DIY Indian tomahawk. A simple way to make a throwing tomahawk with your own hands. Tomahawks - a formidable weapon of the Indians

The first documented mention of the term "tomahack" is found in a brief Indian dictionary created by Captain John Smith in 1607-1609. A similar word, “tamohek,” was recorded in his dictionary in 1616 by the secretary of the Jamestown colony, William Strachey. In both cases, this word meant an elongated stone, sharpened at both ends and mounted on a wooden handle. According to evidence from that time, this item was used by the Indians both as a tool and as a weapon. The Indians appreciated the advantages of iron axes, and they soon became one of the most popular products in trade exchanges with Europeans, inheriting the name from its stone predecessor. To save space, axes were transported and sold without ax handles. The Indian who bought the ax made the handle himself, usually using a straight section of the trunk of a small tree. The tomahawk in its most common form was an ax weighing about 500-600 grams with a straight ax handle 300 to 550 mm long. The length of the cutting edge ranged from 80 to 100 mm. The sales volume of tomahawks can be judged by the results of underwater archaeological surveys conducted in 1961 near the rapids on the French River. So in one sunken canoe alone, 105 axes were discovered. The cost of axes, as well as any other product, due to the risks associated with transportation, increased with distance from the coast. So, for example, in the middle of the 18th century in Montreal, for one beaver pelt, which was the main unit of payment during the fur trade, a hunter could get two axes, and to the west of Lake Superior, three beaver pelts were already given for one ax. For comparison: a gun cost sixteen to twenty skins, and for one skin you could buy a pound (453 g) of shot or three flints.

Until the mid-18th century, the vast majority of axes intended for sale to Indians were made in Europe, mainly in England and France. Their production technology has been simplified as much as possible to reduce the cost and speed up production. A strip of iron was bent around a metal bar to form an eye for the ax handle. The ends of this strip were welded, and an ax blade was forged from them. For more expensive options at the stage of blade formation, a hardened steel plate was clamped between the ends of the iron strip, forming a more resistant cutting edge. By the middle of the 18th century, craftsmen from among the settlers began producing tomahawks in a volume sufficient to seriously compete with European suppliers. In order not to lose their positions in the American market, English and French manufacturers switched to the production of richly decorated tomahawks, which were already mounted on the handle. The blades of these axes were often decorated with inlays, embossing or figured slots, while the handles were decorated with copper studs or rings. Tomahawks with a hammer, klevets or a blade on a butt became widespread at the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries and, due to their higher cost, were mainly used by European settlers, although they were sometimes presented to the Indians as an expensive gift. In the 18th century, another type of tomahawk appeared - the ax-smoking pipe. The handle of such a tomahawk had a hollow channel, and the head of the tube was placed on the butt. This hybrid, invented by Europeans, quickly took root and became so popular among the Indians that many tomahawk manufacturers completely switched to producing this type of ax. The appearance of the so-called sponton tomahawk in the second half of the 18th century is more reminiscent of a historical anecdote. When controlling the movement of columns, officers of European armies used a special spear - an esponton - as a staff to give commands. Seeing how many soldiers obeyed the swings of the esponton, the Indians saw in this spear a symbol of power. As a result, local craftsmen received orders to make tomahawks with blades shaped like the tip of this spear. In some photographs of the 19th century, the leaders of Indian tribes pose with sponton tomahawks, holding them like sceptres.

Tomahawks were not only a more advanced tool, but also a more effective melee weapon, as a result of which not only stone axes, but also war clubs were replaced in Indian use. The Indians highly valued military valor. Hitting the enemy from a distance at which he himself could reach the Indian was considered a sign of courage. In this regard, contrary to popular myth, tomahawks were almost never thrown in battle.

