I’d like to thank you too as I’m looking seriously at the Estwing. The thin head is my only concern (not enough wedge).

Among the pile of hawks I have is an Estwing, complete with the leather handle. I have to say this much, and it is nothing against the estwing hawk: If you are anything like me, dont buy one, you wont use it, its just to darn pretty to scuff up or get dirty! But it is the strongest built of any Ive ever handled. And picked up most of them!

There are multiple reasons why a firearm isnt always the best choice, the two primary being the loud report when fired and the need of ammunition to use one. The ideology that everything must serve multiple duty has brought about the tactical hawk evolution of today, well beyond the Vietnam war’s tomahawk that was issued to many of our troops. This was a narrow faced, spiked head with a straight wooden handle. it was less effective as a tool than a machete and m ore effective as a weapon. For our BOBs however, a hawk that looks like a weapon is is more attractive than one that looks like an axe. So they are more popular and add a little extra weight to the head, more than anything else. so what is the real deal? its just a compact hatchet for a variety of uses for the bug out bag. Its simple Human psychology, both the reason for carrying the weaponized looking hatchet and why it scares away attackers. Its the same logic that the Clinton Administration used for their reason to ban the AR15 – It looks scary!

I also have an estwing. Supreme quality tool. I believe the tomahawk blade needs a curved blade. I was impressed you didn’t recommend any hawks with a straight blade- no belly that is. The estwing ‘boy scout axe’ has a longer curved handle with rubber grip at base. Just big enough for two handed swing,light enough for one handed use. Too big for close quarters fighting. For that prefer traditional head with flattened eye for hammering, 3.5 inch blade and 16″ straight hickory handle. Just add lanyard.