Native American Tomahawks from Ravensbeak Forge

[@scholagladiatoria]

Thanks again to Ethan @ Ravensbeak Forge - kzbin.info/door/_SoykSo0dqp6h3xSL2UCGQ & www.ravensbeakforge.com/

[@beepboop204]

it seems really interesting to me that throughout cultures from the Norse to the Japanese, certain religious traditions use clubbing sorts of weapons, either because dont want to spill blood, or they harken back to earlier traditions before metal was readily available: Thors' hammer, Hercules' club, or the Sōhei Kanabō; these traditions can survive alongside other latter more sword based traditions

[@Not_An_Alien]

Have you ever broken down the fight between Magua and Chingachgook in Last Of The Mohichans?

[@BUZZKILLJRJR]

A tomahawk with a large enough hammer on the back for driving nails/spikes moving items into, would be more frontiersman friendly. For building and everything plus you could use the pointed end for a blunt instrument.

[@BUZZKILLJRJR]

@@beepboop204 well softer metals that are blunt weapons you don't have to worry about maintaining them or sharpening a anyting virtually indestructible compared to a edged weapon if built approximately.

[@dredlord47]

This isn't relevant to the video, but do you know what manual was the dominant Infantry saber manual for the U.S. in the 1860s?

[@-Zevin-]

Spike hawks are actually fantastic tools. I use one for camping and hiking here in the USA. Allot of people assume that spike is just a weapon, but it's great at digging out rocks, prepping ground for a sleeping area, and assisting digging a latrine in hard ground, also in the winter it can be used to assist climbing steep slippery surfaces like a ice pick. Some people for utility prefer the hammer head, but honestly why bring the hammer, when you can just find a rock, or cut a small tree limb to use as a baton. Hammering is possible with other tools, but a steel spike isn't something you can find in the woods. Edit: Just wanted to add in, if you decide to get a spike hawk for hiking/camping it's important to get a solid cover for it that covers the spike with something like a thick leather. The spike can be a liability if you fall, you don't want to accidently trip and stab yourself with it.

[@HalSchirmer]

More importantly if you are in the American colonies during winter, that tomahawk spike is going to allow you to pull yourself out if you fall through ice- not even on a lake, but simply a pond, river, or creek... Similarly, if you're crossing the icy north side of a hill or ravine, that spike is REALLY convenient as an ice-ax to stop you if you slide.

[@woltews]

and having an axe to get a fire started quickly after you get out of the freezing water is a life or death thing , no matter how wet the outer wood is !

[@HalSchirmer]

@@woltews Interesting point- I'm located reasonably close to a well-studied jasper/flint quarry, known to Native American Lenape/Catawba/Iroquois for pre-contact arrowheads and then later for post-contact & colonial fire-starting flint. I think MANY people undervalue the pipe-hawk. You cannot believe the importance of having an iron ax, flint, and tinder/tobbacco easily accessible when people are basically hiking/ camping every day as part of their lifestyle. "Ceci N'est Pas Un Pipe" is quite accurate, an Indian pipe isn't ONLY for smoking tobacco, it is a magnificent tool for cradling embers and blowing them into a fire.

[@hunter35474]

@@HalSchirmer That's a great point that I've never considered before. From my layman's prespective, I've always thought of the pipe tomahawk as a symbolic weapon representing the choices of peace or war, or else just an example of the "Good Idea Fairy" whispering in some blacksmith's ear. But it makes sense as a combination cutting and firemaking tool. Is the pipe tube large enough to store emergency tinder inside?

[@victorwaddell6530]

@@HalSchirmer I smoke cigarillos ( small cigars in Spanish ) . A cigar , cigarette , or pipe of tobacco is a good way to create a small cherry of fire that lasts several minutes for building larger fires . Smokers always have a source of fire at hand while non smokers are usually without any source of fire ignition . I started smoking when I was in the US Navy .The ship's store sold duty free tobacco , Zippo lighters , and Buck knives to the crew .

[@woltews]

@@HalSchirmer I kind of prefer not using my axe for moving something delicate like a burning ember . I like an axe that is also a usable hammer and sumething like a holowedout tree root to carry an ember .

