Choosing the Right Material for Tomahawk Handles

When buying knives and other cutting tools, it can be easy to focus on the blade and ignore the handle. However, the handle is more than just a means to wield the blade. For your tomahawk, the handle is the backbone of your chop game and the MVP for your throwing arm.

Whether shopping at an online knife store or browsing a list of tomahawks for sale, understanding the various handle materials can help you make the sharpest decision. So, let's get a handle on this topic so you can choose the right material for your tomahawk handles.

Wood

Wooden handles have been around since the earliest cutting implements. From ash to zebra wood and everything in between, wood is the OG of handle materials. But does it still cut it in today's tomahawk landscape?

Pros:

• Aesthetic Appeal: There's something timeless about a wooden handle. It's rugged but classy. If you keep your knife collection on display, wood can break up all that cold, dark metal.
  
  
• Shock Absorption: Wood naturally absorbs impact, making it ideal for heavy-duty chopping. Wood's cellular structure acts like a spring-damper system, allowing it to flex to absorb the motion energy from an impact.
  
  
• Repairable: Got a crack or ding? Wood is easily repairable. Sand it down, apply some linseed oil, and you're usually good to go. No one will know that your wooden handle used to be a millimeter thicker; they'll just know it looks gorgeous and pristine. As long as you don't sand or whittle down so much of the handle that you impact its strength, you can keep repairing it every time it gets a scratch or nick.

Cons:

• Maintenance Required: Like your beard or houseplants, wood needs a little TLC. Without proper care, it can warp or crack.
  
  
• Easily Damaged: We mentioned that wood is easily repairable. The flip side is that it's more easily damaged than other materials. Should your wooden handle come into contact with pointy metals, sharp rocks, or even just grit from hard living, it may end up with a scraped finish or minor dents in the wood.
  
  
• Not Weatherproof: Prolonged exposure to moisture can lead to rot, making this option less ideal for wetter climates and use. You can mitigate this by finishing the handle with a water-resistant product, but that won't keep out all water forever.

Synthetic Materials

Modern problems require modern solutions. Synthetic materials like G10 and fiberglass-reinforced nylon (FRN) are a solid choice for modern tomahawks. These materials are the go-to choice for most survivalists and tactical enthusiasts, and for good reason.

Pros:

• Durability: Tough as nails and nearly indestructible, synthetic handles laugh in the face of abuse. Where wood might show scars from a meeting with a nail or a drop on a pointy rock, synthetics will tell no tales of their misadventures.
  
  
• Weather Resistance: Rain or shine, these materials won't rot, swell, or crack. While it's always best practice to dry off any knife that gets wet, your synthetic-handled tomahawk can sit in damp conditions for quite a while.
  
  
• Lightweight: For those who prefer to travel light, synthetic handles won't weigh you down.

Cons:

• Lack of Tradition: If you're a purist, the lack of a natural feel might be a turn-off.
  
  
• Grip Texture: While often grippy, some synthetics can feel slick when wet.
  
  
• Aesthetics: There's something rich and elegant about a wood handle on display. Synthetics are much more no-nonsense. They're more about function than appearance, which means they don't look quite as interesting when hung over your fireplace.

Metal

Metal is the heavy hitter of tomahawk handles. Whether it's a cut above the rest depends on your needs and preferences.

Pros:

• Strength: Metal handles can take a beating and keep on chopping. A metal handle provides worry-free strength.
  
  
• Weatherproof: No need to worry about rot or decay here. The metals used in tomahawk handles are typically highly moisture resistant, meaning you can drive stakes into wet ground or chop wood in a stream, and your tool will be fine.
  
  
• Cool Factor: Nothing says "modern warrior" like a sleek metal handle.

Cons:

• Weight: Metal handles can be heavier, which might not suit all users. We called metal the "heavy hitter," and that's true in the most literal sense. Metal weighs more than wood or synthetics, which can lead to fatigue after sustained use.
  
  
• Cold Grip: In freezing temperatures, gripping metal can feel unpleasant. Cold negatively impacts your dexterity, which can be problematic when handling a sharp blade. Metal might not be ideal for sustained cold weather use.
  
  
• Shock Transmission: Metal doesn't absorb impact well, which could make extended use less comfortable. If you feel every impact in your joints, a long day of chopping isn't going to be as pleasant as it would be with a shock-absorbing handle.

Composite

Composite handles can offer the best of all words.

Pros:

• Customizable Feel: Many composite textures improve with use, almost as if your handle is bonding with your chopping hand.
  
  
• Durability: Resistant to water and weather, composites are tough enough for any task. You don't need to baby your composite-handled tomahawk.
  
  
• Lightweight: Your composite handle will be easier to handle than metal but just as reliable. You have the strength of metal without the increased weight.

Cons:

• Cost: Quality comes at a price, and composite handles can be pricier than wood or basic synthetics.
  
  
• Limited Availability: You might not find as many composite options at your local store. Online shopping options can open up more possibilities.

What’s Best?

If there was only one best option, there would only be one type of tomahawk handle. There are multiple materials available because they each bring something to the table. Your ideal handle will depend on what features matter most to you. Here's a quick breakdown that may help you decide:

• For Throwing: Opt for lightweight materials like wood or synthetics for better control and balance.

• For Tactical Use: Synthetic and metal handles offer durability and weather resistance.
  
  
• For Bushcraft or Survival: Composite materials provide a reliable, weatherproof option with a natural feel.
  
  
• For Display or Collecting: Go wild with wood. You could also explore exotic options we haven't discussed, like bone or antler, for that "showstopper" aesthetic.
  
  

Whether you're hunting for the perfect throwing tomahawk or a survivalist's tactical tool, knowing the pros and cons of different handle materials is key to making an informed choice. The next time you browse tomahawks for sale, you'll know exactly what to look for—and can confidently wield the tool of your dreams. After all, a tomahawk blade is only as good as the hand and the handle that holds it.