Man, am I glad to see Tactical Knives Magazine back. Like many readers, I honestly missed it. When I got the news of the publication’s return, as a contributor, I knew I wanted to start with Helm Enterprises. So, I reached out to our good friend James Helm, of Forged in Fire fame, to see what he had available to showcase, and of course, he had a Wrecker Tomahawk ready to roll. James so kindly sent me a 15-inch Wrecker with a spike, dressed in tan micarta for review.
The Helm Enterprises Wrecker Tomahawk
As I mentioned, this version of the Helm Enterprises Wrecker is the 15-inch version. The Wrecker is available in three different handle lengths: 12, 15, and 18 inches. The steel James uses for his tomahawks is 80CrV2. These are mid-tech, so they start out as water jet blanks. However, he does the heat treatment and all the grinds in-house himself.
The Wrecker is now made of an oversized “1/4-inch-thick” stock. According to James, the tomahawk is now closer to .275-inch, rather than .25 inch. It is just a smidge thicker and heavier than it used to be. However, older versions still come in at .25 inch in thickness.
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The cutting edge is 2 13/16 inches, in a straight line from point to point. Likewise, the spiked head is 7 5/16 inches long.
The handle is a Tan Micarta with machined grooves, and I found it to be very comfortable to hold.
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James has all his Tomahawks finished off with Cerakote ceramic gun coating and a laser-engraved logo.
When it comes down to the sheath, James chooses to use Boltaron over Kydex. James prefers Boltaron because it is less vulnerable to temperature extremes than Kydex. It’s pretty much the same stuff, just formulated to mold at a bit hotter temperature. So, it’s less prone to losing its fit in hot weather.
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The sheath did come complete with a nylon strap and a heavy-duty quick-release buckle. I found that the Boltaron sheath that was sent with the Wrecker offered a satisfying, secure “snap” when sheathing the tomahawk. Likewise, it provided a solid, wiggle-free hold. Finally, a heavy-duty quick-release buckle ensures that the wrecker isn’t going anywhere when not in use.
A Nice Balance
I find that the Wrecker at 15 inches has a very nice balance to it. While this is considered a “tactical tomahawk”, most people will likely use it for camping, yard chores, and bush-crafty things.
When doing chores like clearing tree overgrowth around my back yard fence, I found that the 15 inches provided just the right amount of one-handed swing clearance to chop branches safely.
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It was around 90 degrees outside when I took the tomahawk out. So, honestly, I didn’t feel like splitting logs or anything that would zap my energy dry. I did chop at a couple of fallen trees by the pond behind my house. The micarta handle was comfortable, and the grooves provided a solid grip. In addition, I did not notice any real vibration returning to my hand.
I attempted to throw the tomahawk at some trees, only to realize that I suck at throwing tomahawks.
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The Wrecker’s Pry Spike
I prefer a tomahawk with a spike. While this model is available with a hammer end, that version is simply just not as cool or fun. I found satisfaction swinging and sticking the spike into trees. However, I wanted to see how well it would penetrate something a bit more solid.
At first, I eyeballed my mountain bike helmet, but I then realized that I need it. Then, I was going to destroy what I thought was an unused nightstand in my garage. However, I noticed that it was filled with my wife’s stuff, and I didn’t feel like having her chase me down with a tomahawk.
So, I settled for some thick, padded vinyl flooring plank leftovers that I had lying around. These may not seem like much, but they are made out of a solid material and thick, dense padding. They are built to last. So, I decided to double them up and lay them unknowingly near an angry red ant hill in the grass.
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I copped a squat net to the planks and spiked the spike through both pieces. It cleared the first plank and split the second one. While not as solid as driving through a car hood, I suspect this material is as hard as anything that one would use this tomahawk on.
The Cerakote proved to protect the blade and simply wiped clean after killing floorboards and clearing brush.
The Fighting Tomahawk
I honestly don’t know anyone personally who has been in a fight with a tomahawk. While people do train to fight with tomahawks, I doubt that they really fight with them. Sure, maybe back in Vietnam, but this isn’t Vietnam.
If you are interested in training with a tomahawk, it is similar to the art of Escrima (FMA), utilizing the same basic angles. Just be aware of the spike when you are swinging it. I watched a good friend poke a hole in his thigh with a spike, messing around with it. That wound ended up getting infected, lots of fun.
If you are going to practice Combatives with a tomahawk, I suggest practicing on a training dummy or a tree. If you are going to practice with a partner, use a training tomahawk and avoid messy mistakes.
Helm Enterprises Wrecker Tomahawk: A Model of Form and Function
From fit to finish, I absolutely loved handling the Helm Enterprises Wrecker Tomahawk. This puppy is going straight into my vehicle trunk with the rest of my essential gear. It was comfortable and easy to swing, and the perfect length. I feel like the 18-inch version would have been just a bit too long for my preferences.
If you are interested in a Helm Enterprises Wrecker Tomahawk in any length, please contact James Helm directly at HelmForge.com.
