Modifying the Cold Steel Trail Hawk, an instructional...

[luckylee]

mine is nearly done paint stripped reprofiled new bevel sharpened, just need to make a leather mask for it now, but that is going to take me a bit, as i want to do something different with this axe mask.
will do some pics when all done.
take care.
lee.

[whats wrong with you all]

mine is nearly done paint stripped reprofiled new bevel sharpened, just need to make a leather mask for it now, but that is going to take me a bit, as i want to do something different with this axe mask.
will do some pics when all done.
take care.
lee.

Sounds good Any tips on reprofiling for when I do mine?

[TurboGirl]

Thats my next stage too Got the handle nice enough now and the paint off and have been fantasizing about an all over etch on a smooth blade, is it feasable to etch a large area in comparison to a small blade makers mark? Don't suggest a car battery, HWMBO has already suggested it

I'm thinking of sacrificing a mosaic pin to the grub screw, is it ok to tap that in..ie threaded n locktited, not with the blunt end of a large axe!

[whats wrong with you all]

Thats my next stage too Got the handle nice enough now and the paint off and have been fantasizing about an all over etch on a smooth blade, is it feasable to etch a large area in comparison to a small blade makers mark? Don't suggest a car battery, HWMBO has already suggested it

I'm thinking of sacrificing a mosaic pin to the grub screw, is it ok to tap that in..ie threaded n locktited, not with the blunt end of a large axe!

That sounds cool

When you say you're putting a pin in, that won't stop you being able to take it apart will it?

[sasquatch]

Thats my next stage too Got the handle nice enough now and the paint off and have been fantasizing about an all over etch on a smooth blade, is it feasable to etch a large area in comparison to a small blade makers mark? Don't suggest a car battery, HWMBO has already suggested it

I'm thinking of sacrificing a mosaic pin to the grub screw, is it ok to tap that in..ie threaded n locktited, not with the blunt end of a large axe!

I've heard of people etching large areas extremely fast with a car battery! Go for it!

[TurboGirl]

WWWYA, I'll make sure my pin doesn't protrude into the shank, a timely reminder there thanks Thats part of the reason I wanted to run a die down it so it'll have a good area to make it fast rather than drill out the threads and risk it being insecure

I really thought HWMBO was after the insurance money again when he suggested a car battery, Sasquatch! I might div around with the dremel 1st tho... *now wheres that big chicken smilie...*

[mountainm]

WWWYA, I'll make sure my pin doesn't protrude into the shank, a timely reminder there thanks Thats part of the reason I wanted to run a die down it so it'll have a good area to make it fast rather than drill out the threads and risk it being insecure

I really thought HWMBO was after the insurance money again when he suggested a car battery, Sasquatch! I might div around with the dremel 1st tho... *now wheres that big chicken smilie...*

Leave the dremel - scratch your design into nail varnish then use a 9v battery and a cotton wool pad soaked in saltwater. You just have to keep moving at a fairly even speed.

[TurboGirl]

I've got my reprofiling and light surface work done, just the etch and then an edge and sheath

I've got a bit carried away with the designs.....


It's going to be very girly Here's the other side....


Have I caught up with you yet, Lee?! Can't wait to see this batch of mods through the thread

[Wayland]

Looks like that is going to be impressive.

[John Fenna]

I love the design - I aint got my glasses to hand... is that a Niad, a self portrait or Betty......?

[udamiano]

very impressive Sal very much look forward to seeing the end results

[sasquatch]

I too am looking forward to seeing this, it's going to be epic! Brilliant design there, I love the way you draw things out first and know what you're doing before you do it with all your projects. I really should try that sometime!

[TurboGirl]

It's a woman thing Actually I have very little idea what I'm doing but thought if I could do it freehand to scale, I *should* be able to scratch it out... she's an art nouveau print that I've ripped, John, so probably a niad- I just liked her

The opportunity to use yours, Wayland, was something of a revelation and it came just in time to become a doodle pad for this etching malarky before I risk it on a homemade blade. I'm having great fun with it and thanks for the encouragement lads!

[Biker]

Hey Sal that is going to look AMAZING! Can't wait to see the results of that... I wonder how many funny looks I'll get if I go into our local chemist to buy nail varnish? "Les Anglais" already have a weird enough reputation over here without me adding that to the arsenal.

[TurboGirl]

Life's thrown me a few wide balls to field lately so I haven't been 'gittin r dun' to my satisfaction, so in a fit of pique, I nailvarnish resist etched the turbogirl side so I could get the sheath done for this weekends NorthWoods work parties- lets face it, they're chocolate teapots if they look beaut but I don't have the experience to use them!



There's a few areas where the saline has crept under the varnish and discoloured- I need to polish the resisted areas back for 'pop'ability and a mosaic pin pupil.... it's a work in progress

And here's the sheath- just simple and practical toe-and-fingersaver really!

[Biker]

Da-yammmm. That's pretty bloody spectacular Sal!

[Samon]

I kept mine simple, after a while debating about what to do with it after 'sorting it out' from it's factory form I wanted it to look like a normal axe. I've removed the paint and forging marks from the head (spray on stripper and falp disc), reprofiled the blade, shortened the top and bottom of the handle, removed the stain, oiled and waxed it (babybell wax!) and made a quick card/duct tape sheath!

good bit of fun these tools and worth the pennies!

[TurboGirl]

They're a lovely set, Samon What a great thread this is, every persons mod suits them beautifully... if anyone else fancies etching, I ran a thread on it with links to offsite and other threads which might help.

[Steve13]

What sort of length to people shorten the shaft to out of interest if at all

[swotty]

I'm sure i've seen it in a thread somewhere but can't find it.....who's selling the Trail Hawk for the best price??

[Wayland]

I got mine direct from the UK distributors and as for length I just shifted my hand around until it felt right for me and gave myself about an inch spare.

[SimonM]

I haven't modded mine yet...but then all I do is throw it.



Almost dead centre of the top log, shaft vertical...the best demo I've ever done for the Scouts!

Simon

[SteveW]

I thought I'd just add to this thread and show what I've done to the second Trailhawk I managed to get hold of.
The original owner had done a very nice job of cleaning and generally fettling the Hawk, but I've been on the lookout for another head to have a play with as I wanted to have a go at losing some of the weight, not that there is much to start with and changing the lines of the blade a bit.

Quick sketch on the blade with a marker pen to see where I'm going.




On the workbench, much of the work done.....



What it looks like so far, with my other head as a reference. I also took the chance to round off all the sharp edges so that the head is much more comfortable to hold in the hand when using it without the haft.


The pair as they stand today. I'm still dithering about taking a bit more off the curve and maybe thinning the poll a wee bit, but I know from experience it's easier to take away than to put back so I'll give it a day or so and see how it grows on me.