How to Make an Indian Tomahawk
The tomahawk derives its name from the Algonquian term meaning "light battle axe." Native American craftsmen made many variations of the tomahawk from stone; metal blades arrived with the Europeans. The axe's popularity as both a versatile tool and a weapon continued into the Vietnam War and is seen even today among soldiers in Afghanistan, according to author Jason Earls.
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Things You'll Need
- Stone or metal blade
- Hacksaw
- Seasoned wood
- Vise
- 12-15 feet rawhide
- Decorative items
Instructions
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1
Find a blade. Suitable rocks can be found on a short hike outside. For a metal blade, scrounge around in a salvage yard or machine shop for a scrap of iron, brass or copper. Bury the metal in the ground for a few weeks to tarnish and rust the blade for an aged effect.
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2
Shape the stone or metal to a blade shape, using the hacksaw. Smooth it with the file.
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3
Choose a piece of seasoned wood for the handle. Hickory was the traditional handle, but willow and ash can also be used. Remove the bark if you wish.
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4
Lock the handle in a vise and and split one end of the wood with a saw or knife. This will serve as a cradle for the blade. Whittle the end of the handle and round it out to remove saw marks and create a more authentic look.
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5
Insert the blade into the split, and secure it with the rawhide. Tie one end of the rawhide to an object such as a fence post or door knob, and then wrap the rawhide around the blade. Finish it off by wrapping over a loop a half dozen times and cinching the end through the loop.
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6
Cover the wrapped head and blade with wet rawhide and allow it to dry. Additional decorations can be added at this stage.
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Tips & Warnings
It's important that the wood be dry and prepared. Green wood will shrink over time, and the blade will come loose. Allow the wood to dry while the blade is aging in the ground. For the handle, select a piece of seasoned wood such as willow, hickory or ash.
A small-diameter fishing line can be substituted for rawhide when securing the blade to the handle.
If rawhide is not readily available, soak a rawhide dog bone in warm water and cut it into strips. Old welding gloves cut into strips also work as a substitute.
