>>383066Hawks require different technique than axes; most people do not realize this and as a result, think they suck. The hawk relies on speed, not mass, to do its work. The haft should be gripped about 1/3 of the length from the bottom, not at the very end as with a hatchet. Changing the way you hold the tool will immediately reveal its agility and speed.
Compounding the issue is that many hawks are not correctly designed: often the handle is too short for the head's mass. Generally a weight of 1oz per inch of handle length (or gram per millimeter) is good. A lot of handles are 3-4 inches too short, and this makes them handle sluggishly, like not-very-good hatchets, rather than quick and responsive in the hand.
There's good info out there, but most people don't have a clue. Spend some time exploring the tool and it'll reveal its character.
Pic related is a modified Cold Steel Trail Hawk and Rifleman's Knife by Rick Marchand.
