Little Spike Axe/Hawk for gardening? Coldsteel, Estwind, CRKT?

S

Sir Joe

Joined
May 30, 2015
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114
Hello guys,

I am exploring more and more the world of all possible tools which I can use as a gardener.
Generally I like to buy many and compare myself, but somehow in this case I kind of feel that I may just ask and buy one.

I do not need something big and heavy, I do not have to fell trees or chop wood for winter.
I just need something for when, from time to time, I have to remove a plant or dead little tree and I find roots which are too big for a spade.
So, it must be something not too big, not too heavy, which I can use with one hand, very sharp, effective, durable, which can be abused, which holds the sharp.

I want something with a spike, so that I can also use it to break the way through hard ground, and to destroy dead wood, or go between roots and twist and lift and break them.

I am not willing to spend a fortune, so after some research the product which I have found to be more interesting are:

- SOG Tactical Tomahawk (eventually the smaller version, the Fasthawk) EDIT: although I like the Fasthawk and Mini Voodoo, I take SOG off my wishlist for now, due to inferior Steel according to my actual knowledge.
- United Cutlery M48 Tactical Tomahawk (eventually the smaller Camp Hawk) EDIT: out of my wishlist due to "more of a toy than tool".
- CRKT Woods Kangee Hawk (the one with Hickory handle)
- Cold Steel Trench Hawk
EDIT: added to the wishlist thanks to suggestions the Estwing Black Eagle Tomahawk.

Could you help me understanding the pro and cons of each, according to your experience?

Cheers!
 
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Sir Joe said:
- SOG Tactical Tomahawk (eventually the smaller version, the Fasthawk)
- United Cutlery M48 Tactical Tomahawk (eventually the smaller Camp Hawk)
- CRKT Kangee
- Cold Steel Spike Hawk
Click to expand...

I have the CRKT Chogan and the Cold Steel Spike Hawk. The Cold Steel Hawks should be considered kits, if you expect to take it out the box and use it you will be disappointed. It requires the handle to be shaped and fit to the head, and finished. Also the head needed some work thining the edge, smoothing out some of the rough spots, paint stripping, and blueing. After that it's a nice hawk. The CRKTs are much nicer out of the box, but I thinned the edge on that one too. Both are good quality hawks with good forged steel. The M48 is garbage, read the reviews and there are endless reports of broken handles and the head isn't good steel. SOG generally makes good stuff, but I can't comment on their hawks.
 
I'd go with the Kangee
Cold Steel 2nd choice
I would not consider the SOG or M-48
 
That Estwing unit would fit your needs and its easy on the wallet.
 
Hmmm, the Estwing seems good, but I have read in Amazon that it uses/used to have not uniformly sharpened/centred edge?
I am just learning to sharp and have no many tools so I would not be able to readjust an edge very much.
I like its handle, I have some problems of tennis elbow and carpal tunnel. Sometimes when I have to use hammer or spade for hard things I have quickly pain due to the shock.
I was not able to find anywhere any info about which kind of steel they use, but there is a cool guy who makes very good video reviews in Youtube, wealljuggleknives is his nickname. He writes that it is 1055.
He also shows how after a few uses the edge of the SOG was already a bit consumed.

I think I have narrowed my choice down to three possibilities, based on the presence of the 1055 vs the inferior steels of the SOG, (and, let's just forget UC and their toys).

1) Estwing Black Eagle Tomahawk
2) Coldsteel Trench Hawk
3) CRKT Wood Kangee Hawk

WJC01, were you talking of the Wood Kangee or of the all metal one?
The all metal is too expensive for me, and I prefer the form of the spike on the Wood Kangee.

I must say, although Hickory is good, I kind of think that an all metal like the Estwind SHOULD be better.
Now, I understand the love of many people for RMJ (designer of that CRKT), and I suppose that although the three hawks use the same steel, they may have different quality.
Still, the Estwing seems a solid tool too.

The Cold Steel, no idea how it can compare to the CRKT. The handle should be resistant though.

On my side I can only assume, with my few experience, that the Estwing should be faster because with a similar total weight than the CRKT most of the weight should be on the metal body, while the CRKT should have more weight on the head.
But, I am not sure :)

So, some thoughts or even better direct experience?
 
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I saw them off at ground level with a chainsaw or brush cutter. No need to micromanage the roots. They rot or get swallowed up by grass over time. Pruning shears (sub inch saplings) and pruning saw (sub 2 -3 inches) would be my choice for light duty.

Anything sold for tactical use will be pretty much hopeless for any practical task. If you must have a chopper a fiskars hatchet will work well or if you want a safer chopper get a fiskars brush axe.
 
In a private small garden people often want a tree to be completely removed and a new plant to be there.
We had to take away a Carpinus which was the first of a Hedge. Cutting it on the base and levaing it there would have been aesthetically unacceptable.
We had to plant something new in place of it. So, I had to completely remove it. Luckily it was sick and mostly rotten.
I started with spade but then some roots were still strong and the spade (although just -badly- sharpened by me) was not enough.
Yes, the Silky Pocketboy did a good job and for the smallest roots I used my ARS pruner, but, I do not like to put those babies in the ground with stones and other stuff.
That is where I have felt that I could have used a small axe.
The idea of the Tomahawk came because starting to search I have just found them in the results, and I found them cool, specially because smaller than most axes, and because of the spike.
I have lost lot of time to free some roots that time in order to be able to saw them.
With the spike I could have very quickly done the same.
That's where I think the CRKT should be better, because of the form and length of its spike.
But, no idea...
 