[@andreweden9405]

Landing at Vincennes Indiana among the assembled Indiana and Kentucky Militia prior to the Battle of Tippecanoe- “Many of these militia spoke the French language; their dress was a short frock of deer-skin, a belt around their bodies, with a tomahawk and scalping knife attached to it, and were nearly as destitute of discipline as the savages themselves. The militia from Kentucky and a few companies of Indiana were decent soldiers, yet the large knife and hatchet which constituted a part of their equipment, with their dress, gave them rather a savage appearance. The hatchet, however, was found to be a very useful article on the march - they had no tents but with their hatchets would in a short time form themselves a shelter from the weather, on encamping at night.” -Adam Walker, A Journal of Two Campaigns of the Fourth Regiment of U.S. Infantry in the Michigan and Indiana Territories Under the Command of Col. John P. Boyd and Lt. Col. James Miller During the Years 1811 and 12, (Keene, N.H.: Sentinel Press, 1816).

[@dutch6857]

I dunno, being able to to pierce an enemies buffalo coat in the winter with the spike-hawk could be really clutch if and when it came up. But being able to dive tent pegs every single day with the hammer-hawk would be the tool that I would take into the bush.

[@RagPlaysGames]

I wonder if the French went with the spontoon shape in the early days to specifically point out which of the Indians were likely to be friendly to them. Kind of a mark that they traded with the French before so were more likely to do so again. The thing looks like a fleur de lis as well.

[@thelegendaryklobb2879]

I was hoping Matt would address the obvious "fleur de lys" shape as a fench allegiance badge

[@btinsley785]

I think videos of tomahawk sparring would be interesting especially how the different types of hawk might be used differently. Also, since you brought it up, videos about the development and use of the Highlands dirk and the sghian dhu.

[@TheHybridHunter307]

The spike on the Mohawk tomahawk was a good tool for climbing steep, leafy hillsides found in the Adirondacks

[@woltews]

we mostly use the cold steel one around hear as a light belt axe that you can make a new handle for easily unlike a wedged axe . They are good utility tools in the bush for making fires and getting dry wood , they could be a weapon also if required but mostly for making fire and as a tool. PS the spike is great for breaking ice and digging in hard ground the 98% of the time you are not fighting but still have to stay alive !

[@thornescapes7707]

When you pulled out the spontoonhawk, my first thought was that it was a fleur de lis, and I wondered if it had French influence.

[@MasterPoucksBestMan]

Big fan of tomahawks and tomahawk practitioner here. Great video.

[@Wayzor_]

I also partake in the tomahawk arts.

[@beepboop204]

you know, i had no idea that was a thing until i watched Deadliest Warrior and they explained how Comanche Tomahawk skills are taught to American military personnel. thought that was very interesting

[@elim7228]

@@beepboop204 there's even a Vietnam war issue version, and others were sent there for US GI use.

[@patricialavery8270]

If you look at some of William Catlin's portraits of Native Americans before so much changed they show tomahawks that are quite massive and resembling Viking axes with a long heavy downcurving head.There are some of the triangular bladed ones but those kind of blades seem more often mounted on a war club which looked like a cut down hockey stick.

[@fostermoody]

I've always had a ton of curiosity about the stone axes of the "boat axe" culture and "corded ware" culture. The drilled holes always interested me, since that would be so much more work than earlier stone tools that were hafted around the outside of the stone head.

[@daemonharper3928]

Great vid - a fascinating topic, both in terms of history and fighting techniques......the spike tomahawk looks the business.

[@oevr37]

The spiked tomahawk is very cool and probably the best for fighting, but the hammer makes it the best tool. Not only because it is useful as a hammer but also because you can drive the axehead by hammering on the back with a piece of wood. Also, a beefier axehead would make it better at splitting wood. My favourite tomahawk would be the most useful tool version, I bet it still would make a decent weapon too. Great video!

[@oevr37]

@@Jaguar-s7f The pipe would arguably be the best addition to help you get rid of your enemies.. by smoking it together and befriending them.