According to the generalized analysis of the results archaeological excavations According to Professor Wayne Van Home, the most common areas of injury caused by a tomahawk are the skull, collarbone, forearm bones (mostly the left one), and ribs. The nature of the damage shows that the most common tomahawk attack was an arcing, downward slash aimed at the head. If the blow was not accurate, the collarbone suffered, but if the defender raised his hand to block the blow, then the forearm received damage. The second most frequently used attack, judging by the damage to the ribs, was a horizontal slash attack to the body. Of course, such an analysis does not pretend to be complete, since damage to soft tissues cannot be determined by examining skeletons. It would be a misconception to believe that tomahawks were used exclusively by Indians. The versatility of this instrument made it very popular among settlers and even the military. In the absence of compact multi-shot firearms, the tomahawk was perhaps the most effective of all close combat weapons available to residents of North America at that time. If we talk about the peaceful use of a tomahawk, then it could not only be used to chop. Taking it by the ax handle near the blade itself, in some cases it was possible to use the ax as a knife. The butt could well replace the hammer. Tomahawks were part of the standard equipment of the Roger's Rangers, organized in 1756 by Major Robert Rogers to fight on the side of the British during the wars with the French and Indians. In 1759, General of the British Army James Wolfe approved the tomahawk as mandatory element equipment for light infantry fighters. Tomahawks were also used during the Revolutionary War. After its completion, border troops were armed with them. Tomahawks remained in service until the middle of the 19th century. Thus, 36 of the 65 members of the Lewis and Clark expedition, organized in 1804-1806, carried tomahawks. In addition, the expedition's convoy included 50 tomahawk pipes intended to be given to the Indians. During the booming period of trade with Mexico in the 1840s, every member of an American trading caravan traveling the Missouri-Santa Fe route was required to carry a tomahawk. The revival of interest in the tomahawk in the 20th century is associated with the name of Peter LaGana. A descendant of the LaGana Mohawk Indians, he served in the Marines and took part in World War II. After graduation, he worked as a hand-to-hand combat instructor, teaching, in addition to unarmed techniques, how to use a knife and tomahawk. LaGan's course on the use of a tomahawk attracted the interest of higher authorities, as a result of which he was called to the Pentagon for a demonstration in the winter of 1965.

Despite its success, the tomahawk was still not included in the official ground forces training program. However, LaGana was already passionate about the idea of ​​an army tomahawk and did not want to back down. He developed an ax with a specially shaped head designed to expand combat capabilities weapons. The blade on the butt was intended for removing sentries and could pierce a Kevlar helmet. In addition, due to its high penetrating power, this blade could cause serious damage even if the blow was delivered from the elbow, without the attachment of the body. This made it possible to effectively use this tomahawk in narrow passages and thickets, where it was not possible to swing. Five of the seven edges of the LaGan tomahawk head were sharpened. Thanks to this, swinging a tomahawk along almost any trajectory turned into an effective attack. Creating the tomahawk took LaGan three weeks, with the most difficult part, he said, being balancing the tomahawk for throwing. Peter himself could throw almost any sharp object so that it would stick, therefore, by selecting the length of the handle and improving the balancing of the ax, LaGana offered to throw his tomahawk to untrained people, mainly women and children. During the development process it was done in total 870 throws from a distance of 4.5 to 6 meters. As a result, he found those proportions and balancing that ensured almost any person a successful hit at such a range, even without special training. To produce his tomahawk, LaGana founded the American Tomahawk Company, which produced the first production model on April 16, 1966. After ground troops rejected the tomahawk, LaGana offered it to the Marines. On October 3, 1966, one of the most realistic close-quarters combat demonstrations ever conducted in the U.S. military took place at Quantico, Virginia.

The first test pitted Peter against two Marines armed with rifles with fixed bayonets. He insisted that the attackers remove the protective covers from their bayonets. LaGana disarmed both attackers while throwing tomahawk blows to the head. In doing so, he received a glancing wound right hand, however, continued the demonstration. In the second test, LaGana defeated an opponent with a machete, and in the third, he disarmed a knife-wielding attacker with a tomahawk blow. This was followed by a demonstration of the cutting capabilities of the tomahawk on wooden dummies. At the end, LaGana showed several methods of throwing a tomahawk, including at a rapidly approaching enemy, played by his friend Con Novak. The target was a shield made of three layers of wood on Novak’s chest. At the end of the show, all eighteen officers on the commission purchased tomahawks. However, the command's response Marine Corps was disappointing: “In order for a tomahawk to be adopted for service, it is necessary that it replace one or more elements from the individual set of equipment of the Marine.” The tomahawk was never put into service, however, by special order, soldiers were allowed to purchase them privately. Peter LaGana began to receive an increasing stream of orders. Of the 4,000 tomahawks produced by the American Tomahawk Company before its closure in 1970, 3,800 were purchased by service members serving in the Vietnam War. That is why the name “Vietnamese tomahawk” was assigned to the LaGan tomahawk.

