So how lightweight can a tomahawk be?

Join us as we explore extremely light tomahawks and tip toe into testing the capabilities and compromises of going featherweight and FAST.
And if you want to support this channel and our small business, please pick up a finely made blade from the link below-we’re got all our tomahawks in stock AND we’re doing a cosmetic seconds sale for as long as supplies last:
www.wingardwearables.com/shop-1
And if you love sharp objects, come by the table at the Lehigh Valley Knife Show-Wingard Wearables will be there along with about 80 other vendors, but we are there only on Saturday, September 28th. Link to show details here:
paknifeshows.com/
And check out our interview with Ernest Gendron-I may be consulting with him in as we try to create and test even lighter tomahawks than what was shown in today’s video:
kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppWbe2hrg7KbmZIsi=Ul3bqQ1_uBGy7Aj3
Please share the video with a friend and BE EDGY.

[@paulrouleau1972]

I really wish I had taken notes from all the conversations I had with Jack Vargo. Such a wealth of knowledge and lore. Those featherweight hawks are amazing. Looking forward to seeing how they perform on the meat targets.

[@wingardwearables]

I wish I had taken better notes. I still had so many questions for him. Hopefully I get some ham hocks in soon for testing. Very curious how these will perform. Also I plan on more bushcraft type tests. Gonna go through the comments to see what ideas folks have.

[@desertrance]

Love my Empress!!! And my quilll!!!

[@wingardwearables]

I love to read that

[@desertrance]

@@wingardwearables and I love your videos such an intellectual way to look at savage weaponary!!

[@wingardwearables]

@@desertrance Thank you!

[@whitegarrett65]

Suggestion for you sir. You may be able to glean something from studying hammers as well. I'm a union carpenter (301) and I very much feel like I can hit much harder and faster with a 19 0z vaugh california framer and the old school 28 0z estwing. Just something to think about, I think a lot of these same principles apply. Stiletto hammers with titanium heads even further send this point home

[@wingardwearables]

That’s a great suggestion. I was looking at some 8 oz and 4 oz ball peen hammers. One of them had a fiberglass handle that was crazy thin-Nupla 11” Fiberglass handle-it was under 0.3” thick by 0.433” in cross section, solid fiberglass. That had to slap a rubber grip on it to have enough surface to grab onto.

[@desertrance]

Always always watch until the end

[@snakeoveer1046]

My guess about the ultra light tomahawks is that they are throwing weapons : can be thrown faster and farther, cheaper, easier to carry multiple, somewhat expendable, not too bad if the handle breaks.

[@wingardwearables]

That makes sense. I need to make a new throwing target to test this.

[@snakeoveer1046]

@@wingardwearables An idea to lighten the blades : make the blade thickest in the middle of the axe and taper out towards the heel and toe, like on some racing axes and vintage felling axes. It results in a "banana grind" after sharpening. May also help with extraction, I know it does on softwoods.

[@wingardwearables]

@@snakeoveer1046 I haven’t heard of “banana grind” before, but I think I follow what you are saying. Google searches only shows side profile pictures of racing axes. I’ll see if this something I can implement on a tiny tomahawk head, thank you for the suggestion.

[@snakeoveer1046]

@@wingardwearables You may get more results by searching convex cheeks. Another idea which I believe will get you ligter blades for the backriper is to make the blade thinner everywher except on right behind the edge, like on some dane axes.

[@wingardwearables]

Yeah that Dane axe approach may be the way too go if I find out I’ve pushed too thin behind the edge. I think tests on bone should show if the blade geometry is prone to chipping.

[@marzcapone9939]

Years ago, I had two golf club heads removed. I made a hiking stick, graphite shaft shoved into a steel shaft, from an iron. I made this in 2001 maybe, it's still strong as hell. The steel is snug against the graphite, and acts like armor. I could use it like a sword against smaller limbs on the trail, I tried to break it. I can lean on it, with the back pack on, it bends but never broke.

[@wingardwearables]

I was looking into golf club handles-will need to redesign the tomahawk head for a different mechanical connection. I was also looking at an aluminum jacketed carbon fiber tube-it’s used in arrow applications but I’d need to thoroughly test if it can handle side load/impact.

