pinstripe
Member
Anyone know of a good cheap ($) hand ax or tomahawk? I really don't want to pay over $40. Let me know. Thanks
Would like it to be very durable and plain.
Would like it to be very durable and plain.
good cheap hand ax
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earplug
Member
I was in the market for the same thing, Most current hand axes are made in China and our cheap. Most have clunky cast heads, shaped like a splitting maul.
Eastwing forged axes are 40+ dollars.
I found my hand axe at a second hand shop and have seen other good axe heads in antique/junk shops.
I found a US forged, nicely beveled hand axe for less then $10.00. Replaced the handle and made a leather sheath.
Eastwing forged axes are 40+ dollars.
I found my hand axe at a second hand shop and have seen other good axe heads in antique/junk shops.
I found a US forged, nicely beveled hand axe for less then $10.00. Replaced the handle and made a leather sheath.
MASTEROFMALICE
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pinstripe
Member
what the ....
pinstripe
Member
I have heard of k5 tactical but I don't want to spend $159 for a hand ax. I would like to carry something other than my double bit ax on my 4 wheeler.
leadcounsel
member
I bought an Estwing combo hatchet and hammer. Hatchet on one side, hammer on the other. Cost me $25.
If you know Estwing, they are solid and comfortable. Doubt it'll ever break.
Excellent for camping.
The only drawback is that it didn't come with any sheath for some weird reason, so I had to find a suitable one for about $10.
If you know Estwing, they are solid and comfortable. Doubt it'll ever break.
Excellent for camping.
The only drawback is that it didn't come with any sheath for some weird reason, so I had to find a suitable one for about $10.
ylapirrynag
Member
Having used axes for work (both pick and the normal kind) I would recemmend not getting something that has a removable axehead. They are a pain in the [rear] when the come off when you least expect it. :|
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Cold Steel Trail Boss? 23" overall, 4 1/2" cutting face, 41.5 oz, 1055 carbon steel, straight grain hickory handle.
$26.95 from knifecenter.com ...
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail_print.html?s=CS90TA
Nick
$26.95 from knifecenter.com ...
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail_print.html?s=CS90TA
Nick
Smokey Joe
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Estwing...
still makes their hatchet with a forged, polished head, and a stacked leather handle. Comes with a (rather cheap-looking) sheath.
They don't still make their carpenter's hammer the same way, darn. The carpenter's hammer comes with that plastic gel on the handle. Probably comfortable, but ugly as sin.
I treated myself to a new hammer, years ago when I reshingled my roof--that was back when Estwing still made the pretty hammers. It got used on the roof, PULL-enty, and looks it, but it still has that Estwing beauty to it.
My son will probably come into the house and swipe it on his way home from my funeral--and if so, good.
There are so few tools that look as good as they work.
still makes their hatchet with a forged, polished head, and a stacked leather handle. Comes with a (rather cheap-looking) sheath.
They don't still make their carpenter's hammer the same way, darn. The carpenter's hammer comes with that plastic gel on the handle. Probably comfortable, but ugly as sin.
I treated myself to a new hammer, years ago when I reshingled my roof--that was back when Estwing still made the pretty hammers. It got used on the roof, PULL-enty, and looks it, but it still has that Estwing beauty to it.
My son will probably come into the house and swipe it on his way home from my funeral--and if so, good.
There are so few tools that look as good as they work.
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dogrunner
Member
If you have a Lowes nearby check 'em out for one of Fiskars products. It is IDENTICAL to the Gerber and at way less than half the price.\\
Think I paid around 17.00 for mine & it'd slice paper when new. Fits in a snap in/out plastic case & makes a great piece of gear to toss in the truck. Light and nearly unbreakable.
Think I paid around 17.00 for mine & it'd slice paper when new. Fits in a snap in/out plastic case & makes a great piece of gear to toss in the truck. Light and nearly unbreakable.
sixgunner455
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I was looking for one a while back. Didn't want to pay for a Granfors Bruks, though I am told that "they are the best axes in the world."
Estwing at the hardware store was prettier, anyway, and works perfectly. IIRC, I got it on sale for 35 bucks.
Estwing at the hardware store was prettier, anyway, and works perfectly. IIRC, I got it on sale for 35 bucks.
MutinousDoug
Member
I have found good hatchets at the swap meets here: A pre WWI Plumb Scout hatchet, a Banko Swedish and a SAW (Wetterling) all for less than $5.00 each. All of them needed a re-hafting so the real cost included a "Boy Scout" hatchet handle and a few hours fitting, wedging and finishing. If a hatchet has a decent handle on it you'll pay for that, but most people don't know a Swede from Chinese.
Just avoid the ones that look too short from pol to edge and any that look like they have been "sharpened" with a power tool of any sort. All of them get beaten on the pol so you just have to make a guess how bad that looks and go from there.
