Cold Steel Rifleman's Hawk: Tomahawk On Steroids!! 

I think your problems with the heavier hawk is due to how far you're choking up on that shaft... You gotta work the whole shaft son...

Hook your truck to the base of that tree with a chain and pull 'er backwards.

½ of video is about nothing :( I really like your channel, but this video is too long :(

The Rifleman Hawk was the first one I bought twenty years ago. It was tough as hell and chopped really well. The handle didn’t last that long but the blade was awesome. Three years ago I bought the newer model with a longer handle. This is a great tool for hunting, camping, or processing wood. Anybody looking for a great axe should ALWAYS shop Cold Steel first.

an axe has 2 be razorsharp for chopping and u dont really hit "hard" with an axe... u let the axe "fall" with an average amount of force... the axe should do the work for u... working with an axe is onyl hard if its done wrong... u should use the riflemans hawk with both hands cause of the weight ans lengths

Tape isn’t great on any handle sand back and stain if needed but then boiled linseed oil two coats slow to dry and then it’s weather resistant but the oil adds a grip great on hawks and axe bill hooks as well.

Have you tried the Estwing? It's my EDC when I'm out on my property and the grip is far better than any tomahawk I own.

riflemans hawk too head heavy....cut off the hammer head. square off the cut to use as the hammer head and to baton against. you just lost quite a bit of weight and moved the balance forward into the cutting edge...just saying :). i like the shape of the axe head its kind of thick and tapers into the handle hole. meaning you could use it to split wood by batoning against it better than a blade that abruptly turns into the handle mount hole.

when swinging a heavy headed ax or hammer space your hands about 6 in apart and roll your wrist on contact with wood and lift the head using the bounce of the swing, conserves energy.

Chris, one day you will say "This thing is perfect, I like it just how it is, I'm not going to change a thing." and you will use it forever without changing it. THEN About 3000 subscribers of your will die from shock!

My rifleman 's hawk broke my my back stop lol

Awesome brother I have the. Pipe hawk and I love it I was actually using it today to process some wood for my fire pit lol great vid "KNIFEJUNKIE13"

Chris, glad you tried the Rifleman's Hawk. I have owned my for several years and own a Trail Boss as well. As I stated on the Trail Boss vid. The Trail Boss is my camp axe and I decided to use the Rifleman as a pack axe. First of all lose the set screw. If you use the set screw the head will become lose since the head will pivot on the set screw and wallow the haft at the top and bottom of the half eye. I heed the advice of hawk owners and took the set screw out a friction fitted the head. Works much better. This also allows me to break down the hawk for packing and to pack various length handles. As Nebel stated the 30" handle is available and makes the Rifleman into a great small axe. If I need a hatchet I switch to the 22" and for batoning I can use the 19". I also have a Warhammer so can I a pack that head for mini sledge/pick axe. It all about the options. This and its lighter weight is why the Rifleman's Hawk edges out the Trail Boss as a pack axe in my opinion.

chris with handles that are round,or oval you can use old railroad air hose cut in 4 in. pieces as a handle protector by sliding them up the handle all the way to the head of the ax. if you miss or over swing the air hose will hit the log and not the handle.

Chris! Good call on trying to support the small shoppes! As always .....nice customizing and improvements! Have a great day.... and thank you for taking time with the reviews! Peace! Hawk.

I have seen many video's about Cold Steel tomahawk modifications. I wonder how long it will take for Cold Steel to get the hint and stop using that much hated black coating.

Nice review. And your refinishing of the heads is awesome!!! Gonna have to do that to mine to get some age/patina on them. Here's a little history for your viewers. The "rifleman's hawk" goes back to F&I / Revolutionary War period. It was the style of hawk carried by colonial riflemen due to their hammer poll for driving tent stakes and their weight for cutting down / trimming small to moderate trees for camps. The "trail hawk", with its smaller head, narrower poll, and lighter weight was a variation preferred by the trappers and mountainmen because they could still be used for trimming and for drivign stakes, but were muich lighter to carry. The "frontier hawk" is styeld more along the lines of the Native American hwks of the same period.