[@bradfarrahgerwing154]

Looks like you need a rifleman hawk....bigger and heavier head.....cold steels got a good cheap one

[@oevr37]

@@bradfarrahgerwing154 I'd prefer one with a head that tapers more evenly so it would be better for splitting wood. I bet you would use it the most for this purpose in almost any situation. This of course would make it heavier and therefore a less nimble weapon.

[@ImXs1p3r]

Love these Tomahawk stories.

[@wayland4159]

Maybe a video of what weapons, armor and tactics that the early colonies had to adapt/re-implement when transitioning from the Old World to New. If I recall correctly, things like targes/redello shields came back to fashion because plate armor was too impractical for the environment.

[@andywilson8698]

I like to see a bit more about smallswords vs other period swords ,particularly on a smallswords ability to defend against them , parries, blocks , disengages ,slips , ect!!!

[@IosuamacaMhadaidh]

The Spanish and French were all up and down the Mississippi river and Missouri river. My home town, St. Charles, Missouri, was settled by both before the Louisiana Purchase, so I'm sure there were many of their axes making it far inland pretty early.

[@shawngilliland243]

Great additional information to your series of videos on tomahawks. I'd choose the same spiked tomahawk that you did, Matt.

[@j.bowman8699]

Pipe tomahawks are primarily for war and ceremony,and are often very ornate,well made. Inlaid silver, engraving etc There are polled tomahawks for driving stakes,pelt work,and cutting kindling. There are trade axes for chopping firewood. There are also more petite tomahawks exclusively for war,very small and light heads. Majority of spike hawks where former naval or army surplus,British/French. Tomahawk shape does shift and change as you go from 1680-1790 and then moving into the Great plains in the 1830's-1890's. The spontoon tomahawk is from that later period.

[@Winter_Fritz]

Great show, thank you for taking the time to teach about weapons of the past

[@jlthearcher]

You might want to look into "eye dog" tomahawks. It was a generic term for trade hatchet/tomahawk type weaopns, but it seems to have been very often a single bladed affair with nothing on the back side of the socket, no hammer, spike, or pipe bowl. They, as far as my readings have uncovered, were very often used as a thrown, volly, weapon before hand to hand combat was joined.

[@tgmickey513]

"What is it". Just had to! Great vid, as usual, reinvigorated my interest in these and really like the spontoon/ pipe version you had made.

[@tattooraptor]

Take a look at Wingard Wearables' wares - they make modern interpretations of historical Native American tomahawks and warclubs for carry and wear. I own several items from them and they're all high-quality and well made.

[@wingardwearables]

Thanks for the mention!

[@josephinestalin5846]

Hi Matt I’m a big fan of yours you once said you going to make a video about Mongol swords and sabers could you do that there is not much about on the internet with your knowledge I can batter understand about it thank you

[@beepboop204]

he also got me interested in those curved peasant axes, and likewise, there is very very little information out there. what a tease!

[@scholagladiatoria]

Good shout, yes I should do something about Mongol arms and armour.

[@josephinestalin5846]

@@scholagladiatoria yes please thank you so much

[@MQuinn-eb3zz]

I just realized that the spontoon hawk does seem to resemble the fleur de lis.

[@-RONNIE]

Thanks for the video it was good I said before in a previous video my 2 favorite one-handed axes are the Native American Tomahawk and the Germanic/Viking styles

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

To me the spike backed tomahawk looks like the tool today known as an axaroon, a combination axe and picaroon. There are many designs going back at least to the 19th century but all feature a smallish axe head and opposing spike that can be straight or hooked.

[@wingardwearables]

I make “modern” versions of historic spike tomahawks and the spike side works really well to bite into fallen deadwood-think big branches to small log size. Then use legs to drag the deadwood into the camp fire. Historic spike tomahawks weighed well under a pound-most were just 8-10 ounces head and handle. Not efficient wood choppers, but good for cutting small pieces of wood to get a small fire started. Using the spike side to drag nearby deadwood into the campfire is a very time and effort efficient way to greatly magnify the heat output. Even big damp punky logs do well at reflecting heat to your body, and eventually will burn in the fire.

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

@@wingardwearables Thanks!

