How do you carry a tomahawk?

[Dale Halterman]

At one end of the spectrum it appears that some people just tuck them into their belt - which seems a bit dangerous dangerous - and others have elaborate harnesses  - which seems a bit much for such a simple tool as a tomahawk.

There has to be a middle ground. Looking for ideas.

Thanks

Dale H

[Roger B]

Don't know about PC, but making a blade guard  & belt carry would probably be OK until you want to sit  down. Then you have to sit on the handle. Back of the shot bag makes sense for a small "bag axe".  I don't know how much a 18th or 19th Century woodsman/ trapper actually used a tomahawk,  so it's hard to know if they routinely carried one.  How did the tribal warriors do it? I don't know of any A J Miller paintings that depict western trappers with tomahawk. Interesting question.
Roger B.

[jbigley]

I made a leather blade "sheath" for mine--I have three. Thrust through my belt on right side rear, just over the hip. It rides well there, and is readily accessible. I take it out of the belt if I want to sit in a chair, but it's not really a problem if sitting on a rock, log, ground, (maybe even a horse).
Newman's book, Swords and Blades of the American Revolution, illustrates tomahawks being carried in a similar fashion. The pictures show the blades being wrapped in cloth or perhaps buckskin. PC? Maybe, maybe not. Meh. It works.
I read somewhere that tomahawks were carried more often than a pistol, and IMHO, a tomahawk will certainly cut or chop better than a pistol will. We do know that the members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition each carried a tomahawk as part of their issue equipment. -- JB

[Elnathan]

What do you mean by elaborate harness? Here are original sheaths:




Personally I don't think these are much more elaborate than a sheath for a sword or bayonet - less, now that I think about it - which are the nearest analogs IMHO, and there are certainly more elaborate sheaths for trade knives out there...
The other historical solution is just to wrap a rag or piece of leather around it. I think that there are some Canadian pictures showing round-poll hatchets being carried that way - one could come up with a piece of leather or canvas with attached ties and still be in the realm of plausibility, I think.

As for unattested middle ground approach: I've made little leather pouches that slip over the bit and shank area and were tied on with strings - I didn't get pictures before they had to be thrown out in The Great Leather Mold Plague, unfortunately. I don't think I've seen it attested historically, though, despite the fact that they seem like a very intuitive solution. A Historically-Attested-But-Anachronistic approach are the wood, antler, and metal edge protectors used in the Early Medieval period:
https://sagy.vikingove.cz/en/axe-sheaths/
https://sagy.vikingove.cz/en/metal-axe-sheaths/

Edited to add: It occurs to me that some of the differing approaches might be shaped by how an individual expected to use the axe - a razor-sharp edge isn't necessarily needed to make a tomahawk an efficient weapon but it does need to be readily accessible in a hurry. If on the warpath, a man might carry light axe made blunt enough that it couldn't slice his hand accidentally and just stick it in his belt, and if traveling in peacetime carry a sharp axe wrapped up for safety.

[jbigley]

Nice pics, Elnathan. Thanks for posting. -- JB

[MuskratMike]

When I carry one it is a scabbard on the opposite hip as my shooting bag. Mine is an H&K hawk and sheath. For the record it is for sale with the sheath for $75.00 + shipping to the lower 48.

[Dale Halterman]

Mike, that is exactly the kind of thing i am looking for. Thank you.

Dale H

[Yazel.xring]

I’ve done the simple leather edge cover and belt carry for a while. I like it for moving through the woods because it’s light and keeps weight off the shoulders, where I already have my bag and horn.









The only thing I don’t like about it is that it moves on my belt as I walk, either forward or back, and it’s a pain to sit down in camp with it. I think of it as a fighting implement more than a camp axe (based on conversations) so it makes sense that it’s not good for sitting with.

Just the way I skin this cat. Always like seeing how others do.

[axelp]

I have simply wrapped the blade in some hide, tied it off with a wang of leather and tucked it behind in my belt. You get used to allowing it to move/angle off to the side when sitting down. It is not a huge deal really. I have also simply grabbed it out of my belt before sitting. Like Ethan, I too try to keep it simple and not hang too much stuff off my shoulders.

[Pukka Bundook]

I had a case covering the sharp bit, ona strap. Carried over shoulder but shaft threaded in my belt or sash.
Strap was just insurance.

[thecapgunkid]

You probably need more than one type of sheath depending on what you're doing, but I never went out into the woods without something to cover the sharp edge.

Looks like some of these guys have come up with some fun projects.

[Greg Pennell]

Here’s a simple carriage I made for this little “head opener” I forged from a railroad spike.  For a full-sized tomahawk I just use a blade mask, and tuck the handle through my sash. It gets in the way at times, but then, so does anything else.








Greg

[Curt Lyles]

Here's a set I made years ago I sure wish I had it back.

[Dale Halterman]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I really appreciate the time you took to share you ideas and solutions.

Ultimately, I decided to go with a minimalist approach, which makes sense since I am putting together a kit for a very plain rifle (poor boy, hog rifle, Schimmel, or whatever they call it in your neck of the woods).

Just molded a piece of heavy leather to fit the blade and tied it in place with a leather whang. I will carry it in my belt. Done. Not pretty, not high art, but it should work.

Dale H