For comfort, may I recommend any type of baseball bat grip. You can get it at Walmart or any other sporting goods store, and it is comfortable, durable, thick, and shock absorbing. My favorite is by Easton if you can find it, I would say give it a try.

imho if I am using the hawk, the trail hawk makes more sense if I am going the extra weight I am going into the gb sfa range its so much more effective. Hawks were meant to be the ground between a hatchet and axe and as a multi tool option. The hawk can be used easily as a knife when you take the handle off. You can use it for skinning, digging in the earth and easy to replace the handle in the woods if you break it. Just mho I have the gb mini hatchet, the cs trail hawk and several axes. Very happy Thanks great video, these are so helpful in making buying choices and are great because you really don't have a predetermined opinion and I like to watch yo adapt and change based on the feed back you get from the tools during the review. Great job.

Well think about it the extra weight. Along with the rest of your pack is going to make your pack heavier. Or you can pretty much as you said do the same thing. And be lighter. Making your pack overall lighter THE LIGHTER OPTION SEEMS LIKE A NO-BRAINER.

Thank you I got the cold steal axe head walking cane it good

Experience is knowledge, knowledge is information, information is helpful. May I ask 10 years later, is there any handle prep that you would do differently now?

It's a good chopper. (I couldn't resist saying that because that's been the catchphrase selling point of extra large knives for years, a knife couldn't be a good outdoorsman's knife unless it was a "good chopper". You want a good chopper? ...carry a hawk.)

The riflemen's hawk is actually the most traditional tomahawk cold steel makes. Most tomahawks in the 18th & 19th century have their axe head made about the size of the riflemen's. Cold steel other hawks are just on the smaller end of tomahawks.

Well done & good on you man about who or we’re you got that, because yes Amozon & corporations have a monopoly on it all. Makes is dang near impossible to have your own business. What they do isn’t right, those same scum who own or appear to own those corporation also own many others. I can go on, but yes support the locals & family business. Support the people not the Beast. Thanks brother

Its a super old video but for anyone new to this video or the axe: if the head is wobbily like you could see when he was hitting the fallen tree. The screw is already useless at that point the hole in the wood were the screw goes in is already damaged. I dont know why on earth cold steel is still putting that freaking screw there. I just got a new axe today with the screw 2 strikes on the wood. Hole damaged and screw is useless.. so first thing you should do is take out that screw and trow it away. Useless thing. Sadly my axe head is crooked. Story of my life. I actually bought the "viking" battle axe. But after seeing this video i will go for this one. Seems like a great little tomahawk

Kinetic energy= ½mass X velocity ² So the reason why the lighter hawk feels better is because kinetic energy ie the force delivered to the wood by the edge of the tool increases by the square of the speed you swing it, ie an exponential increase contribution to K.E.. However contribution of mass to K.E. is only half it's mass. That means to increase the force you deliver it's better to have a lighter head that you swing faster. Therefore to increase force rather than making the head heavier, it's better to make the haft longer.

My frontier hawk came with croocked handle and terrible rolled edge. Also the head didn't stay put even with the screw. Oh well I paid 10€ for it so it's ok for a project hawk.

My little brother chipped 1 bit on my double bit axe, I had from childhood , I put 2 handles on it after the first 1 grandpa made for me , it was very hard metal, use whet stones on it still weighs over 3 lbs , but thats what I was use to , a full sized double bit axes , , ive chopped squirrels and coon out of trees. 10 to 30 ft up a tree , just what I was use to doing , one handed up in trees . I got a 2.25 lbs boys axe to use now that I'm older and slowing down.

Both of the websites you plug in the beginning are dead. It's a real shame people can't make a go of it.

