avigo Posted March 9, 2016 Share #1 Posted March 9, 2016 Hey guys.I'm interested in getting a couple of the cheap cold steel "vietnam" Hawks.It got me thinking about the real Vietnam Hawks. What exactly were they issued/used for in an actual combat situation?Here is one of the originals I'm talking about:http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=272156011250&globalID=EBAY-USthanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted March 9, 2016 Share #2 Posted March 9, 2016 You have to be careful with these as they made some very good reproductions. .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avigo Posted March 9, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted March 9, 2016 I'm not planning on buying a real one, just the Cold Steel reproduction. Just curious what these were used for in Vietnam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted March 9, 2016 Share #4 Posted March 9, 2016 I really believe they were mostly presentation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcranch Posted March 10, 2016 Share #5 Posted March 10, 2016 If you do a search of the Forum for Vietnam Tomahawk you will find several good topics on this subject. The topic started on 24 August 2013, I included some pics of some of the originals I have in my collection and some information on their use. From what I have been able to find out from talking to several Vietnam Veterans, very few of these Hawks actually made it to Vietnam, none were officially issued, they were all privately purchased, mostly through the Leatherneck magazine. Occasionally an original one goes on Ebay but I have never seen an original with the ordinance stamp on the handle. Remember, they were never officially issued by the Marines or Army. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted March 10, 2016 Share #6 Posted March 10, 2016 Agreed these werent issued. Know a local retired teacher whos brother served in Vietnam with the 101st.The unit/platoon he was in bought them.One member wrote home about carrying or using the hatchet.His mother thought it appalling and wrote off a letter to a state Senator or something and as the story goes the unit got a letter or order to stop using them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jw517 Posted March 10, 2016 Share #7 Posted March 10, 2016 Worked good for me. I used to raise chickens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted March 10, 2016 Share #8 Posted March 10, 2016 I have seen them as presentation pieces in Special Forces groups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avigo Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share #9 Posted March 10, 2016 Thanks guys! I had no idea they weren't even actually issued. Exactly the info I was looking for. As a side note, does anyone here use them (the replicas) for day to day stuff like chopping wood or anything or are they too small? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcranch Posted March 10, 2016 Share #10 Posted March 10, 2016 The ones with the wood handle are pretty light for chopping wood. SOG makes a version that has a fiberglass or nylon handle which is probably a little better for actual use. These make good throwing hawks and chopping off chicken heads but I prefer a chain saw for heavy work. Actually, Pete LaGana also made a few of his tomahawks with fiberglass handles. I have never seen one, they are very rare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horseclover Posted March 10, 2016 Share #11 Posted March 10, 2016 http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/186012-vietnam-lagana-tomahawk-question/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avigo Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share #12 Posted March 10, 2016 http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/186012-vietnam-lagana-tomahawk-question/ That thread has some cool info! These have a much more interesting history than I thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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