Best Tactical Tomahawk

A tactical tomahawk is kind of like a tactical knife; no-one can quite agree what “tactical” means, but everyone agrees that a “tactical” version is better than a non-tactical version.

Traditional tomahawks, as used by Native Americans, were weapons of war, and weren’t designed to have any other useful function. So when we talk about a tactical tomahawk, we’re talking about a modern tomahawk that has multiple uses. Basically, we’re looking for a tomahawk that isn’t exclusively a weapon.

As a result, when we set out to find the best tactical tomahawk, we looked for tomahawks that were useful for as many things as possible. Breaking down doors, chopping wood, doubling as a knife, or even opening bottles. These are just a few different things you can do with the right tactical tomahawk.

So which one of these is the best? It depends on what exactly you’re looking for. Read on, and see what you like.

Best Tactical Tomahawks

1. CRKT Kangee

The CRKT Kangee is tough enough to stand up to even the most demanding users.

Key Features

• Carbon steelhead
• Spike on back of the head
• Textured nylon handle
• MOLLE compatible thermoplastic sheath

The CRKT Kangee has a carbon steel head, with a curved blade on the front, an edge along the top, and a chisel-point spike on the back. The fiberglass-reinforced handle features a full tang for durability and has a diamond texture for a secure grip.

The MOLLE compatible sheath is crafted from solid thermoplastic that won’t dull your blade. Unfortunately, the blade itself is dull when it arrives, which is common in Chinese-made blades. The grip is also uncomfortable; the points on the diamonds dig into your hand, so you’ll want to wear a glove if you’re using it for more than a minute or two.

This is an extremely durable tomahawk, and it’s well balanced for chopping or grappling. The paracord holes on the bottom of the handle give you an alternative to wearing the sheath on your belt. CRKT also offers a lifetime warranty on materials and workmanship.

Pros

• Durable
• Well balanced
• Paracord holes on bottom of handle
• Limited lifetime warranty

Cons

• Uncomfortable grip
• Blade requires sharpening out of the box

This is a well-engineered tomahawk that’s equally well suited to camping or emergency use.

2. SOG Outdoor

The SOG Outdoor is designed to be easy to carry, and easy to cut with.

Key Features

• Stainless steelhead
• Claw spike on the back of the head
• Includes fire starter
• Paracord-wrapped nylon handle
• Includes nylon sheath

The SOG Outdoor Survival Hatchet is a bit of a strange beast. On the one hand, it’s a great camping and survival tool. The 3-inch blade is razor-sharp and is ideal for cutting firewood and kindling. The paracord wrap on the bottom of the handle provides some extra grip, as well as an emergency source of paracord. There’s also a magnesium fire starter built into the bottom of the handle.

On the other hand, the claw spike is a bit out of place on a survival tool. Are we supposed to be pulling nails in the woods? We’re not sure. The paracord is also a little bit loose. It tends to slip a bit as it gets used.

That said, this is a well-engineered tool overall. The stainless steel head is corrosion resistant, and the nylon handle is durable, with plenty of grips even without the paracord. It also includes a ballistic nylon sheath with a belt loop and all of this at a very reasonable price.

Pros

• Arrives very sharp
• 3-inch cutting edge
• Affordable

Cons

• Paracord on handle is a bit loose

This is a tough survival tomahawk that even includes a fire starting tool.

3. Gerber Downrange

The Gerber Downrange is purpose-built for breaching and demolition work.

Key Features

• High carbon steelhead
• G10 polymer handle
• Integrated pry bar
• Hammer on backside of the head
• MOLLE sheath

The Gerber Downrange Tomahawk is better suited for law enforcement, military, and construction work than it is for camping or survival. This is essentially three tools in one: a tomahawk blade, a hammer on the backside of the head, and a pry bar on the bottom of the handle. You can bust through drywall, drive a nail, or pull up floorboards with equal ease.

However, there are a couple of issues. For one, it arrives dull. You’ll need to sharpen it before you can use it. For another thing, the pry bar makes the handle bottom-heavy, making it poorly balanced for chopping.

