by John Markwell | Contributing Editor
Watching the Last of The Mohicans or reading any of Allan W. Eckert’s books on frontier America makes one aware of the importance of the tomahawk to reenactors, hunters, campers, soldiers, and home decorators; all purchase tomahawks today; some modern in design and others made to mirror those of the past. Bill Keeler, the artist/blacksmith of Beaver Bill Forging Works (beaverbill.com), can provide exquisite ‘hawks for those looking for museum quality, historically correct tomahawks for use or for display.
A close up of Beaver Bill’s L&C hawk shows the great attention to detail that is the hallmark of Bill Keeler’s work.
Bill Keeler hand forges 17th and 18th century reproduction edged weapons. These works of art are highly sought after by museums and collectors and are sometimes sold erroneously as originals. Not just display items, these hawks and knives are meant to be used if one so chooses. Perusing the Beaver Bill website is a delight to the eye as the photography is outstanding. Brilliantly illustrated are the many variations of the tomahawks offered: pipe hawks, presentation hawks, hammer poll hawks, and belt axes are just some of the variations of these historic cutting tools/weapons offered as well as a few knives.
All of Beaver Bill’s tomahawks are hand forged from 4140 carbon steel with a few exceptions. Throwing hawks and knives are forged from spring steel and scalping knives from L6 saw blade steel. Pipe hawks are forged from black powder rifle barrels, as they were in the past. For those looking for a hard use hawk, a high carbon bit can be forge-welded in the blade for an additional $50.
We have in our possession one of Keeler’s exquisite Lewis & Clark commemorative pipe hawk and knife sets as well as a basic pipe hawk we purchased from Bill at the Louisville gun show several years ago. The Lewis & Clark (L&C) set, which was made only from 2002-2006, sits atop a bookcase which contains my wife’s L&C library.
The Lewis & Clark commemorative hawk and knife with a framed copy of L&C’s map in the background.
We have accented our basic hawk with period style decorations. Brass tacks, sinew wrapping and an adornment made from bits of red wool, buffalo, elk and deer hide with glass and bone beads, a bear claw and human hair top off this later hawk, which resides in our gun room.
Bill Keeler has been forging historically correct edged weapons for 21 years in his Ohio workshop. Many items are kept in stock but presentation hawks are made to order. A look at the Beaver Bill Forge Works website will wet the appetite of anyone with even a passing interest in these weapons of frontier America.
Bill and Becky Keeler operate Beaver Bill Forging Works, at 5340 Huffman Rd., Hamilton, OH 45013 You can also reach them by phone at: 513-756-1983, You can also take a virtual tour of their forge and shop on their website (beaverbill.com) and see all the 18th and 18th edged weapons they make, as well as their new curly maple cane with forged hammer claw handle.
Good shooting!
