The Cold Steel Trail hawk

Review of the Cold Steel Trail hawk.
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• Chaga in Lapland
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[@bigyin2794]

20 minutes on the sander finishes the edge, I've put a scandi-ish flat/convex grind on the left face of the edge and axe convexed the right face. (I'm right handed). What I love about this thing is it's bite. Kinetic energy is a function of ½ mass x velocity ², this means that it is to its advantage to be a light 350gram ish head, as because you swing it with so much more velocity the energy this imparts increases exponentially because it's V². The long handle is what gives you the extra leverage to really wing it. The lightness gives precision on slower strikes. Then you can take the head off and use like a push knife. Very versatile, lots of fun. Being a thin fighting hawk design it penetrates wood deeply, so don't expect a great splitter. But then take a baton and smash the poll deeper and the eye will pop your log open.

[@KuukkeliBushcraft]

I totally agree, great hawk after a bit of work on the edge. It would be a lot more work though for someone who doesn't have access to a sander. I really like mine the work it can do for the weight is really impressive. I do find that when splitting the eye gets in the way though even with a batton. I don't really find this much of an issue as I don't generally need to split anything very substantial in the forest. Thank you very much for your comment.

[@PooDotStinkPants]

You look like an outdoors expert, this was an excellent review of the Cold Steel Trail Hawk, well done!

[@KuukkeliBushcraft]

Hey mate, that's got to be the best name for a KZbin channel ever. Thank you for watching and for the complement.

[@Prefer2Hibrn8]

as someone with two buggered shoulders I love my Trail Hawk, and, as you say, it's nice long handle 👍

[@KuukkeliBushcraft]

I have seen so many videos where people cut the handles short to make them more compact. Such a shame as the longer handle is such an asset. My shoulders are fine but my back is buggered, better if I don't have to bend down too much to swing at things 🤣. Thanks for watching mate.

[@bootlegbushcraft9953]

Great bit of handy kit brother I’m glad that it’s working good for you. All the best. Rod

[@KuukkeliBushcraft]

Thanks mate. Working great for what I am using it for. Hope all is good over there in Alaska.

[@Soopertraveler]

Amazing channel. Love bushcraft and I learned a lot from Ray Mears. great Axe

[@KuukkeliBushcraft]

So glad to hear that you like the channel. I think most of us have learnt a lot from Ray Mears. Thanks for watching and thank you very much for subscribing. All the best Tim

[@NGMonocrom]

They're not bad. But all of the ones from Cold Steel are project pieces. Everyone I know who owns one and loves it, has done extensive work to it. Besides the handle modifications mentioned in the video, the head is removed, edge geometry worked on, and sharpened properly. Thick black coating removed, either stripped off or soaking both sides in paint thinner for a couple of days. Then either cold blueing applied to the head to give it some rust protection. Two or three coats. Or, vinegar and mustard solution used to put a patina on the head. Round, metal file used inside the eye of the head to smooth it out. This is important for use as a friction fit with the handle. As far as the screw, everyone I know discards it. Then just turns the handle around and re-inserts the head onto the other end if they don't plan to cut down the handle. After sanding the handle down. So these tend to require quite a bit of work, plus the space needed as well. You don't want the head sitting in paint thinner in your kitchen. And the vinegar and mustard solution in particular gives off a very foul stench. If you don't have the time or space, best not to bother at all with buying one. Also, while Cold Steel does make axes; the Trail hawk is a tomahawk. Therefore, the head is supposed to be lightweight. If a heavier head is needed, that's axe territory.

[@KuukkeliBushcraft]

I did an absolute minimum of work to mine😂. I cut the grub screw and put it back in. Sanded the head down to at least make the coating a bit less shiny and look less like a cheap Halloween prop. Sanded down the handle and added linseed oil. Most of the work was on the edge wich was terrible. I do however expect that on a cheap axe or hatchet. The ede is certainly the most important improvement and I think a lot of the work people do is cosmetic. They can be made to look really cool. I don't understand why people cut down the handle length though. The handle lengh to my mind is perfect and if anything could be a bit longer. You need a good swing to compensate for the short lengh.

[@NGMonocrom]

@@KuukkeliBushcraft I definitely agree regarding the handle length. Since the head is a bit compact, some folks shorten the handle so they can use it as a hatchet to fit in their pack. But to me, they'd be better off just buying a short hatchet. Also, thank you for pinning my comment. 👍

[@KuukkeliBushcraft]

@@NGMonocrom It was a good comment and I don't think I talked much about customisation in the video. Thank you for taking the time to fill in the gaps.