In the 1990s, craftsmen mainly turned to the tomahawk theme by creating richly decorated exhibition pieces intended for a collector's shelf, rather than for the hand of a hunter or fighter. In addition, a number of companies produced cheap tomahawks aimed at ax throwing enthusiasts and members of military history clubs. The real renaissance of the tomahawk, which returned it to service as a full-fledged element of a fighter’s equipment, began with the revival of the American Tomahawk company. In 2001, Andy Prisco, with the consent of Peter LaGan, launched serial production of the “Vietnamese tomahawk” - VTAC. The popularity of tomahawks and the demand for them grew so quickly that by the fall of 2001, several more companies began producing their models.

There are two main trends in the design solutions of new generation tomahawks: tomahawks with a light alloy handle and a blade made of tool steel, and tomahawks of integral design, in which the blade and handle form a single whole. The first approach makes it easy to replace a damaged blade, while the second provides maximum reliability. The Tomahawk gained recognition not only among civilians. Since 2003, the VTAC tomahawk, along with the sledgehammer, wire cutters and crowbar, has been included in the so-called Modular Entry Tool Set included in the equipment of each force unit. special purpose American army. In addition, VTAC tomahawks are included in the equipment of a number of infantry units and the 75th Ranger Regiment. The VTAC tomahawk has been assigned the state inventory number NSN 4210-01-518-7244, that is, it is included in the list of equipment approved for purchase government services USA. Tomahawks from other manufacturers also find their consumers among military personnel and employees of various law enforcement agencies.

What attracts them all to the tomahawk? First of all, its versatility, because a tomahawk can not only chop. The blade on the butt easily penetrates metal barrels and tires reinforced with steel tapes. When entering with a tomahawk, you can knock down a padlock, press a door, break a car window, etc. And, of course, a tomahawk is a very effective melee weapon in cases where the use of firearms is undesirable (for example, in the vicinity of toxic or explosive substances). Of course, the tomahawk will not become the companion of every soldier, but as a special means for carrying out operations it will be in service for a long time.

Mustang knife. Conceived as a knife for an Indian youth - not yet a warrior.
Blade company "Sander". 100x35x5 mm. at the handle. Wedge on the butt from the hanger. X12MF.
Handle- 95x30 (middle)x25. The elk horn is tinted with hair dye. Wrapping with a strap (wet. After drying, impregnated with epoxy). Installation of a rider for 2/3 of the length of the handle (epox). The back is leather impregnated with epoxy.
Sheath- saddle cloth, seal skin, straps, wax, aging with sandpaper.
Tomahawk my production. The piece of iron is a railway crutch. Handle - elm (ebon alcohol stain, tung).

It is believed that the word "tomahawk", which gave the ax its name, came from a mispronunciation of the Indian word "tamahakan" - a cutting object.

In pre-Columbian America, the Indians used this word to describe something like “a stone with an elongated shape, sharpened on both edges and mounted on a wooden handle.” And this device didn’t look at all like how it all looks in movies about Indians. It was only with the discovery of America that the word “tomahawk” began to refer to metal axes.

Characteristics and Similarities of Tomahawks

Ax blades have many shapes that roughly resemble a wide variety of axes from different eras or spearheads that lie perpendicular to the shafts. Butts also have several shapes that resemble other axes, such as peckers. Some butts were in the form of hammers or hammers with pins, square and round sections.

However, there was also an ax in the form of a small halberd. Due to its functionality, the ax was used in battle, hunting, and also in everyday life - it was used to cut down trees. The Indians needed this ax only for close combat; they threw it at enemies extremely rarely.

Axes were thrown mainly as sports equipment during training. The functionality of battle axes made it possible to remove the blades from the shafts and use them as a knife. Such axes weighed within half a kilogram, the length of the cutting edges of the blades was up to 100 mm, and the length of the straight shafts was within half a meter.

The emergence of tomahawks

Due to the fact that the manufacture of metal axes was inaccessible to the Indians, they exchanged them from the “pale-faced” who appeared in that area at the beginning of the 17th century. So the first tomahawks were steel and improved battle axes British marines, used to board ships.

Spanish tomahawks were different from English ones. They had wide, moon-shaped, rounded blades. The French living in Canada were the first to make tomahawks in the form of klevets.

