Art Gallery :: Tomahawks / Axes:
Note: I only make one-of-a-kind items. No two pieces are identical. I can custom make a piece for you from a drawing, a book, or a variation of a piece on my site. I may be reached via email at toddbitler@yahoo.com.

Crescent Shaped Spike Ax With Butte Cone Crescent Shaped Spike Tomahawk With Butte Cone

An eighteenth century tomahawk:
  • Hand forged head in early crescent shape with hand filed blade and spike molding
  • Hand made handle from hickory
  • Handle finished with a brass pole arm butte cone with scalloped edges held to the handle with brass pins
  • Ending the butte cone is an octagonally filed steel point
  • Wood was obtained from a downed tree located in Fairfield County Ohio near the confluence of the Hocking River and Clearcreek.
  • Extensively aged to resemble years of battle use
  • Dimensions of head: 10" x 3.5"
  • Handle length: 24"
  • Stamped with touchmark
$1150
Indian Trade Pipe Axe Indian Trade Pipe Tomahawk

An eighteenth century pipe ax:
  • Hand forged head made in the early English style commonly traded to the Indians
  • This head features classic tapered style bowl with a stepped ridge where it meets the eye
  • Blade has a swept design with a tapered back and features hand filed double blade molding
  • Handle handmade from hickory
  • Handle contains two Indian decorated inletted brass bands made from an old worn out kettle
  • This wood was collected from a downed tree in the Clearcreek Valley near the confluence of the Hocking River in Fairfield County, Ohio (close to where Lord Dunmore marched his troops to sign a treaty with the Shawnee at Fort Charlotte)
  • Handle is drilled and tomahawk is smokable
  • Aged extensively to resemble decades of battle use
  • Stamped with touchmark
$1100
Two Piece Halberd Battle Ax Two Piece Halberd Battle Axe

 Halberds were early European pole arms commonly cut down and traded to the Indians. This halberd was modeled after an original halberd axe.

A 17th, early 18th century battle axe:

  • Hand forged head made in two pieces that unscrews like the original
  • Handle made from locust hardwood collected from a downed tree in Kentucky near the confluence of the Ohio and Kentucky Rivers (a historic area where several early groups of Indians and pioneers canoed down the Kentucky River to the Canelands to hunt and trap
  • Finished off with an iron butt cone with a diamond shaped point that was used to anchor the pole arm into the ground when it was full-length. It was commonly used to resist horseback charges and advancements.
  • Aged extensively to replicate several centuries of hard use
  • Stain rubbed back to emulate wear patterns
  • Stamped with touchmark
$1950
Original Tomahawk Restoration, Nez Perce Original Nineteenth Century Nez Perce Plains Pipe Tomahawk Restoration

 Restoration needed: view tomahawk in its pre-restored condition - at time of this pic, head had already been re-patined):

  • Pipe head was separated from handle (pewter was melted out)
  • Head was also cleaned of it's original patina to a bright shine
  • Wood was missing from the top of handle that held the pipe head in place
  • Pewter mouthpiece was broke in half and pewter end cap was missing (melted away with a torch)
My restoration included:
  • Re-created original patina on pipe head
  • Replaced wood at the top of the handle to fit the head tightly to the handle
  • Repoured pewter end cap
  • Formed and poured pewter mouthpiece
  • Replaced all engraving on pewter mouthpiece
  • Added original looking patina to end cap and mouthpiece in the form of dings, file marks, scratches and wear marks
Presentation Halberd Axe Presentation Halberd

Presentation halberd handmade in the style similar to those seen in early paintings of famous Indian Chiefs
  • Hand forged head of two piece construction; top spike is pinned to the main eye
  • Head is adorned on both sides with a sterling silver fleur de lis
  • Handle handmade of tight banded curly maple decorated with two sterling sliver bands with stylized engraving
  • Two bone escutcheons engraved with the initials "AK" bordered on the top and bottom with inlaid silver wire in a scroll design
  • Finishing out the handle is a relief carved serpant holding an egg in its mouth; serpant has inlaid sterling silver eyes and relief carved brow
  • A truly unique piece
  • Blade stamped with touchmark
SOLD

If you like this piece, please contact me and I can custom make a piece for you.
Plains Indian Pierced Pipe Axe Plains Indian Pierced Pipe Tomahawk


A nineteenth century Western tomahawk made to replicate a Phase III Plains style original pipe ax:
  • Hand forged head with a heart shaped piercing and blade molding
  • Long thin bowl with three wedding bands and filed chevron bowl molding
  • Dimensions of head: 3 5/8" x 9 3/4"
  • Handle handmade from ash
  • Handle decorated with file branding and aged brass tacks set in a diagonal pattern
  • The handle is finished with a bone mouth piece
  • This wood was collected from a downed tree in the Clearcreek Valley in Fairfield County, Ohio
  • Handle hand drilled and tomahawk is smokable
  • Aged appropriately to replicate a well-used original
  • Stamped with touchmark
SOLD

If you like this piece, please contact me and I can custom make a piece for you.

