Sidearms & Scatterguns Machetes, throwing knives, and tomahawks

[remmynikon.308]

What machetes, throwing knives, and tomahawks do you use/carry?
i have a cold steel pro balance thrower, this is the toughest throwing knife Ive had yet.
https://www.coldsteel.com/products/throwing-knives/pro-balance-thrower.html
my tomahawk is a SOG, i have to say, this thing has taken a beating and hasnt broke yet
https://www.sogknives.com/type/gear/tactical-tomahawk-clam-pack1.html

 

[Veer_G]

Yes, a machete for hacking one's way through Mom's overgrown backyard is the ultimate in tacticool.

 

[remmynikon.308]

Yes, a machete for hacking one's way through Mom's overgrown backyard is the ultimate in tacticool.

 

[Cheyenne Bodie]

I have a Wetterlings hunter's hatchet and American forest axe. Neither gets thrown. I used to have an Estwing that I tossed around quite a bit. In my opinion, machetes are for landscaping. I have three from Walmart, I named my favourite one Dartanian.

Cold Steel is usually a bad value for the metal, they survive off making outlandish designs that the mall ninjas love. SOG used to be ok, though I've heard some poor accounts of both ownership and reliability in recent years. The massive plus side is that if you just want something to chop roots out or trench with then it's almost smart to go affordable. I'd trust anything Kershaw for the money, but that's just from my personal experiences with traditional use.

 

[remmynikon.308]

I have a Wetterlings hunter's hatchet and American forest axe. Neither gets thrown. I used to have an Estwing that I tossed around quite a bit. In my opinion, machetes are for landscaping. I have three from Walmart, I named my favourite one Dartanian.

Cold Steel is usually a bad value for the metal, they survive off making outlandish designs that the mall ninjas love. SOG used to be ok, though I've heard some poor accounts of both ownership and reliability in recent years. The massive plus side is that if you just want something to chop roots out or trench with then it's almost smart to go affordable. I'd trust anything Kershaw for the money, but that's just from my personal experiences with traditional use.

I might be lucky, been tickled with cold steel so far, mind sharing your cold steel story? Have they broken or bent for you?

 

[Cheyenne Bodie]

I've seen more Cold Steel and SOG with broken blades than any other brand, without a doubt by far. I don't personally use knives in ways that make them fail, like I said I'm aware of many poor accounts of ownership— but from what I have seen firsthand, and what other people who spend their time using those and other tools have to say, the quality is overtly underwhelming.

 

[remmynikon.308]

I've seen more Cold Steel and SOG with broken blades than any other brand, without a doubt by far. I don't personally use knives in ways that make them fail, like I said I'm aware of many poor accounts of ownership— but from what I have seen firsthand, and what other people who spend their time using those and other tools have to say, the quality is overtly underwhelming.

Can you have a recommend a better throwing knife?

 

[Cheyenne Bodie]

For a throwing knife go with whatever you want I guess, Kershaw makes amazing metal for the money no matter what it is. If you're just learning or want to try different shapes and balances then get cheap stuff like CS or SOG. If you've got your distances down pretty well and know what kind of design you want to spend the coin on cosying up to something nice, a custom set would be the way to go. Chances are you have a blacksmith or metal shop near you who would get you the "80%" cutouts or forgings that you could profile and send out for heat treatment. IMO custom blades are the best, but they're a bad value unless you are into DIY.

 

[Redmanss]

Gränsfors Bruk Wildlife Hatchet. One of their American Felling Axes is in my future as well, but just not a "need" right now.

I don't abuse my tools by throwing them.

 

[remmynikon.308]

For a throwing knife go with whatever you want I guess, Kershaw makes amazing metal for the money no matter what it is. If you're just learning or want to try different shapes and balances then get cheap stuff like CS or SOG. If you've got your distances down pretty well and know what kind of design you want to spend the coin on cosying up to something nice, a custom set would be the way to go. Chances are you have a blacksmith or metal shop near you who would get you the "80%" cutouts or forgings that you could profile and send out for heat treatment. IMO custom blades are the best, but they're a bad value unless you are into DIY.

