American Tomahawk CQC-T Emerson Defensive Battle Axe/Personal Combat Tool

The most bad a** combat cutlery tool you'll ever hold in one hand. Practical for warfighters, just very cool for the rest of us. That is, until the Zombie Apocolypse...

I own a large number of hawks and this is one of my favourites. Supposedly it's first function is for close quarter combat, hence the CQC in its name. With an experienced user it would probably be fine in that function but for the inexperienced the way that spike end is shaped could cause more serious injury to the user than the attacker, if not handled with care. Not too many people defend themselves with a hawk these days anyhow and the odds of it being used in this manner is unlikely, but if the need ever arose, it is a very fast mover in the hand, more so than any other hawk I own. What I am really impressed with though is that this hawk doubles as an amazingly competent camp/bushwalking hawk which is probably not a function its designer had in mind. It has a much much thinner grind to the blade compared to other quality hawks of similar size that I own ( eg RMJ Shrike, Sayoc/Winkler R&D hawk). The blade is more knife like than most other tomahawks. It functions great for splitting and cutting up timber (but remember it is not an axe, it is a tomahawk). Add this to its very light weight and compact size and this is a more than competent tool to carry on your belt if camping out. The one component I am not impressed with is the sheath. Don't expect it to have a long life. The sharp blade to this hawk tends to cut through the supplied sheath very quickly. The one good thing about the sheath is that it does carry the CQC-T innoculously on a belt without causing other campers any concern at all, as compared to say carrying a large knife, and for camping out I much prefer the combination of a hawk like the CQC-T and a small knife for camp duties, than carrying a large knife.

Self defense tools play a crucial role when it comes to being prepared for survival situations. Whenever there is a serious emergency people tend to lose their minds and act irrationally. Criminals invest plenty of time preparing to take advantage of the unaware & unprepared during these times of desperation. I see it in the lame stream media as well as the violent acts caught on CCTV being studied by law enforcement. If you have not addressed your self defense preparedness, then I have news for you.. You are not prepared! There are quite a few options when it comes to being prepared to defend yourself and your family. Firearms are a go-to choice for most but it certain scenarios, hand to hand combat is a must. We see it daily in our streets as well as present day U.S. Marines reporting back from battlefield. In order to be ready for any SHTF scenario that will involve physical conflict, we need to train and train hard regardless of our weapon(s) of choice. Being well versed in various weapons is certainly a plus but mastering the weapons that you choose to carry with you is a must. If you have not trained with a particular weapon and trained often, do yourself a favor and put it in your dresser drawer or it may end up biting you in the ass during a SHTF situation. I may sound harsh but it is all from the heart which stems from experience. Today I am reviewing the American Tomahawk CQC-T Combat Tool. This piece of equipment is more like a piece of art. It’s construction, designers’ attention to detail and destruction power makes this tomahawk a valid choice when it comes to self defense in a survival situation. The best piece of advice that I can give you if the price tag is in your budget would be to train hard and when you are done, train a bit more. The more that we practice with our tools, regardless of their application, the more that these tools become an extension of our bodies. When it comes to the various nuances that this tomahawk has, personal practice becomes even more of a critical factor. So much can go wrong during any conflict occurring in emergencies, make sure that you tip the scale in your favor by being as familiar with your American Tomahawk as you are with your toothbrush. SPECS FOR THE CQC-T: Made in the U.S.A. Ernest Emerson Design Machined 4140 Alloy Steel Overall Weight: 16 oz. Cutting Edge Length: 2 7/8″ Handle Length: 13 ¾” Head Length: 7 3/4″ Battle Tested Since Vietnam War Era Blade thickness: .200 stock Hardness: Rc 54-55 Sheath: Jumpable nylon – LBE/LBV, MOLLE, Sling, Belt Watch my video review for more detail.