I would suggest you take a look at electrical shrink tube. It comes in various sizes and lengths. You simply cut what you need and shrink it with an electrical heat gun or blow torch. It is not cheap but there is no potential for unraveling

The reason I'm thinking about these , break a handle , just cut a good hickory 2nd growth sapling and whittle it to fit , go on hunting or camping . Rough it in with the axe head , there will be a glass something to break and scrape it into shape

@preparedmind101 do you have a link to the kydex site?

A silky katana saw would take care of those dead trees,

It is a small Axe hawk lite like a bird but cool dnt be afraid of using two hands looking cool holding it with one hand isn't worth it digging into your leg think just cause its new to you your body an senses are the same its all common sense no right or wrong way just the way that works for you

I also run a small business. I have a product I'd like to introduce to the community. Can I send you one to do a review if you find it acceptable?

Very poor axe/hawk skills displayed. Improper usage leads to incorrect data points.

I believe your biggest problem is choking up on the handle to far. Tape on a handle is not a good thing, your hands need to move on the handle. I take the finish off and treat it with tung oil or boiled linseed oil. Use a maple stain to get a darker color. These are good axes and I own a couple of them. Great job on the video.

The axe bug is 100 percent real. Nice taste in tools man.

Luso on Amazon has kydex sheaths for the cold Steel hawks for around $20

Chuck that damned set screw. It will come loose, you will adjust it. It will slip and then you will have a splintered trench. It is an invention of the devil. You will come around after a few splintered up handles.

I also wonder what the intended purpose of a Tomahawk actually is. Its not an axe if that's what your looking for and I don't know if a larger Tomahawk is a good fighting tool

I always liked these hawks but I think if I had to choose an all around axe type for wilderness use it would be the traditional small woodsman's axe/hatchet with hickory handle.

I understand this is a five year old post, but I don't suppose you have a video on how you stripped the axe head?

Hi Chris,it is nice that you are going for axes,I was thinking to get trail boss but I have got Hultafors Trekking Axe,it cost me 22 pounds in UK,it is made in Sweden,and it have Gransfors bruks quality on a budget price(I have made a short video).You can look for in US,it is good axe.Regards

Question. Mine came kinda loose. How to tighten the head to the handle? Thanks in advance.

Dare ya to run your finger down my hawk like that ,you'd definitely draw back a nub !! LOL

Canadian here. Hockey tape can do the same. It won't roll on you.

26 minute video and you should have scripted it and done in in 15 or less.

Hey Chris! if I may make a suggestion> Buy a piece of 8/4 hickory and make your own handle and put a curve in it similar to a Wetterlings and see if that helps. Maybe even a palm swell, those straight handles on Tomahawks just are just plain awkward for me. Just a thought, I really enjoyed the video. Indecisiveness is not bad in a review, it shows a thought process in progress. Thanks!!!

Well lets get to Chopin and demonstrating this tomahawk. Nice cover. The bigger tomahawk is more useful and wont scare the kids. Best axe ever, my old boy scout axe, loved that thing! Nice tape, hmmm, magic wrap. Not bad chopping but work on the wedge more and a little less chopping a hole. As usual always fun to watch!

Tomahawks are designed as weapons first (speed vs. weight, ala Bruce Lee, and long handle for two hand power and throwing function). With that in mind I prefer the Trail Hawk, it has a hammer poll/head crusher (2 1/4 inch blade, mine weighs 22 oz). The Pipe Hawk is heavier, 26 to 28 oz., 3 inch blade. Surprisingly good choppers their heads are designed to be detached from handles, like a mattock, and used as a chisel, hand plane, splitting wedge, etc.; more portable also. The Frontier Hawk is lighter 21 oz, 3 1/4 inch blade, but lacks headache inducer poll and is less useful as detached tool. Rifleman's Hawk weighs 32 oz., 3 1/2 inch blade, starts to loose the dual purpose, "on the go" advantage. C.S.'s all need "work"- remove burrs in eye around set screw hole and socket edges, remove paint (use stripper), fit handle to head if needed, sharpen and oil.