Tomahawks - a formidable weapon of the Indians

By exchanging provisions for axes, the Indians turned them into even more formidable weapons. They also learned the technique of using axes and significantly outperformed their teachers, especially in close combat. In throwing, they themselves became unsurpassed masters - all the axes they threw always hit the target from a distance of up to 20 meters.

The functionality of the axes allowed even weak people to use them thanks to the lever handles. The characteristics of tomahawks made it possible to operate both in the thick of battles and in one-on-one combat. In addition, wounded animals were killed with axes.

The first tomahawks

Based on the finds, the first Indian axes can be dated back to the 16th-17th centuries. Axes with metal blades were similar to ancient stone and copper wedge-shaped axes, without holes for the shafts.

The metal parts of the blades were hammered or inserted with pointed ends into the shafts. Since such axes were called earless, they belong to the Celtic group.

Peace Tubes

Perhaps as the most common type of ax, we can talk about pipe tomahawks. Through channels were made in the shafts of the axes, and the upper parts of the shafts at the holes were plugged with round plugs made of wood, deer antlers, or even metals. Containers for tobacco were placed on the blades on the butt side. The result was an ax-pipe for smoking.

In addition, there were pipe tomahawks, which had sacred meaning. Specifically: “sacred pipes” or “peace pipes.” Special rituals were carried out with the participation of leaders and elders; ax pipes were lit in a circle, symbolizing reconciliation or the end of wars.

The “palefaces,” who respected local traditions, often used pipe axes. They were richly decorated as gifts to the leaders. The blades were engraved and the shafts were decorated with a wide variety of metal details.

Missouri tomahawks

Until the 19th century, some of the most sought-after battle axes were “Missouri.” They got their name from the local Missouri River. Characteristic feature Such axes had a large blade, which turned into a simple butt with a round eye.

This served as the name for lug tomahawks. The presence of large surfaces of the blades made it possible to make shaped holes for a more attractive appearance. The supply of such axes was carried out by the French living in Canada. Their cheap production made it possible not to harden the blades, because these were battle axes.

Espontone battle axes

From English “spontoon tomahawks” is translated as espontoon tomahawks. A wide variety of configurations and sizes of battle axes had characteristic twisted appendages at the base of the blades. In the European army, only sergeants could possess such weapons.

The tomahawk shafts did not wedge. Thanks to this, the metal parts of the ax blades could be removed from the shafts and used as combat knives. In addition, such blades were often attached to war clubs that were used by the Indians.

In most cases, cavities were made in esponton tomahawks, like in tubular axes. Sometimes one came across a number of earless espontone axes, similar to the ancient axes of the Celts.

Trade tomahawks

Trade tomahawks are the simplest and cheapest ax of all the tomahawks. They are characterized by the fact that the blades, turning into simple butts, were flat or rounded and were used as hammers.

There were also types of axes whose blades were double-sided. The shafts were inserted both above and below the holes, based on the types and shapes of the axes. Due to their shape, they were called “half-axes”, since they were very small in size.

The Indians used these mini-axes mainly for agricultural work, although also for war. Such axes were supplied by the manufacturing countries themselves: England, France, and Holland.

Halberd-type tomahawks

From English “halberd tomahawks” is translated as halberd tomahawks. These are exact copies of halberds, but with short handles. Mainly used in trade with the natives. The shafts were secured using cone-shaped bushings. This method of fastening was borrowed from copies.

At the ends of the ax shafts there were metal bayonets shaped like a sharp cone. The metal parts of the blades were solid, there were no slots. The shape of the blades was wide and semicircular on one side. While the other side and the top resembled a flat point.

Halberd tomahawks were in the “assortment”. Some had no points on top, and some had chisel-shaped points. In some, the points were replaced by curved hooks, spikes or smoking cups.

There were models with collapsible heads that could be screwed onto vertical bushings with threaded points. In addition, each of the points could be attached, of course, if there was a cut thread. There were also tomahawks that did not have bushings for the shafts, since they were entirely metal.

Later, tomahawks with shafts made of brass and other metals appeared. They were inserted into sockets and riveted using rivets. Such shafts had the most various forms. They were flat, round, pointed at the ends.

Despite the fact that these products were not convenient for use in battle, the Indians used such axes to demonstrate their belonging to the leaders, because the presence of such axes was a sign indicating the status of the leader.

