As some one who has used hawks and axes in the woods for 30 some odd years. I would like to say this, Well Done! You truly understand how versatile a small ax can be. Also your use of the ax to hold wood while you saw it, Brilliant! In all my days I never would have come up with that. Keep up the good work, and I will keep watching.
Dude, that was a awesome idea of sinking the axe into the tree and using it as a backer/stop to hold wood for sawing. Its so simple but makes so much sense.
Hands down one of the best honest real world bushcraft style reviews of an axe I've ever seen. I have never seen the trick about using the axe as a brace for sawing branches, absolutely brilliant. Popping the head off the shaft to use as a hand scraper and tool for processing smaller pieces of wood for a fire, making shavings, striking a ferro rod, and some expert throwing skills. All around brilliant video and review. I have the viking axe, but the blade is much too thin for bush uses, looks like Ill be picking one of these up to add to the collection.
One of the best reviews I've seen. I wanted a light camp and hiking axe with the versatility of a ulu for chopping vegetables and light cutting and scraping tasks at the campsite. You found it for me.
+One Bad Jojoke viking war axes were designed for fighting but they were used as tools to fell trees and to carve and chop wood for timber and spikes for defense.
"Viking style" or bearded axes were used in ship building which was indicative of Viking Age Scandinavia. They would not have been used to fell trees but rather to form planks for clinker built long ships.
+Matt Roberts any axe can be used to kill somone i have one of these and i can assure you the viking would of killed many people with these. Im welsh i know these things 🐑
@George Lynch Dixon with a differently shaped axe head perhaps. I imagine they would have utilized different axe head shapes, sizes, and weights for different purposes.
I'm a tomahawk kind of guy but I decided to buy one of these for myself. Very nice, all it needs is some leather grip and leather braid for better control. I saw a video of a guy doing finger groves and engraving art with leather grip. Beautiful. Over all great axe
No THE axe (the axe depicted in the video) is designed to be a skull splitter not a bush craft axe. There are different types of axes. Some designed for felling trees, some for splitting and chopping, some for bushcraft and delimbing, etc. ... this one just happens to be a skull splitting axe design that's being applied as a bushcraft axe. You mean to say this is a more reasonable and practical approach is to see how well these axes perform when being used not as designed but rath as what they're more likely to actually get used for nowadays. If by 'the axe' you mean axes in general, your wrong, battle axes are definitely a thing. On a side note, I have a personal question, you may decline answering, but ... are you Heathen (Asatru / Forn Sed / Norse Pagan / etc.)? Also yes, I saw that this comment is 5yrs old now... So what?
I just bought one of these because the looked cool, I was gonna mod it and beat the crap out of it. After watching this I'm modding it just like this and using it as a camp axe and bushcraft axe. The ability to remove the head is a huge deal to me. Thanks for the video and the ideas, I've watched your other video on fitting the head to the shaft and did that over the weekend. It was dull as shit when I got it and it took a lot of work to get the edge sharp..
Really good video Zeuki. Nice throws by the way :) Can always count on this channel to actually know how to use an ax, of any type, and use it practically. Thanks for the video.
Stumbled across your channel and man, I am loving it. Watched like 10+ vids today lol Keep up the great reviews and tests I wasn’t planning on getting this but now I am
It’s funny going through these comments reading all the “axe experts” telling you what you aren’t doing right. Can you guys shut up and let him enjoy his axe the way he prefers. Good video thanks for testing!
great review. I have been wanting this, & the full size since they were first announced. My oldest son surprised me with one for Father's Day, & my other kids (the remaining 8) a 13" traditional nepalese kuhkuri. It was a great Father's day before getting all that loot which also included a Jocko "Get After It" coffee mug, but I digress. It actually seems to be a more efficient tool then I imagined, & I am a fan of their hawks. I would be curious to know if you modified the edge, & how you would compare it to a boy's axe which should be pretty close in weight.
