14 Best Tomahawks (Review) In 2020

There are certain qualities everyone looks out for in an ax, does it cut through easily? Is it comfortable to use? How well-fitting are all the different components? There’s a whole lot more where those questions came from, thankfully the SOG Tactical tomahawk ticks all these boxes and more. Altogether, this tomahawk is made in such a way that it’s both heavy-duty and lightweight. So, whether you are a tactician or a practical user, this is more than a viable choice. Even better is the fact that this is a highly multifunctional piece of equipment. It can be used as a camping ax, a breaching ax, a great breaching ax and an array of others. There’s even the addition of a ballistic nylon carry sheath which makes it a lot easier to carry and store. Furthermore, this handy device can be used in different settings, so, whether you are out in the woods camping, on a trail or even at home, this is a device that you can undoubtedly rely on.

More on its construction; this tomahawk is made from high-quality stainless steel that is resistant to corrosion and as sturdy as they come. The 2.5- inch blade is more than up to that task of cutting through the toughest pieces of wood. It is fashioned with the toe rising a bit higher to provide a larger cutting edge. As such, cutting, chopping and breaching is incredibly easy. The handle attached here is just as functional, it is encased in high-impact glass and attached using specially designed SOG bolts as well as a steel ferrule. The all-around design here is as efficient as ever.

The Downrange is all business from the length that really allows you to build momentum in your swing to the hammer head for blasting through doors to the handhold in the axe head that can be used in conjunction with the pry bar. There’s no extraneous nonsense and weight has been kept to a minimum so the Downrange won’t become a burden on long treks. The integrated scales in the handle ensure you’ll always have a firm, slip proof grip regardless of conditions and corrosion resistant 420 high carbon steel is used throughout. Come hell or high water you’ll be ready when you have the Gerber Downrange Tomahawk axe slung.

SOG, which is a Seattle Washington based company, is named in honor of the Studies and Observations Group which is a unit within the US Military Assistant Command that saw action in the Vietnam war; they were tasked with providing quiet but quick and precisely effective solutions in all their operations. All of the company’s products are influenced by this mission and every effort is made to ensure the customer will not have any reason to complain about their products. The SOG Tomahawk Pack of Three is designed to secure a perfect balancing act on every throw with the realization that throwing knives can result in unpredictable trajectory and make the outcome quite complicated.

Thus, this tomahawk has been expertly balanced to provide both the professional and beginner leverage in predictability in every throw. It is compact, portable, well constructed and built to deliver fun and engage in serious operations. It bites deep with every blow and so will cut through any formidable obstacle encountered in your operations. What’s more, he 11.1-inch full-tang stainless steel head in a hard case black coat is made to last you a lifetime. And with a paracord handle that is removable, you are a-offered the desired grip. Overall, this product comes with a 3-pocket throwing hatchet sheath fitted with velcro straps and is ideal to send to parties, barbecues and other outdoor explorative escapades.

The Columbia River T-Hawk is another bare bones tomahawk axe that won’t win any design awards but will get the job done whether you’re a contractor, hunter or mountaineer. It features a blade forged from 1055 high carbon, corrosion resistant stainless steel, a hammer head for driving stakes, nails or anything else that needs a good whacking and a solid hickory handle that’s as pleasing to hold as it is to look at.

The T-Hawk is old-school survival tech at its best. While it won’t allow you to pry things open or remove nails or blast your way through drywall like some high end tomahawks will it’s great for basic physical chores like chopping and driving. It’s 19 inches long and weighs just over 2 pounds so it’s easy to fix to the outside of your backpack as you head into the wild after elk. It will be there to help you build a blind and to create a roaring fire to celebrate your 12 point trophy buck. Around the house it will help you with myriad gardening, renovation and maintenance chores and you can always modify it to your liking. Good, basic survival and work kit.

First up on our list is the SOG Tactical Tomahawk. Although they are a completely civilian operation SOG is named after the Vietnam era Studies and Observations Group of the US Military. Over the past 30 years they’ve made a considerable name for themselves by creating high quality specialty cutting implements and their Tactical Tomahawk falls neatly into line with the best of their products. The SOG Tomahawk design is clean and uncluttered and puts the focus squarely on balance and the effectiveness of the cutting edge.

That long axe blade is forged from high quality 420 stainless steel and coated with a black oxide coating that helps it resist corrosion and scratching. The head of the tomahawk axe is mounted via 2 heavy duty bolts to a handle that’s fabricated from glass-reinforced ballistic polymer that’s not going to rust or rot no matter how many times you get caught in the rain, along with a no-slip handle. A steel ferrule provides the handle with additional protection from splitting when the forces from the head become extreme. The cherry on the cake is the weight; which comes in at a svelte 24 oz. Outstanding tool.

The SOG Survival Hawk (as in tomahawk) is an aggressive looking piece of tactical gear that makes short work of obstacles, will allow you to harvest firewood fast when you need it and even provides a ferrocerium firestarter built into the axe head so you can get that firewood going. It’s a compact, lightweight, tough-as-nails piece of tactical/survival kit that should accompany you on any deep woods sojourn.

The shaft of the Survival Hawk is composed of fiberglass-reinforced nylon that won’t rust, rot or break under the strain of repeated use. The 3Cr13MoV steel used in the blade resists corrosion better than other high carbon steels and re-sharpens quickly and effectively. At 1 ¼ pounds the whole thing weighs about the same as a pint of water and at a tidy 12” long there’s no excuse for not taking it with you. Whether you’re harvesting wood for the campfire or demolishing walls to make way for a home addition you’ll appreciate the paracord wrapping around the handle that gives you a solid, slip-free grip every time. Amazingly it’s only about 30 bucks.

