Knives
Since 2005, I have made the Shrew Hawk for Ron LaClair, and we have sold nearly 750 in that time. That's not a huge amount for a large business, but for a blacksmith, it is a substantial total! Were it not for Trademark concerns, I would be making and marketing them still. Instead we are selling what we call the Hunter's Hawk, which is in almost every way identical to the Shrew Hawk. It is a small hawk, weighing in at a bit more than 1.25 lbs., having a 2.75" cutting edge and using a 15" tear drop shaped handle. The ONLY difference between them is that this hawk used to be stamped "Shrew Hawk", a stamp I will no longer use....(More later)
Our Trapper's Companion is a special edition offering for those that want a useful tool with an artistic touch. The fancy file work on the head of the Trapper's Companion hawk makes it pleasing to the eye while still in keeping with it's rugged usefulness. The carved Icons of The Cross Of Lorraine, and the HBC Beaver are symbols used during the Fur Trade era.
This is a Hawk that you will find a hundred uses for in camp or in the woods. The cutting edge is tempered to take and hold an extremely sharp edge and the hammer pole is a feature that you won't know how you ever got along without before. This is an item that any old Mountainman/ trapper would have been proud to carry. If Ole Jim Bridger was alive today I'm sure he'd have carried one of these!
This hawk is slightly larger than the standard Hunter's Hawk, both in head size and handle diameter. The cutting edge is a full 3" wide and the head is 5 3/4" from the top of the hammer pole to the edge of the blade. Its total length is just over 16" and it weighs 1 1/2 pounds.
The Frontiersman sheath that is available for the Hawk is made by Art Vincent from Nashville, TN. This is an item that I am sure will be passed down from generation to generation.
Price for the Hawk with Pyro-engraved handle ...$170.00
Price with no wood burning or file work... $130.00
Shipping and handling... $20
A plain belt sheath...$20.00
Frontiersman Shoulder Carry... $40.00
Long ago in Europe, the Franks (forerunners of the modern-day French) developed a throwing axe for use in battle against their enemies. The Roman's called it a Francisca because of its Frankish origins, and during the period of 400 A.D. through 800 A.D. it was used with profound effect during a variety of wars. The Franks discovered that their weapon of choice had an amazing characteristic they had not initially counted on; it bounced when it hit dry ground, and when it bounced, it became erratic flying over the heads of some marauders while striking others in the feet and legs. The true effectiveness of the Francisca lay not in its ability to strike enemies blade first, but rather to cause disruption and chaos on the battlefield. Prior to the advent of gunpowder, the Francisca did this better than any other implement of war.
Today, Francisca axes are no longer used in battle, but they have found new life in hawk and axe throwing competitions. The LaClair Francisca has the graceful lines of the originals, making it an ideal choice for the competitor who wants an historically accurate representation of a throwing axe but also one that will allow them to successfully compete in today's demanding contests.
Of all the original Franciscas that have been found, the average weighed about a pound and a half and had a 4" cutting edge with a 16-18" handle. The LaClair Francisca is very close to these average measurements. Our axe has a rudimentary hammer poll on the back of the head to give it better balance and added usability. The body of the axe is made of mild steel, but the hardened and tempered cutting edge is made of W-1, water-hardening drill rod. It has a 4" cutting edge, length from the pole to the edge is 5.5", weight including the approximately 16" handle is 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 lbs. In the tradition of our other axes, it will take and hold a fine edge, although it should be remembered that an axe is a chopping implement rather than a slicing one. A razor sharp edge on an axe is counter-productive to its intended use.
When you hold our Francisca in your hand, it feels as if it's begging to be thrown. Its design seems to hearken back to a long ago time when household tools also doubled as weapons of war. Be careful… When you grasp this axe firmly in your hand, you will be, if only for an instant, transported back across time to a simpler age when common folk fought and died to protect their lands and belongings with tools and weapons whose lethality was matched by their graceful and almost artistic designs!
Francisca Hawk with leather edge protector... $120.00
Shipping...$15.00