[@marzcapone9939]

@@wingardwearables The two shafts I used were tapered, I got lucky with the fit. Would pinning the head to the shaft work with a sleeved shaft? I can imagine a carbon fiber core, with metal sleeve, drill holes out of the handle. Some larger grommets, like RMJ did in the past. Would carbon fiber pins lock them together, better or stronger? There's got to be some limit on how light a "useful" tomahawk can be. Maybe all the small historical hawks were for children? Gotta train them early 😁

[@wingardwearables]

@@marzcapone9939 I wonder if doing a friction fit or tapered-drop-thru-the-top might work if I make a new axe head sized to the shaft? I think that with either pins or high strength epoxy could keep the head in place. But that shaft gets so thin that I’d have to add a handle wrap of some kind just to grip the tomahawk-that may squander away all the weight savings. Toy tomahawks were a thing-and it seems obvious at some point that a tomahawk will become too light to be dependable as a tool or weapon. Right now the modified Empress and Backripper appear to still be pretty potent. But if I shave a half ounce or more, will they still function? Dunno right now. Excited to do more testing.

[@marzcapone9939]

​@@wingardwearables Would you ever use a wedge, like a typical axe head. I have a tiny ball peen hammer, head's face is the size of a dime. Total length is 10.5", don't have a scale to weight it. Like your thin handled Backripper, the weakest part would be the wood shaft below the head. The wedge handled design lets this little hammer have a nice handle. Imagining it as a hawk, it's very fast in hand.

[@wingardwearables]

@@marzcapone9939 I use a wedge on all our tomahawks-I think that could work on a wooden handle but I am doubtful it’s the way to go with a synthetic or metal shaft acting as the handle.

[@datnotme9921]

So awesome.. I'm very intrigued with your videos and history of hawks in other video and I never knew of a featherweight tomahawk. So cool. I was scalped once, but NOT by a hawk. I was hit by a Ford escape suv(never caught him as he gets out and looks into the camera) from behind going 45-50mph riding a bicycle caught on cameras hit n run. I went headfirst into the windshield scalped unconscious over luggage rack landing flat on my back on concrete. 16 staples in head and to many injuries to list. I use to throw tomahawk in the late 80s in the 90s with father in law. He showed me how to flint knap arrows. I've couple arrows made from back then. I really like the sparrow and how you processed wood with it. I live off grid and could use it for self defense Only as well. I seen a payment plan. I really like the sparrow with 4 payments. Any chance 6-8 payments,? If so, I'd buy on the 3rd. ⚡👍⚡thanks for sharing

[@wingardwearables]

Thank you again for your comment and I hope you have fully healed from your injuries. Right now we have Sezzle for quad/4-part pay. We don’t have a mechanism to break it up into smaller increments, until we were emailing you invoices for partial payment, which could be odd but would require payment scheduling, etc. Let us know. Send email to [e-mail] and best regards

[@The_AntiVillain]

For cutting down weight: - i would think adding more curves like ridges to the handles and gimping -adding speed holes -changing the handle to frn -I know you dont want to hange the dimensions to the spike and blade but i think having 3 inch spike is more than enough because as you strike the muscles will compress and the axe blade could be an inch long and have a more curve to cut more weight

[@wingardwearables]

I think I understand/visualize your suggestions. Thank you!

[@bhaktapeter3501]

The dainty lightweight pipe tomahawks are the coolest

[@wingardwearables]

Yeah, a guy on IG sent me pictures of one, from Canada. A foot long. Under 8 ounces. Very compact.

[@benchase7537]

In your opinion, what would be the lightest head you'd use for bushcraft tasks? I'd also be interested in seeing how well the back ripper handles thick clothing.

[@wingardwearables]

I don’t have an opinion for you just yet. Right now the Backripper tomahawk heads are the lightest we make, ~3-4 ounces (hand forged, so some variability). Total weight around 6-8 ounces when hung to handles. Such a lightweight axe requires finesse-you’re not going to be using it like a hatchet, but I have found the Backrippers can definitely do the work. Can an axe be even lighter? I don’t know yet what the lowest lightest limit is at the moment. Hopefully my efforts with this video series will help determine the lightest weight head that can perform in the field for utility tasks.

[@JustinCoburn-vx1kg]

Surprised that nobody has mentioned decorative cutouts in the head. Many historical tomahawks had cutouts in heart shapes, half moons, stars, etc. that would certainly remove some weight, retain historical accuracy, and look beautiful as well.