The United Cutlery M48 tomahawk embodies the company’s flair for expressive design and high-end utility. At just over 15 inches in length it’s long enough to get up a good head of steam with your swing but compact enough to be easily transported with the rest of your hunting, climbing or rescue gear.

The overall feel of the tomahawk is one of excellent balance, rugged durability and amazing versatility. That usability comes by way of the dual cutting edges on both the front edge and along the top of axe head. (While we applaud the ingenuity one also has to caution against making the mistake of grabbing the tomahawk head in a cane type manner.) The butt end of the axe head also comes to a seriously sharp point for penetrating wood or drywall and the blade itself is made from corrosion resistant AUS-6 stainless. Add a glass-reinforced nylon handle and a head that’s attached with 3 stout bolts and you have a tool made for outdoor survival, personal defense, tactical breaching or just getting a nice campfire going.

United Cutlery make a second appearance on our list of best tomahawks with this variation on their popular M48 tomahawk. The Apocalypse is designed to help you navigate the zombie wasteland or, in lieu of that, to help you build a nice campfire to roast marshmallows for the kids. At 15” in length with an axe head 8” long it’s well-proportioned and packs a punch.

The M48 Apocalypse tactical tomahawk features a generous sweeping blade made of 2Cr13 stainless steel and coated with black oxide to improve corrosion resistance. It has a bright yellow-green shaft that comes in handy in wilderness settings and the axe head is bolted down in 3 places to ensure it’s not coming loose no matter how many zombies you need to hack your way through on your path to freedom. It’s compact, tough and well-balanced and the paracord wrapping provides you a firm, slip-free hold regardless of the conditions. Included sheath snaps closed firmly so you can safely transport the Apocalypse. A valuable addition to your survival or tactical kit.

The Columbia River 2725 Kangee tomahawk embraces a slightly different twist on the classic tomahawk design. It’s full tang with one continuous piece of SK5 forged high carbon steel extending all the way from the axe head down the shaft to the butt end of the handle. As such you can lean into any task with this puppy without fear of the axe head coming loose.

Besides being full tang the Kangee T-Hawk Tomahawk sports one of the most comfortable handles in the business as well. It’s made of fiberglass reinforced nylon and gracefully curved with a checked surface for a sure grip. The scales can also be removed at any time in about a minute for cleaning. When it comes to transporting the Kangee tomahawk Columbia River provides a fully form-fitting Kydex sheath that’s MOLLE compatible if you’re in the armed forces or just have MOLLE compliant gear. The Kangee tomahawk will set you back a little more than most other tomahawks but this beautifully engineered and balanced piece of tactical kitis worth it.

The Cold Steel Trail Hawk is a bare bones tomahawk with no frills that nonetheless gets the job done. It’s the kind of tactical kit guys like to purchase and then trip out with their own design and practical touches like custom scales. But none of that is really necessary if you just want a basic tomahawk that will perform some primary functions for you.

The Trail Hawk is actually smaller in real life than it appears in the above photo. Although the shaft is 22” end to end several inches of that runs through the axe blade and emerges out the top where it’s basically dead weight. The American hickory shaft is arrow-straight and comes unstained or otherwise “finished”. The simple blade is forged from high carbon 1055 stainless steel for real durability and sharpens up fast and effectively. Overall blade length is 6 1/2 inches with the cutting edge being 2 1/4 inches long. If we were conducting house to house searches for Taliban insurgents we’d have something that was tougher and more versatile. But if we were heading into the woods for a week of camping and relaxation we wouldn’t hesitate to take the Trail Hawk.

SOG makes an encore visit to our “Best Tomahawks” list with what may be the slickest looking tomahawk on planet earth. The company has obviously put a great deal of time and energy into the design of the “Voodoo” tomahawk mini. It’s all black fiberglass reinforced nylon and satin finish 3Cr13MoV stainless steel creating a dynamic, yet solid profile that’s in a league of its own.

The SOG Voodoo Hawk Mini tomahawk is actually a pared down version of the company’s original Voodoo Hawk. This one is shorter overall and a bit lighter although it retains the same components that made its bigger brother so appealing. It has a formidable spike for piercing drywall, glass or even wood should a perp be barricaded inside and the overall feel of the Voodoo mini tomahawk is one of a high quality, supremely well-balanced hammer. The 2 3/4 inch 3Cr13MoV stainless steel blade sharpens up nice and is held in place by 2 bolts and the articulated nylon handle provides you a firm grip. Toss in the company’s limited lifetime warranty and you’ve got a winner.

The final entry on our list of Best Tomahawks is the Camillus Cutlery 19150 Sin Tomahawk. A beauty of a tomahawk that takes simple design concepts and manages to breathe new life into them while also creating a tomahawk that is tough a leather, comfortable to wield and built to last. If we had to choose one tomahawk from the list this we’d give serious consideration to the Sin Tomahawk.

The 4 inch curved blade of the Sin Tomahawk axe is forged from titanium bonded stainless for absolute toughness and held in place by 3 sizeable bolts through the fiberglass reinforced nylon shaft that ensure the axe head isn’t coming loose no matter what type of task you’ve bitten into. The Sin Tomahawk is 15 inches long so it’s easy to transport yet long enough to build momentum in your swings. The 550 lb paracord provides a sure grip in all weather and the aforementioned titanium bonded stainless holds a razor sharp edge like nobody’s business. A great compact tomahawk at a very affordable price.