Utility Hatchet?

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chad1043

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Hi Guys,
I am in need of a hatchet for yard work and utility tree work. I would like it to be easy to sharpen and durable. I don't have a price range, but under $50 would be great. If and when I get back in the woods, I would like it to be light enough to pack with, but is not a top priority. Any suggestions?
 
gränsfors hand hatchet - the ultimate.

cheaper and lighter Fiskars.
 
i have one of the SOG battle axes and it is the sharpest axe i have ever seen ,,one draw back maybe for you is the spike on the opposite end of the blade,,,i think it has a 17" long handle,,balanced well

nice axe in my opinion,,check them out

sportsman's guild has them for 35-38 bucks,,,if you can get past the spike you will love the axe,,,guess you could cut the spike off

check it out

ocharry
 
Anyone have any experience with the Gerber Gator Combo Axe and saw? The saw goes into the handle.
 
I have the Fiskars axe that is identical to the Gerber Gator. I don't have the saw, so I can't comment on that, but I have been very happy with the axe. In retrospect, I wouldn't have minded getting the longer version (same head, longer handle).

I got it for ~20 dollars, its easy to sharpen up, very light, and I've used it pretty hard, so I'd say it is pretty durable. However, if I had the money, I would have probably gotten a gransfors, because they are great.
 
Only problem with many lightweight hatchets is they don't have enough mass to cut effectively even when sharp. You really have to put a lot of wrist into it trying to make up for that lack of mass with speed. This is where a longer handle can make a world of difference. Wetterling makes a Camp hatchet with a 13 inch handle that weighs in at 1 1/4 pounds. By stepping up to their woods axe you add only 4 ounces but have a 20 inch handle...makes a huge difference in cutting power and allows 2 hand use.

If just splitting wood is your main goal then I would suggest a couple alternatives. For an inexpensive lightweight tool the breacher bar from countycomm makes a great batoning tool and takes up very little room in your pack.

http://www.countycomm.com/eodrtool.htm

One other option is a Japanese style hatchet. These have enough mass to cut well and can double as a machete. Well made versions are expensive tho and are often made by Master Smiths, this one is in the $250 range.

japanesehatchet.jpg
 
I was just in your shoes. I looked at wetterlings, gransfurs and bruks, fiskars, estling , cold steel, and etc, etc. I ended up going a different route all together i went to a half a dozen antique shops and checked out some old tools if you look you can find some deals on old hatchets and will see alot priced never to sell. I now have three "new" hatchets that are probably a hundred years old. And i've got a razor edge on 2 of them just like the GB or wetterlings videos. (thanks to my new stroping skills) I was looking for a belt axe type size. paid $8 bucks for one head, $15 for another and found one in a box of junk rusted tools.
 
I also suggest hitting up flea markets, yard sales, ect. I have two quality hatchets that are no less than 50 years old that I have less than 15 bucks in total.
 
I agree that you can be a lot of bang for your buck with vintage hatchets from junk/antique shops and that looking beyond the hatchet to short hooks and quality machetes may work as well or better depending upon what you have to chop.
 
And of course the Woodsman's Pal is a great multi task tool as well and has accompanied me all over the world. It can serve as a machete, a camp axe, a shovel for firepits and catholes, even has served me as an impromptu climbing axe.
 
You won't break an Estwing, won't need to rehandle it,made in USA, they sharpen easily and the handle has the corect curve to really chop. I prefer the old leather ringed handle one.They have enough weight to split kindling and a flat wide hammer side to pound on/with.
 
Woodman's Pal is the only way to go IMHO. Versatile, handy, stays sharp and is easy to sharpen. I've used one for years as a forester in the woods and it's way better than any hatchet.

Pap
 
IMHO you can't beat an old Plumb Boy Scout hatchet. They just feel right in your hand, have enough heft to get the job done and sharpen nice
 
I promise you will like your axe/hatchet that much more if it was an old tool you bring back to life. give it a new nice edge, maybe rehandle it yourself. but dont get me wrong a gransfurs and bruks wouldn't suck and at some point I may own one. Also an axe is a tool to use and abuse. Mine will be left outside from time to time, maybe spend sometime in the snow. it will be dropped in the dirt and accidently smack rocks. I take care of my tools but accidents happen thats something i thought about when looking at the GB's this time around.
A friend of mine bought that tiny gerber and that was pretty nice too, made by Fiskars.
 
Hey detonics how do you like the Japanese style hatchet? What are the good/bad points. After I saw yours I went to the local homecenter (here in Tokyo) and checked them out. I've seen them before but I was thinking of them as a blade, as in machete, and not so useful. As a hatchet tho they look good. They sell some basic ones, not as nice as yours, for about $40. What do you think?
 
Another vote for the Estwing or a Flea market Ax. The Old ones are usually well made and have quality steel in them. Estwing are purt near indestructable.
 
I really like the Japanese hatchet but you probably get what you pay for. I would imagine being where you are that 40-50 bucks would buy a serviceable tool.
 
I took an axe head from a broken axe, it had a 28" handle, I replaced it with a 16" handle. Plenty of mass, yet still packable. I'm a bigger guy though, so I could swing it

Sent from my rooted, rom'd, and rockin droid
 
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