Main types of tomahawks

There were also battle axes-tomahawks, with hammers on the butts, or tomahawk-hammers, very similar to pipe axes, but not as elaborate as trade axes with hammers on the butts. Such axes were used not only by the Indians, but also by North American settlers, as well as colonist riflemen, who used them as belt axes.

Axes with points or hooks on the butt side are peak tomahawks, similar to boarding axes. Athapascan clubs can also be classified as tomahawks. These were products from deer antlers with protruding branches into which points were inserted from whatever was at hand.

Tomahawks of our days

Despite the fact that almost 200 years have passed, tomahawks are still relevant today due to their functionality. Mainly attention was paid to them before the Vietnam War.

Peter Lagano, a well-known Indian at that time who served in the American army, managed to develop a peak tomahawk battle ax that could be thrown quite well.

Currently, the tomahawk ax can be used in tourism and in some sports, but most often it can be seen as a historical reconstruction.

There is probably nothing more satisfying than throwing a tomahawk and hearing it hit the target. It is a very relaxing and mesmerizing activity that anyone can learn. You just need to train correctly and master the right technique. If you throw a tomahawk correctly, it can become a kind of yoga for hunters. Awaken your inner hunter. To learn more, see step 1.

Steps

Part 1

Get a tomahawk suitable for throwing. Throwing a camping hatchet or hatchet may be fun, but it is dangerous. It is also not recommended to use such axes due to the mechanical reasons described in this article. Get out a traditional tomahawk made specifically for throwing. The weight of these tomahawks is specifically designed for throwing. Their lightness and accuracy make them ideal for throwing.

• You can even search Amazon for throwing tomahawks, which cost $20-$30 dollars for the lowest quality models.

1. Get the target. You need something wooden that the tomahawk will stick into. It is advisable to use a dry tree so that it does not suffer from the nicks that will remain from your masterful throws. As a rule, those who like to throw a tomahawk use a cut of a dry stump at least 15-20 cm thick. The cut is placed on a stand.

   • If you throw the tomahawk at a round target other than a tree, it may not stick and bounce in any direction.
   • Never throw a tomahawk at a target that it will not stick into. Knocking cans off a fence may be fun, but it can damage your tomahawk and dull the blade. Besides, it's dangerous.

2. Keep the tomahawk blade dull. Tomahawks do not stick into soft wood due to their sharp blade; they stick because they are thrown clearly and correctly. There is no need to risk serious injury by sharpening the blade so hard that it can cut paper. You probably won't need to use the tomahawk again except for throwing for fun. So keep the blade dull and it won't be dangerous.

   Always be careful of everything around you. Throw tomahawks only on the street. It is important when training to throw tomahawks to take the issue of safety seriously. Treat it like you're shooting a gun. Find open area, on which place the stand with the target. It is important that there is no overgrowth or obstacles in this place that could get in the way of a thrown tomahawk.

   Part 2

   We stand correctly and take the tomahawk

   1. Take the starting position. When throwing a tomahawk, it's all about your movement and whether you can release the tomahawk as naturally as possible at the peak of your swing. You need to stand straight, feet shoulder-width apart, so that it is comfortable. Your hands should be free, nothing should interfere with them, and you should stand perpendicular to the target.

      Hold your tomahawk correctly. Point the handle towards you and, 4-7 cm from the end of the handle, grasp it as you would shake hands in a firm business handshake. Place your thumb under the handle as you would hold a hammer, not on top of the handle - not as you would hold a knife.

      • It is very important not to place your finger on top of the handle. This greatly affects the rotation of the tomahawk, meaning the tomahawk will spin a lot when flying. Such a throw usually ends with a loud clang when the tomahawk misses the target. Curl your finger around the handle so that it is comfortable for you.
      • If you have taken the correct stance, but the tomahawk is spinning too much, try raising thumb up to slow it down a bit. Practice a little to get a feel for how the tomahawk spins and to understand how to throw it correctly.

   2. Hold the tomahawk level. When you stand with a tomahawk, you want the blade to be perfectly perpendicular to the target. If the blade is even slightly deflected, the tomahawk will fly weakly and the throw will be inaccurate.

      • To level the tomahawk, loosen your grip a little and let it lean forward a little (don't let go completely!). Gravity will straighten the tomahawk for you. With the weight concentrated at the top, the tomahawk will level itself.