[@wingardwearables]

We may have to go there. Have to be careful on stress risers. It’s interesting that I have only seen a single example of a spike tomahawk that had a blade cut out. It was from Fort Meigs-it’s what Last of the Mohicans prop department picked for Magua’s tomahawk. The original tomahawk was essentially unused due to horrible flaws in the metal-cracks all over the head. Also had a rectangular blade cut out. Stress concentrators and “fatigue failure” wasn’t really understood until the 1940’s, but that head might not have lasted long even if it had been properly forged. I will need to think about round shaped cut outs for weight reduction. Thanks for the comment.

[@bladetheatrics]

Amazing work here!! Very impressed with the speed and look of these. Someone else mention this in the comments but maybe trying other materials like cf to increase strength. I would like to see you use the baby ripper to make a a very small fire to see where its camp chore useage ends. Also have your wife throw fruit at you to test speed and accuracy of the differant sizes? Lastly a zombie torso and head possibly they are pricy

[@wingardwearables]

These are great suggestions, thank you!

[@nothim7321]

The handle eye thickness itself is fine, but what about circular or oblong holes in the side of the axe's eye? As well as the blade? Tear drop and heart shapes were extremely common in pollaxe and halberd heads.

[@wingardwearables]

Cut outs would work to reduce weight, but will create stress concentrations-fatigue failure was not a known phenomenon until the 1940’s, and it can get worse with harder materials-like heat treated steels. Most of the historic spike tomahawks that had cut outs in the blade were made from wrought iron-sometimes even to the edge. Much softer, tougher material than heat treated steel.

[@nothim7321]

@@wingardwearables only harden the bit and cutting edges of the spike?

[@wingardwearables]

@@nothim7321that’s one way to do it-but it’s gonna be tricky to localize the heat treatment on such thin projections-very little material but it could be done

[@JuaneDosesII-wj6dd]

The tomahawk carried in desert storm made from 5160 one piece head with handle , now that’s what I’m into .

[@tannergeldert7705]

curious how they do at deflective blows. like slapping a strike away or blocking a strike. very eye opening though how light you were able to make them.

[@wingardwearables]

Yeah I was thinking about how I could test that. Maybe a swinging weight with a projecting “arm” that I attempt to deflect/block?

[@ferrisbueller9991]

Am I of the special 12?? I think I am 3rd. Glory be to you.

[@wingardwearables]

You are! Thank you!

[@lefunnyN1]

if you want to further reduce weight you should add fuller grooves into the blade and the spike for the blade it could follow the contours of it i would reccomend, not drilling all the way through it, like somebody that posted about "speed holes" earlier lol

[@wingardwearables]

I am also not a fan of cut outs-I like the fuller idea-need to figure out grinding fixtures 👍

[@lefunnyN1]

@@wingardwearables cool, waiting for the results, i would also shorten the rear hook a little bit

[@maxburley4928]

To lighten them up, have you considered shortening the spikes?

[@wingardwearables]

Yes, I shortened the Empress down to 2”. Didn’t do that with the Backripper yet

[@tanker5207]

Very interesting. I can envision, and kinda train for, using the spike end of my Empress for grappling by hooking an opponent's limbs to control their blows or take them down. Do you think either the ultra light or regular Empress handles are strong enough for this sort of use? I'm not as interested in throwing it because: a) I suck at that sort of thing, b) It's pretty expensive to use for throwing practice, c) I only have one, and d) If I need a projectile weapon, I carry a .45. 🙂

[@wingardwearables]

I think testing the “tear down” would be a good idea-maybe a hanging bag? I put my body weight into it and see if the handle can take the impact and drag forces?

[@tanker5207]

@@wingardwearables That sounds like a pretty harsh test, but if it can withstand that, it would certainly instill confidence. :-)

[@SkeleCCXL]

I'd guess historical hawks get to 4 oz by having a smaller eye, being designed for it from the get go. so you did pretty well just modifying existing ones. though you expressed distaste for doing so you could try lopping bits off the back ripper in particular. if anything (blade, spike or handle.) is much outside the length range for historical 'ultralight' hawks. but it might not be. I would also suggest the use of fullers, as in swords. they are specifically for reducing weight with minimal impact on strength. a 4 oz or sub 4 oz tomahawk seems a pretty extreme measure to me. and I struggle to think of an equally extreme reason for such a measure. but, it was done.