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I thought you meant the all steel CRKT. My kid has the wood handled model and it worked great as a camping tool. I'll bet it will fit the bill. it's got a heavy head so you will have some chopping power in case a medium to heavy need arises.
 
The Kangee is quite a bit lighter than the Chogan, so hopefully the edge is slimmer. It would have taken me quite a while just sharpening stones. A file isn't expensive and would make it go much faster. I have a cheap beltsander from Harbor Freight.
 
A file. Right. Somehow I had not thought of that. I had in mind some kind of machine.
For example a friend of mine uses some kind of flex with abrasive paper.
I suppose it should be even quicker.

About the choice of the right axe/hawk, I am open to any suggestion which is with spike, not too big, not too heavy, not too expensive.

I have seen the Schrade Scaxe5, nice tool. SK5 steel. Nice.
Also nice the Black label Shock'N Awesome.
So now they are 5 on my side. Plus suggestions on your side if you think that something else may be faster and more effective as an allround axe (with the main idea of cutting and destroying roots, but also some chopping).
 
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CRKT Kangee is a good choice, as others have noted. I'd use it with the factory edge for a while, it should be just fine for chopping roots in dirt, that kind of thing. Sharpen it with a file and you're good to go.
 
Sparky415 said:
To be honest I think you are looking at the wrong tool
I know you were after something smaller but I think you would find a mattock to be the best
Click to expand...
hmmm. That is actually a nice option. And a cheap one. Your link is to the mattock with spike. In this case I would opt for mattock with micro cutter.so I have two different cutting possibilties, and both are small enough to penetrate between roots and lift and break them. I also believe that for small roots like the ones I am talking about a small blade would be better because it would concentrate the whole impact on a smaller area. But even if I am wrong, I think this product is cool and could work.
Thanks I will think about it.
Unfortunately it is not available from the German website. I will look for other options.
I haven't see anything like that in Germany. There are similar tools, but generally bigger (also with bigger head and blade), longer, heavier. I do not want them.
But this on your link looks PERFECT.
I just wonder how resistant will be the handle.
Burke said:
CRKT Kangee is a good choice, as others have noted. I'd use it with the factory edge for a while, it should be just fine for chopping roots in dirt, that kind of thing. Sharpen it with a file and you're good to go.
Click to expand...
You are talking of the Woods Kangee, right?
 
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I have every tomahawk you mentioned. The SOG handles are crap, they break, as do the M-48s. The sad thing is that SOG will not offer a replacement handle. They want you to send in yours and then they send you a new one. Not doing that because I have done too much custom grinding and sharpening on mine to trade it in and start over again. The good thing about the CS Trench Hawk is that you can easily buy replacement handles for about $5. The best bet for the money on your list is the Estwing. It's all one solid piece of steel so no breaking of synthetic or wooden handles. The edge on mine is perfect, no off center or bad grind. I liked mine so much I bought the Estwing Double Bit, also.
 
I have had two M48s. Crappy chinese fun toys. The steel is soft as plastic, the handles will break with minimal abuse. Just to play with, fun as hell though.

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Other hawks that present this problem are the Colt, SOG and Cold Steel with plastic/fiberglass handle.
If you want a durable, tough and reliable tool go for full-tang or solid construction pieces, forget plastic and synthetic handles.

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Quality wooden handles (Kangee, Cold Steel's Spike Hawk, Most hatchets and axes from reputable makers)...

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or full tang, all metal tomahawks (Schrade's SCAXE series, Kershaw siege, or my personal favorite the Ontario SPAX) will hold up to most tasks and abusive work.

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I'd recommend you try out the SPAX or Kershaw Siege, or both the SCAXE 4 and 5. I think they'll meet all your expectations, but look up their specs since they vary a lot in weight, size and overall characteristics.

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The CRKT hawks seem nice, and the CS Spike Hawk too, but I can't say anything first hand about them.

Kershaw Siege:
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CS Spike Hawk:
IMG_6661_zps0txds2ft.jpg

SCAXE series, one of them:
7-SCAXE4_zpsg6to9fqn.jpg
 
Sir Joe said:
also the Scaxe 5, the Shock'N Awesome and the CRKT Woods Hawk?
Click to expand...


I meant the ones you mentioned earlier in the thread. I don't have the Scaxe or the Shock N Awesome but I do have a Woods Kangee. It's a very nice tool but I wasn't very impressed with the factory edge that came on it. The tactical Kangee came very sharp out of the box but the Woods Kangee was as dull as a butter knife. Still haven't gotten around to fixing that yet. I'm not going to thin the edge on it because as an axe it should have a thicker edge, but I am going to try and sharpen it a good bit more (convex).

I like the looks of that Schrade, I may snag one of those. My next hawk is going to be the Kershaw Siege.
Condor also has some solid metal ones for really good prices that would be worth a look for you.
 
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