[@arctodussimus6198]

The spike is also a great tool for digging a trench next to your fire to drag coals into for cooking

[@scott9665]

Id like to see how well the tomahawk stands up in defence on its own compared to with a buffalo hide shield. when i was younger i did a lot of dark age and Viking re-enactment and found the axe a fantastic offensive weapon against Armor and hooking shields but not so good in defence without a shield to parry swords and spears

[@HunterGargoyle]

I used to carry a tomahawk as a tool/self defence inplement before transitioning to my bowie knife, they often make great multi-purpose implements that i very much think people would enjoy having in their collections these ones you've shown are very nice and i will check them out

[@beepboop204]

you see that viral hatchet video? no one expects someone to pull a hatchet lol

[@elim7228]

Why did you switch to a knife? I would think a hawk is more packable than a Bowie knife. Tomahawk can be disassembled, a knife can't.

[@HunterGargoyle]

@@elim7228 ease of deployment, the police eyeing me funny for having a hatchet hanging off my belt, getting my hands on my dad's hunting knife that was mysteriously "missing" from his personal effects after he died various reasons nothing specific

[@albertgauche9271]

Great shirt! One of my favorite bands.

[@corneliussulla9963]

Im also interested in the French and Indian War and American Revolutionary War periods right now. Thanks for the video Matt! Theres plenty of possible videos in this. Longhunter knives, Longrifles, trade axes, Native American clubs etc etc...

[@nationalsocialism3504]

French and Indian War like the earlier King Philip war were crucial in shaping the American Revolutionary War... since Americans weren't fighting for independence from the British Crown merely the English Parliament until right before the war started when King George turned it into a race war against us by enlisting our racial enemies of Indians (feather not dot) & Blacks against us Americans. If King George hadn't been a race traitor then America wouldn't have fought for independence... been more like Canada & Australia, still in Commonwealth but not under the English Parliament.

[@nationalsocialism3504]

Sidenote- "Native Americans" is a term for Americans whose family predates the Revolutionary War... Indians aren't American so they can't be native to it, they are the people that we conquered when Americans created America which they were excluded from being put on reservations and denied American Citizenship.

[@Lucius1958]

@@nationalsocialism3504 "King John war"? Do you mean King Philip's War (1675/6)? "King Philip" (originally named Metacomet) was the son of Massasoit, sachem of the Wampanoags, who had allowed the Pilgrims to settle at what is now Plymouth. Metacomet/Philip led a Native rebellion to drive the English out of his homeland, which proved to be the last stand of the First Nations in what became New England.

[@nationalsocialism3504]

@@Lucius1958 ahh... my bad, thanks. My dyslexia got me again... still gets through sometimes (I felt the tingle that it wasn't "right" but a lifetime of that tingle fucking me over i generally ignore it unless it's stronger.) Edited to be correct after you pointed out that I got it wrong.

[@userequaltoNull]

@@nationalsocialism3504 bro this is such uncreative trolling I'm gonna have to report your comments simply to get them out of the way. Maybe be more entertaining (and only post one comment) if you don't want people to call the Jannies on you. I mean my god, calling King George a "race traitor"? It isn't even "so bad it's good", it's just bad.

[@Bloborus]

Fascinating topic. I have an old crate axe, another colonial naval tool I guess. It has amazing utility with a pry, hammer and axe blade but it seems too specialized to have been as prevalent in trade as the boarding axe? Definitely tiny as an instrument of war, but it's just interesting how dominant the bowie and tomahawk became over other forms. I wonder what other more obscure tools were reappropriated, made relevant again or obsolete as settlers colonized the frontier. Thanks for the videos, always a treat.

[@doratheexploder286]

crate axes was largely confined to the supply officer for opening crates, doubt they were lying about anywhere else than supply wagons and store departments.

[@Old52Guy]

This was a fantastic vid! Thank you. These make excellent battle weapons, especially with a 3-4" spike opposite the main blade and a wrist lanyard that helps with retention and allows you to shoot, have the 'hawk hanging and just swing it up to fight.

[@unclebob540i3]

A hawk is a very versatile and useful tool.

[@fredbarnes2600]

The spike on the hawk would be useful as a digging tool or for breaking off ice

[@calebbonsack9469]

I'd love to see some commentary over tomahawk sparring!