Client Testimonial: It's accidentally that I found Todd Bitler's website. His realizations, displayed in his site gallery pleased me so much that I quickly contacted him for the manufacturing of a Pipe Axe of the Indian Wars period.

We exchanged several mails to define the project well, according to my budget. Throughout the process, Todd announced me the headway of his work and sent pics. His hints in the choise of wood, decoration and dimensions were really valuable. Finally, 3 month later I received at home, in France, a fabulous pipe axe, which could be displayed in a collection of original ones. The look is superb and the price ...moderate! The idea of having another one made is haunting me!

Gérard G., France
Pierced Spike Axe With Effigy Pierced Spike Tomahawk With Effigy


An eighteenth century spike ax:
  • Hand forged head
  • Double pierced blades with lower pointed ears
  • Dimensions of head: 3 1/4" x 8 1/2"
  • Osage orange handle
  • Handle hand shaped round to octagon
  • A human effigy head with inlaid trade beads for eyes finishes out the handle
  • This wood was collected from a downed tree in the Clearcreek Valley in Fairfield County, Ohio
  • Aged and stained dark to resemble years of use
  • Stamped with touchmark
SOLD

If you like this piece, please contact me and I can custom make a piece for you.
Brass Bowled Pipe Ax Brass Bowled Pipe Axe

An eighteenth century tomahawk:
  • Hand forged head with a brass overlaid bowl filed in a spiral design with double circular molding
  • Blade has a hand filed double molding with a spur on the belly
  • Dimensions of head: 7.5" x 2"
  • Handle is hand-fashioned from curly maple and is adorned with three aged sterling silver bands
  • This wood was collected from a downed tree in McArthur, Ohio
  • Aged to reflect many years of hard use
  • Handle length: 19"
  • Handle is drilled; tomahawk is smokable
  • Stamped with touchmark
SOLD

If you like this piece, please contact me and I can custom make a piece for you.
Spatulate Blade Spike Ax Spatulate Blade Spike Ax

A mid eighteenth century tomahawk:
  • Hand forged head; Spatulate blade with a hand filed spear pointed spike
  • Handle carved of ash starting as oval and transitioning to octagon at the wedding band finished off with a round knob
  • This wood was collected from a downed tree in the Clearcreek Valley near the confluence of the Hocking River in Fairfield County, Ohio (close to where Lord Dunmore marched his troops to sign a treaty with the Shawnee at Fort Charlotte)
  • Aged to reflect many years of use
  • Dimensions of head: 2.5" x 9.25"
  • Handle length: 19.75"
  • Stamped with touchmark
SOLD

If you like this piece, please contact me and I can custom make a piece for you.
Knife Bladed Spontoon Pipe Axe Knife Bladed Spontoon Pipe Tomahawk

An eighteenth century pipe tomahawk:
  • Hand forged head in the style of a knife bladed spontoon; Modeled from an original in the book, Indian Tomahawks & Frontiersmen Axes by Hartzler & Knowles
  • Bowl is hand filed in a multi-faceted shape (14 sides to be exact - not detectable from photos)
  • Blade contains basal processes that point towards the tip
  • Handle carved of elm with relived barber pole design ending in single banded lobed mouthpiece
  • Handle has an old Indian brass repair band salvaged from a worn-out kettle attached with brass pins; repair band carved with Indian hieroglyphs and aged extensively
  • This wood was collected from a downed tree in Kentucky near the confluence of the Ohio and Kentucky Rivers
  • Extensively aged to emulate a 250 year old original axe
  • Handle length: 22"
  • Stamped with touchmark
SOLD

If you like this piece, please contact me and I can custom make a piece for you.
Long Pointed Spike Ax Long Pointed Spike Ax