The construction itself is high quality, with a high carbon head, a tough polymer handle, and a MOLLE sheath for easy carrying. If you need a breaching tool or an all-purpose demolition tool, it’s a great choice. But there are better options for chopping firewood.

Pros

• Tough and durable
• Purpose-built for breaching
• 3 functions in 1 tool

Cons

• On the pricier side
• Bottom-heavy
• Needs sharpening out of the box

This is a high quality tactical tomahawk, just like you’d expect to get from Gerber.

4. Browning Shock N’ Awe

The Browning Shock N’ Awe is a razor-sharp hatchet with a curved spike on the back.

Key Features

• High carbon steelhead
• Spike on back of the head
• MOLLE compatible thermoplastic sheath
• Paracord-wrapped handle

The Browning Shock N’ Awe Tomahawk is tough and well designed. Its head is engineered from high carbon steel and arrives with an edge that’s sharp enough to shave with. There’s a curved spike on the back, which is ideal not just for punching holes, but also for hooking and grabbing things.

This is a single-piece hatchet, with no plastic on the handle. Instead, it’s wrapped with paracord, which gives you an emergency supply if you need to tie something off. It grips surprisingly well, with a good, top-heavy balance. The thermoplastic sheath is tough enough to take a lot of abuse and is MOLLE compatible for easy carrying.

The overall weight is on the heavy side, at about two pounds. This makes it a bit heavy to swing for extended periods. However, it’s an affordable choice, and well worth your money.

Pros

• Arrives sharp and stays sharp
• Well balanced
• Affordable

Cons

• Heavy

This is a high quality tomahawk that’s well suited for any survival situation.

5. SOG Tactical

The SOG Tactical Tomahawk is affordable and rust-proof.

Key Features

• Stainless steelhead
• Spike on back of the head
• G10 nylon handle
• Includes nylon sheath

At first glance, the SOG Tactical Tomahawk looks almost identical to the F18-N Voodoo. It has the same stainless steel construction, complete with the matte black finish and the spike on the back of the head. It also has a similar G10 nylon handle. But that’s where the similarities end.

Make no mistake, this is a budget tomahawk. To begin with, the blade is shorter than the Voodoo’s, at only 2 ¾ inches. It’s also thinner. While this tomahawk has good balance, it evens out the lighter head by only having a partial tang in the handle. This makes for a flimsy design that has a lot of flex to it.

That said, it still comes with SOG’s limited lifetime warranty. If it breaks, you can always just have it replaced. It includes a nylon sheath, complete with belt loops for easy carrying.

Pros

• Well balanced
• Limited lifetime warranty
• Very inexpensive

Cons

• Short tang
• Short, 2 ¾-inch blade

This is an inexpensive tomahawk that gets the job done.

6. United Cutlery M48

The United Cutlery M48 Tactical is a budget tomahawk that comes with a manufacturer’s warranty.

Key Features

• Stainless steelhead
• Spike on back of the head
• Reinforced nylon handle
• Nylon belt sheath

The United Cutlery M48 Tactical Tomahawk looks like quite a beast, with a matte black stainless steel head that features a curved blade, an edged top, and a spike on the back. It also has a fiberglass reinforced nylon handle, with ridges to make your grip as secure as possible.

However, it’s not as much of a beast as it looks like. To begin with, like many Chinese-made blades, it needs significant sharpening right out of the box. The steel is good quality, but it wouldn’t cut butter the way it’s shipped. The tang is also very short. While it’s secured with three bolts, we still wouldn’t trust it in a life and death situation.

On the other hand, this is a well-balanced tomahawk that weighs in at only 7 ounces. You can cut branches with it all day without your arm getting sore. It’s also very inexpensive and comes with United Cutlery’s limited lifetime warranty on parts and workmanship.

Pros

• Well balanced
• Lightweight
• Inexpensive
• Limited lifetime warranty

Cons

• Partial tang
• Needs sharpening out of the box

This is a solid budget tomahawk that’s best suited for camping.

7. United Cutlery M48 Apocalypse

The United Cutlery M48 Apocalypse is inexpensive and good enough to get the job done.