Like the way you show all the various uses for an axe and balance all the videos of it being used in combat as a weapon. The main reason the axe was so popular in the Viking age was that iron was costly and so it would be likely that someone from that era would only be able to have one large tool or weapon. Here you show why the Axe would be number one on anyones lists without even touching on it's use as a weapon.....apart from the throw.....awesome shot by the way!
Very good friend. Congratulations on video. Magnificent ax. Unfortunately its price comes high in my country. I love axes, hatchets and tomahawks. Big hug from southern Brazil.
Again, very good video, some good idea's on how too use it, which I never would have thought of. I got mine today and yep, it needs work, but nothing I cant do. Good job.
This is excellent review and you're a good man (Thanks all these "don't waste food, be sensitive about nature especially for trees" advice's to the youtubeland) Keep up the good work brother. Thumbs up!
I have one and found the handle to be a bit thin and slippery so I wrapped ten inches with brown Wilson tennis racket grip where and it's much easier to hold now, have the same thing on the large Cold Steel Viking axe in two spots on the handle for better grip.
Running a flat file over the edge like that will eventually re-profile the edge from convex to chisel. If you look at archaeological artifacts, many viking age axes have what is called a "diamond profile." The "X" rune you placed on your haft is named "Gebo." The 'long line' inscribed around the circumference between the runes tells you which aettir is used. So it's first aettir, plain meaning Gebo. However, the first line is also a rune (Isaz.) The runic inscription is IGIGIGIGIGIG. The meaning is ambiguous because the I is continuous around the haft while there are 12 Gebo runes. IMO the encryption in plain form translates down to berkanan meaning "birch," perhaps appropriate to how you finished the haft. However, one would also find that the meeting of the two opposing Gebo runes forms Ingwaz. That adds 12 Ingwaz runes with the six Isaz runes (an asymmetric meeting which then expresses the polar opposite in terms of elements.) One interpretation of the hidden (esoteric) name could be "skillful splitter." my .02
just bought one, waiting on picking it up, and going to see if it fits the hype. I am hoping it is all that it is cracked up to be. A large hawk, suited to larger men but with the versatility of the hawk.
I don't know about hype, I think most people that buy this do so because of the "Viking" ness of it. It released when the Vikings show was pretty popular (the new Viking Battle axe that cold steel put out this year dosn't have that popularity boost). Its pretty light and bounces around alot while chopping, and the blade is too thin to split very well, but it will get the job done. If it dosn't work out there is always the Rifleman's Hawk. Big, heavy and has a wider bit to split with. Its a good choice for woodsman chores. The limiting factor to all the larger hawks is the handle especially the longer ones. Sink it too deep and its pretty easy to break the handle trying to free it up. To me they are all fun, I actually put a short handle on mine and use it like a carving axe now days.
if you know what the mastermyr chest is, is its a viking era tool chest that contained a whole collection of viking era woodworking tools.. one of the axes found, and would have been used for wood processing was very similar to the commonly seen bearded axe used by vikings as a weapon.. i think the guy in the video was referencing that when he said the gotland axe, as thats where the tool chest was found
The hawk that I got didn't quite fit the handle properly, so I decided to take the lazy route and fasten it to the handle. After seeing you pop the head off and use it as a scrapper, I'm beginning to regret my decision. However, I'll never not carry one knife with me while in the bush, so I'm not as too much of a loss. Thanks for the video!
Hey Buddy, another awesome Video from you, thanks for sharing ... it's very interesting to hear your thoughts on the new CS Viking Hand Axe. - I have used the good ol NORSE Hawk for years and like it a lot. I guess i will also get a Viking Hand Axe soon... Cheers Erik
always been skeptical about cold steel products, i noticed the axe doing quite a bit of bouncing... im assuming because of its lighter weight... but seeing the functionality of this one, i think it's one i could get behind.
