How sharp does a tomahawk need to be

[BigBoreBLR]

This is for throwing at events only. Not likely going to chop wood or anything.

I bought a plain jane one with n charpening what so ever on it.

I got 3 feet of snow here in NY. One missed throw and it's a goner until march. So, I don't know how it performs.

 

[tenngun]

You dont have to shave with it, and the dull edge from the factory will stick. I like to sharpen it to a point I can cut slivers off a board with it. Sharb cuts in eaiser and so is easier to stick.

 

[nit wit]

What good is a dull hawk? Sharpen it!
Nit Wit

 

[F.G. Ford]

A dull hawk is a hammer! :grin:
A good hawk should be able to split whiskers.
Fred

 

[htredneck]

Hawk, hatchet or axe - sharpen them like a knife!

 

[Captjoel]

Many moons ago, I was going to use "Dull Hawk" as my moniker. But decided it would have given the impression of being worthless! :haha:

 

[50cal.cliff]

How sharp do you keep your knives?? :hmm: About that sharp!

 

[necchi]

My loving Son, the resident Hawk Toss pro,, would (prior to the competition) use a stone to sharpen his hawk till it sliced paper.

 

[Ken Cormier]

Sharp as a knife dull tools hurt you quicker.

 

[bubba.50]

to throw at a stump I would want it pretty sharp 'cause as mentioned, "sharp sticks better".

to chop kindlin' or dispatch a pesky Indian i'd want to be able to shave with it :thumbsup: .

 

[pa woods roamer]

At some Hawk tossing contests, You have to CUT a Playing Card. A dull `Hawk , especially if the Hawk Block is kinda Punky. will just fold the Card instead of cutting It. Sharpen that baby up !!!

 

[Crewdawg445]

If I can't shave hairs off a gnat with mine, I ant happy!!! :thumbsup:

 

[William O.]

It should be sharp like a knife but keep in mind that the angle of the edge is much different than that of a knife. It's more like a chisel but still need to be sharp. Don't be afraid of using a file on it as the metal is so much thicker you aren't going to ruin it. I have used a course stone on mine but it really doesn't need such a fine edge, a file will do.

 

[Crewdawg445]

+1 I use mini files on mine. Very easy to give a few licks of a file before use.

 

[erock1980]

I will be the voice of dissent here. I've never thrown my cheap throwing tomahawk at anything other than a soft, half-rotted pine round that's been outside for months or longer, whether at our local shoots or at the one that hangs in my backyard for practice. It always sticks in the wood, and the playing cards don't prevent that either. Since its only job is to be thrown and stick in soft wood, it seems unnecessary to me to sharpen it to a razor edge capable of splitting hairs. If it was a tomahawk that ever got used for anything else, I'd keep it as sharp as the ones I use for real work.

 

[Claude Mathis]

As with most things, people recommend doing what works best for your particular needs. (I don't sharpen my "butter knives") :wink:

I will be the voice of dissent here. I've never thrown my cheap throwing tomahawk at anything other than a soft, half-rotted pine round that's been outside for months or longer, whether at our local shoots or at the one that hangs in my backyard for practice. It always sticks in the wood, and the playing cards don't prevent that either. Since its only job is to be thrown and stick in soft wood, it seems unnecessary to me to sharpen it to a razor edge capable of splitting hairs. If it was a tomahawk that ever got used for anything else, I'd keep it as sharp as the ones I use for real work.

 

[Ron LaClair]

My throwin hawks are not shavin sharp but I keep them sharp enough to stick in a hard block. The hawk I carry on the other hand is shavin sharp. It has tool steel forge welded in the edge which is harder than the body of the hawk and will take and hold an edge.

 

[Powderhorn09]

I always keep mine 'shavin' sharp, just in case a game of 'handles' breaks out after the shootin is done!

 

[old ugly]

long taper will stick better than steep tapered.
sharp is good
ou

 

[Vaino]

Haven't thrown a hawk. but have chopped and split a whole lot of wood. I would think that an angled edge would be better than a wedge edge for a hawk....easier to pull out because it didn't penetrate as deep. Both types of edges should be sharp.....Fred