CRKT Hammer Chogan, Out of the box review and first look

A video showing what to expect from CRKT when you order one of their new Hammer Chogan Hawks. In the past some have questioned my statements regarding the quality and build of some of the items I have reviewed. This video is for reference, it is not a bash on those people or the manufacturer. Just an unboxing and initial impressions.
From the looks of it this could be a great all around camp tool, I am looking forward to taking it out and using it in the field.
1055 Carbon Steel Head
28oz total weight
20oz head weight
Overall length 19"
Head length 7 1/4" blade is 3 3/4" long with 2.5" cutting surface
Hammer appears hardened and is 1 3/8" long and 1 1/8 X 7/8"
No finish on the handle, Head has Manganese Phosphate finish
CRKT YT channel : • CRKT CHOGAN™ HAMMER | ...
I purchased mine from KnifeCenter. no link as the things are too often changed and channels get axed.
#confidenceinhand #tomahawk
Timecodes
0:00-Intro
0:56-Unboxing
6:09-Weigh/measure
7:34- VS Woods Chogan
8:50-Final Thoughts

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

There is more information to be found in the description box. Thanks for watching!

[@gregzeigler3850]

I'd be angry, You're paying $20 dollars extra or more over a Cold Steel hawk and receive a dull work in progress hawk?

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

​@@gregzeigler3850 Luckily if this is not what your looking for there are plenty of options out there. I think the CRKT does come with a nicer finish than cold steel, and the handles are a little better on average than the Cold Steel even if they do need to be properly fitted. The CRKT comes with better packaging, not something most people care about until they receive and empty shipping bag because the axe fell out. I think in the end though it comes down to the design. If you want the design, how much you are willing to spend. 20$ isn't much of a difference in price these days.

[@gregzeigler3850]

@@Scablands_Scavenger I bought the Forged English Light Infantry Axe from Townsend and Sons(got mine for $35 back then) the head fits the handle out of the box, and wasn't too hard to sharpen. Truth be told, though, I would take a Fiskars out of most of these axes.....

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

@@gregzeigler3850 Fiskars makes a great tool, and still reasonably priced. I am very partial to my X11. X7 is great for packing and I carry an X15 in my truck on every trip ha ha.

[@HalfPaceOutdoors]

Oh man! I'm going to have to pick one of these up and give it a shot! I've carried the Woods Chogan for 5 years from Alabama to Maine and it's just a solid, great performing tool!

[@redsorgum]

There could be a video of you saving children from a burning building, and there will always be someone who will give you a thumbs down or complain.😵‍💫 Well, this is going to be interesting to see how they work in the field.

[@ironmikehallowween]

I just got a new one yesterday. It is perfect. I was pleasantly surprised. Thanks for the video.

[@uncletomscabin2073]

Looking forward to see them once you have tidy up the factory fit and finish.

[@Wopayne]

I like Dry Wall Hammers. Tough. Cheap. Compact. Indestructible. Effective.

[@Nate1688]

Look forward to the field test. I love my Chogan. Heavy but awesome! I wanna throw this one though I’m sure it’s easier due to the weight. Thanks!!

[@Ve-suvius]

Looking forward for you to use them. You're really good with these tomahawks.

[@DamienNeverwinter]

Excellent! It's been too long since we had a Zeuk video :)

[@KowboyUSA]

Twin tomahawks. One for each hand. Outstanding!

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

YES, double trouble!

[@Ve-suvius]

@@Scablands_Scavenger Double Trouble as in, movie with David Paul and Peter Paul?

[@brianmccann666]

@@Ve-suvius ... BARBARIAN BROTHERS !!!

[@Ve-suvius]

@@brianmccann666 Yup. Though David Paul sadly passed away at age 63. And Peter has lost it a bit . Look up his KZbin account 'God Thru Peter Palpin'. That was already when David was still alive. He's some crazy dude. They were always a bit off. David less so. But Peter... Too much channeling and drugs do bad things with the mind.

[@impermanenthuman8427]

Nice work 👍🏻

[@listeningcoolmintyamum7306]

I very much appreciate that crkt unlike cold steel doesn't have a set screw

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

Agree, really ruins the look of the Cold Steel.