   3. Practice swinging to the sides. To check whether you are standing and holding the tomahawk correctly, lower your arms in a natural position at your sides. The blade should be parallel to your legs and should not point towards or away from you. If it is not parallel, loosen your grip slightly and twist the handle, keeping your hands in the same standard position.

   Part 3

   Throw accurately

   1. Take the required number of steps back. The biggest secret to throwing a tomahawk accurately is to move the correct distance away from the target. Tomahawks are not thrown from a long distance. To throw a tomahawk, first turn your back to the target, just like in the old days in a duel. Take five normal steps and turn around, aligning yourself parallel to the target.

      • Mark the spot where you will throw so you don't have to count the distance every time you want to throw. To make it easier for you, use a sock or a stick to draw a line.

   2. Using a slow, smooth, controlled motion, raise the tomahawk upward. Keep your arm straight and grip the tomahawk tightly in your hand. Before you bring the tomahawk to the top point and begin to move forward, bend your elbow slightly. In this position, your elbow should be directly next to your ear.

      • You don't throw with a brush. Throwing with your hand will make your throw less accurate, and the weight of the tomahawk may cause wrist pain.
      • Be very careful. If you swing your tomahawk back too quickly, you may lose control and accidentally release it too early and send it flying backwards.

   3. Swing forward. At the same speed with which you swung back, begin to swing the tomahawk forward. You don't want to bring it forward too much before you release it. A movement similar to throwing a ball from behind the head in baseball or American football. Stand straight with both feet on the ground. When throwing, do not take a step forward or backward.

      • The whole point of the throw is the weight of the tomahawk and your natural light movement, not a quick or whippy throw. A common misconception is that you have to throw a tomahawk as hard as you can, but in reality, proper throwing technique relies on a fairly slow motion. You need to try to keep the tomahawk flying in a straight line.

   4. Release the tomahawk. Soon you see that the middle of the handle in your field of vision is in the upper right corner. In this case, the hand should freely continue to move down its side. By the time your hand is at eye level, you should have released the tomahawk.

      • Don't let go too late because the tomahawk needs to spin and if you let go too late it will hit the ground. Conversely, if you release too early, the tomahawk will fly too high. You will need to practice, but after a few throws you will be able to time the throw.
   • Generally, wood is used for the purpose because it can be used over and over again. The wood is cheap, readily available, and will not damage your tomahawks. Instead of regular pieces of wood, get thick logs and throw tomahawks into their flat cut.
   • Don't forget to take the distance factor into account when throwing. For a longer distance you need to tighten it more, and for a shorter distance, correspondingly, less.
   • Wear strong boots. If you accidentally release the tomahawk too late, your legs will not be harmed.
   • Always keep axes, knives and tomahawks sheathed when not throwing them.

   Warnings

   • Always wear eye protection, as the splinters that fly off when the tomahawk hits its target can bounce into your eye.
   • Tomahawks are not toys, they can be fun to throw, but if you don't know how to handle them, they can be deadly weapons.
   • Never do not throw tomahawks at people, animals, buildings, vehicles, etc. Throw only at specially made targets.

The modern viewer has already become bored. Film fans want something new and more spectacular. What could be better than such a mystical and at the same time formidable weapon as a tomahawk ax?

With this name alone, images of Indian wigwams, the exotic way of life of a freedom-loving people surrounded by beautiful wild nature, appear in the imagination of the average person. And of course, bloody and very brutal battles. But no matter how realistically the film is shot, it remains just a director’s fiction, a product that, although in demand among demanding viewers, is far from real life. The tomahawk ax has its own real story, which does not quite coincide with the cinematic one.

History of the appearance of weapons

The word “tamahaken” first appeared in the everyday life of Indian tribes. Initially, it was used to designate “what is cut with” - an object that looks like a sharply sharpened stone attached to a short stick, which was used in Indian villages for both military and peaceful purposes. “Tamahaken” as a result of English pronunciation gave a new word, which is now known to everyone as “tomahawk”. The ax, which, according to historians, was also used by the indigenous people of America in peacetime

The first steel hatchets

The British, whose settlement was located side by side with Indian tribes, were the first to see the tomahawk. The ax was used by the Indians for hunting and in close combat. The Europeans suggested that this tool would be more effective if it were made of steel rather than stone. Thanks to the British, the first iron hatchets were brought to the American continent, which later became the most popular product.

