The stone was commonly fastened to a wooden handle in a few ways, like putting the stone through the hole in the wood or drawing the stone to a handle. Native Americans used to bury a tomahawk when peace treaty had been reached with an foeman and “to bury the hatchet” phrase originates from this custom and it is still regularly used today.

Tactical Tomahawk shaft is normally less than one metre in length and it is was at first made from maple or ash. Its edge is usually four inches from toe to head. Tactical tomahawk stone heads were earlier made of polished soapstone and applied in traditional rituals of Native Americans. They also contained a pipe bowl which was used forsmoking tobacco through the tomahawk. This weird pipe also appeared in its metal versions. Pipe tomahawks are North American artifacts sometimes also made by Europeans for trading or as diplomatic presents.

Tactical tomahawks have lost their original purpose are nowadays used just in sport called tomahawk throwing which are entertained only among American historical re-enactment groups. There is also a category within a competative sport in knife throwing where tactical tomahawks are used for this function instead of knives. Very few professional craftsmen in US can actually hand made hawks that look like the traditional tomahawks in every aspect.

In 2001 American Tomahawk Company making a collaboration with professional custom knife manufacturers constructed the Vietnam tomahawk which has become very popular since then. These modern day hawks contain wooden handles and a leather sheaths. The US forces used it during the Vietnam war and hence the name Vietnam tomahawk.

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