To be honest, I've tried comp knives and they didnt last a week. I'm trying to get the no-spin technique down, but knives take a beating when trying new things. I guess you could say I abuse them.... the CS has taken a hell of alot of abuse! Ha I must have got a good one. I agree Kershaw is a hell of a blade, just wish they made non-ninja knives

 

[Coffee_and_Pipes]

I’ve got an H&B Forge tomahawk that I bought for throwing and camping. If you’re ok with a more traditional tomahawk design, I’d recommend them.

 

[remmynikon.308]

I’ve got an H&B Forge tomahawk that I bought for throwing and camping. If you’re ok with a more traditional tomahawk design, I’d recommend them.

I like the traditional better actually, some of the muzzleloader shoots I've gone to have stages with throwing knives and tomahawks, they just have to be period correct, but Those are always fun stages!

 

[Spblademaker]

Hibben original 8.5” throwing knives and Cold Steel Spike tomahawk.

 

[remmynikon.308]

These are alot of fun also

 

[dspjaggar]

i have a set of sog knives we throw around at the office. they were good at first i need to take them home and sharpen them. they ve seen some shit

 

[Unknown]

While throwing knives, hatchets and throwing stars is fun and entertaining, I believe that throwing things at a foe is tenuous at best. First, one would have to throw it hard enough to have sufficient penetration, then would have to hope the distance is perfect so the item thrown can penetrate, and finally would have to wait for the effect of a penetrating wound to have the hoped for effect on one's foe.

If the knife hit one's foe butt of the handle first, rather than point first, my fear is that the foe would then pick up the knife and then proceed to kill me with the knife I provided to him. I would prefer to keep the weapon in my own hand.

I can imagine a few instances where throwing a weapon might be helpful if I had more than one, but in the vast majority of cases I think it would be smarter to keep the weapon in my hand.

With all that said, I still enjoy throwing edged weapons, but mostly for entertainment, sort of like a giant dart board.

 

[remmynikon.308]

"throwing knives, hatchets and throwing stars is fun and entertaining"
This is the point of it all. I, and im sure most, realize that throwing knives, stars, hawks, and other throwing blades are just for fun. In a SHTF situation, you wont see me running around with my tomahawk in my hand. (Fun fact-Historically the throwing stars were used as a distraction tool when thrown, or as a handheld fighting weapon for slashing.)

 

[flyer]

 

[ddavis]

Made this from a mower blade a few weeks ago. Seems to chop as well as a hatchet. Was going for the post apocalyptic look and wanted to put as little time and effort into it as possible. Already had the forge going, just threw it in there with no plans in mind.

-Dan

Edit: there's really no scale in this pic but the thing is massive and weighs about 2-3 pounds I would guess.

 

[ddavis]

I've been meaning to make this sword for a while and finally got around to it. Most of you will probably recognize the movie series it's from. This one is purely for looks. Its mild steel. It would still cut you to the bone, but wouldn't hold an edge after repeated chopping.

 

[remmynikon.308]

Made this from a mower blade a few weeks ago. Seems to chop as well as a hatchet. Was going for the post apocalyptic look and wanted to put as little time and effort into it as possible. Already had the forge going, just threw it in there with no plans in mind.

-Dan

Edit: there's really no scale in this pic but the thing is massive and weighs about 2-3 pounds I would guess.

These are awesome dude!!

 

[Strykervet]

I got an SOG tomahawk on the way to an appt. one day. Their headquarters is in Shoreline WA and they have a room full of "seconds" for sale. Cosmetic things. I got the smaller one for $25 I think. I looked at their other stuff, and yes, they've declined quite a bit in quality over the years. I got the tomahawk sharp and keep it for just in case. I'd rather have a tomahawk than a knife but it's not something I'm gonna carry around.

