| The original natives of the North American continent | | | | They could also be used for smoking tobacco. The |
| used tomahawks as weapons and tools. Your | | | | opposite side of the blade would usually have a pipe |
| average tomahawk is a sort of hatchet with a very | | | | bowl built into it. |
| straight shaft. | | | | Considering the turbulent relationship the Native |
| It was originally a Native American tool, but the first | | | | American tribes had with early European settlers, the |
| European colonists decided to start using tomahawks | | | | dual purpose of the weapon was very appropriate. |
| too. Tomahawks also made good weapons if you | | | | The tomahawk was doubly useful this way. It could be |
| knew the right tomahawk fighting techniques, which | | | | used as a smoke peace offering, or it could be turn |
| can even involving throwing the weapon. | | | | into a weapon of war if things turned sour between |
| The very first Native American tomahawks were | | | | the parties-- and they very often did! |
| made from stone, such as polished soapstone. The | | | | The tomahawk can be used by itself, or it could be |
| blades and handles were usually intricately carved and | | | | complemented with another weapon. The second |
| designed. Flint rock, deer horns, and the jawbones of | | | | weapon would usually be a long bladed knife. This is an |
| big animals were often used to create tomahawks. | | | | effective and deadly combination that works for a |
| You'll find that most cultures have their own version of | | | | variety of combat situations, and also against either |
| a tomahawk or a hatchet tool. In fact, even the way | | | | single or multiple opponents. |
| you use them is very similar to the Native American | | | | A tomahawk can be used as either a weapon of |
| tomahawk fighting techniques. | | | | offense or defense. A lot of tomahawk fighting |
| The British people had their belt axes, and the French | | | | techniques help the weapon serve both of these roles. |
| wielded the fransica. The Vikings were infamous for | | | | A tomahawk can be used to rake, chop, punch, slice, |
| their skill in using axes in battles. | | | | catch and pull, or even deflect blows. |
| Tomahawks were more than just tools or weapons: | | | | |