Multi-purpose tools.

[Timelord]

(7 October 2013, 15:42)CharlesHarris Wrote: In building building a volunteer search and rescue team I am shopping for a tomahawk type of utility tool for each guy. Toting a full-sized Halligan tool around sucks and you cant split wood with it for a fire. So, it needs to be super lightweight and is primarily used for busting out windows to gain entry into half destroyed buildings. In wide area searches it needs to double as a hatchet to split timber to get to some dry lumber or to build an "A-frame." There is a hundred different utility uses for such a tool, but those are the two primary uses. I was looking at the Estwing Black Eagle tactical hawk and a bunch of others. In my searches i came across a guy that builds tomahawks out of Estwing carpenters hatchets. I dont know for sure that it is the tool that I am looking, for because of the weight, it sure is cool and the price is right as well. Any metal workers on board who can surmise which grinding wheels and machine tools he used to do this? Please look it over.


http://www.personalarmament.com/2011/05/...ahawk.html

The carpenters axe profile is fine as it is for the job you intend it for. In fact it is much more useful with the hammer head and the nail puller. This will enable breaking windows and partition walls with ease. It is also good for building expedient wooden structures. Carry a few large nails with it and also the nail puller can be used to dismantle wooden stuff to be able to reconfigure it and reuse existing nails. Putting a back spike on an axe is fine for a battle axe as it is primarily designed for piercing armour. I do not think this will be a requirement of your rescue teams - anyway, the hammer head would do a pretty decent job on its own.lol. The main blade profile does not need to be cut back as we are not living in times of material scarcity and therefore these axe's were not specified to be of minimal design. I would make sure whichever one is chosen, has the handle/tang running all the way through the handle. I suspect the leather bound one is constructed like this and possibly the others. The length of the axe is ideal for the role you intend and can be carried easily. It is approximately the same size as an original "firemans" axe which were used for many years. These Firemans axes were in fact reissued naval boarding axes from the 18th & 19th centuries that had lain around in armouries for generations. They finally became obsolete for the fire services as well and can be bought on the 2nd hand market cheaply. They do however have a horizontal cut back spike and therefore are not as suited to the role you intend as the ones you have suggested. regards, TL. ( I would practice chopping wood with a decent branded one first to realise its limitations. It will be ok for splitting and light chopping jobs only)

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Super light weight does not equate well with wood splitting/chopping and window busting. At best it will have to be a compromise or it will not perform adequately.