If you were like me growing up, the basics of throwing a tomahawk must have interested you greatly as a kid. It’s one of the weapons I wished greatly for as a kid on the rails running North America.

A tomahawk, affectionately called hawk, is a hatchet that looks similar to a straight shaft. This unique ax-looking can be handled with a single hand, and it is best thrown when you understand its anatomy.

The Anatomy of a Tomahawk

 

For a start:

• the cutting blade is the bit or beak;
• the middle section that connects to the back handle is the poll;
• the whole tool from the beak to the poll is the head;
• the upper part of the beak is the spine, while the side of the  beak is the cheek;
• the part immediately under the cheek is the hook;
• the cutting area is the edge, while the angle extending from the edge is the bevel;
• the point of contact between the edge & the hook is the beard;
• The area extending from the handle is the tip, while the edges behind the poll are the shoulders.

There may be some other sections at the end of the poll, as the poll can be flat or come with a solid section referred to as the hammer or a hollow extension called the bowl.

If this extension is spiked, it is called a spike. The handle would (obviously) be the section by which you hold your tomahawk. Meanwhile, there is the molding, which is an area at the beginning of the bit. The V-shape behind the head is the chevron, while the circular part lying between the poll & the spine is the eye. 

Commonest Styles of Tomahawk

 

Ordinarily, there are different styles of tomahawk. For this context, though, there are primary types as they are the most recommended for throwing. They are:

Hammer Tomahawk

 

The hammer tomahawk comes with a hammer poll, and it is most preferably lightweight & durable — remember to check for material construction. And just so you know, it is easier to throw a hand-forged tomahawk than a machine-forged model. In fact, the former makes throwing perfect.

Hammer hawks are so comfortable for throwing because they are an adaptation of the original & most accepted tactical hatchet model. Hammer poll hawks have heavy handles, but they are convenient enough to throw & are also perfectly stable. 

Spiked Hawk

 

A spiked tomahawk comes with a spiked extension from its poll. These are typically considered tactical weapons for an apocalyptic event. They look very intimidating, bless their razor-sharp edge & needle-pointed at the front & back of the head respectively. 

Your choice here has to be sharpened both front & back because hooking & cutting are made easier so. This is the ultimate weapon as long as tomahawks are concerned. 

Ideal Size for Your Tomahawk

 

Knowing the anatomy of hawks & recommended styles for throwing, I believe you’re good to start throwing at fierce lions & wild dragons.

A critical determinant of a throw is your grip, which is influenced by the size. For the perfect size, you should keep to these guidelines: 

Children under 12 have to keep to sixteen inches at most.

The best size for teenagers & women falls between 18-19 inches, while an adult male is precisely 19 inches. 

Needless to say, you have to choose the most appropriate size for yourself or your kids to ensure that absolute safety is maintained.

Considerations Before Throwing Your Tomahawk

 

• Your hawk has to be well-sharpened, and you must have inspected it thoroughly too.
• The handle must not have splits & splinters, as it may be unable to hold the head if it does.
• The station spacing has to be about 10 feet. Likewise, you should be about 14 feet from the target. The front, side & back clear area should have a range of 20, 30 & 75 feet accordingly.
• Ensure what you throw is the handle & not the head. The weapon has to be thrown in the exact direction of your target.
• A hawk should be your weapon only if you possess the manual skills to use your hands as well as the strength required to throw far appropriately.
• Your target must be clearly defined. Do not settle for targets. Having a particular object to throw at helps to avoid wastage of effort.

Building a Target to Throw At 

 

A tomahawk is not a tool you just master at the first trial —except you’re a grade-5 artificial intelligence specimen— which you are not. As a beginner, what this implies is that you must throw at an inanimate target for a long time before you start throwing at escaping rabbits, even while leaping from tree to tree. And apart from the first point I mentioned in this paragraph, another difference between the tomahawk & basic tools like a knife or cutlass, it requires a large target to start with. 

The typical advice is to use the cross-section of a large log, as this is an object your hawk won’t rip apart at the first throw. The recommended wood types for constructing your log are sassafras hardwood, beech hardwood, cottonwood, ash hardwood, hackberry, sycamore & tulip poplar. Alternatively, you can just make do with planks of wood — they are even easier to use. 

The ideal measurement for a hawk target is 6 feet in length, and this will take four 2×12 at least. It is recommended to engage the services of a professional woodsman if you can’t attach the planks. The diameter, meanwhile, should be 16 inches, although you can make it up to 20 inches. 

You will need to support your target with a strong stand, so it can withstand the force of your throw. Your target can be basic, portable, or heavy-duty. 

Concluding the Basics of Throwing a Tomahawk

 

Mastering the basics of throwing a tomahawk is not easy, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible too. You must, however, be dedicated & unrelenting to become adept at hawk throwing. In the follow-up to this, we’ll look at the appropriate stance & what else is essential in using a tomahawk.