The Downrange Tomahawk is an interesting offering from Gerber. Rather than being a tomahawk first, it is a breaching tool first and a tomahawk second.
The Gerber Downrange Tomahawk (DRT) has a three-purpose axe head designed to add breaching functionality. The axe head is capable of chopping through drywall, walls, and doors. The backside of the axe works as a hammer. The pry bar is controlled by a cutaway grip in the axe head.
- Length: 19.27″
- Weight: 36 oz.
Its unique design gives it a great look and makes it perfect for anyone that may need to pry, break or smash their way into a blocked or barricaded structure.
Who Should Buy The Gerber Downrange Tomahawk?
If you’re in the market for a tactical tomahawk or a purpose-built breaching tool, the Gerber Downrange Tomahawk is for you. It would be great in an urban bug out bag or as an emergency tool in the trunk of a car!
- BREACHING TOOL: Features a pry bar, G10 handles, and multi-purpose axe head with beveled edge,...
- SURVIVAL GEAR AND EQUIPMENT: USA Made from 420HC steel with a corrosion-resistant Cerakote finish,...
- PRACTICAL DESIGN: Included low profile MOLLE-compatible sheath protects the axe blade when not in...
- TACTICAL GEAR: Great for any hunter, soldier, or tradesman and the perfect addition to your survival...
- SIZE: 19.27" overall length, 36 oz weight with sheath, 30.4 oz without sheath; Backed by the Gerber...
Features
Triple purpose axe head – It functions as a hammer, axe, and handle. The special-purpose sheath covers all of the sharp edges so you can pry without worrying about injuring yourself.
The base of the handle functions as a pry-bar. The axe head functions as a handle while the G10 material on the handle is scaled to add extra grip.
The sheath is MOLLE-compatible and easily attaches to packs, standard webbing or body armor.
Overall Length: 19.27″
Weight: 1.9 lb. without Sheath, 2.5 lbs. with sheath
Steel: 420HC
Handle Cover Material: G-10
Pros
The Gerber Downrange Tomahawk is made of one piece of solid 420HC steel so it won’t break or bend when prying.
As a breaching tool, this is actually one of the better compact ones out there. The hammer easily smashes cinder blocks and windows, the axe blade is perfectly capable of smashing and cutting what you need as well.
The Smith and Wesson Evasion and Extraction Tomahawk is another good tool with similar uses.
The main body of the tomahawk is Cerakoted so it will resist weather, corrosion, and quite a bit of a beating.
Carrying this one tool allows you to cut down on the number of tools in your pack or bug out bag by not needing to have a hammer, hatchet, and pry-bar.
Most Popular Tomahawks
Cons
If you’re used to cheap Walmart tools, then you may suffer from a little sticker shock when you first see the price. However, it’s often true that you get what you pay for and that’s the case here as well.
Chopping wood is possible with the Gerber Downrange Tomahawk but it isn’t as effective as I’d like. The head is too light to make chopping effective since most of the material has been removed to make it usable as a handle.
As a multi-purpose tool, it isn’t as effective as any single hatchet, hammer, or pry-bar. This is to be expected but it still needs to be said.
Conclusion
The Gerber Downrange Tomahawk is a great tool overall. It shines as a breaching tool and can hold its own in a variety of other uses.
This tomahawk would be at home in almost any bug out bag but it would be especially useful if you were going to bug out in an urban or suburban environment. I also think this would be a good addition to your pack if you’re going to be patrolling in an urban environment.