[@Griff1011]

I have a love of many different weapons, almost none of which have I been able to handle, but one I love being reminded of is the spontoon-hawk.

[@ravensbeakforge1747]

thanks again Matt:)

[@deepashtray5605]

A problem with a pipehawk is that one would be reluctant to practice throwing it as the handle is a bit trickier to replace. Otherwise they're pretty damn cool.

[@junglejim3433]

Fascinating. Your random depth of knowledge is impressive

[@sharzadgabbai4408]

Dwight C Lenore published a treatise on tomahawk fighting. A modern tomahawk was carried in Vietnam by US troops

[@teedammit]

One of the things I like best about my own tomahawk (the 'English' pattern with an arrowhead spike) is the length of handle gives it a hand-and-a-half utility. It does small trees as well as skulls.

[@dustyak79]

Id like to see and hear about Revolution period or earlier Rifleman's Knives.

[@santafromexeter5814]

I would love to see you do a video on Scottish weaponry, particularly the use of the Basket Hilt and Targe and the practicality of carrying the Dirk in the same hand as the Targe. Having used a Basket Hilt and Targe in reenactment, I remain unconvinced as to this particular "well known tactic".

[@MaidenFan666]

I agree with your assessment of the spike hawk being the best choice for using a tomahawk primarily as a weapon, but if I was a frontiersman living off the land and using it primarily as a tool I would think a hammer poll would be more useful. When you're limited by what you can carry multi use items always have priority especially in a living off the land context I would think Now I'm curious if there's any sources on what French and English colonists carried as far as axes and tools in a frontiersmam/fur trapper context

[@elim7228]

Yes, it's all in the museums in North America. Whatever the archeology didn't break or spoil, at least, to fit the narrative. I agree with you, a spike is definitely a pure weapon whereas a hammer poll would absolutely win in terms of utility both around the house and outside.

[@snaggletooth9784]

I like that you pointed out that Ash is better than hickory.. over the years, I have put ash handled picks sledge and axes through loads of abuse and never snapped one.. so ash is light and as strong as you will ever likely need it to be... so that makes it better

[@strategicgamingwithaacorns2874]

Fun fact: the French brought their traditional Francisca throwing axe- the signature weapon of the Franks- with them to the Americas, and a lot of tomahawks take design cues from the Francisca as a result.

[@jerrymacklow1452]

In this country, tomahawks are quite popular in the bushcraft community, as tools. I suspect that most tomahawks would been used as tools as much as weapons back in the day too. There's a KZbin channel by the name of Fandabi Dozi which has some interesting videos on traditional Scottish weapons.

[@azraelf.6287]

And that is exactly why my preference is for the hammer poll hawk rather than a spike. The limited utility of the spike for dragging or rolling logs is far outweighed by having the hammer. It is also safer. I keep a leather mask over the edge, but I don't have to worry about the hammer.

[@spacewater7]

You might suggest to your friend at Ravensbeak Forge to try using black locust wood for his handles. Rumor has it that it's harder than hickory. It's also quite beautiful and grows quickly given the right conditions in waste areas such as abandoned pastures and wildfire areas.

[@greylocke100]

Matt, the US Navy M1859 Boarding Hatchet looks very much like your spiked tomahawk. You might wish to check it out.

[@robertsmith4681]

I wonder if any of the bowl type were ever designed/used not so much as pipes but as powder and shot measures for trade muskets and such ... ?

[@scholagladiatoria]

Who can work out the relationship between the t-shirt and the weapon? ;-)

[@eberp9270]

Patton was in a band named Tomahawk

[@scholagladiatoria]

We have a winner :-)

[@eberp9270]

@@scholagladiatoria Super, I'll have 3 tomahawks please.

[@nmacgyver1]

I'd love to hear more about the different ways tomahawks vs axes are hung/mounted to the handle. Was it convenience and to make it easier to re-hang and replace the handle? Or is there some other advantage? Or just cultural development? Thanks!!!