+Brian Mccann Ha ha, im setting at about a pound, but I have a fresh supply at home too, so i just take note where its at if I need to go back..... If you notice at about 4:21 while I was cutting the large branch the puffs of smoke, that whole lower section of the tree is full of pitch wood I will definitely be going back for some of that !
It is an good axe for fletching. Light, agile and the blade is thin. You could cut man in half with that one. Pair it with shield and you could fight off beasts.
I got 1 of these , taking my time and feathering it back more than most , I'm very careful about what I'm chopping into , I may want to put in a shorter handle , later to use for butchering , deer or wild hogs . I've never bear hunted yet , and never got drawed out to hunt elk here , but it could happen. Bought a fine tooth folding saw for butchering too .
My only question is: How difficult is it to tap the head off of the handle? Do you really need to work at it or baton it down or does it come off fairly easily? Getting it back on is the easy part.
It depends on how you seat the head really, how much effort you put into it and to a lesser degree how dense the particular piece of wood your handle is made of. The eye is tapered, and if you spend a little time to properly taper the handle to match the head it is pretty quick and easy to remove the head from handle and back. All of my tomahawks/axes that use this eye/handle pattern are removable and I use them like this regularly. If you don't want it to be removable there are several ways to go about that as well... but remember the eye is tapered opposite of a normal axe.
Hi ZEUKI1! Cold Steel just released a new 'Viking Battle Axe' (2019 new) that is similar to the 'Viking Hand Axe' in the video. Any chance on a review for that one too?
Pretty neat. Though with a 30 inch handle I’m not sure I’d quite call it a hand axe lol. More like a standard size war axe/battle axe. Now their Norse hawk and other tomahawks are definitely a hand axe size
That is a very tuff question to answer. Bush craft means alot of different things to alot of people. Personally I have alot of hawks and axes to choose from so it makes it hard to answer. I usually say it depends on what you are doing... ie winter time, big fire or small fire person, do you do alot of wood processing or more focused on smaller tasks like carving. They all have roles to play. I will just say this for me personally I really like the new Hudson Hawk, slightly better than the pipe hawk ( my old all around top pick). The Rifleman is good for processing more wood being quite a bit heavier, and the trail hawk is for those times when you want something really light and compact. Then there are the non hammer hawks, lighter but lack the hardened hammer poll. Its a tough choice but honestly any of them will do more than most people think and it is a matter of preference. Hope this helps, if you have specific questions I can try and answer them !
I've taken some pretty decent size trees with mine and it's not ideal for the task because it prefers to bite deeply into the wood as opposed to split it apart but it absolutely performs.
There’s no way we actually have the same axe???? It looks the exact same but my axe head wiggles around as if not secured by the screw so I never decided to try to use it practically, once I noticed it was held in by a screw I just hung it up on the wall deeming it just a decoration
Yes the screw is a waste, throw it away and fit the head to the handle. It is a friction fit tool, the heads have a typical tomahawk reverse taper. Once fitted to a good handle it is a very good tool. Here are some videos for reference: ua-cam.com/video/-3cmPDBFKgs/v-deo.html and also one I did a while ago: ua-cam.com/video/hrSEVScYzuc/v-deo.html
+ZEUKI1 I've noticed that the axehead around the blade is very thin.Would one be able repeatedly to use it like a regular axe ,splitting firewood or cutting through a tree trunk of 10 inches in diameter or more without breaking the blade? Thank you.
+badgrfan I think that if you were to use this primarily as a firewood axe you would run into issues.There are much better choices for a camp tool ( trail boss for instance). I dont think the blade would break, but I have a feeling the eye to handle ratio would cause problems with head fittement. Over time the small-for-size eye would cause undo stress on the handle and prematurely wear out the handle. This is just speculation on my part. This axe is most definitely designed as a fighting axe, and I bought it to " look cool" on the wall... BUT handles are cheap, and if you are so inclined I think it will work for a field axe, and just like ancient soldiers on the march had to improvise, it can be forced into domestic duties from time to time. Hope this helps, thanks for the question.