Daniel Winkler makes the real shit, and if I was gonna get another for serious use it'd be one of his. I guess he gets a lot of business from SF, etc. I'd love to get one now, or one of his knives, but I just can't make the jump because at the moment the selection of a few pocket knives is getting the job done. If you're mil or a vet he'll really take care of you.

Although I would like a real Fairbairn fighting knife. With the right grind so it's solid and razor sharp on both sides. That's my favorite knife. But I have a Ka Bar and it's served me well in the army and I still have it so it's unlikely it'll get replaced anytime soon. The tomahawk isn't something I'd really wanna depend on though.

I have a desire to own more blades than I actually have need for. Shit, that sounds familiar... Well, maybe I oughta call Daniel Winkler up when I have a few dollars burning a hole in my pocket and get one of those tomahawks anyway.

 

[Unknown]

I read an interesting account on throwing stars and other thrown projectiles. When throwing stars and similar weapons were first used, there weren't antibiotics, or any tetanus vaccine . People knew that if you got a puncture wound from a nasty, filthy, rusty, dipped in who knows what projectile, that it was more than likely you were going to get lockjaw, or some Nasty infection that would probably kill you in a few weeks or months, and it would not be an easy death.

So while today, getting a throwing star stuck in you would be mostly a distraction, the wound caused can be treated in ways that just weren't possible 200-500 years ago. So, people in ancient times knew that avoiding projectile weapons actually WAS necessary because they could kill you..just very slowly.

 

[Novak77]

I've got a RMJ Shrike. No real reason, just cause I've always wanted one.

I spent a decade framing, so swinging a hammer is second nature. When I got the Shrike, I took it out and beat on all sorts of shit lol. The thing worked as advertised.

 

[corey4]

I want a shrike in the worst way for no reason other than I want one. I am having a hard time with the cost though.

 

[Deleted member 10043]

I keep a Plowshare Forge boarding axe next to my bed. A Camillus trench knife hanging off my bed post. The 870 camp gun with #1 buck is just back up.

 

[Novak77]

I want a shrike in the worst way for no reason other than I want one. I am having a hard time with the cost though.

I scored mine used for $275 shipped, its one of the OG forged ones too. Couldn't pass on one for that price.

 

[corey4]

whats different from how they make them now?

 

[Unknown]

A knife that I continue to desire (as opposed to need) is the large Blackjack Mamba. I really like both the design, and the A2 tool steel they are made from. I'm, just old enough that I can now distinguish between "need", and "want". I realize that I have more knives than I need, but that doesn't stop me from wanting some more.

 

[Novak77]

I keep a Plowshare Forge boarding axe next to my bed. A Camillus trench knife hanging off my bed post. The 870 camp gun with #1 buck is just back up.

I love those old trench knives.

 

[Novak77]

whats different from how they make them now?

The old ones were drop forged, the new ones are CNC'd

 

[Crang]

I always keep a machete under the seat of my truck when camping. Takes up less space than hedge clippers and gets used more than you would think. Went camping last weekend with 2 buddies I hadnt done that with before. Both ragged on me for my 'Rambo' knife at first...then kept borrowing it.

I had bought the blade as a souvenir in the jungle near Ayutthya Thailand but ended up sharpening it up and surprisingly its served me well for 20+ years at this point.

 

[Dougie308]

Estwing for axes. I have a Gerber Down Range tomahawk which is a great tool (axe, hammer, pry bar, nail puller, etc.) but the price was nuts. My two go to machetes are both Ontario’s. Both of which are for some reason called camp aces. One is the SP8 which is a truly heavy duty blade. The other is their short (12 inch blade) D Handle. All of these blades have withstood some serious abuse and are still in the game.

 

[shoots100]

I can recommend the Gavilan machete.
Years ago a friend dared me to abuse it, so I did.
I cleared a 4 foot wide trail halfway around his lake for fishing access with it and I was very impressed.
Afterwards, I bought 6 with sheaths and gave 4 away to good friends.
I wish they were American made, but their made in Columbia.

SJC