me, but the retention on the holder is lacking. I don't see many situations that it would help me to sharpen it, Outside of being a NWO Nazi Cop.....
 
Many of us were carrying hawks in The Northern California marijuana cartel gardens. Mine happens to be an RMJ tactical, ,Made in the USA. Serial number 765 and 766. The second one has been in the box several times now with my Son In Law.

I had asked a close friend whom happens to be a retired SF Col what was a good tool to buy my SOL. " I initially purchased him a Kimber, 1911" then learned as a JTAC, he would not be able to carry his own side arm. This Col, suggested the Hawk, saying his men were all carrying them in the box, and that they were proving to be very very effective for multiple tasks.

As for LEOs and hawks, why would you limit your tools in certain environments. The hawk is and was a very practical tool with tons of practical application.

2834
 
Haven't you ever heard of Dynamic Entry tools??? If not I suggest you look into that and I think you will find it more useful.... Ask any Marine Breacher.

A hatchet just sounds idiotic.....
 
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+1 on the Stanley fubar Max xtreame tool. If I recall it was around 50 bucks or so at lowes Take the tool and remove the lower jaw (used to twist 2x4's) and then remove the "teeth" section from the upper side of the tool. Reshape the edge of the blade so it can fit into tighter cracks and it makes a very effective breaching tool. I have had mine for years and beat the crap out it and it only takes a little touch-up paint every now and then. You can find several vids on the net for turning fubars into a breaching tool. Took me about an hour with a cutter and grinder to set mine up.
 
Not quite the $100 budget but a good middle ground with fair price point and quality. CRKT offers the Chogan and Kangee.

Another option I really like and will be getting soon is from American Kami. NOT a cheapo budget item by any stretch of the means but DJ offers some really great options and sizes.

I have 3 RMJ Hawks and would recommend them over and over but not everyone has a lot of money to just drop on a hawk. That I understand but there are options for everyone.

Here's my RMJ Kestrel Feather next to my Steve Woods Hide Hunter waiting to come back from Todd Jackson after a fresh refinish of Cerakote.

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