Editor’s note: Last issue we outlined some of the latest in factory hawks and the like. Th is time it’s the custom industry’s turn.
At BLADE Show 2022, I visited six makers’ tables specializing in tomahawks, hatchets and axes. In addition, there were probably another 10 tables with a variety of hawks and hatchets. They ranged from very basic, with a minimal finish on the steel, to exceptional damascus heads. The price point for the more basic models was between $250 and $450, encouraging enthusiasts to buy and use them as intended.
Forged knives have been front and center in the custom knife community for the past seven years, with an ever-expanding market for specialized tools, camp knives and bushcraft knives. As a result, I expect to see an increased presence in such edged tools at future knife shows.
THE TOOLS
• A small, short-handled axe having the end of the head opposite the blade