[@brianmccann666]

Agreed

[@TheShamanOfShank]

I love my woods Chogan.

[@brianmccann666]

Hey Zeuki1. Great new Tomahawk video. Didn't know it was out yet. I want to pick one up asap. Oh. I just received a CS-Recon Hawk. It does have a Spike instead of a Hammer, but I can live with that. I prefer a hammer poll. Full Tang Tomahawk. Great handle material. The Sheath it comes with is great btw. Check it out. Or don't. Up to you.

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

Looks like a wicked thrower, decent price! That articulated sheath reminds me of the one used on the trench hawk? Demko has some cool designs, I would really like to get one of his AD15 folders.

[@brianmccann666]

@@Scablands_Scavenger ... As a thrower it's perfection. Ohh saw a crkt a new one called the Fraya axe. Looks cool.

[@nicorando3788]

It seems trailhawk on steroid....Do the eye circumference is the same of the cold steel hawks, can you exchange handles? Thanks for the interesting video as always.

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

Unfortunately they are a bit different... I tested this right after posting the video ha ha. This new eye is not the same as the old Chogan and is shaped more tear dropped like the Cold Steel but the dimensions are off quite a bit. I will try and show the difference in the next video.

[@TheWolfe83]

I bought 2 of the Nobo designs and they also had big gaps showing between the head and handle. Once I worked them down and took off the sharp edges the fit and finish was 10x better. I guess that’s why they are lower in price, you have to do the final finish yourself instead of paying for it!

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Thanks for the preview. It would appear the shaft is a bit larger in diameter then the CS hawks. Is that correct?

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

Hey Mark, thanks for the question! They are very similar in size, the width is very close but the CRKT eye is a little longer with more of a pronounced "teardrop point" if that makes sense. I think you could adapt the CRKT handle to a Cold Steel but not the other way round. Its a shame really they are so close. It is quite different from the CRKT Woods Chogan which has a more rounded non tear drop shaped handle.

[@Ve-suvius]

@@Scablands_Scavenger That's a pity for sure. Would be nice if they would have done that for us customers who like all these hawks.

[@forgedeath]

Are these forged or cast? I certainly like the new design and I will have to buy one. I love my Chogan but my biggest gripe is the rounded hammer on the back. I suppose I could grind it flat, I just don't find it to be as utilitarian as I'd like. This one seems to improve largely on that. Good for bushcraft and pounding nails or spikes. Hopefully this is drop forged and not cast though, me and cast don't get along.

[@Setnja92]

Looks like a older brother of the trail hawk. I am very interested, what you will have to say about him after some time.

[@starlingblack814]

Looks like a cross between the Cold Steel Trail Hawk and the Cold Steek Pipe Hawk; my guess is it will be an outstanding performer with the best of both. Do they make a sheath? Thanks for all your videos of tomakawks over the last ten years.

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

I agree, very much a larger trail hawk looking design. So far performance is very good! I do not know if they offer a sheath may have to ask them directly, I am sure the aftermarket will step in if not. Thanks for the comment, it has been an interesting journey for sure!

[@JasonMcFly]

Hawk sheaths are super easy to make. Good intro to leatherwork. Will take you maybe an hour even of it's your first time :)

[@starlingblack814]

Probably give it a try; used to make holsters about 7 years ago and bush bags. Thanks for the encouragement.

[@AEsir_Goji]

Sometimes wish they'd have a "head only" option. Still, think I might get one and make a fokos with it.

[@johnmutton799]

What gets me, is that by the time you carefully shape the top of the handle, there is never enough material left at the top of the handle. Cold steel are the worse. Before shaping the handle, the head will go all the way to the top. Better to soak overnight in boiled linseed oil. Thanks for showing. Prefer the new one. Looks a good tool.

[@A_Meek_lake_Dweller]

Grain orientation on a tomahawk not a big deal IMHO. Grain runout is definitely a problem!

[@QuantumMechanic_88]

Agreed

[@contrabassbob]

Interesting, looks like a cross between a Trail Hawk and a Chogan.