[@pennsyltuckyreb9800]

The newer versions now come much better. They got rid of the shiny black apoxy finish or whatever they originally had on there. They come now with some type of bluing or something else. So no need to strip paint anymore. The handles are also much better refined. Mine came with better contouring and with proper wood grain alignment for strength. The edge still had to be worked on but not that bad. And still have to take a file to the top inner eye to round the sharp edge for a better friction fit. Didn't take long.

[@TRPufnStuf]

Great hawk. It's a great thrower too. Good stuff.

[@KuukkeliBushcraft]

I wondered who would bring up throwing 😂. Not thrown it yet, mostly for fear of damaging the edge or breaking the handle. Would be nice to have a second one for that purpose. Never thrown an axe in my life but must be fun. Thanks for watching mate.

It looks really useful. Nicely made video :).

[@MICHAEL-wg2lh]

Got this one great bit of kit for its size and weight as you stated , great vid fella 👍

[@KuukkeliBushcraft]

Glad you liked the video mate. Also really good for the price. The main thing for me though is the weight. You really don't know you are carrying it.

[@ArielleViking]

Really interesting to watch your thoughts on this axe. Not weighing down the backpack is an advantage and a longer handle than a hatchet would make it more useful. ❤

[@KuukkeliBushcraft]

Very glad you found it interesting. Of course a heavier axe is generally better but who wants to carry one in their backpack all day. Thank you very much for watching.

[@bethanyameyer]

It sounds like a really good axe! 🪓 great video!! I love the sun in the background, it looks so peaceful there 😌

[@KuukkeliBushcraft]

Very peaceful here, we are up in the Arctic, so the winter temperatures and hordes of insects in the summer tend to keep people away leaving it all very unspoilt. The sun in the background 😂 not something that a good photographer would do but I seem to have gotten away with it here. It is a very good axe for the price and it's purpose (lightweight hiking/camping axe). Glad you enjoyed the video Bethany, thank you very much for watching.

[@Frigorific12]

*Hello my friend. The new video is great! Full video viewing. I support your channel. Natalya*

[@willisblevins4190]

Good show thanks

[@KuukkeliBushcraft]

Thank you very much for watching mate. Glad you liked the video.

[@rendog896]

Great review! I just ordered mine

[@KuukkeliBushcraft]

Nice to have something that light yet useful for that price. Glad to hear that you liked the review. Thank you very much for watching and for taking the time to comment. Best wishes Tim

[@clarky4492]

Own nearly all of them I like the crkt chogan

[@KuukkeliBushcraft]

The Chogan is a very similar tool, I would expect it to a bit better than the trail hawk. I thought about getting one but opted for the cheaper option. Thanks for watching mate.

[@WaltRevenJr]

Agree with ya on the length, I would leave be as well. Also wouldn't wrap the handle at the top cause it can be safer for pack down. Awesome interesting piece, thanks for showing it Tim...then again now I want to get one as I love cold steel's budget stuff. Yep thanks, thanks a lot lol. Oh this hobby will make me piss poor broke yet mate haha. Seriously, very cool how the head can come off like that. Really nice, I like it!

[@KuukkeliBushcraft]

Easy to spend that much money in the ale house in no time at all. Just don't be watching gransfors bruks reviews that's all. Don't worry I won't be doing any. Unless I find one in the woods or something. Out of my price range. Thanks for watching buddy.

[@WaltRevenJr]

@@KuukkeliBushcraft Oh I have seen those brands mate, they are extremely nice but nope way out of my cheap budget range also lol. haha regarding the ale, so so true! Buck has an awesome new hatchet out too I really like a lot but man its like 100 USD. Out of my price range also lol.

[@KuukkeliBushcraft]

@@WaltRevenJr Gransfors have pretty much doubled in price in 7 years, It's crazy. Plenty of good budget options out there and the same with knives.

[@KuukkeliBushcraft]

@@WaltRevenJr quite interested in seeing the Buck one. Will look it up.

[@KuukkeliBushcraft]

@@WaltRevenJr if it is anything like the Buck camp axe, schrade make something very similar that might be seriously cheaper. I would still rather have one of the Cold Steel tomahawk though.

[@terryadams237]

Love the handle length myself. It’s better long

[@KuukkeliBushcraft]

Exactly, don't understand why these people cut them off short Thanks for watching mate.

[@johnclarke6647]

I will take my GBA Wildlife Hatchet or SFA over it any day of the week.

[@KuukkeliBushcraft]

I don't blame you. There is a big price difference and you do get a better product in general if you are prepared to pay more. Thanks for watching the video.

[@johnclarke6647]

@@KuukkeliBushcraft I will generally pay more for good products, which is why I have 20 or so Stihl chainsaws and several Gransfors axes.