TACTICAL TOMAHAWKS
New tactical axes are perfect tools for entry teams battling through barriers!
The modern “tomahawk” can be an ideal tool for SWAT teams making forced entries.
The modern “tomahawk” is seeing a renaissance in use as a tactical tool in law enforcement circles, but with a very specific tack. To help place this in context, as far back as the American Revolution, “boarding axes” were standard equipment on war ships for cutting away damaged rigging and digging burning wood out of the ship’s hull. Firefighters have also long carried various types of axes for chopping their way into buildings. This type of use is probably where the tomahawk/entry axe really comes into its own, namely as a tool for breaking into things when time is critical and finesse has gone out the window. Need to make a hole in a door or wall, smash a window, pry open a locked container, cut a wire or rope in a hurry? Then the modern entry tool tomahawk is just the piece of gear you want by your side.
Ontario 24” Entry Tool. Steven Dick photo
Before I delve into the current crop of hawks, I should say that I’m using “tomahawk” as a generic term for this type of chopper as a group. Many of the companies involved have their own phrases and terms for their products and not all consider their tools “tomahawks,” per se. However, for our purposes here, I think the term works as a general description.
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:33 pm
I carried a tomahawk for years. It is incredibly silent at taking out sentries or individuals where stealthy termination is mandatory. I prefer it to a combat knife in all but a few applications. You just have to know there will be no prisoners to interogate.
October 25th, 2011 at 7:18 pm
Great article! Recently pick up a BFT from these guys http://www.hardcorehardware.com.au awesome bit of kit!
Cheers
Ricky