Didn't quite get it, was that tree dead? haha. I love your videos. The videos on all the other Cold Steel hawks is what fueled me to buy them all. Great video on the viking axe. I was actually impressed by how well it did as a working tool and how versatile that beard ended up being.
I bought a custom made axe that Im 99% sure is one of these but was carved and painted to look more "Viking". I do have a question, after you got done cutting with it, did you notice it dull at all?
No not really, I did not put a super fine edge on this hawk because I have found that with the longer handled axes or hawks it really dings them up when I miss and hit the ground/rocks. The cold steel hawks that I have had ( about 2 dozen or so ) have all had a decent tempering and hold an edge pretty well and have all been pretty consistent. Depending on the edge profile i put on them I can do a camp out days worth of chore, say get some fire wood split some kindling, make a few little camp improvements and maybe at the days end I might touch the edge up with a pocket stone for a minute while setting around the fire, but could probly go much longer before in NEEDs it.
As some one who has used hawks and axes in the woods for 30 some odd years. I would like to say this, Well Done! You truly understand how versatile a small ax can be. Also your use of the ax to hold wood while you saw it, Brilliant! In all my days I never would have come up with that. Keep up the good work, and I will keep watching.
I know a bunch of folks already commented on it but using the axe like that while sawing was absolutely brilliant
Dude, that was a awesome idea of sinking the axe into the tree and using it as a backer/stop to hold wood for sawing. Its so simple but makes so much sense.
Hadn't noticed that until I read this. That's indeed a smart move.
Awesome
Hands down one of the best honest real world bushcraft style reviews of an axe I've ever seen. I have never seen the trick about using the axe as a brace for sawing branches, absolutely brilliant. Popping the head off the shaft to use as a hand scraper and tool for processing smaller pieces of wood for a fire, making shavings, striking a ferro rod, and some expert throwing skills. All around brilliant video and review. I have the viking axe, but the blade is much too thin for bush uses, looks like Ill be picking one of these up to add to the collection.
check out ua-cam.com/video/6pvv97vPLHk/v-deo.html GREAT video and loads of ideas with a trailhawk
One of the best reviews I've seen. I wanted a light camp and hiking axe with the versatility of a ulu for chopping vegetables and light cutting and scraping tasks at the campsite. You found it for me.
ah yes...axe-throwing; I find it useful when trees are trying to escape. Bad trees.
StandsWithABeer I'm guessing you're just joking but ya know it's not used for cutting down trees
+One Bad Jojoke viking war axes were designed for fighting but they were used as tools to fell trees and to carve and chop wood for timber and spikes for defense.
it is said that many wars happened between Vikings because of this joke.
Or a neighbour pissing on your tree 😂
I have never loved a review so entirely.
Thank you.
"Viking style" or bearded axes were used in ship building which was indicative of Viking Age Scandinavia. They would not have been used to fell trees but rather to form planks for clinker built long ships.
+Matt Roberts any axe can be used to kill somone i have one of these and i can assure you the viking would of killed many people with these. Im welsh i know these things 🐑
simon B the welshman What's your thoughts on them? I'm struggling to choose between The Norse Hawk and The Viking Hand Axe.
Were you there, Mr Time traveling viking tree felling axe expert
Matt Roberts They definitely are fighting axes as well. Lighter blade than a lumberjack axe.
@George Lynch Dixon with a differently shaped axe head perhaps. I imagine they would have utilized different axe head shapes, sizes, and weights for different purposes.
I'm a tomahawk kind of guy but I decided to buy one of these for myself. Very nice, all it needs is some leather grip and leather braid for better control. I saw a video of a guy doing finger groves and engraving art with leather grip. Beautiful. Over all great axe
Great demonstration of the tool in action. Much more enjoyable and informative than typical tabletop review.