Key Features

• Spike on the back of the head
• Reinforced nylon handle
• Nylon belt sheath
• Paracord wrapped handle

The Apocalypse has a black oxide coated stainless steel head with a large, vicious spike on the back. The fiberglass reinforced nylon handle is both durable and easy to grip. That said, this is basically a souped-up version of the standard M48, with all the attendant issues.

The partial tang is a serious weak point. While it’s held in place with three bolts, it still tends to wobble. It’s also dull when you receive it, so you’ll need to do some sharpening before you put it to use.

It’s lightweight and well balanced and comes with a paracord wrap on the bottom of the handle, which is something you won’t get on the basic M48. The Apocalypse is backed by United Cutlery’s limited lifetime warranty and is very affordable. All in all, a good deal, provided you don’t intend to throw it.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Well balanced
• Limited lifetime warranty
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Partial tang
• Needs sharpening out of the box

This tomahawk has everything you need for camping, including an emergency paracord.

8. Cold Steel Trail

The Cold Steel Trail Hawk has a long, hickory handle that gives you plenty of leverage.

Key Features

• Carbon steelhead
• Hammer on back of the head
• 22-inch hickory handle

The Cold Steel Trail Hawk is a bit different from other tactical hatchets since it has a hickory handle, not a steel or nylon one. Don’t mistake this for low quality, though; hickory is one of the hardest, strongest woods available. The 22-inch length gives you enough leverage to do a lot of damage with relatively little effort.

The carbon steel blade comes razor sharp out of the box and has a hammer on the backside for driving nails. Because the handle is so long, it’s exceptionally well balanced. It’s also lightweight, at only 1.4 pounds.

The Trail Hawk is a very affordable tomahawk, but it doesn’t come with a sheath. Consider this a solid construction tool, but a poor camping accessory.

Pros

• Plenty of leverage
• Well balanced
• Affordable

Cons

• Sheath sold separately

This is a functional hatchet that also drives nails.

9. CRKT Woods Chogan

The CRKT Wood Chogan breaks wood and drives nails with equal ease.

Key Features

• Carbon steelhead
• Hammer on back of the head
• Hickory handle

The CRKT Wood Chogan is yet another wood-handled tomahawk. It features a carbon steel head with a blade that’s specifically designed for chopping wood. Combined with the 19-inch handle, this would make it a fantastic camping hatchet, except there’s no sheath. You’ll need to buy that separately, which drives up the – admittedly low – price.

There’s a hammer on the back of the head, which is perfect for driving nails or tent stakes. The Chogan is well balanced, with most of the weight in the head. The handle is smooth and is both easy and comfortable to grip.

One thing we really like about this tomahawk is the downward curve of the blade itself, which has a sharpened inner edge. This makes it useful as a hook. If you’ve ever had a piece of firewood fall just out of easy reach while you were chopping it, you’ll appreciate this feature.

Pros

• Long, 19-inch handle
• Well balanced
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Sheath sold separately

This is a well-built tomahawk for construction and demolition.

10. Promithi Camping

The Promithi Camping Hatchet is razor-sharp and comes at a low price.

Key Features

• Carbon steelhead
• Spike on back of the head
• Sanded wood handle
• Includes nylon sheath

The Promithi Camping Hatchet has a tough, carbon steel head that’s also beautiful. It has a wolf’s head etched into the steel, with a curved spike on the back. The handle is crafted from beautifully sanded wood and is built with a full tang that can stand up to as much chopping or picking as you want to do.

A lot of people want a tomahawk that’s made to be a beautiful wall hanger but can work in an emergency. If that’s what you’re looking for in a tactical hatchet, this is one of the best choices on the market. It’s well balanced, but heavy, weighing in at 2 pounds.

The nylon sheath is nice to have for protection. However, it doesn’t have a belt loop, making it difficult to carry outside of a backpack. Worse, there’s no stitching to reinforce the grommets, and the sharp top point of the blade can easily poke through the top of the sheath. Be careful when taking it out.

Pros

• Razor-sharp
• Beautiful design with wolf-etched head
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Heavy
• Poor sheath design

This tomahawk looks like a showpiece, but it’s more than tough enough for actual use.

11. SOG Throwing

SOG Throwing Hawks make a great gift for anyone who’s into throwing axes.