[@MadNumForce]

"Tomahawks", at least the early trade axes, are really just Southern European light axes, often collectively referred to as "pruning axe" (hacha da poda in Spanish, scure/accetta per potatura in Italian). The slip-through type of hang is just the normal way to hang an axe. Sadly the axe forging industry on the French side of the bay of Biscaye that produced most of the trade axes sent to the New World didn't survive the industrial revolution, but the big French industrial tool manufacturers (Saut du Tarn, Revolier, Bret, etc) of the 19th and early 20th century still produced slip-through axes for Southern France, and some slip-through patterns were spread nation wide (hache de ménage). In Italy, you barely find any wedge hung axe. In Spain, there are wedge hung design but it's done very differently than in Germanic areas: the eyes are often rectangular in section, short in length (only gripping a narrow band of wood), and the wedge is most often still, put in the shortest dimension of the eye section, a bit like you find on Japanese axes and hammers, but often much cruder. The Germanic style of wedge hang in comparison is much work.

[@wingardwearables]

A lot of historic tomahawks didn’t use that tapered drop-thru-the-top head/handle connection. In fact, most spike tomahawks used a wedged head handle connection. I’ve even seen an example where the tomahawk head had long iron flanges going partway down the handle, pinned to the wood. And also examples of all iron tomahawks-the axe head forge welded to a thin iron handle-made more like a fire place poker than a wood handled hatchet.

[@andrezunido]

Great shirt! One of Faith No More's Mike Patton other bands: Tomahawk, comes to mind.

[@broyhan]

Do you know the Channel "Malcolm P.L." ?

[@willbbwluvr]

Honestly I'd love to see you examine the Fokos

[@pavelchudy6208]

Nice shirt. My favourite band.

[@raphlvlogs271]

the knife at the end may be traditional but it will still make a lot of sense in a modern edc context

[@ravensbeakforge1747]

i designed it with that in mind:)

[@charlottesimonin2551]

Many U.S. amateur Blacksmith have, early in their careers, have made tomahawks with high carbon railroad track spikes. The results are often quite attractive as skill develops. The metal does not make a truly useful tool but are often seen in gatherings of people interested in primitive black powder firearms and civil war era camping,

[@davidbradley6040]

The spike hawk is also like an old (British) Fireman's axe

[@andrewjensen7413]

The last Tomahawk hit with the back spike downward just behind the collar bone aiming at the side of the neck would be very Deadly. It's the Tomahawk one I would pick for sure.

[@joemummerth8340]

they were actually rather popular from the very early 18TH century onwards , today there are tomahawk throwing competitions all over the united states !

[@LarryGarfieldCrell]

I'd be interested in a history of the Scottish dirk, and its parent the ballock dagger. I'm very unclear on the timeline of that evolution.

[@kempo79]

Can we have a video about XVII century swords, especially used by military? Both infrantry and cavalry?

[@memyself637]

Speaking of Highland weapons, I've always been interested in the dirk and targe combination. As you know both were held at the same time in the weak hand with the blade of the dirk pointing downwards. This in combination with a sword, usually a broadsword. If you could do a video on how they were used, with what types of swords, when and exactly by who, that would fascinating. I hope you'll consider this. Thanks!

[@sammo42]

Never knew about the French/English distinction between hatchet and spontoon heads on tomahawks. Also, I'm not picking up on much functional purpose for the spontoon"lugs". So now I'm wondering: did the French distribute these as propaganda? As soon as you said France, I noticed how much the spontoon head resembles the fleur de lis symbol of the old French monarchy.

[@MitchJohnson0110]

lugs prevent the head from penetrating too deeply and getting stuck

[@sammo42]

@@MitchJohnson0110 in general yes, but on this particular ones, the lugs are so small and so far behind the widest part of the blade that you could get that thing wedged into something pretty hard before they even touched the surface.

[@ravensbeakforge1747]

i too wonder that.

[@stocktonjoans]

there's a chance the lugs are there to stop the business end penetrating too far so it's easier to extract, but given that it's the french style and they pretty much turn the whole head into a fleur de lys (⚜) they could be purely decorative

[@thomaspunt2646]

I'd like to hear more about tomahawks made of natural materials, like stone and bone.

[@justdustino1371]

The wooden gun stock war club is interesting. The final fight scene in Last Of The Mohicans featured one.