SOG Fasthawk sheaths cost more than the Fasthawk. $20 Fasthawk from WalMart, $27 plastic SOG sheath on Amazon (although it comes with a Tek-Loc).

I have both of these.survival.... go light Regular use... Rifleman hawk. Both have their qualities.i put a longer handle on one of my rifleman hawks. It makes a better longer axe than shorter. I carry the frontier hawk when I bow hunt or forrage or just go walking I also have the viking hand axe and viking battle axe that are awesome in the woods. These are my favorite go to axes. I do everything with them including prepare food for dinner. Just slip the axe head off and use it for a knife. The uses are up to the imagination.

Sometimes I think we need to be aware that we don't try to reinvent the wheel. "Hybrid" or "Niche" tools or weapons often fulfill our need for "cool" but when put into service in the real world they often suck. There is a reason those types of tools or weapons are missing from the historical timeline. For every purpose there will be a tool for it, and when pushed into service will perform beautifully. As for the "wraps" I tend to use Mountian Bike tire inner tubes.You can adjust the "grippyness" by running some coarse grit sand paper over the area. You can also use extra layers of inner tube to get the right hand filling feel. Just use a small bit of vaseline to tube it while pulling it over the existing layer. I've used them using the sock method...just sliding them on the handle/shaft, or by cutting them into differing width rings and overlapping them kinda like shingles or fish scales. The rings will work only if the diameter of the shaft is pretty tight against the rings. Wider rings have worked the best for me right around inch and a half to two and a half inches. Love your reviews, keep up the good work. Hope the above mentioned helps you out. Aloha.

Tomahawk lovers want them ALL ....😉

We use that tape in electronics assembly, for permanent tape-jobs. We call it Mastic Tape, it doesn't so much use an adhesive, it's like it melts and fuses to itself. Very soft rubber, or something.

chopping a big tree needs a big "V" notch ,not straight in... good video ,now I know why I like the Rifleman but I know need to see the Pipe to make up my mind... like in construction , I can swing a 16 oz hammer all day long, but if I do that with a 22oz my elbow starts to hurt, so yes, few little ounces makes a big difference on your energy...thanks.

you aught to do a review on the Cold Steel Viking hand axe, since there are very few reviews on it

Rifleman or CKrt Chogan?

One thing about tomahawks if you practice enough and careful, you can throw them. For me around 20 to 25 feet after they tumble. Sometimes Midway USA is pretty cheap to buy Cold Steel stuff.

I am a baseball player and many peoples grips slowly fall off, and many people get this stuff called lizards skins, they have some really funky colors but you may be able to find one you like. Anyways it is very very grippy and I recommend it unless you can't find a good color!

Congrats at doing this full time now the fun really begins as you can venture out on real adventures!

Chris I know this is a dumb comment before I make it because im sure you are aware or have already done it. But you should sand the haft and friction fit the head before placing the set screw, if you use it at all. Helps keep a much tighter fit and also places the weight a little bit farther forward.

Had one, hated it’s weight and balance. Sold it.

The advantages of these over a similar weight hatchet is three fold.. 1. The head is a slip fit and handles can be easily removed or replaced in the field.. 2. It is impossible for the head to fly off the handle.. 3. Can be transported in two pieces. Head can be worn on belt in kydex sheath, handle stowed in pack..

