Native American Afraid of Hawk, holding a tomahawk

A tomahawk is a type of axe native to North America, traditionally resembling a hatchet with a straight shaft. The name came into the English language in the 17th century as a transliteration of the Virginian Algonquian word. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1139x1536, 165 KB) Native American Afraid of Hawk, three-quarter length portrait, seated, facing left; holding tomahawk. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1139x1536, 165 KB) Native American Afraid of Hawk, three-quarter length portrait, seated, facing left; holding tomahawk. ... Axe For other uses, see Axe (disambiguation). ... Hatchet from the old French hachette a diminutive form of the word hache or axe. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  Ranked 35th  - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 7. ... The Eastern Algonquian languages are a subgroup of the larger Algonquian family, itself a member of the Algic family; prior to European contact, the family consisted of around 17 languages, which streched from Newfoundland south into North Carolina. ...

Tomahawks were general purpose tools used by Native Americans and European Colonials alike, and often employed as a hand-to-hand or thrown weapon, much like the nzappa zap. It originally featured a stone head, but later iron or brass heads were the rule. The metal tomahawk heads were originally based on a Royal Navy boarding axe and used as a trade-item with Native Americans for food and other provisions, but its design was probably derived by the British from Scandinavian designs going back to the time of the Vikings. A Hupa man. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ... The name Viking is a loan from the native Scandinavian term for the Norse seafaring warriors who raided the coasts of Scandinavia, Europe and the British Isles from the late 8th century to the 11th century, the period of European history referred to as the Viking Age. ...

The tomahawk shaft is usually less than 2 ft (0.6 m) in length, traditionally made of hickory. The heads are anywhere from 9–20 oz (255–567 g) in weight, with a cutting edge usually not much longer than four inches from toe to heel. The poll can feature a small hammer, spike or simply be rounded off, and they usually do not have lugs. Stone tomahawk heads were typically made of polished soapstone, and ornately carved examples were used in some Native American rituals. These usually had a pipe-bowl carved into the poll, and a hole drilled down the center of the haft for smoking tobacco through the tomahawk. There are also metal-headed versions of this unusual pipe. Pipe tomahawks are artifacts unique to North America: created by Europeans as trade objects but often exchanged as diplomatic gifts. They are powerful symbols of the choice Europeans and Indians faced whenever they met: one end was the pipe of peace, the other an axe of war. The lid of a soapstone box to show the characteristic look of the stone. ... Species Nicotiana acuminata Nicotiana alata Nicotiana attenuata Nicotiana benthamiana Nicotiana clevelandii Nicotiana excelsior Nicotiana forgetiana Nicotiana glauca Nicotiana glutinosa Nicotiana langsdorffii Nicotiana longiflora Nicotiana obtusifolia Nicotiana paniculata Nicotiana plumbagifolia Nicotiana quadrivalvis Nicotiana repanda Nicotiana rustica Nicotianasuaveolens Nicotiana sylvestris Nicotiana tabacum Nicotiana tomentosa Ref: ITIS 30562 as of August 26, 2005...

In Colonial French territory, a very different tomahawk design, closer to the ancient Francisca, was in use by French settlers and Indigenous Peoples. Different types of the Francisca The francisca or francesca (German: Franziska or Franciska ; French: francisca or francisque;latin: bipennes/bipennis or secures/securis) is a throwing-axe that was used by the Merovingian Franks between the 5th and 8th centuries. ...

Modern-day Tomahawks designed by Peter LaGana featuring synthetic hafts and a hatchet-like bit were used by US forces during the Vietnam war. This design is enjoying something of a renaissance with US soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan in hand-to-hand combat. Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000...

Tomahawk throwing is a popular sport among American historical re-enactment groups, and some martial arts enthusiasts are attempting to revive tomahawk fighting techniques used during the Colonial era.

See also

• Throwing axe
• Francisca
• Hurlbat
• Nzappa zap