Belt axe/hawk and knife advice please?

[ClickFlash]

In this awesome hobby of ours, there are "producers" and there are "consumers". I have come to grips with the fact that I fall into the "consumers" category when it comes to the stuff that can't be made with critter hides, antlers, cloth, sinew, thread, and needle...and I'm ok with that.

That being said, I'm in the market for a belt axe (or hawk?) and belt knife to add to my 1780-1790 period persona. In particular, this belt knife:
   Long Belt Knife, 4-5/8" blade, maple handle, replica 1750 - 1790 era Trade Knife, made in the U. S. A. - Track of the Wolf

And this belt axe:
   Mohawk Belt Axe, 2-1/4" blade, with handle, wax cast 4140 steel alloy, made in the U. S. A. - Track of the Wolf

Thoughts?
Thanks in advance,
Scott

[Bigsmoke]

I would think that a forged ax would be a better choice than a cast one.

It seems interesting that the sheath would he 50% more than the knife.  I would personally go for a little heavier duty knife.

Not saying these are bad items, but I just think you could do a little better.  I think the knife would be great for light duty work like patch knife, cleaning fish, etc., but for general duty, a beefier one would be best.

John

[Riley/MN]

I think you are looking at the catalog price John. I have one of those knives from ToW and it is a fine little knife! but yes, I would prefer a forged head on my belt axe (as opposed to cast)

[ClickFlash]

The first couple of websites I hit to look at forged hawks/axes had stuff that was WWWAAAYYY outside my price range, but then I found a pretty neat little belt axe at Crazy Crow that looks like it will fit the bill nicely.

I really like the looks of that belt knife from TOW, but I'll look around at heavier ones.

Thanks for your input.

[mario]

Much depends on your persona, the area and how historically accurate you want to be.

The Mohawk belt axe is actually a great little chopper. One of the originals it's based on is housed at a museum 40 miles from my home and the repro is almost exactly the same. BUT it's cast not forged. Honestly, the hatchet/hawk I use most is a forged piece that cost $25 and I reshaped to suit the style I needed for my persona.

Knives of the period, especially trade knives were fairly thin bladed. They were cutting tools, not chopping tools. The overall design of the TotW knife is close, but one can do better for a few more $.


Mario

[Longhunter]

A couple of choices

Trappers Companion

LONG HUNTER KNIFE

[Steve L]

Check out North River. Great stuff.http://www.north-river-custom-knives.com . He built my knife and hawk  [ Invalid Attachment ]  [ Invalid Attachment ]

[RobD]

i like simplistic "farmer style" accoutrement tools.

belt ax that i burned, stained, clear coated, and tacked ...

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patch and general "sticking things" knife on the shooting bag, green river blade and an ash handle i made for it, along with the bag i made ...

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[PetahW]

 I found a pretty neat little belt axe at Crazy Crow that looks like it will fit the bill nicely.

Caveat Emptor (buyer beware) - IME, Crazy Crow imports many of their edged weapons/blades/axes from India, and the metals used don't usually hold an edge for very long.


.

[rollingb]

I have one of these Kentucky belt axes with forged head and hickory handle, and closely resembles the small axe head excavated at the 1812 Ft. Meigs site.  It works great for split'n kindling and other small jobs, though I've never attempted to cut anything big with it...... http://www.hatchetsandaxes.com/kentucky-belt-axe-14-inch-hickory-handle

[Ohio Joe]

I have noticed when watching the old Daniel Boone DVD's with Fess Parker, the Kentucky Belt ax is what they have him carrying. I've always understood that one of their prime uses was for marking trail.

[rollingb]

I have noticed when watching the old Daniel Boone DVD's with Fess Parker, the Kentucky Belt ax is what they have him carrying. I've always understood that one of their prime uses was for marking trail.

The little axe I have, would work great for that. 

[Ohio Joe]

Rondo, do you remember Mort (out of Valentine, NE), he's no longer with us as he passed on to that great trappers camp in the sky, but he always swore by that belt axe he carried. And he was good at sticking it at the hawk-block as well. 

[rollingb]

Rondo, do you remember Mort (out of Valentine, NE), he's no longer with us as he passed on to that great trappers camp in the sky, but he always swore by that belt axe he carried. And he was good at sticking it at the hawk-block as well. 

Joe,.... I'm sure I've met him sometime in the past, just don't remember the name.

Yes,.. these little belt axes would probably "throw well".