Photo Credit: Rob Orlando
RMJ Tactical will display a prototype of the upcoming Kestrel Trail, a hammer poll version of the Kestrel, at SHOT Show 2018. While most of RMJ Tactical’s tomahawks are designed for breaching, people have been pressing them into use as woodsman tools for years and the demand for hammer poll models has always been strong in spite of the relatively few of them offered in the RMJ Tactical line.
Visit booth 2231 at SHOT Show to see the Kestrel Trail in person.
The SERE® Operator by Al Mar® is perhaps one of the most well-known tactical knife designs out there, and for good reason. It’s a classic design with great lines, ergonomics and usefulness. In 2016, TOPS and Al Mar® began discussions to make the Mini SERE® Operator fixed blade under the TOPS brand. TOPS is extremely excited to announce their version of the Mini SERE® Operator using 154cm stainless steel with Black G10 handles and a Kydex sheath. This is the same great design that everyone knows and loves, made in America, by TOPS. You can’t go wrong with that.
Pick yours up from a TOPS authorized dealer or directly from TOPS at www.topsknives.com/al-mar-mini-sere-operator
Overall Length: 8.75”
Blade Length: 4.00”
Cutting Edge: 3.88”
Blade Thickness: 0.13”
Blade Steel: 154CM RC 58-60
Blade Finish: Tumble Finish
Handle Material: Black G10
Knife Weight: 4.5oz
Weight w/ Sheath: 7.1oz
Sheath Material: Black Kydex
Sheath Clip: Rotating Spring Steel
Designer: Al Mar
MSRP: $210
Flagrant Beard’s latest creation, the Flagrant Templar Tomahawk, is now available to pre-order. It was created in collaboration with Exit Edgeworks and will start shipping earl next year.
The Flagrant Templar is a full tang construction tomahawk as opposed to a friction fit steel head on a wood haft. It is ground from 1/4″ thick 1095HC steel with Black or Tan micarta slab handles that span the entire haft to allow for a variety of grips. The head has a 2.63″ cutting edge with a sharpened beard and an interesting reverse-tanto, knife-like spike. The Flagrant Templar is 12.75″ in overall length.
I have a confession to make. I like axes, hatchets, and tomahawks (maybe too much) and I am fortunate to live in a place that lets me put them to good use. I even started an Instagram feed (@thedailyaxe) that shares pictures of them which is how I cope with my vice. It is also how I came across Frontier Axe & Tool.
Frontier Axe & Tool sells axes, hatchets, and tomahawks. There are tons of shops selling new axes and tons selling restored vintage axes but Frontier Axe & Tool sells both. Their site has a variety of restored vintage American axes right along side a line of quality, USA-made, newly manufactured axes.
Those new axes, hatchets, and tomahawks are pretty unique and worth a look. The heads are hand forged by H&B Forge. Then Frontier Axe & Tool hangs each one with their own handles, sharpens them, and fits them with a leather axe mask. The quality appears to be excellent. They even go so far as to coat the leather masks with multiple coats of Sno-Seal. The prices on these axes are lower than their high quality imported counterparts and you are getting some solid value for the price considering the included leather mask and hand worked hafts.
Check out Frontier Axe & Tool.
You’ve seen tomahawks with hammer poles and you’ve seen them with spikes. Flat Face Knives makes tomahawks with something even more useful on the opposite side from the cutting bit… a bottle opener. The Brewhawk is a hand forged tomahawk with a very traditional appearance until you notice the bottle opener.
Flat Face Knives makes these in various sizes and they are most easily available directly from the maker on Instagram. You can also check out their work at Arizona Custom Knives.