The tomahawk ax improved by Europeans began to be in great demand among the Native Americans. The Europeans exchanged it for furs mined by the Indians. The production of these axes was put on stream.

Over time, they created a certain technology that makes it possible to significantly speed up and reduce the cost of manufacturing process. It consisted in the fact that tomahawks were made from an iron strip twisted around a steel bar, the ends of which were subsequently welded to each other, forming a blade. But there was also a more expensive option - craftsmen clamped a hardened steel plate between the welded ends of the steel strip. In such axes, it was a blade and performed a cutting and chopping function.

Products were mass-produced in Europe, mainly in France and England, and delivered to local aborigines. Previously, this tool was used mainly for economic needs and in rare cases- on the hunt. After modernization, the tomahawk Indian battle ax became a formidable weapon used by the British Marines.

The use of tomahawks: the beginning

Europeans, having studied the Indian ax, realized that it was more convenient and effective for close combat than a knife or spear. This is due to the design feature of the tomahawk. The Indian ax had a short handle used as a lever. This made it possible for a weakened or wounded soldier to use this weapon. The length of the handle made it possible to wield the tomahawk in a crowd or in one-on-one combat.

Based on the existing design, the Europeans, replacing sharp stone with iron, created their own significantly improved one. They began to actively use it during boarding and close combats. It was also used to hit targets at a distance. The tomahawk throwing ax became an effective weapon, hitting a target at a distance of up to twenty meters. At the same time, the Indians themselves were trained in the art of war. They acquired professional skills, which made it possible for them to carry out military operations using a tomahawk. The ax became an element of combat and hunting equipment. It was used if it was necessary to finish off a shot animal.

Ease of use made the tomahawk (axe) very popular among the local population. The photo below shows the external design features of the product.

About the nature of the damage caused by the Indian ax

Excavations studied by archaeologists in the territories of Indian settlements indicate that the skull, collarbone, ribs and left forearm bone are most susceptible to injury from tomahawks. Based on the nature of the damage to the skull of the examined corpses of soldiers who died from a tomahawk, it was believed that the blows with an ax were applied from top to bottom along an arcuate trajectory. Damage to the collarbone was apparently caused in cases where a slashing blow to the head did not reach its target. Injuries to the left or right forearm were less common. In all likelihood, they could have been produced while the person was covering his head. The second technique used by warriors of that time was an arcing slash to the body. It was applied along a horizontal trajectory. In such cases, the ribs were damaged.

Types of Indian Tomahawks

• Celt. It is one of the first models. Its shape resembles a similar tomahawk made of stone. These products did not have special holes to facilitate putting the working part on the handle. The blade was inserted into the shaft using a sharpened butt. This Native American tomahawk was widely used between the 16th and 17th centuries.

• Celt with a point. The blade of this Indian hatchet has the shape of an elongated triangle, passing through the shaft so that one of its sharpened corners is located on the back side of the ax, forming a point. The design of the tomahawk gave the impression that the steel plate had split the shaft. To securely fix it, special bindings were used.
• Missouri type. This Native American tomahawk was used until the 19th century. It was distributed along the Missouri River. The working part of the ax was placed on an ordinary ax handle with an eyelet. The blade was not hardened and was of enormous size. Its surface had various slits and holes for decoration.

• Tubular type. Tomahawks of this type are the most common. A special feature of the tubular hatchet is the presence of a special through channel in the shaft, which stretches along the entire length of the handle. In the butt part of the tomahawk there is a special cup intended for tobacco. The hole located in the upper part was closed with a horn, metal or wooden stopper, which could be pulled out at any time and this model could be used as a smoking pipe. The blade of the hatchet was decorated with engraving. The tomahawk had an elegant appearance and was often used as a gift to establish diplomatic relations between the Indians and European settlers.
• Espontone type. The chopping parts of these hatchets could have different shape and sizes. The handles at the base were often decorated with decorative appendages. The blades were removable. If necessary, they could be removed and used as a knife.
• Peak tomahawks. These are products, the butt part of which was equipped with points and hooks. A similar form came from boarding axes. Peak tomahawks were widely used by settlers for household work. This option gained wide popularity among the Indians, who over time began to use it as a weapon.

• Tomahawk hammers. These products, like tubular tomahawks, were widely used in trade. They were especially in demand among colonial shooters and Indians. But the difference between tomahawk-hammers and tubular versions was that the former had hammers in the butt part. Their design was not as ornate as the tubular ones, so they were not used as diplomatic gift items.

