Never underestimate the effectiveness of a good hatchet or hawk. This skull is of a very large black bear that was found some years back in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It appears the bear was given a good blow to the skull with a hatchet or hawk about the size of the one in the picture. I'd sure like to know the whole story, wouldn't you?
(http://***********.bowsite.com/tf/pics/00small52752754.JPG)
Very cool to only imagine what had happened!
That would definitely be a very interesting story! Not to mention hairy! :scared:
Wow! If only we could know what happened. That is really neat.
Makes you wonder who succumbed first to his injuries; the bear or the guy swinging the hawk. There sure is an untold story there.
I think this story will be a "no-brainer" :laughing:
QuoteIt's a good Hawk and kilt the bar that kilt me
Makes me think of the origine of the Ka-bar name....
Nice Jerimiah Johnson reference Ron. :thumbsup:
Pretty neat. Nice skull.
A friend buried an axe in a smallish black bears neck when he was 19 or so. The bear had run him up a small tree, and climbed up right after him. The bear got Tom's boot in his mouth and bit thru it some. He held onto the tree with 1 hand and swung the axe with the other, can't remember but I think it was an Estwing or Gransfors Bruks axe. The last he saw the bear was running away with the axe still in its neck. He got some help and they tracked it a long long ways, never found the axe or the bear.
Tom is in his early 60's now and still gets a clench in his jaw when someone asks and he has to tell the story. People that know Tom realize that with an axe in his hand or any of a number of other things in his hand it was not a fair fight for the bear.
Yup, those things sure are dangerous. There ought to be a ban on those "Assault Axes", LOL!!!!
Watch your top knot.
And if a Bear sticks his head in my tent again, He will get the same as the first. :scared:
I would love to know the whole story. Very cool!
Ron, loved your story, thanks for sharing.
Hope that the Dems don't read this or we will have "Axe Control"!!
QuoteOriginally posted by Hit-or-Miss:
Yup, those things sure are dangerous. There ought to be a ban on those "Assault Axes", LOL!!!!
Don't let you know who hear that, it'll be coming if he does. :mad:
I don't want to be that :knothead: close to a bear to need a Hawk!!!!! :biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
For the mountain man facing a charging bear, one shot from his rifle and he was done but his hawk or bowie could be fully automatic.
OK, You Old Scuffer, I confess...I did it with the "Hawk" you gave me......Horserod
Knawbone,
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Killdeer/Mobile%20Uploads/511AF313-6FB2-4E15-93F8-A6756F00FD5F-13793-000014B53B341368_zpse29b4482.jpg)
Killdeer :biglaugh:
Killy, that we teach you to keep candy bars out of your tent. :thumbsup:
I bet that is one heck of a story...
QuoteOriginally posted by Killdeer:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Killdeer/Mobile%20Uploads/511AF313-6FB2-4E15-93F8-A6756F00FD5F-13793-000014B53B341368_zpse29b4482.jpg)
Killdeer :biglaugh:
That's just what Ron LaClair looks like when he comes into the big lodge at Shrewhaven in the morning.....'where's my coffee'. :laughing:
I figured mine was dull since I had been using it a lot, and throwing it. Didn't think anything about it when the blade barely touched my finger. Then I noticed the blood.
Since there seem to be no local legends being mentioned, I'm thinking the may have won.
For the Mountain Man facing a charging bear, one shot from his longrifle and he was done, but with a fully automatic Bowie and Hawk the bear was at a disadvantage.
an experience deserving of a Ron LaClair story!
Mine works on small hogs, but not to sure about bear. :campfire:
Just hope they don't find any human skeletal remains near the bear skull.
I'm sure I would tackle a bear with a hatchet, provided it was attacking me, and my pistol broke, lol.
Cool photo thanks for sharing!
I got my hawk made from a Hart framer I used for years. Just got her in tonight. I took some pics and will put some up ,Lord Willing tomorrow.
God bless, Steve
(http://eaglewingarchery.i8.com/images/Hawk/hawk2.jpg)
(http://eaglewingarchery.i8.com/images/Hawk/hawk3.jpg)
Here it is, Exactly like I described it to the fellow that made it for me. He really did it like he looked into my mind.
To say I like it is an understatement.
This is a Hart framing hammer that I carried and used every work day for several years.
Scott cut one side off of the claw and reshaped and squared it all up and balanced it perfectly.
Now I need to find someone to make a sheath so I can carry this thing without ending up in the hospital.
God bless you all; Steve
that is a fine hawk Sixby...and a bonus is it was your hammer for many years now being re-purposed. I look at hawks all the time...wondering should I or shouldnt I. :)
This was designed afte the Viking fighting axe. They were small head shaped like this and with a long , up to 6 ft. handle. they would grab the shield of an opponent with the hook and pull it opening the enemy up to a back slash with a razor sharp blade.
the same head was also used with a short handle for daily use. If I were going to brain a bear it would be with the spike.
God bless you all, Steve
I carry a hatchet as well instead of a long knife for that last resort act of defense.
Wow! Great way to retire a framing hammer Steve. :biglaugh: That is pretty wild bro....
QuoteOriginally posted by Killdeer:
Knawbone,
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Killdeer/Mobile%20Uploads/511AF313-6FB2-4E15-93F8-A6756F00FD5F-13793-000014B53B341368_zpse29b4482.jpg)
Killdeer :biglaugh:
Ohhhh a .470 Nitro Express comes to mind.
At least an 870 in 12 bore?
makes me want to get me a hawk....had some saved in favorites from a couple years ago I revisited. The flexibility of a good design like the viking or roger ranger models...allows them to be great for bushcraft, defense, or other needs as it arises.
always thought I would get a viking styled hawk....being descendent of Clan Gunn on mothers side. ;)
got another framing hammer...hahahaha?