Wow, you've done a great job of showing the versatility of this axe!!
At last a common sense review. the axe is a tool of a farmer, but can be effective at farming skulls.
This axes blade is more suitable of cutting in to skulls than splitting wood. Sure it is agile and you fine work with that in wood.
No THE axe (the axe depicted in the video) is designed to be a skull splitter not a bush craft axe. There are different types of axes. Some designed for felling trees, some for splitting and chopping, some for bushcraft and delimbing, etc. ... this one just happens to be a skull splitting axe design that's being applied as a bushcraft axe. You mean to say this is a more reasonable and practical approach is to see how well these axes perform when being used not as designed but rath as what they're more likely to actually get used for nowadays.
If by 'the axe' you mean axes in general, your wrong, battle axes are definitely a thing.
On a side note, I have a personal question, you may decline answering, but ... are you Heathen (Asatru / Forn Sed / Norse Pagan / etc.)?
Also yes, I saw that this comment is 5yrs old now... So what?
Ragnar Lothbrok was technically a farmer.
i like how you're actually using a tool so sensibly, really enjoyed your video. cheers aman
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!
Woah, I never though about using an axe (or tomahawk) to support a piece of wood while sawing it. Thx for the idea!
Not gonna lie....ur deadpan humors pretty great and i learned something from this video...goodjob
Thank you, finally somebody posted the exact weight of the head. Very informative video.
I just bought one of these because the looked cool, I was gonna mod it and beat the crap out of it. After watching this I'm modding it just like this and using it as a camp axe and bushcraft axe. The ability to remove the head is a huge deal to me. Thanks for the video and the ideas, I've watched your other video on fitting the head to the shaft and did that over the weekend.
It was dull as shit when I got it and it took a lot of work to get the edge sharp..
Thank you for answering the questions I had, much appreciated.
These are great videos. Keep up the great work. Super helpful.
Really good video Zeuki. Nice throws by the way :)
Can always count on this channel to actually know how to use an ax, of any type, and use it practically.
Thanks for the video.
Gotta say you did bout every useful test i could think of. Great job really impressed with the results
Stumbled across your channel and man, I am loving it. Watched like 10+ vids today lol
Keep up the great reviews and tests I wasn’t planning on getting this but now I am
Just the type of review I was looking for, thanks bud
I just bought one of these in hopes I could use it camping and I have to say this video makes me very hopeful
Great demonstration!
Thank you !
Good video! You definitely put that big ol' hawk through its paces.
It’s funny going through these comments reading all the “axe experts” telling you what you aren’t doing right. Can you guys shut up and let him enjoy his axe the way he prefers. Good video thanks for testing!
lol great intro, i like your sense of humor.. great no nonsense review too
great review. I have been wanting this, & the full size since they were first announced. My oldest son surprised me with one for Father's Day, & my other kids (the remaining 8) a 13" traditional nepalese kuhkuri. It was a great Father's day before getting all that loot which also included a Jocko "Get After It" coffee mug, but I digress. It actually seems to be a more efficient tool then I imagined, & I am a fan of their hawks. I would be curious to know if you modified the edge, & how you would compare it to a boy's axe which should be pretty close in weight.
Like the way you show all the various uses for an axe and balance all the videos of it being used in combat as a weapon. The main reason the axe was so popular in the Viking age was that iron was costly and so it would be likely that someone from that era would only be able to have one large tool or weapon. Here you show why the Axe would be number one on anyones lists without even touching on it's use as a weapon.....apart from the throw.....awesome shot by the way!
The beginning of this video was hilarious man it earned you a sub from me because of it lol
that's it... I need this in my life. Skal my friend.
Cool Video 👍
Thank U for the Info and the Links 👍
Excellent video. Thanks. I was debating on buying this axe now I am
Very good friend. Congratulations on video.
Magnificent ax. Unfortunately its price comes high in my country.
I love axes, hatchets and tomahawks.