• Trade ax. The product does not have an elegant shape. The butt, which has a rounded shape, was used as a hammer. The handles of these axes are inserted from below the eyelets, and in some models - from above. Since this version of the ax was primarily used by women, it was called the “tomahawk squaw.” The sizes of trade axes varied. Small dimensions were convenient for wearing behind a belt. Therefore, the products were also called “belt axe”, or “bag axe”. This item was used for trade between North America and Europe. In Indian villages, the trade ax was used as a household tool and as a military weapon.
• Halberd-type tomahawk. The hatchet consists of a chopping part and a long handle, at the end of which there is a long bayonet hammered into it. This model was made from a monolithic steel plate, mainly of a wide arcuate or semicircular shape. The butt was equipped with two additional points. Some models replace these flat points with metal spikes or semi-circles for tobacco. The head of a halberd hatchet can be dismountable and attached to the top of the product with a thread. Fastening the handles can also be done using threads, mainly in cases where the ax is made of wood. If the handle is metal, then it and the top can be one piece. Brass was also used to make handles. In such models of halberd axes, the tops were inserted into special sockets in the handle and secured with rivets.

Tactical weapons

The battle hatchets that American soldiers were equipped with have undergone major modifications in our time. Modern and more improved versions of tomahawks have appeared. Since these products were intended not only to perform combat missions, they began to be called tactical.

Tactical axes and tomahawks were in great demand among American soldiers during Operation Desert Storm. Without a compact and convenient device for breaking doors, the soldiers were forced to carry huge fire axes with them. Tactical hatchets are much lighter and more maneuverable, and besides their main task (cutting), they perform a number of additional functions. They can knock down padlocks, press doors, break glass in cars, etc. In a combat situation, such an ax is considered indispensable, especially when it is undesirable to use firearms. Similar situations may arise if the battle is fought near flammable and explosive substances or toxic chemicals.

Tactical axes and tomahawks are especially popular in the special forces of the United States of America. In the army Soviet Union These models did not take root. The USSR military command initially planned to equip personnel with tactical hatchets, but over time they decided that this would be too expensive. Analogue American tomahawks in the Red Army became which, in the opinion Soviet leadership, no worse.

Modern versions of Indian tomahawks

Nowadays, combat and tactical hatchets are made from solid sheets of metal. Such a product is cut out of a metal sheet according to a drawing, subjected to further processing on machines and has a monolithic structure. There is another way, which consists in cutting out only the chopping part of the ax. Tool steel is also suitable for it. The handle is made separately. It's best if she comes from polymer material, since this can significantly reduce the weight of the weapon.

Tactical M48

The chopping part in a product such as the M48 Hawk tomahawk ax is made of 440c stainless steel, which is subject to further processing in the factory in the form of applying a black coating to it.

The length of the hatchet is 39 cm, the length of the blade is 95 mm, the thickness is 2 cm. The handle of the M 48 Hawk tomahawk is a reinforced polypropylene product, to which the chopping part is attached using power bolts and a steel rim that enhances the stability of the blade. The length of the handle is 34 cm. The tactical hatchet weighs 910 grams. A special nylon sheath is included in the kit.

The benefits of artisanal production. What's better than a forged tomahawk?

It's not difficult to do. The product will turn out to be of truly high quality, as a classic ax should be, only if it is produced in a forge. In it you can forge both a standard ax, necessary for carpentry work, and a very aesthetic, exclusive tomahawk.

It can be used as a gift, souvenir or interior decoration. According to their own technical specifications forged products are much better than factory cast ones. This is due to the characteristics of the crystal lattice of metals, the structure of which can be changed during forging. As a result, a tomahawk hand-made in a forge with changes in the crystal structure can withstand force and shock loads well, and the blade of such a tomahawk remains sharp for a long time. The service life of hand-forged axes is much longer than that of factory-made axes.

Buy a tomahawk ax in Novosibirsk

Axes, tomahawks and spades can be purchased in any city in the Russian Federation through the online store. Typically, specialized websites sell tools with delivery throughout Russia within optimal time frames. Express delivery ordered at a time convenient for the client. Or you can pick up the goods yourself by contacting the order pick-up point.

Prices for goods to order - from 1300-1800 rubles. up to 30,000 rub. and more.