Axes

**Bill Harsey** · 09-21-2005, 04:05

Anyone use axes for tactical or emergency services function?

By axe, I certainly include hatchet or tomahawk.

By tactical, I mean as a tool carried for any use while "at work" in theater.

Spartan359 · 09-21-2005, 11:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Harsey

Anyone use axes for tactical or emergency services function?

By axe, I certainly include hatchet or tomahawk.

By tactical, I mean as a tool carried for any use while "at work" in theater.

Does firefighting count? Used one all the time on my ship. Just the good ol' wooden flat head axe. We used them to break through hatches and false bulk heads. I also used a Halligan tool for prying.

**Bill Harsey** · 09-21-2005, 11:19

Yes firefighting counts.
I would like to know about all the types of axes carried. Military guys might have to fight fire too or be able to use that tool if that's all there is.

Bravo1-3 · 09-21-2005, 22:46

I sent 3 Cold Steel Tomahawks to friends in the sandbox last year. I e-mailed the people who had them and asked them to give me their opinions and experiences for you. At least one of them is at sea, but I should hear back from the other two soon.

Spartan359 · 09-21-2005, 23:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Harsey

Yes firefighting counts.
I would like to know about all the types of axes carried. Military guys might have to fight fire too or be able to use that tool if that's all there is.

Sir I was in the military. There was only one type on my ship. Just the flat head axe. Now hatchets were of personal choice.

**Bill Harsey** · 09-22-2005, 07:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bravo1-3

I sent 3 Cold Steel Tomahawks to friends in the sandbox last year. I e-mailed the people who had them and asked them to give me their opinions and experiences for you. At least one of them is at sea, but I should hear back from the other two soon.

Thank you.

**Bill Harsey** · 09-22-2005, 07:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spartan359

Sir I was in the military. There was only one type on my ship. Just the flat head axe. Now hatchets were of personal choice.

Thanks, I knew that. My thinking when I wrote that was to include any firefighting axe in the topic.

Lack of clarity on my part. This will happen again.

**Bill Harsey** · 09-24-2005, 05:22

looks like I'm gonna have to start designing thigh holsters for axes to get anyone over here...

**The Reaper** · 09-24-2005, 08:31

Bill:

I think that I have already given you my views.

There are multiple options, from a tomahawk, to a hatchet, a crash axe, a roofing hammer, a camp axe, etc.

I would like to hear from guys who have been in the box and possibly used 'hawks or axes in their daily activities.

TR

**Bill Harsey** · 09-24-2005, 08:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Bill:

I think that I have already given you my views.

There are multiple options, from a tomahawk, to a hatchet, a crash axe, a roofing hammer, a camp axe, etc.

I would like to hear from guys who have been in the box and possibly used 'hawks or axes in their daily activities.

TR

TR,
Thanks, Yes you have and that is what prompted the thread here.

I also would like to hear what the guys have to say if they choose.

Bravo1-3 · 09-26-2005, 12:30

Kevin tells me that he used it quite a bit in Fallujah last year. The spike on the back of the Tomahawk apparently fits very well into the wire loops on ammo crates. I'd imagine that a lot of guys on this board have spent a lot of time opening those, and know how your hands feel after opening a large number of them by hand. I'm sure he felt it was the greatest invention since sliced bread after that.

It was also used for breaking windows, cutting pieces of comm wire that insurgents had run between buildings, and setting up an antenna (he did not elaborate, but I'm going to assume he used the side of it as a hammer).

He also said it scared the crap out of prisoners seeing it on his hip.

**Bill Harsey** · 09-26-2005, 12:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bravo1-3

Kevin tells me that he used it quite a bit in Fallujah last year. The spike on the back of the Tomahawk apparently fits very well into the wire loops on ammo crates. I'd imagine that a lot of guys on this board have spent a lot of time opening those, and know how your hands feel after opening a large number of them by hand. I'm sure he felt it was the greatest invention since sliced bread after that.

It was also used for breaking windows, cutting pieces of comm wire that insurgents had run between buildings, and setting up an antenna (he did not elaborate, but I'm going to assume he used the side of it as a hammer).

He also said it scared the crap out of prisoners seeing it on his hip.

This helps, a lot.
Thank you.

Anyone else?

GackMan · 09-26-2005, 19:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bravo1-3

He also said it scared the crap out of prisoners seeing it on his hip.

heh... cool.

my buddy was in Africa and said that they could point their guns at people and they didn't care since they knew that the americans couldn't shoot them. Then they got some old school bill clubs from somewhere. Everyone got issued a stick... all bets were off. I guess the people were pretty sure the .mil dudes could dispense an ass-kicking without much paperwork and they didn't have trouble getting people out of the way after that.

Wonder where a smatchet... errr, hatchet would fit in there.

**Team Sergeant** · 09-27-2005, 09:14

I’m sorta partial to this one, but then again it could be my Norwegian heritage….

**Bill Harsey** · 09-27-2005, 09:23

TS,
The Vikings where/are still very good wood workers.
One of the traditions of shipbuilding before saw mills is the use of hewing axes to make timbers (round logs into squared and flat sided beams). If a culture masters making and using the big wood working axes, it's not a big step to use axes in battle.