I’ve come to the opinion that everyone should have a tomahawk or hatchet. The differences are notable between the two tools, but for my end-all purpose, I think you should have one or the other. Why not both? As a fan of hacking implements, 5.11 recently sent me the new CFA Peacemaker Tomahawk. The Peacemaker is designed by Army Special Operations operator and blade designer Justin Gingrich in partnership with 5.11 Tactical.
The CFA Peacemaker isn’t a small or compact tomahawk. It’s not afraid to be large and in charge. The overall length is 14 inches in total, with a 6.5-inch wide head. There are some selective cuts made to lighten the tool, but it still weighs one pound and twelve ounces and some change. Now that we’ve introduced our palter, why do I think everyone needs a tomahawk or hatchet?
The Peacemaker and The Escape
I think it’s a tool that lends itself well to basic survival needs. It’s a lot like having a case of water and a few days worth of food. I don’t see the tool as a weapon or as some kind of zombie-slaying device. Rather, it’s a tool you can use to get into or out of any situation. As a guy who just went through hurricanes Idalia, Debbie, and Helene, I’ve learned how useful hatchets or tomahawks can be.
I’ve also seen various situations where a tool like CFA Peacemaker would be useful and even lifesaving. A mini axe allows you to cut your way out, through, or into a building, down a road, or out of a building. What are you supposed to do if you retreat to your attic due to floodwaters and the waters keep rising?
People have died in that situation. A small axe packed in a go bag allows you to cut your way through the roof and escape. In some less dramatic situations, it could allow you to chop through a door that has been barricaded by debris. You’d preferably have a chainsaw and skid steer, but neither of those fit into a backpack.
To relate it to a personal situation, I used a hatchet extensively to cut debris that a chainsaw wasn’t appropriate or safe to use. When I was an idiot and got my chainsaw stuck and pinched, a hatchet was handy for freeing the chainsaw.
Hatchets and tomahawks are excellent tools for escaping or breaching, and both can be absolutely lifesaving.
The Peacemaker – Tool Extraordinaire
It was the Peacemaker’s size that drew me to the tomahawk. My other options were small and light, which was great for transport but took more time and effort to cut through the world. After three hurricanes, I realized my likelihood of having to bug out on foot seemed rare, and motorized was the way to go. As such, I didn’t mind increasing the weight.
The Peacemaker has a huge head and weighs a good bit, so it chops and takes big bites out of whatever I’m chopping. The Peacemaker is thick—like a Brazillian butt lift thick. It’s a hefty piece of steel that feels and acts like it would last forever. Another big benefit is the sheath, which is a modern polymer design with a MOLLE attachment. That makes it easy to attach to the outside of the pack for quick and easy access.
In The Field
The Peacemaker hits hard and takes chunks out of whatever medium you’re taking a whack at. The big blade has a deep belly, which allows you to focus your momentum and put it to good use. The grip panels are polymer and decently textured. I do think it could be a bit more aggressive. When my hands got sweaty with work, I had to make sure I clenched down on the Peacemaker.
I understand their goal. They likely wanted less texture to reduce hotspots and blisters, and they achieved that quite successfully. It doesn’t pinch, rub, or rough your hands up. I bring gloves in my hurricane kit anyway, so sweat isn’t a huge deal.
The Peacemaker is designed and balanced a lot like a hammer, and it swings like one. As such, it’s easy to control, and accuracy and consistency for cuts are easy to maintain.The tomahawk wears a decent beard, which acts as a great little hook tool. It allows me to grab and pull at things I may not want to touch.
On the ass end, we have a spike that’s perfect for digging. It can chop through hard ground, ice, or similar materials. The spike itself is somewhat small, but it’s thick and designed to penetrate deeply and surely.
The entire setup is made from SCM 435 steel. It’s not fancy steel, but it’s a tough steel. The steel has great impact resistance and high tensile strength. Corrosion resistance is a bit lacking, but the electro-coat finish makes up for that.
Wrapping Up
Everyone should have a hatchet or tomahawk, and if you’re lacking one, the CFA Peacemaker is a mighty good choice to fill your toolbox, breaching kit, or bug-out bug. It’s big, tough, and sharp. The price isn’t sky-high, and it’s made to last. As long as you keep it sharp, you won’t have any problems.
For more information, please visit 511Tactical.com.