Big hug from southern Brazil.
Thank you for the work demo, I'm a little more confident in making this purchase given the value + utility.
Again, very good video, some good idea's on how too use it, which I never would have thought of. I got mine today and yep, it needs work, but nothing I cant do. Good job.
hail Odin!
Hail!
HAIL ODIN
Skoll brother
Hail the All Father
Hail!
I just got one of these. Haven't taken it out yet, but seems well made and it looked like you did a lot with it. Thanks for the great vid.
Can't throw this one. It's the law... Nutter. Another great review of another great tool.
Just bought one can't wait to try it
Back again. Great video brother
This is excellent review and you're a good man (Thanks all these "don't waste food, be sensitive about nature especially for trees" advice's to the youtubeland) Keep up the good work brother. Thumbs up!
Very nice video!
And as a Czech i like to see the Czechoslovak vz60 rucksack. :)
Amazing Utility!
THanks
BB
I have one and found the handle to be a bit thin and slippery so I wrapped ten inches with brown Wilson tennis racket grip where and it's much easier to hold now, have the same thing on the large Cold Steel Viking axe in two spots on the handle for better grip.
Fantastic review sir!
Fantastic review! Thank you sir!
I have this axe and i love it.
I have one of these they are nice, going to be using this as my pack ax, and also have the cs trail hawk I carry on my belt.
Really great video! You should do more general bushcraft/survival/outdoor videos, you seem to be quite knowledgeable😊
Running a flat file over the edge like that will eventually re-profile the edge from convex to chisel. If you look at archaeological artifacts, many viking age axes have what is called a "diamond profile."
The "X" rune you placed on your haft is named "Gebo." The 'long line' inscribed around the circumference between the runes tells you which aettir is used. So it's first aettir, plain meaning Gebo. However, the first line is also a rune (Isaz.) The runic inscription is IGIGIGIGIGIG. The meaning is ambiguous because the I is continuous around the haft while there are 12 Gebo runes. IMO the encryption in plain form translates down to berkanan meaning "birch," perhaps appropriate to how you finished the haft. However, one would also find that the meeting of the two opposing Gebo runes forms Ingwaz. That adds 12 Ingwaz runes with the six Isaz runes (an asymmetric meeting which then expresses the polar opposite in terms of elements.) One interpretation of the hidden (esoteric) name could be "skillful splitter." my .02
Just ordered one of these.. Just for fun. I'm a big fan of Norse/Viking culture. I plan on modding mine .
just bought one, waiting on picking it up, and going to see if it fits the hype. I am hoping it is all that it is cracked up to be. A large hawk, suited to larger men but with the versatility of the hawk.
I don't know about hype, I think most people that buy this do so because of the "Viking" ness of it. It released when the Vikings show was pretty popular (the new Viking Battle axe that cold steel put out this year dosn't have that popularity boost). Its pretty light and bounces around alot while chopping, and the blade is too thin to split very well, but it will get the job done. If it dosn't work out there is always the Rifleman's Hawk. Big, heavy and has a wider bit to split with. Its a good choice for woodsman chores. The limiting factor to all the larger hawks is the handle especially the longer ones. Sink it too deep and its pretty easy to break the handle trying to free it up. To me they are all fun, I actually put a short handle on mine and use it like a carving axe now days.
if you know what the mastermyr chest is, is its a viking era tool chest that contained a whole collection of viking era woodworking tools.. one of the axes found, and would have been used for wood processing was very similar to the commonly seen bearded axe used by vikings as a weapon.. i think the guy in the video was referencing that when he said the gotland axe, as thats where the tool chest was found
The hawk that I got didn't quite fit the handle properly, so I decided to take the lazy route and fasten it to the handle. After seeing you pop the head off and use it as a scrapper, I'm beginning to regret my decision. However, I'll never not carry one knife with me while in the bush, so I'm not as too much of a loss. Thanks for the video!