An eighteenth century tomahawk:
  • Hand forged head of high carbon steel
  • Hand shaped handle of osage orange; an octagonal faceted handle transitioning to oval with a copper wire wrap in the mid-section that emulates a repair
  • Wood was obtained from a downed tree in the Clearcreek Valley just miles from Circleville where Cornstock had a village on the Scioto River
  • Traditional stain and finish
  • Lightly aged
  • Dimensions of head: 1.75" x 10.5"
  • Handle length: 18.5"
  • Stamped with touchmark
SOLD

If you like this piece, please contact me and I can custom make a piece for you.
Hickory and Pewter Handled Pipe Ax Hickory and Pewter Handled Pipe Axe
(Commissioned Piece)

A mid-eighteenth century tomahawk:
  • This piece was custom made to a client's specifications
  • Hand forged head with a tulip bowl and blade molding
  • Completing this axe is a hickory handle with scalloped poured pewter bands and mouthpiece
  • The pewter bands and mouthpiece are engraved with a scalloped desgn and punched dots
  • This piece of hickory was acquired from a downed tree while hiking a Northern region of Kentucky near the historic Kentucky River
  • Head and handle appropriately aged to resemble decades of use; dark stain rubbed back to indicate wear
SOLD

If you like this piece, please contact me and I can custom make a piece for you.

Client Testimonial: In my opinion, nothing could symbolise the weaponry from the American colonial frontier more than the tomahawk. These fascinating weapons have captivated me for many years. When looking for a museum quality re-creation, two things were important to me:
  1. it would have to be made by an American craftsman; and
  2. for a woodland example made somewhere on the eastern side of the country.
After some degree of investigation I found Todd Bitler. His work looked very good and I decided to commission a piece from him. We, via the email, came up with a great design. I took his advice on many things and he kept me informed of its progress along the way.

When the completed tomahawk arrived I can honestly say it defied belief and it looked as if it came from the 18th century. I cannot commend his skill highly enough.

Mike G., United Kingdom
Flared and Tapered Spike Axe Flared and Tapered Spike Tomahawk
(Commissioned Piece)

An early to mid eighteenth century tomahawk:
  • Hand forged head with a wide flared blade and straight tapered spike with a hand filed medial ridge
  • Completing the spike ax is a long slender, 24" handle made of curly maple with a hand carved barber pole spiral; made to client's specifications
  • Traditional stain and finish
  • Head and handle appropriately aged to resemble 250 years of patina; dark stain rubbed back to assimilate wear
  • This piece of curly maple wood was from a downed tree found while hiking an old Shawnee Indian trail in Southern Ohio
SOLD

If you like this style, please contact me and I can custom make a similar piece for you.

Client Testimonial: I came across Todd's website and really liked his work. I had a difficult time choosing a certain hawk. I asked Todd if he could use a handle from one of his hawks, a blade from another, and a spike from yet another. In the end, we ended up coming up with a hawk that he completely customized to my specifications. Todd provided quick responses, drawings, and pictures throughout the process. The total cycle time from first inquiry through final product was very satisfactory for a custom piece. I am very pleased with the quality of this hawk. Todd's ability to create a realistic weapon has guaranteed a lifelong customer.

Brandon R., Texas
French Presentation Pipe Tomahawk French Presentation Pipe Tomahawk
(Commissioned Piece)

A mid eighteenth century tomahawk:
  • Hand forged head of high carbon steel with a tulip bowl finished with two recessed bands; relief hand filed blade chevron with stylized border
  • Each side of the blade is engraved with fleur de lis with one side displaying a half moon and stars while the other side displays a full sun and artist's touchmark
  • Hand carved 20.5" curly maple handle with a fleur de lis design extending downward from the blade. Handle also features a decorative brass band.
  • The piece is modeled after an original pipe tomahawk that appears in the book, Indian Tomahawks & Frontiersmen Axes by Hartzler & Knowles; several elements of the piece were revised based upon client's specifications
  • Handle is drilled; hawk is smokable
  • Traditional stain and finish
  • Lightly aged
SOLD

If you like this style, please contact me and I can custom make a similar piece for you.
Spiral Hafted Pipe Tomahawk Spiral Hafted Pipe Tomahawk