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

Pretty much!

[@longrider42]

I've heard the fit of the handle to the CRKT hawks is as bad as the handle fit of Cold Steel hawks. But you pay more for the CRKT stuff.

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

Yeah neither brand fits the heads well. Most the CRKT handles I have received were a bit better quality than CS, I had a few CS handles that were so warped I made firewood outta them. Pricing seems to be all over the place these days, but CRKT generally cost more. I guess it comes down to what head shape you want and what you are willing to pay.

[@Temporalplace]

Can anyone tell me what is that coating that CRKT Chogan tomahawks have on them ? it's not lacquer but then what is it ? It looks more like a glue. I would like to buy the same stuff, i like it very much, its more durable than a lacquer.

[@mopopskull9259]

The grain is absolutely running in the wrong direction for strength. It's something I DO get hung up on because of my experience. They will break quickly. Same with framing hammer, maul and axe handles.

[@richardhenry1969]

Don’t see any reason to buy this when a pipe hawk cost $27 a trail hawk cost $25-28 so I could get both for the price of one crkt both crkt and coldsteel use 1055 . It’s been my experience with crkt they look good but don’t hold up. Their knives tend to be brittle. I don’t have experience with their hawks because of the prices.

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

Yeah kind of a tough sell on some of the CRKT stuff when considering the price. I have seen them on sale for less but generally they are almost double CS price. In the last two years I have seen wide swings in pricing and availability from both also. From my experience Performance is about the same between the two. The CRKT does have a bit nicer coatings and comes in a nice shipping box. Both brands, from the ones I have purchased need the edge profiled and handles fitted. I think it comes down to the designs you want, some people just like to collect, others are looking for specific dimensions or weights. I have had nothing but problems with CRKT knives.

[@richardhenry1969]

@@Scablands_Scavenger you made a good point about crkt . They seem to put money in packaging and looks. Where coldsteel gives you something that is capable but needs a little personal touch. I tend to like making something mine. But crkt does have a following so I guess they know what they’re doing just not my thing. Have a good one thanks for the reply.

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

@@richardhenry1969 Packaging is something I didn't give much thought to, but after losing two axes in the mail (both slipped out of container) and having one arrive heavily damaged I have come to appreciate solid packaging. Is it worth the extra cost maybe, maybe not. I have ordered Cold Steel by the dozen before and depending on the seller and shipper.... you can end up with toothpicks ha ha. I honestly wish both companies would offer just the heads in an un-finished state for those who are modding them. Luckily we are pretty spoiled for choice these days with the amount of product to choose from, 30-50 dollars is not much compared to some of the other things we buy.

[@preparedsurvivalist2245]

I'm so done with t-hawks. Same ol song and dance. Comes duller than hammered hell. The grain orientation is off. Crap coating on the bit that will need to be stripped. Completely improper fit of haft and eye. I mean its fun to work on them but I prefer hatchets these days.

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

Yeah I can appreciate that. I guess doing it as a hobby kind of makes it easier to overlook. The fact that prices are up doesn't help any either, the days of 18$ Cold Steel projects are long gone.

[@brianmccann666]

I can understand your feelings PS. Myself I still like tomahawks though. I still like Hatchets etc too. Sometimes I want a removable head. Sometimes I don't want the removable head.

[@brianmccann666]

Ohh PS. Check out the crkt chogan Hatchet. It's pretty good.

[@pugdiddy100]

Agreed. I bought a medium sized fire axe. We have it in our safe room in case we have a tornado and need to chop out. It will take down a door fast so not used for campsite whittling.

[@inregionecaecorum]

Handle looks a bit rough, I think I would probably do better by buying a bare blade and making my own handle

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

Probably, I think many people wish they (CRKT and Cold Steel) would sell just the head. It would save us a few bucks not having to pay for handles that are barely useable.

[@johnmutton799]

As you know when the axe is used the handle will flex. so the grain will raise on the front and back, and because the grain is running the wrong way, those blade shaped grain on the back and front will raise up. you do not want one of those getting in the heel of you thumb, which can go all the way into your palm. Believe me, it hurts!