Key Features

• Comes in a 3-pack
• Black stainless steel construction
• Spikes on back of the heads
• Designed specifically for throwing
• Includes 3-pocket nylon sheath

SOG Throwing Hawks are constructed as a single piece of black stainless steel. The heads have a straight edge, with a straight spike on the back. The handles are wrapped with paracord to provide comfort and extra grip. They ship with a 3-pocket nylon belt sheath.

In the course of these reviews, we’ve seen a lot of negative user reviews for other tomahawks stating that they’re not good for throwing. This isn’t surprising. Most tomahawks are designed for chopping, cutting, punching, or demolition. To be properly thrown, a tomahawk needs to be perfectly balanced for the purpose, and as lightweight as possible.

SOG Throwing Hawks fit the bill. They weigh only 7 ounces each, making them heavy enough to drive into your target, but light enough to throw with one hand. The steel is surprisingly tough, considering the low price, and will sink into a tree stump again and again without dulling The only downside is that the paracord wraps are a bit loose, and come undone after being thrown for a while.

Pros

• Durable
• Paracord wrapped handles
• Lightweight and well balanced
• Affordable

Cons

• Paracord wrap comes undone quickly
• Not for chopping

These tomahawks are designed for throwing, and are perfect for the job.

12. Snake Eye

The Snake Eye Tactical Compact Tomahawk is sharp, durable, and easy to throw.

Key Features

• One-piece, stainless steel design
• Spike on back of the head
• Balanced for throwing
• Includes nylon sheath

The Snake Eye Tactical Compact Tomahawk is one solid piece of stainless steel. The head has a curved edge, with a large spike on the back for balance, while the handle is stamped with round cutouts to give you something to hold on to.

These tomahawks come in a 2-pack, which includes a nylon belt sheath for easy carrying. They’re designed to be thrown, so the balance is equal between the top and bottom of the tomahawk. This keeps you on target when you throw them but makes them ill-suited for chopping.

The blades on the Snake Eye Tactical are extremely sharp and will sink into any target when they hit. However, the handle is very uncomfortable, without any kind of plastic or paracord to soften the grip. They’re inexpensive, though, and are a good value.

Pros

• Comes as a 2-pack
• Very sharp on arrival
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Uncomfortable grip

This is a well balanced tomahawk for throwing enthusiasts.

13. Camillus Ravenous

The Camillus Cutlery Ravenous is sharp, lightweight, and easy to carry.

Key Features

• Titanium bonded stainless steelhead
• ABS plastic handle
• Includes nylon belt sheath

The Camillus Cutlery Ravenous Tomahawk has a titanium bonded stainless steel head that’s both razor sharp and durable. There’s a large spearhead spike on the back of the head for punching holes or breaking windows. The ABS plastic handle is durable and crosshatched for easy grip. This tomahawk comes with a nylon belt sheath.

The Ravenous Tomahawk weighs just over 1 pound, making it easy to carry and easy to swing, although you’ll have to swing it harder than a heavier tomahawk to get the same effect. It’s very reasonably priced. That said, the head is held in with only 4 bolts, with no tang whatsoever. This gives us some doubts as to its durability.

Pros

• Very sharp
• Lightweight
• Inexpensive

Cons

• No tang

If you’re looking for a cheap breaching tomahawk, look no further.

Bottom Line

No matter what you need your tactical tomahawk to do, chances are at least one of the options on this list will get the job done. Whether you need a tactical hatchet for camping, a tactical ax for breaking down doors, or a survival tomahawk for your bug out bag, we like to think we have you covered.

One other thing we’d like to mention: no matter what you’re using your tomahawk for, you’ll want to consider the type of steel it’s made from.

Low carbon steel (usually stainless steel) is incredibly hard and rust-proof. It stays sharp longer but is difficult to sharpen. High carbon steel is softer and prone to rusting. It also dulls faster, but it’s much easier to sharpen. In addition, because high carbon steel is softer, it tends to bend rather than break when you’re prying with it.

Both types of steel have their place, but choosing the right type can make the difference between a disappointing purchase and a treasured tool.

The OutdoorWorld Reviews team have also completed detailed reviews of other tactical gear including flashlights, knives, pants and pens.