Just avoid the ones that look too short from pol to edge and any that look like they have been "sharpened" with a power tool of any sort. All of them get beaten on the pol so you just have to make a guess how bad that looks and go from there.
Piedmont Plinker
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Gerber, Fiskars, and Cold Steel come to mind.
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Trail Blazer
A local store sells the Canadian-made "Trail Blazer" for around $30 or so.
Two sizes, three colors (black, yellow, red), and the smaller one looks like this:
The bigger one has a bent "ergonomic" handle.
It's an unusual hatchet, and the grind is flat, making edge maintenance somewhat easier.
I was going to buy one but I stumbled on an old rosewood-handled Estwing and bought that instead. I might still buy one.
They're very light (which is both good and bad), quite compact, and they'll do a better job of hatchet work than some large knife you might bring to do "all your cutting tasks."
The Gerber is also really good. The really small Gerber is made in Taiwan or somewhere near there, while the medium and large ones are still made in Finland by Fiskars.
A local store sells the Canadian-made "Trail Blazer" for around $30 or so.
Two sizes, three colors (black, yellow, red), and the smaller one looks like this:
The bigger one has a bent "ergonomic" handle.
It's an unusual hatchet, and the grind is flat, making edge maintenance somewhat easier.
I was going to buy one but I stumbled on an old rosewood-handled Estwing and bought that instead. I might still buy one.
They're very light (which is both good and bad), quite compact, and they'll do a better job of hatchet work than some large knife you might bring to do "all your cutting tasks."
The Gerber is also really good. The really small Gerber is made in Taiwan or somewhere near there, while the medium and large ones are still made in Finland by Fiskars.
http://www.estwing.com/product.php?product_id=1300
Been using one for 35 or 40 years now as a multipurpose tool. More than a small hatchet and can be kept very sharp, never break a handle in a out of the way place. Only draw back I have found from driving stakes to cutting wood to splitting large elks brisket is the ring they will sometimes have when driving stakes. You don't want a double edge ax for all around outdoor use, unless only used for cutting, although i did pick up a old "Sager" double ax head this weekend it will be more than your asking about once the handle is replaced. The steel part of the handle on my Estwing is wrapped to prevent unwanted noise.
Been using one for 35 or 40 years now as a multipurpose tool. More than a small hatchet and can be kept very sharp, never break a handle in a out of the way place. Only draw back I have found from driving stakes to cutting wood to splitting large elks brisket is the ring they will sometimes have when driving stakes. You don't want a double edge ax for all around outdoor use, unless only used for cutting, although i did pick up a old "Sager" double ax head this weekend it will be more than your asking about once the handle is replaced. The steel part of the handle on my Estwing is wrapped to prevent unwanted noise.
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Estwing
Yeah, the Estwing I mentioned above is kind of the precursor to that one, but with a rosewood handle rather than rubber.
Gotta watch that.
Yeah, the Estwing I mentioned above is kind of the precursor to that one, but with a rosewood handle rather than rubber.
From an earlier thread
It's been professionally resharpened, and I managed to shave a sliver of leather off the sheath putting it back in.
Gotta watch that.
Arf, Estwing still makes a leather handle hatchet or hand ax and yes I have had mine sharp enough to shave hair off your arm, using a Norton stone. Did they make the longer one's with leather in the past? I know mine is about 18" that's around 2" longer than what is currently available.
http://www.estwing.com/product.php?product_id=1600
Nice pic, good looking ax and sheath above.
http://www.estwing.com/product.php?product_id=1600
Nice pic, good looking ax and sheath above.
SpookyPistolero
Member
The Fiskars is one of the best woods tools around, let alone at the cheap price you find them at. They take a good edge, are more lightweight than most others in that class, extremely robust, comfy to choke up on. It's my standard by which I judge my other woods choppers (practical backpacking tools, not axes).
Great question, friend! Cheap and inexpensive are not the same thing. Back in about 1996, I bought a Fiskars axe. I have used that delightful tool and abused it (not on purpose). I have had the unfortuante experience of over-estimating the force needed to split a particular piece of wood, and driven the axe direct into the cement, and resulting in almost no damage at all the the cutting edge. The quality of steel is great. To me, the best part is how well I can sharen this axe. I can actually shave with the edge...that is sharp. For the price, I think you will look long and hard to find an axe that will exceed the quality of a Fiskars.
JMHO.
Doc2005
JMHO.
Doc2005
rantingredneck
Member
I have a Gerber and a couple of Cold Steel trail hawks too.
Does the Fiskars version come with the nylon belt sheath that the Gerber does?
Does the Fiskars version come with the nylon belt sheath that the Gerber does?
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