Damn! didnt think id see another vid from you again! Got the norse hawk a few years back from your review now i might have to get this one as well
Nice video, thanks for sharing
Greetings from Latvia! What you personally prefer: Viking hand axe or Norse hawk? Witch is better for chopping?
neither, the design is for killing
Excellent informative video , I like to ask when you were throwing it, about what distance where you
I'm thinking about taking the 2 of these that I have splitting them welding them to make a double bit.
Great review. I was thinking the head would make a great ulu for processing game and food preperation. Thanks for sharing
Hey Buddy, another awesome Video from you, thanks for sharing ... it's very interesting to hear your thoughts on the new CS Viking Hand Axe. - I have used the good ol NORSE Hawk for years and like it a lot. I guess i will also get a Viking Hand Axe soon... Cheers Erik
very good review video best in my opinion, out of most out there
Great videp! quick question, did you have to do anything to the edge to improve it from the factory?
Starting that fire looked surprisingly easy lol.
Very well made review👍
Good toss!
Great vid thanks for making it
That tree was dead befor you got there but now its with its brethren in Valhalla.
great video man
always been skeptical about cold steel products, i noticed the axe doing quite a bit of bouncing... im assuming because of its lighter weight... but seeing the functionality of this one, i think it's one i could get behind.
Seems to work well to me.
How much pine pitch did you harvest ;)
+Brian Mccann Ha ha, im setting at about a pound, but I have a fresh supply at home too, so i just take note where its at if I need to go back..... If you notice at about 4:21 while I was cutting the large branch the puffs of smoke, that whole lower section of the tree is full of pitch wood I will definitely be going back for some of that !
***** ... Yep. You hit a motherload. lol. Lucky find indeed.
Nice, informative video. Got a new subscriber man
beautiful spot you got there
Great review brother, have you tried it with flint?
Thats one big Tamahawk
most vikings used the axes as tools and yes that can split wood and since its thinner it cane go in between the grain much better
did you ever reprofile or resharpen the blade, and get better performance? It does look like a good axe or my collection.
Great video!:)-John in Texas
Thanks glad you liked it !
Great 👍🏼 video
It is an good axe for fletching. Light, agile and the blade is thin. You could cut man in half with that one. Pair it with shield and you could fight off beasts.
Yea I got one it’s pretty good
Like the long handle but not too much weight for one hand.
I got 1 of these , taking my time and feathering it back more than most , I'm very careful about what I'm chopping into , I may want to put in a shorter handle , later to use for butchering , deer or wild hogs . I've never bear hunted yet , and never got drawed out to hunt elk here , but it could happen. Bought a fine tooth folding saw for butchering too .
Did you have to do any modifications to get the axe head to stay on? Or did it do just fine as it came?
My only question is: How difficult is it to tap the head off of the handle? Do you really need to work at it or baton it down or does it come off fairly easily? Getting it back on is the easy part.
It depends on how you seat the head really, how much effort you put into it and to a lesser degree how dense the particular piece of wood your handle is made of. The eye is tapered, and if you spend a little time to properly taper the handle to match the head it is pretty quick and easy to remove the head from handle and back. All of my tomahawks/axes that use this eye/handle pattern are removable and I use them like this regularly. If you don't want it to be removable there are several ways to go about that as well... but remember the eye is tapered opposite of a normal axe.
good review
Hi ZEUKI1! Cold Steel just released a new 'Viking Battle Axe' (2019 new) that is similar to the 'Viking Hand Axe' in the video. Any chance on a review for that one too?
As soon as I can get my hands on one....
Pretty neat. Though with a 30 inch handle I’m not sure I’d quite call it a hand axe lol. More like a standard size war axe/battle axe. Now their Norse hawk and other tomahawks are definitely a hand axe size
I know this is an old video but I cant find much on the Hudson bay tomahawk wanted to know which one would be best for bushcraft?