A mid to late-eighteenth century tomahawk:
  • Hand forged head of high carbon steel with an octagonal faceted bowl finished with two wedding bands; relief hand filed chevron and fluted molding with side ridges on the blade
  • Hand poured chevron band
  • Hand shaped handle of curly maple with a relief-carved spiral that runs from the head to the mouth piece
  • The handle is a replica of a hawk pictured in BATTLE WEAPONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION by George C. Neumann
  • Handle is drilled; hawk is smokable
  • Traditional stain and finish
  • Dimensions of head: 2.5" x 6.5"
  • Handle length: 20.5"
SOLD

If you like this style, please contact me and I can custom make a similar piece for you.
Original Pipe Tomahawk Head with Reproduction Handle Custom Made Handle for Client's Pipe Head

  • A commissioned handle made from ash
  • Handle is hand-drilled and shaped to fit original 1750s pipe head
  • Handle aged and stained dark to client's specifications that assimilates original patina
  • Stress cracks, nicks and cut marks are part of the extensive aging process
Please contact me to make a commissioned handle to complete your original tomahawk head.


Client Testimonial: Many months before I bought my original tomahawk head, I surfed the net looking for someone to produce a tomahawk handle that doesn’t look new. Finally, I made the decision to go with Mr. Todd Bitler because his prior work impressed me a lot and was exactly what I was looking for.

Mr. Bitler explained every step to me and sent me pictures of the handle as the work progressed. After the handle was finished and I saw the picture, I was surprised. One week later when I got my piece back it was amazing because my tomahawk looked much better than even in the picture. Every time again, I will send Mr. Bitler a tomahawk axe to build a new handle.

Ivan R., Switzerland
Double Molded Pipe Tomahawk Double Molded Pipe Tomahawk

An eighteenth century pipe tomahawk:
  • Hand forged head of high carbon steel
  • Hand filed molding at the front and rear of the eye
  • Hand carved bone clean-out plug
  • Hand shaped handle of hickory
  • Traditional stain and finish
  • Lightly aged
  • Custom built piece made to client's specifications
  • Lightweight and balanced
  • Stamped with touchmark

SOLD

If you like this style, please contact me and I can custom make a similar piece for you.
Spiral Hickory Handle for Original Pipe Head Custom Made Handle for Client's Pipe Head

  • A commissioned handle handmade from hickory
  • Handle made to fit dimensions of original late eighteenth to mid-nineteenth century head
  • Handle is hand-shaped in a barber pole relief, drilled and smokable
  • Completing the handle is a poured pewter mouthpiece
  • Lightly aged


    • Please contact me to make a commissioned handle to complete your original tomahawk head.
Flared Spike Tomahawk Flared Spike Tomahawk

A late seventeenth to eighteenth century tomahawk:
  • Hand forged head of high carbon steel
  • Hand shaped handle of hickory with two copper repair bands
  • The handle is made in the style of an original hawk featured in the "Indian Tomahawks & Frontiersmen Axes" by Hartzler & Knowles. The original was made from a poll arm which still retained its butt cone as this one does as well.
  • Traditional stain and finish
  • Lightly aged
  • Dimensions of head: 3" x 8.75"
  • Handle length: 21"
  • Stamped with touchmark

SOLD

If you like this style, please contact me and I can custom make a similar piece for you.


Client Testimonial: I’ve owned several pieces of Todd Bitler’s work over the last three years; three spike tomahawks, a hammer poll ax and a powder horn. Each one is a unique work of art and much more. The tomahawks beckon to be picked up and examined. They feel like a natural extension of your arm. Beautiful and deadly. The heirloom quality powder horn, with its aged patina and primitive engraving, warrants closer study. Seven animal totems have been carefully engraved on the horn in a similar fashion to the original horns found in Jim Dresslar’s book.
Todd’s workmanship and attention to detail are evident in each reproduction he creates. Each piece is finely handcrafted with a studied eye that understands how a contemporary piece should follow the pattern of an original artifact. Look at Todd’s work and you might think that you’re looking at an original 18th Century item. It’s that good.

Now, pick the piece up in your hand. Heft it; feel the balance; the weight; admire the fit and form. The striking thing that you notice about Todd’s work is the natural grace and functionality each piece exhibits, just like the originals. Nothing’s wasted. Nothing’s added. The original and pure 18th century intent of the weapon or equipment is conveyed in a clean functional interpretation by this Artist.

In my opinion, these are only a few reasons why Todd’s work is a cut above most of the contemporary 18th Century reproductions available on today’s market. It’s also the reason why I will continue to collect Todd’s work in the future.