[@Wildwest89]

How often will you be fighting in the woods vs needing to hammer something? Tent stakes, grinding coffee, breaking hardtack, hammering a wedge to split a log, etc, there is a reason the British light infantry ax was designed with a hammer on the back and not a spike. I would also be concerned about impaling myself on the spike if I slipped on the leaves on a hillside for example. This is speaking from experience walking around rough terrain with a musket a bayonet and a hatchet in full 60th Royal Americans getup at reenactments in western Pennsylvania. A hammer blow might not result in as much blood loss as a spike but it can also by used as a bludgeoning tool.

[@pedroguerrero3862]

Good point, image winning a battle but dying on your way back home by slipping on leaves and impaling yourself on your own tomahawk. That would be embarrassing.

[@willallen7757]

My neighbor is a Seneca, he's deadly with his tomahawks.

[@stephengent9974]

A lot of people carried belt axes of various types, as well as a variety of hawks

[@seleye963]

Great video Matt 🙏 it’s awesome to see the spike tomahawk get some appreciation! I don’t know if you’ve had communication with Zac Wingard ( @wingarwearables ) before, but he’s extremely knowledgeable on spike tomahawks as well as combat on the North Eastern frontier 🌳🌲 Makes modern wearable iterations of tomahawks made using historical handmade methods 🙌

[@wingardwearables]

Thank you for the mention!

[@paigenelson3743]

You should commission a Scottish dirk from Ravensbeak. Would love for you to do an episode on those!

[@KulfonCzarnyNos]

A metal part similar to the "ciupaga" used by Polish highlanders, but the length of the stick is different.

[@freestatefellow]

With the spike-back Hawk, do you have to be a bit more careful when loading up a powerful hit? So as not to spike yourself in the back?

[@wingardwearables]

I have read one historic account where a Native American warrior got into a grapple and had the spike side stuck into his shoulder. So there’s definitely a risk if it’s straight and sharp. Most of the examples of the historic spike tomahawks do not have straight “sharp” tipped spikes. Most of the straight spike tips are blunt or chisel tipped, which greatly reduces the risk of self injury. Many spikes are also downturned-sometimes curved downward to such an extent that the spike tip couldn’t possibly be used in percussive impact. Still, would be very effective as a “meat hook on a stick” to tear an opponent down to ground. Also a lot of the historic spike tomahawks were REALLY light. Average weights were 8-10 ounces, and examples even below 6 ounces, head and handle. You don’t have to “load up” for the chop-like a big exaggerated over the shoulder motion. You can chop very fast like throwing a punch because the tomahawk is just that light. Based on my testing, you can easily bury the axe blade into flesh-and-bone with a punch-like motion.

[@arctodussimus6198]

As usual, your video has excellent historical information. 👍🏼👍🏼 I was curious, wearing traditional Scottish attire, a knife in the sock is allowed…. Would you be allowed to carry a Scottish dirk also? Or if dressed as a Knight of the Round Table, could one carry a sword?

[@molochi]

One of the things I've pondered is how the different axe shapes affect armor (or heavy clothing) penetration. In particular most later European fighting axes seem to use a curved edge with the force of the blow being focused on the center of the blade which I imagine would reduce penetration compared to those others with an angled axe face that focuses the blow on one of the the pointy ends of the blade's edge, like the spikebacked tomahawk you have. Im mostly thinking about their shapes' relative effectiveness at cutting through many layers of textiles (like a gambeson) when razor sharp rather than maile or an iron helmet. So what do you think, does axe shape effect armor penetration?

[@EriktheRed2023]

I hope you'll give us some context on those lugs or ears on the spontoon 'hawk some time. 😀

[@Vyrlokar]

The spontoon tomahawk also kinda looks like a Fleur de Lys... I don't know if anyone pointed it out beforehand though.

[@garymurphy8969]

So would you say that naval boarding axes were useful weapons there Matt?