That is a very tuff question to answer. Bush craft means alot of different things to alot of people. Personally I have alot of hawks and axes to choose from so it makes it hard to answer. I usually say it depends on what you are doing... ie winter time, big fire or small fire person, do you do alot of wood processing or more focused on smaller tasks like carving. They all have roles to play. I will just say this for me personally I really like the new Hudson Hawk, slightly better than the pipe hawk ( my old all around top pick). The Rifleman is good for processing more wood being quite a bit heavier, and the trail hawk is for those times when you want something really light and compact. Then there are the non hammer hawks, lighter but lack the hardened hammer poll. Its a tough choice but honestly any of them will do more than most people think and it is a matter of preference. Hope this helps, if you have specific questions I can try and answer them !
I've taken some pretty decent size trees with mine and it's not ideal for the task because it prefers to bite deeply into the wood as opposed to split it apart but it absolutely performs.
Joshua C the head on mine is a bit chipped up but is still a beast
There’s no way we actually have the same axe???? It looks the exact same but my axe head wiggles around as if not secured by the screw so I never decided to try to use it practically, once I noticed it was held in by a screw I just hung it up on the wall deeming it just a decoration
Yes the screw is a waste, throw it away and fit the head to the handle. It is a friction fit tool, the heads have a typical tomahawk reverse taper. Once fitted to a good handle it is a very good tool. Here are some videos for reference: ua-cam.com/video/-3cmPDBFKgs/v-deo.html and also one I did a while ago: ua-cam.com/video/hrSEVScYzuc/v-deo.html
Oh, and what kettle were you using?
+AlaskanFrontier1 Thanks for the comments ! the kettle is the Optimus Terra Kettle, .7 litre version. good little kettle that packs flat !
+ZEUKI1 I've noticed that the axehead around the blade is very thin.Would one be able repeatedly to use it like a regular axe ,splitting firewood or cutting through a tree trunk of 10 inches in diameter or more without breaking the blade? Thank you.
+badgrfan I think that if you were to use this primarily as a firewood axe you would run into issues.There are much better choices for a camp tool ( trail boss for instance). I dont think the blade would break, but I have a feeling the eye to handle ratio would cause problems with head fittement. Over time the small-for-size eye would cause undo stress on the handle and prematurely wear out the handle. This is just speculation on my part. This axe is most definitely designed as a fighting axe, and I bought it to " look cool" on the wall... BUT handles are cheap, and if you are so inclined I think it will work for a field axe, and just like ancient soldiers on the march had to improvise, it can be forced into domestic duties from time to time. Hope this helps, thanks for the question.
***** It did. Thank you.
How much sharpening did you had to do your self?
Didn't quite get it, was that tree dead? haha. I love your videos. The videos on all the other Cold Steel hawks is what fueled me to buy them all. Great video on the viking axe. I was actually impressed by how well it did as a working tool and how versatile that beard ended up being.
nutter gooder.....hey!....love them czech rucks as well...woods
It would cool to make a short handle for this, say just a foot or so, and you could swap it out with the long one for smaller work.
I bought a custom made axe that Im 99% sure is one of these but was carved and painted to look more "Viking". I do have a question, after you got done cutting with it, did you notice it dull at all?
No not really, I did not put a super fine edge on this hawk because I have found that with the longer handled axes or hawks it really dings them up when I miss and hit the ground/rocks. The cold steel hawks that I have had ( about 2 dozen or so ) have all had a decent tempering and hold an edge pretty well and have all been pretty consistent. Depending on the edge profile i put on them I can do a camp out days worth of chore, say get some fire wood split some kindling, make a few little camp improvements and maybe at the days end I might touch the edge up with a pocket stone for a minute while setting around the fire, but could probly go much longer before in NEEDs it.
Awesome, thank you.
so between this and the norse hawk.. which is the better all around outdoor survival tool?
megadeth22885 i really enjoy my Riflemans hawk, does what i need it too while out camping