Ron. I could get it done but , buttttttttt. He told me this was so hard to work that the next one would be 200.
I guess the steel is just super hard. He had to anneal it just so I could sharpen the edge.
He did this one for me as a gift. I don't think I am going to get another until the pain wears off LOL./
God bless you all, Steve
QuoteOriginally posted by JamesJamison:
[QB] Just hope they don't find any human skeletal remains near the bear skull.
If they did would they smell of pepper & have little bells nearby? :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
Going to try my hand at browning that ax tonight. I have never done this so I hope she turns out good.
God bless, Steve
I just got done browning a flintlock. Gets some laurel mountain forge browning solution. It will come out perfect!
I love my trappers companion. It is a do-it-all camp tool, and a damn fine fighting hawk in a pinch......
Very cool skull. I am sure the story behind it is a great one.
I am an axe person. If I am out, I usually have an axe or hawk with me. It is just one of my favorite tools. Even when I pack light, I can find room for a Shrew hawk.
Sixby
It's been a long time since I.ve thrown a hawk, but I seem to remember finding just the right distance to allow it to turn so the edge hits the target.
Try about 10 paces to start. :archer2:
Carry my Cold Steel Woodsman's Hawk and a large custom bowie when I'm in the woods. Not many bears in my area but there are a bunch of pigs. Opening day of turkey season I cam across a group of 15-20 in the twilight, never could get close enough and didn't have an "authorized" weapon to discuss on here any way.
You guys are going to get me to thinking about another "hawk". :help:
http://www.shrewbows.com/Ron-throwing-Hatchet.WMV
Good story Ron. You'd have to wonder how it all worked out.
With hawks or knives it would seem wise to have two, with one to throw and the other one as the last line of defense.
Wouldn't hawks make great home invasion defense weapons, especially if you had two or more? With someone armed and breaking through a door or window, I'd give the edge to the homeowner, if he had more than one hawk, was proficient with them, and acted first.
That's a good idea Don, maybe I should offer a "Home Defense Pack", Two or three hawks and a knife along with throwing instructions... :readit:
:goldtooth:
Ron , You are better with that hawk than I am with a pistol. Have you ever hunted with it?
God bless, Steve
That would be a great combination, three hawks and a knife. Now all that's needed is a bag/sheath to put them in, a "Home Defense Pack Bag".
I was only half kidding about home defense. If you don't like guns, then the choices are narrowed to bow and arrows, clubs, or cutting tools like hawks and knives. I would rather be the guy with two hawks inside the house than the guy breaking in with a gun...,that is if I get to fire first.
QuoteHave you ever hunted with it?
Not with the hawk but I did carry my throwing knife as a backup on a hog hunt once. I threw the knife into him after I had already put two arrows into him. :scared:
I was the Michigan State Champion with both knife and Hawk in 1980 and 81, and I won National Championship at Friendship with the a knife in 1980. The knife I used was hand forged to my specifications, a real heavy duty weapon. I still have it but I don't carry it anymore. My Blacksmith C.L. Matteo an I have talked about bringing out a smaller version of my old throwin knife.
This is it on the bottom, forged from an old buggy spring with steel bolsters and moose horn slabs. I weighs almost two pounds
(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/3-4-05b.jpg)
quote:
Originally posted by Ron LaClair:
That's a good idea Don, maybe I should offer a "Home Defense Pack", Two or three hawks and a knife along with throwing instructions... :readit:
:readit: :saywhat:
Sixby,
dont worry...but that price is not that bad compared to some of the other high quality working axes/hawks out there of any quality....just slightly more. If I had my father in laws hammer I would consider it actually....he had it for 40 years and passed few years ago. I think wife would like it if I did that....
great hawk though.....post pics after you put the new finish on it.
I have the browning done. Came out passable. No pics yet though. When I get some I will put them up; I'm feeling the need to make a maple handle for it now , although the Hickory one is probably tougher. That handle of Rons is awsome.; The Roman throwing Sword is too. LOl
You got to have an arm to pick that thing up much less throw it.
God bless, Steve
Killie, that picture reminds me of a friend's somewhat remote cabin in Alaska. He has a life size grizzly mounted standing with open mouth and looking none too happy, right in front of a large living room window. One day a grizzly was marauding around outside, took one look in the window at a much larger bear "inside" the house and high tailed it out of there. :biglaugh:
Oh sure throw the Hawk :scared: at the BEAR now what do you have left??? A pissed :mad: off bear and an empty :banghead: hand. Ever watch the movie "The Edge" :deadhorse:
David, you may be on to something there. If they ever get the guns then they will want to go after the bows, arrows, hawks and knives. Most of us have a bow or two, maybe it's now time to start collecting a few hawks and knives for when things get tough.
:jumper:
That's like CSI, love the story!
2fletch,
That the exact excuse I use when I buy yet another sharp piece of steel. My wife can't understand why someone needs so many knives, bows, pistols, ... (You get the idea ;) ).
I don't understand why she needs so many shoes :p - so we just agree to disagree :deadhorse: :) !
I bet the guy that swung that hawk gets a ton of people who simply won't believe that "ridiculous" story about the time he killed a bear with a hatchet...until he shows them the scars.
rbcorbitt, I'd side with you. There seems to be a sharp edge for almost all occasions. You just never know when an occasion may call for an edge that you don't have..., yet. You just have to be prepared. I believe that Ron may have just the sharp edge needed for many occasions. :jumper: