E5Ranger, Do you like the gloss from the stain? If you want to mute that you might try some very fine steel wool and rub the gloss about. Just an idea.
The head cleaned up real nice.
the trail hawk im getting, im gonna add some brass tacks and also some leather to it.
I sharpen and cleaned my camp axe, belt ax, and throwing knife yesterday. My son was over throwing them so the big axe had a big honking knick in it. You sure don't need any thing special in equipment or skill to sharpen a hawk. A file is plenty, any rough stone will do if you want a "fine" edge on a hawk. They aren't meant to shave with. About the first time you really use it, you've wasted your time.
Both my hawks are from HBForge and they are hand hammered and forge welded with hard steel in the middle and the pummel and outside steel folded over so the edge stays sharp but it's not brittle.
No fancy tacks, leather thongs or pretty ribbons, but they are exactly what people who bet their lives on them every single day and used them to survive every single day carried.
this riflemans hawk will be my woodland carry hawk. i can fight with it if need be, and I can use it as a tool to survive also. My vietnam tomahawk is a pure killing and breaching machine for urban warfare. the trail hawk is gonna be decorated and hung on my wall as a tribute to the brave Pathfinders before us.
I hope i only have to use them for throwing and fun purposes. I realy like the traditional look, im not into the modern hawks all that much.
Nice work on the hawk. Have you ever checked out the Hawk forum at Blade Forums? They have some cool work , with re shaped heads, custom handles,etc... I have a CS throwing Hawk. But would really like to get a riflemans hawk and do some customizing .
... the trail hawk is gonna be decorated and hung on my wall as a tribute to the brave Pathfinders before us.
I hope i only have to use them for throwing and fun purposes. I realy like the traditional look, im not into the modern hawks all that much.
yeah, armedandchristian turned me onto it. after 40 some pages , i got some great ideas.
I wish i had a forge so i could do my own custom stuff. id like to try and make one out of a railroad spike.
A ball peen hammer makes a great hawk. A railroad spike is really too soft.