I have a Cold Steel Trench Hawk and a Trail Hawk. I love them.

when u said something about the shock it made me think maybe ur new tapes/ raps feel good n grippy but i would think wilson rap has better shock resistance if so id stick with wilson rap for heavy choppers

Is that ax head secure or do i need to get langettes ? {that means i have to buy the war hammer just to jet those langettes. that sucks......}

I just got a new small axe by hardcore hammers. Its a sweet tomahawk looking axe head with different style of handles. You should get one and do a review. Keep up the good work. Like the vids

I sub to 204 channels this is the only channel that I suffer the ads cuz I like what you do and now are full time hope it helps. back in the day when this country was being stolen from the American Indians tomahawks were an important part of frontier life having only a single shot rifle a hawk and knife's primary purpose was as a weapon every other use was secondary. thats why hawks are so lite so that they can be wielded easily and fast, but for every day wood cutting not so much. an ESTWING hatchet would be better suited.

You're getting more torque holding the handle further bavk . Kinda...

It seems like the handle shown in your video is longer than the stock handle. Exactly how long are the handles on your hawks? I'd like to apologize in advance if this question is a repeat.

Diesel fuel and A match will fix the tree of death.

Cheap and cheerful and easy to put new handles or improvise and handle for. Good review.

When your chopping or hammering. There is an old blacksmith trick. Grip the handle and then run your thumb up the handle, it helps with aim an control.

Little over 2 pounds when I looked it up .

You should of tried to used this more like an axe instead of a hammer. Two handed compare to the lighter hawks. BTW make one video about tape and wrap, then I won't have to listen about it in every video you make. Same thing with sheaths. Love the rest though.

if you put a thick stain on it and fill in the set screw hole with Elmer's wood filler once you put it back together the head will stay on nice and tight!!!!!!! Cold steel tends to use power tools to apply the set screws so you get to deep a hole that's where the wood filler comes in

I like the way to support the little business owner and personalize your cutting tools excellent video and info. I used to be a safety Nazi ha ha.

That was a very informative review. I am partial to Cold Steel products and I look for any reviews of their products. Thanks.

I prefer the lighter hawks. They still bite deep into wood and are much more tactical. Thanks Chris for an interesting video.

All the Cold Steel hawks seems to throw pretty well. My personal preference, though, is the Norse Hawk, It's got really nice balance. Just thought I'd throw that in since you said you don't throw and others may.

I have 4 of the Rifleman hawks.. they are fantastic throwers that even a beginner can get hits with. 15 feet is a prime distance. Hold low on the shaft and toss with moderate power, don't force it

Check out IAWoodsman video on the trail hawk, got some good ideas on the versatility of the tomahawks

Have you tried a baseball bat wrap instead of that plumbing stuff, and if so have you just found that magic wrap to work better?

Nylon sheat? Witch knife???

If the tree is on the ground you can always try standing on your knees. It saves the lower back pain and problems that develop over time.

You might want to consider removing the set screw and replace it with a brass pin as a rivet, i have done this to my tomahawks. just a way the old timers did it.

I loved the money joke.

You should watch " what could possibly go wrong" from wranglerstar on how to get that hanging tree down.

Could u review the 26 inch estwing camper axe.

I took the cold steal war hammer handle and swapped it with the rifleman hawk the added length with make it on par with most full size axes

Learn to adjust the angle of your swing to how the axe head bites into the wood. I got the trailnhawk and it is good you just need to know how to use it.

Does anyone know what has a thicker head the cold steel riflemans hawk or the CRKT chogan

You're a really good guy sir. I've watched a bunch of your videos including the ones on tops knives and I feel like you give an honest humble opinion, thank you for that =). I too am in central Ohio, haven't been here long but just got back into camping and stuff and I really appreciate what you have been doing. Take care sir, stay safe

Maybe even checker the handle.

Finally no commercials

maybe a much shorter handle on the rifleman's hawk would help with the control as well as friction fiting the head on combination with the set screw

One thing I like about things like Wilson Pro Overgrip and Yonnex Supergrap is that they're designed to absorb sweat and stay tacky despite moisture (within reason). I like that you can reverse both when they wear out on one side. I feel like Supergrap also absorbs vibration/shock a little better than others I've tried. How do the two tapes in this video stack up to the Wilson overgrip in the "sweaty hand" and durability departments?