[@wingardwearables]

Yeah the fuller approach makes sense for modifying an existing head. It’d be a lot of trouble, but I think you’re right, a purpose built tomahawk with small eye geometry is probably the best way to get sub-4 ounces. I need to test some handle materials to figure out a more “durable” design for minimum handle materials.

[@SkeleCCXL]

@@wingardwearables it would be, and I don't know if you're imagining ever coming out with this as a production item. such R&D might be wasted. but I suppose it depends on the ultimate results of the experimenting. maybe keep going with these not quite 4oz tomahawks, and only if you find something there that you want to explore more then go off and design a dedicated ultralight hawk. I was also imagining fullering the handle, possibly mostly on the end of the handle away from the head and have the fullers leave off very gradually towards the head. I wonder if some sort of leather or cord wrap could be added to bulk up the handle without adding excess weight if indeed it gets too thin.

[@wingardwearables]

Yeah I’ve been thinking about going really thin on the handle and wrapping with rawhide-should resist breakage and also provide a “grip swell”.

[@JuaneDosesII-wj6dd]

My Native American friend had a tomahawk made from a piece of reed not wood, rawhide and a round stone ( not much more than a pebble) it was a real antique and it was used to actually kill somebody. It only takes a little Dent in the skull to kill some one. They were disposable instruments more or less. But I’m not at all interested in something like that. I can make them myself. I’m more interested in a solid one piece tomahawk with a steel handle. And no I didn’t like fancy weird shapes , and don’t care about ( intimidation) if it comes to it because I’ve been in real combat. 😊

[@desertrance]

Make them out of Titanium!!

[@wingardwearables]

Am thinking about it . . .

[@desertrance]

@@wingardwearables and then adamantium the same material as Wolverines claws

[@snakeoveer1046]

It might be appropriate for the empress but it doesn't take a very good edge.

[@wingardwearables]

@@snakeoveer1046 That’s what I was thinking. I think titanium has better edge retention than bronze, so more appropriate for the Empress

[@MariaGoya-hg7hz]

Haha $350!! I m out. That is rent for some.

[@tanker5207]

Oh, in my last comment, I forgot that the main drift of this video was how to make a super light tomahawk. How about a one piece carbon fiber head and handle, with or without an imbedded metal edge and point? Personally, I think it would be kind of modern and weird and aesthetically unappealing, but I bet you could make it really light and strong. Probably super expensive, too. :-) I was employed as a purchasing agent for a custom bicycle comany decades ago, and stuff like carbon fiber and titanium were pricey then, but a lot has changed since.

[@wingardwearables]

I plan to investigate the modern materials for the handles. They make aluminum jacketed carbon fiber arrow shafts-I might test those to see if they can handle impacts. But wood is really hard to beat in terms of weight.

[@tanker5207]

@@wingardwearables Wood is a great material, and so nice in your hand. The Empress handle is an ergonomic masterpiece, too. Between the design and the finish, it just feels great in my hand. :-)

[@requiscatinpace7392]

Modern materials could allow for lighter materials. Modern steel is stronger and modern plastics, carbon fibre, GRP or whatever else could be made light and strong.

[@wingardwearables]

Agree that modern steel, with less flaws than scrap iron, should be capable of strength at minimum material. But I am surprised how difficult it is to beat wood for weight. Today I was given a carbon fiber tube in a square cross section. It was a left over scrap piece from a material engineer’s project. I measured and weighed it. If I had it custom made and scaled to size of my current hickory handle, it’d actually be a little bit heavier, even though it’s hollow in the middle. So I gotta do some thinking about the modern materials.

[@requiscatinpace7392]

@@wingardwearables sometimes nature can’t be beaten.

[@wingardwearables]

@@requiscatinpace7392 Yeah trees can be super tough.

[@JuaneDosesII-wj6dd]

I only want a tomahawk that is solid steel and one piece with the handle. And I never concerned myself with the weight, ever.

[@snakeoveer1046]

Wingard Wearables makes what you want. It's the sparrowhawk. Can be concealed and is able in the throw and the strike. Watch the video about it to know more.

[@JuaneDosesII-wj6dd]

Make them out of styrofoam 😌

[@seleye963]

Can’t wait to get one 🤌

[@wingardwearables]

I hope to put it through some tests to confirm durability before we think about making a batch