Bill F., MA
Early English Pipe Tomahawk

A mid-eighteenth century tomahawk:
  • Hand forged head of high carbon steel
  • Tear dropped tapered curly maple handle
  • Multi-pointed hand poured pewter band on underside of head
  • Handle is drilled; hawk is smokeable
  • Faceted bone clean-out plug
  • Traditional stain and finish
  • Dimensions of head: 2.25" x 8.5"
  • Handle length: 20"
  • Stamped with touchmark

SOLD

If you like this style, please contact me and I can custom make a similar piece for you.


Tulip Bowl Pipe Tomahawk

A mid-eighteenth century style tomahawk:
  • Hand forged head of high carbon steel; tulip bowl with octagonal tapered neck and tear-drop shaped eye with blade molding
  • Finishing off the head is a hand-poured scalloped end cap with an antler clean-out plug
  • Hand filed tapered hickory handle ending with a deer hoof bone mouth-piece filed in a spiral design
  • Traditional stain and finish
  • Lightly aged
  • Dimensions of head: 2.25" x 7.75"
  • Handle length: 20.25"
  • Lightweight and balanced
  • Stamped with touchmark
  • Custom built piece made to client's specifications
SOLD

If you like this style, please contact me and I can custom make a similar piece for you.
Burnt Spiral Spike Tomahawk

A large spike tomahawk:
  • Hand forged head of high carbon steel with a faceted spike
  • Cigar shaped osage orange wood handle
  • Burnt barber pole spiral design
  • Traditional stain and finish
  • Well balanced
  • Stamped with touchmark

SOLD

If you like this style, please contact me and I can custom make a similar piece for you.
Crescent Shaped Bent Spike Tomahawk

A late seventeenth to early eighteenth century style tomahawk:
  • Hand forged head of high carbon steel; bent and faceted spike with rectangular eye
  • Hand filed octagonal osage orange handle
  • Traditional stain and finish
  • Lightly aged
  • Dimensions of head: 3.5" x 8"
  • Handle length: 23"
  • Weight: 12 oz.; lightweight and balanced
  • Made for strength and speed
  • Stamped with touchmark
SOLD

If you like this style, please contact me and I can custom make a similar piece for you.
Barber Pole Bent Tapered Spike Tomahawk

An eighteenth century style tomahawk:
  • Hand forged head of high carbon steel with a bent tapered spike
  • Tapered curly maple handle
  • Barber pole spiral done in relief
  • Traditional stain and finish
SOLD

If you like this style, please contact me and I can custom make a similar piece for you.
Spear-Pointed Spike Tomahawk

  • Hand forged head high carbon steel spear pointed head
  • Cigar shaped hickory handle
  • Traditional stain and finish
SOLD

If you like this style, please contact me and I can custom make a similar piece for you.
Pierced Spike Tomahawk

An English, 18th century style tomahawk
  • Hand forged, double pierced high carbon steel head bordered with a copper wire
  • Straight tapered curly maple handle
  • Hand filed twisted, incised grip
  • Two brass English infantry wrist escutcheons
  • Traditional stain and finish
SOLD

If you like this style, please contact me and I can custom make a similar piece for you.
Octagonal Headed Poll Ax

An eighteenth century poll ax:
  • Hand forged high carbon steel head with a hand filed octagonal poll
  • Straight tapered, incised carved curly maple handle
  • Copper wire wrapped grip
  • Four poured pewter bands; two solid and two triangular pointed
  • Traditional stain and finish
SOLD

If you like this style, please contact me and I can custom make a similar piece for you.
Hickory Handled Pipe Tomahawk

A mid to late eighteenth century tomahawk:
  • Hand forged high carbon steel head with a tulip-shaped bowl
  • Handle is drilled; hawk is smokable
  • Hand shaped handle of hickory with a horn mouth piece
  • Bone clean-out plug included (not shown in photos)
  • Traditional stain and finish
  • Dimensions of head: 2.25" x 8.25"
  • Handle length: 18"
SOLD

If you like this style, please contact me and I can custom make a similar piece for you.

If you're interested in something or have a custom request, please contact me at: toddbitler@yahoo.com
Categories:
Flintlocks Pipes Swords HOME
Knives Powder Horns Tomahawks / Axes
Photography Roaches / Spreaders War Clubs
Todd Bitler, Living Historian and Artist
PO Box 59 Amanda, OH 43102
toddbitler@yahoo.com