Tomahawk

Before Europeans came to the continent, Native Americans would use stones, sharpened by a process of knapping and pecking,[7] attached to wooden handles, secured with strips of rawhide.

Native Americans created a tomahawk’s poll, the side opposite the blade, which consisted of a hammer, spike or pipe.

[3][10] According to Mike Haskew, the modern tomahawk shaft is usually less than 2 ft (61 cm) in length, traditionally made of hickory, ash, or maple.

[1][2] From the 1800s onward, these sometimes had a pipe-bowl carved into the poll, and a hole drilled down the center of the shaft for smoking tobacco through the metal head.

[2] Pipe tomahawks are artifacts unique to North America, created by Europeans as trade objects but often exchanged as diplomatic gifts.

[11] In the late 18th century, the British Army issued tomahawks to their colonial regulars during the American Revolutionary War as a weapon and tool.

Requirements such as a minimum handle length and a maximum blade edge (usually 4 in [100 mm]) are the most common tomahawk throwing competition rules.

[14][16] The tomahawk was issued a NATO stock number (4210-01-518-7244) and classified as a "Class 9 rescue kit" as a result of a program called the Rapid Fielding Initiative; it is also included within every Stryker vehicle as the "modular entry tool set".

Dances with Wolves; Last of the Mohicans; The Patriot; Jonah Hex; Prey; Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter;[22] Bullet to the Head; Red Dead Redemption and its sequel, and Assassin's Creed III),[23][24] leading to increased interest among the public.

Pipe tomahawk
Modern commercial tomahawk
Inlaid tomahawk pipe bowl, early 19th century, Brooklyn Museum
A pipe tomahawk dating to the early 19th century
Traditional form tomahawk
Francisca forged in modern Tomahawk shape design from cannon steel from the Leopard I battle tank
A US Army soldier throws a tomahawk as part of the Top Tomahawk competition at Forward Operating Base Spin Boldak in Kandahar , Afghanistan .