File Branded Pierced Pipe Tomahawk
A commissioned piece:
- This Plains Indians pipe tomahawk was replicated from two originals with elements taken from each one per client’s request
- The shape of the blade is typical of the Plains Indian style being long (up to almost 10″) and linear (not much underbelly)
- The blade piercings were done to replicate the sun, moon and stars seen on several other original Plains tomahawks
- This Plains pipe tomahawk has a diamond shaped eye with a small double molding leading into the blade
- The head also has a double tapered bowl with a filed in lip and medial ridge running around its circumference
- The handle was hand shaped and hand drilled from a piece of hickory. It was fit to the diamond-shaped eye and has a step approximately 3″ under the blade. After the step, the handle transitions to oval and has another step at the handhold, transiting again to round at the mouthpiece
- The handle was finished off being file branded (a favorite technique of the Plains Indians)
- The tomahawk was aged to resemble an original coming from the period of the Plains Indians
File Branded Pierced Pipe Tomahawk: SOLD
“I searched for several months for a museum quality plains pipe tomahawk but only found replicas that were offered as 19th-century pieces and replicas with poor quality. Both mostly looked so bad that I didn’t want to have them in my collection. Then I found Todd Bitler’s website and was surprised. His work in his gallery site and his explanation on it pleased me so much that I decided to contact him and ask for a custom made Plains pipe tomahawk. I send Todd pictures from two original pieces that I wanted to have combined: a pierced blade from one tomahawk and the bowl from another.
I was very happy that Todd took my order. Before he started we fixed every detail: Shape, size, material and even patina. During the manufacturing process, we frequently changed emails and he sent pictures. Several months later, I received an awesome Pipe tomahawk that was even better than expected. It has an incredible patina; I love every forging mark on the blade and every bump on the stem.
I will definitively make another custom order when I have decided what kind of weapon I would like to have next.”
Maik L., Germany