New Pants For My SOG Fasthawk
Posted By Randy on December 11, 2011
Canadian Tire recently began selling the Fasthawk tomahawk manufactured by SOG Specialty Knives and Tools. The local branch is a security client of ours and recently, whenever I was there, I could hear the damn thing calling my name.
Fortunately, Mrs. LFM and I maintain a toy budget made entirely out of Canadian Tire Money, and a couple weeks ago a little over $50.00 of that turned into a Fasthawk. Field testing is ongoing and a review is in the works, but today’s article is about the practical scabbard I’ve been developing for this tool.
The Fasthawk is delivered with a fairly stout snap-on blade cover made of a thick, woven synthetic that snaps on a three points. It has five strategically placed eyelets to facilitate attachment to packs and such, but I consider it more of a protective casing for times when the ‘hawk will ride inside a pack, or in a vehicle mounted tool kit. The belt loop on this item is vestigial at best, but if you read my 1 August 2011 article titled Getting My Gear Off My Belt, you’ll understand I wouldn’t want to hang it on my waist anyway.
Today I’m introducing you to the prototype minimalist carry system I’ve devised for the Fasthawk, and that I’ll be test driving over the next few weeks in field trials. The dye job in these pictures looks a bit rough because this is still a work in progress and a lot more finishing needs doing. I also need to complete the suspension system so stay tuned, but in the mean time, take a look.
The Fasthawk wearing its new pants in comparison with the issue head cover. The head is supported under the chin of the business end by an "L" shaped welt, as well as by the criss-cross strap that straddles the handle and anchors to a stud. The end of the retaining strap was left long for now while I establish how much grab handle I want. (Mrs. LFM photo)
The Fasthawk and scabbard showing some more detail. Draw is accomplished by releasing the strap from its stud, rocking the spike end free of the leather, and then pulling the head rearward to clear the frontal support. Click the picture to enbiggen. (Mrs. LFM photo)
Nice setup. Never owned/used a tomahawk and wonder what the uses/benefits are?
Thanks Gary. I’ve got a couple of the Cold Steel Vietnam Tomahawks that I had modified some years ago by a local knife maker who sharpened the chin area of each for me to give the blade a little more utility in knife type applications, thereby increasing their value in the field. I’ve only recently started working with them to explore their plus and minus aspects. I regularly carry a modified carpenter’s axe that I wrote about in my article called “Variations on a Theme” http://randy.whynacht.ca/archives/66 that you may want to look at if you haven’t already. It’s sort of a cross between a light woodsman’s axe and a tomahawk, and it performs like nobody’s business!
Now that I have the Fasthawk I’ll be doing an article answering your uses/benefits question for all the items I have available. While I have my own ideas, I’m still answering that myself!