Tomahawk

[Scout]

I guess this would fall under "fighting blade." I saw a Cold Steel Vietnam Tomahawk
the other day. It said somethign aobut Special operations using the tomahawk in vietnam. The weapons nut in me thinks its pretty cool, but practically, what use would it be in combat? what advantages would it have over a machete for convention uses--chopping, etc?

[veil]

Scout - i've seen the thing too http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/smile.gif

It seems like an indian story to me actually... ofcourse a tomahawk chops better than a knife, but it's fairly useless for anything else.

When CQB gets a little too CQB, as Jim likes to put it, an axelike weapon isn't any good : you need to swing the damn thing. But how will you swing when the other guy's allready grabbed you in the cha-cha-cha and is trying to stick a bayonet between your ribs?

I think Lynn Thompson just likes tomahawks http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/smile.gif no sane person would every carry one these days....

-Veil

[E19]

Scout,

The tomahawk was in fact specially ordered & manufactured for SF in the early part of the VN War. Its use was later banned because pictures of SF troops with their tomahawks started showing up in the media and it was perceived as barbaric and therefore politically incorrect. I have an original in my collection that I obtained from an old timer while at Ft Bragg in 66. SF used blowguns, crossbows, and othe primative weapons while working (and living among)with the Montagnard tribes.

[Scout]

E19,

Thanks for the info. So the old timers actually used them as weapons, not just for choppin' wood? I've heard of using bow, or at least crossbows for sentry removal--I know some units did that in WWII as well. Blowguns make sense, they're compact enough to be really practical. Of course, in the 2000s,
such "primitive" weapons are naturally "barbaric". If its not high-tech, its bad, if it requires you to take a life close in, it make you a bad person. But to me, is no more barbaric to use a weapon the kills immediately than it is to shoot or frag someone and leave them maimed. Fucked up!
Not like they were taking heads with them....

[Mac679]

Scout,
I remember reading about a rumor that an SF Hatchet team/force ( and equipped with hatchets-could have been those tomahawks too ) taking one of Roger's Rangers Standing Orders too seriously, something about "jump out and finish them up with your hatchet". Could be a reason for the disappearance of those tomahawks-could also be just a rumor.
Mac

[Scout]

Are SOF personnel allowed to carry tomahawks today?

[Mac679]

Can definitively answer that one but hey, they carry machetes in the jungle don't they? course it's probably lighter than a tomahawk but ya never know
Mac