A tomahawk is a type of axe from North America, traditionally resembling a hatchet with a
straight shaft. The name came into the English language in the 17th century as an adaptation
of the Powhatan word. Tomahawks were general purpose tools used
by Native Americans and European colonials alike, and often employed as a hand-to-hand
or a thrown weapon. The metal tomahawk heads were originally based on a Royal Navy boarding
axe and used as a trade-item with Native Americans for food and other provisions.
Etymology The name comes from Powhatan tamahaac, derived
from the Proto-Algonquian root *temah- 'to cut off by tool'. Algonquian cognates include
Lenape təmahikan, Malecite-Passamaquoddy tomhikon, Abenaki demahigan, all of which
mean 'axe'. History
The Algonquian Indians in Native America created the tomahawk. Before Europeans came to America,
Native Americans would use stones attached to wooden handles, secured with strips of
rawhide for everyday uses, such as chopping, cutting or hunting but was typically used
as a weapon. When Europeans arrived in North America, they
introduced the metal blade to the natives, which improved their lifestyle. It was easier
for the Native Americans to hunt since these blades did not break as easily as stone. With
the introduction of metal blades, the Native Americans created a tomahawk’s poll, which
is the side opposite the blade, which consisted of a hammer, spike or a pipe. These became
known as pipe tomahawks, which consisted of a bowl on the poll and a hollowed out shaft.
These were created by European and American artisans for trade and diplomatic gifts for
the tribes. Composition
Pre-contact Native Americans lacked ironmaking technology, so tomahawks were not fitted with
metal axe heads until they could be obtained from trade with Europeans. The tomahawk's
original designs were fitted with heads of bladed or rounded stone or deer antler.
The modern tomahawk shaft is usually less than 2 ft in length, traditionally made of
hickory, ash, or maple. The heads weigh anywhere from 9–20 oz, with a cutting edge usually
not much longer than four inches from toe to heel. The poll can feature a hammer, spike,
or may simply be rounded off, and they usually do not have lugs. These sometimes had a pipe-bowl
carved into the poll, and a hole drilled down the center of the shaft for smoking tobacco
through the tomahawk. There are also metal-headed versions of this unusual pipe. Pipe tomahawks
are artifacts unique to North America: created by Europeans as trade objects but often exchanged
as diplomatic gifts. They were symbols of the choice Europeans and Native Americans
faced whenever they met: one end was the pipe of peace, the other an axe of war.
In colonial French territory, a very different tomahawk design, closer to the ancient European
francisca, was in use by French settlers and indigenous peoples. In the late 18th century,
the British Army issued tomahawks to their colonial regulars during the American Revolutionary
War as a weapon and tool. Modern use
Tomahawk throwing is a popular sport among American historical re-enactment groups, and
new martial arts such as Okichitaw have begun to revive tomahawk fighting techniques used
during the colonial era. Tomahawks are a category within competitive knife throwing. Today's
hand-forged tomahawks are being made by master craftsmen throughout the United States.
Modern tomahawks designed by Peter LaGana included wood handles, a hatchet-like bit
and a leather sheath and were used by select US forces during the Vietnam War and are referred
to as "Vietnam tomahawks". These modern tomahawks have gained popularity with their re-emergence
by American Tomahawk Company in the beginning of 2001 and a collaboration with custom knife-maker
Ernest Emerson of Emerson Knives, Inc. A similar wood handle Vietnam tomahawk is produced today
by Cold Steel. The tomahawk was later redesigned featuring synthetic shafts by American Tomahawk
Company and named "VTAC" and are manufactured by Fehrman Knives. SOG Knives Inc. has also
entered the field with its own version of the Vietnam tomahawk, the Fusion Tactical
Tomahawk. Original Vietnam tomahawks are rare and expensive.
Tomahawks are useful in camping and bushcraft scenarios. They are mostly used as an alternative
to a hatchet, as they are generally lighter and slimmer than hatchets. They often contain
other tools in addition to the axe head, such as spikes or hammers.
Many of these modern tomahawks are made of drop forged, differentially heat treated,
alloy steel. The differential heat treatment allows for the chopping portion and the spike
to be harder than the middle section, allowing for a shock resistant body with a durable
temper. Tomahawk throwing competitions
Today, there are hundreds of rendezvous and events that host tomahawk throwing competitions.
These events typically require mountain man style dress.
The tomahawk competitions themselves have their own regulations concerning the type
and style of tomahawk used for throwing. There are special throwing tomahawks made for these
kinds of competitions. Requirements such as a minimum handle length and a maximum blade
edge are the most common tomahawk throwing competition rules.
One such tomahawk throwing competition is made and sponsored by the International Knife
Throwers Hall of Fame. They have a ranking system to determine skill level.The International
Knife Throwers Hall of Fame Association ranking system establishes an international standard
by which knife and hawk throwers may measure their accuracy and versatility, and compare
their skill to that of any knife and hawk thrower anywhere in the world.
Military application American Tomahawk Company's VTAC is in use
by the US Army Stryker Brigade in Afghanistan, the 172nd SBCT team based at Grafenwöhr,
the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division out of Fort Lewis, a recon platoon in the 2-183d
CAV and numerous other soldiers. The VTAC was issued a national stock number and classified
as a “Class 9 rescue kit” as a result of a program called the Rapid Fielding Initiative;
it is also included within every Stryker vehicle as the “modular entry tool set”. This
design is enjoying something of a renaissance with US soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan as
a tool and in use in hand-to-hand combat. Law Enforcement
The tomahawk has gained some respect by members of various law enforcement tactical teams.
Some companies have seized upon this new popularity and are producing "tactical tomahawks." These
SWAT oriented tools are designed to be both useful and relatively light. Some examples
of "tactical tomahawks" include models wherein the shaft is designed as a prybar. There are
models with line/rope cutting notches, cuts in the head allowing its use as a spanner,
and models with broad, heavy heads to assist in breaching doors.
Modern tomahawk fighting There are not many systems worldwide which
teach fighting skills with the axe or a tomahawk to civilians. Since the axe is becoming more
popular again in movies and video games the interest in tomahawk and axe training within
the martial arts has grown. It can also be observed however that Escrima practitioners
are putting it to use. Manufacturers
Modern tomahawk manufacturers include: American Tomahawk Company
American Kami Benchmade Knife Company
Browning Arms Company Cold Steel
Columbia River Knife & Tool Gerber Legendary Blades
RMJ Tactical Smith & Wesson
Strider Knives Joe Szilaski
Winkler Knives SOG Specialty Knives
See also Hurlbat
Shepherd's axe References