This is my fifth year owning the Bul Armory AXE Tomahawk, and I still shoot it regularly. The 5-year mark is a good spot to give an update on how the Israeli pistol is holding up.
It seems like every time you turn around, another company is releasing a “Glock clone.” I guess it makes sense though, Glock is one of the most popular and reliable pistols in the world. The aftermarket for these pistols is massive, and honestly, the competition is great for all of us. The more options we have the better, right?
A market saturated with clones is also good because we can find something in just about every price category. If you want a low-cost gun that is still reliable, find a cheap Glock clone. And if you want a fancy, shiny, Gucci Glock, well, you can find that too.
This huge variety is a big reason why the Glock platform remains so popular today. And that brings us back around to the subject of this article, the Bul Armory AXE Tomahawk.
AXE Tomahawk (Glock clone)
The AXE Tomahawk is Bul Armory’s take on the compact striker-fired pistol created by Gaston Glock. Specifically, the “C” model is the direct equivalent to the Glock 19, which is the version I have. While some newer clone pistols are now Gen 5 compatible, the AXE Tomahawk is based mostly on the famous Gen 3 version. Gen 3 parts are probably the easiest to find, so there is a benefit to having this generation.
One of the main downsides to a Gen 3 clone is that it uses a single recoil spring instead of a double, like the Gen 5’s. This isn’t a huge issue, but you can tell just a little difference in recoil. I will also note that the magazine release is based on the Gen 4, which is a good choice as well.
When it comes to the frame, Bul Armory changed the frame geometry significantly. It has a high-grip beavertail and a double-undercut trigger guard. These changes help you get your hand up higher on the gun for better control. I think the grip is one of the biggest things that stood out to me when I bought it.
The frame is made of a reinforced polymer, and the slide is stainless steel with a PVD finish. It’s surprisingly light, and noticeably lighter than a stock G19. A Gen 3 Glock 19 weighs around 21–23 oz (unloaded), and the AXE Tomahawk C: weighs about 19.3–20.4 oz (unloaded). It doesn’t sound like a lot, but when you hold it, you can tell.
AXE Tomahawk Specs
- Caliber: 9x19mm
- Capacity: 15+1 (Compatible with Glock magazines)
- Barrel Length: 4.02 inches
- Weight: ~1.23 lbs (without magazine)
- Trigger Pull: 3.5 – 4.0 lbs
- Sights: Steel 3-dot (Glock dovetail compatible)
- Optic Footprint: Trijicon RMR
What Makes the AXE Tomahawk Stand Out?
The Tomahawk is the “fully loaded” model in Bul Armory’s AXE line. The first thing you’ll notice is the fluted barrel. It has a distinct spiral or “twisted” look that really pops. This is what caught my eye at the gun store. To make sure you can see the cool twisted-looking barrel, the slide has a large cutout in the top. This also helps reduce weight.
Besides the cutout on the top of the slide, they also milled off some of the front of the slide so the end of the barrel extends past it.
The slide has some deep, pronounced serrations that make it easy to grip, and it looks cool, too. To help match the stainless slide, the takedown lever and pins are also stainless. For a while, I stuck a gold barrel in it because I wanted it to really stand out. But after a while, I realized the silver-on-silver color of the stainless (barrel and slide) is the better look for this gun.
Upgraded controls
The AXE Tomahawk comes factory-standard with a flat-face trigger. Some like flat triggers, and some don’t. I shoot just a little better with them, and I like this one. It helps get rid of that “mushy” feeling that a lot of them have. According to Bul Armory, the trigger weight is 3.5 to 4 lbs. My trigger gauge was averaging 3.6 over a ten-pull run.
The slide stop/release is not oversized, but it has a small flat face on the back portion to give your thumb a little more leverage than a standard Glock release. Using this with thick gloves on in the winter is a bit tricky, but other than that, it works great. When I have gloves on, I just pull back on the slide to release it instead of the slide release lever.
It’s a small thing to point out, but the take-down lever is slightly longer than a standard Glock style. With my Glock handguns, I have to use my fingernails to pull down on the take-down lever. The stainless one on the AXE protrudes just a hair past the frame, making it easy to grip with your fingers.
Grip and frame
The texturing on the side of the grips is a light “checkered” texture that is fairly smooth but provides just a little gripping assistance. On the back and front of the grip, however, it’s much more aggressive. This helps with your grip during recoil.
Bul Armory also integrated thumb rests (gas pedals) on both sides of the frame. Your thumb feels natural using this beveled area with a two-handed grip.
Besides that, it also has an integrated flared mag-well, which helps with faster reloads during high-stress situations.
5 years and going
I normally keep a good track of how much ammo I put through each gun. With this one, I lost track somewhere along the way, but it’s safe to say I’ve had thousands of rounds through it. To be honest, I didn’t buy it for a self-defense gun, duty gun, or competition gun. I just thought it looked cool and I had one of those “buy now and deal with the wife later” moments.
But it turns out, this is a fun handgun to shoot. I’ve used it at multiple training events and ended up carrying it around off duty as well. Again, it’s odd that just a few ounces of weight would be noticeable, but this feels much lighter than my duty Glock. I’ve carried it in my Bianchi shoulder holster and multiple Safariland holsters. For winter OWB conceal carry, the Safariland Gravity paddle holster is one of my favorites.
The AXE Tomahawk is optics-ready and uses the RMR footprint. I’ve had several different optics on it over the years, but for a while now, I’ve gone back to using the iron sights. With the Gravity holster, I can carry just about any Glock or Glock clone handgun with or without an optic. This makes it a great multi-purpose holster.
With all the ammo I’ve put through it, the AXE doesn’t really show any wear, and nothing has needed replacing yet. I keep it cleaner than I do a lot of my other guns. Because it’s all stainless, any carbon, oil, or dirt really stands out on the barrel and slide.
It’s a keeper
With tax, the Bul Armory AXE Tomahawk pistol will run about $1,000. This isn’t an extreme price for a quality handgun, but it’s a lot higher than your average Glock clone pistol. For me, this price is worth the quality and craftsmanship. It’s not at the extreme end of the price tree like some other brands, but it’s a big step up from a standard Glock pistol as well.
For me, it’s a keeper, and I’ll continue to train with it, carry it, and show it off to my friends.