[@danhaywood5696]

Man I dig Tomahawks. I wear and throw three with spikes everyday in the forest. I wear two out shopping sometimes, usually just one. Got great knifes to fight in tandem with my customized cane as well. I love dual welding my cane and selection of knife blades I train with, and also with my tomahawks, all against dead standing trees mostly is how I do it, but also, while traversing my paths, spinning my cane and clearing stuff with tomahawk or knife in other hand. This shit is fun. Im barely strong enough to do it because old injuries and shit, but I ain't gotta work no more cause Im disabled. Im so behind on customizing snd building what I need, but I got a cool system going on where my weapons are all powerful multitools with various levels of permissibility. So the Penlight is one. I customized mine so it doest come out of the pocket and the light don't accidentally turn on. Got Spike Hawk similar to yours, but no pipe. Its a cheap Cold Steel, with ill fitted handle like every traditional wood handle tomahawk Ive owned. I heavily customized it with a file and its finish, and its handle. Right now its on a another shorter handle, I intend to pour lead into a hole in the lower handle for throwing it better. I haven't even gotten into swords yet, other than some sword canes I customized some, but dont dig the basic designs. I do bushcrafting also, so tomahawks are useful to me. Hope to do some canoe camping with my dog in Spring, my blades are useful as is my cane, which is a hook and much more.

[@pile_ofsalt]

Hey Schola. Since you visited famous tomahawks, did you consider making a video about middle european "valaška" walking stick / tool / weapon? I know it is not that famous as tomahawks are.

[@justincraig398]

Tomahawks are my favorite handheld weapon.

[@thecrowrains]

Followed your link to ravens beak forge but no tomahawks. Just a few pocket knives or somesuch design. No tomahawks shown at his site's "shop" tab/button. That's odd.

[@amyfraser5316]

Can you discuss boarding axe vs cutlass

[@yanivanhandenhove5720]

Remind me a lot of the once coldsteel makes though

[@stimpsonjcat67]

Holy crap...Bruce vs De Bohun. Didn't see that coming.

[@LionAstrology]

With that spike in spring you could probably tap some birch trees for sap lol..just make groved pegs a little thinner.

[@otsoalai5621]

Awesome to see you're a fnm fan!! 🤘

[@JohnFleshman]

Yeah I like the third one most. If I had to fight with a tomakawk the spiked one would certainly be my preferred choice.

[@asa-punkatsouthvinland7145]

I would personally like to hear you talk more about any historical accounts you found on Tomahawk being used with a knife as a paired weapon set

[@wingardwearables]

I’d be interested in that too because I’ve surveyed a lot of historic accounts and can’t find a single example of this being done. Matt’s videos have covered different accounts that I haven’t come across so maybe he’s seen something on it. Right now I suspect the “dual wielding” knife/tomahawk isn’t historical, more like modern movie fight choreography. Not saying it would not be effective in combatives, just saying I haven’t seen any historical evidence that it was done in North America.

[@asa-punkatsouthvinland7145]

@@wingardwearables I suspect it isn't historical either, at least not common if it was done. I believe it I'm was in one of his videos where he found one account of someone using tomahawk & knife together but to my memory I believe it mentioned they were wielding both but didn't describe how they fought. Regardless even if there are no more accounts to be found it might be fun to go down a rabbit hole to try & find if the style predates Hollywood or is purely a movie invention.

[@glynnmitchell9253]

Great video. I am interested to know which type of daggers are effective against modern body armor

[@johnbrown9985]

Matt, If you haven’t already It would be fun to see you review Mel Gibson’s “Tomahawk scene” from The Patriot. You also mentioned the Smatchet in the FS dagger vs. Kukri vid last month- I think the Smatchet would be interesting as the”other” WWII commando dagger and what is essentially an actual modern combat short sword.

[@raybellows9851]

Do you find the jian similar to the smallsword at all? I always got the same vibe from them.

[@pxrays547]

This video is such a hatchet-job ;) Seriously though, thanks for the work and information.

[@RonKimmerly-v1o]

The head is the ezzy part to get through then the Cote or hide.

[@ethanblinkhorn8396]

matt, you need to get a kilt man. they are awesome!!!!!

[@M.H.D.actual]

Any interest in talking about the Winkler style tomahawks? There is some fascinating modern history with use in certain special operations circles. It would be cool to see your take on the different blade designs. I know they are quite expensive though lol