- Joined
- Jun 9, 2007
- Messages
- 6,347
Most of you already know John of JK Knives. A lot of you probably have at least one of his fine knives in your collection. This brief review takes a look at something a little different... The JK Hatchet. I just picked this one up a week ago, but I've already had a chance to use it for several fireside prep chores.
As soon as we started heading into cooler temps, I started looking into a compact axe or hatchet that I could pair up with a small fixed blade or SAK to make a my "campfire combo". I remembered that another BF member (CBryant) had done a review of this hatchet some time ago, and that it really spoke to me at that time. The size and weight seemed just right and I really liked the traditional style.
John makes this one out of 1/4" O1 and the finished dimensions are 10 1/2" in length with a 3" cutting edge. I have several other small wood handled hatchets, but the thing that I like about this one is the one piece design. I wouldn't beat on the handle of my GB Mini to get it through a 4" seasoned round, but that is what this hatchet is made for. Even after the poll disappears below the surface, you still have 3" of spine in front of the scales to pound on.
It proved to be a great chopper as well, blasting through this length of seasoned oak in short order. I also used a choked-up grip to carve a point on an old axe handle to be used as a fire poker. The hatchet had very good control with this type of grip and of course had no problem slicing nice thin curlies of fatwood and kindling.
The grind is beautiful and the heat treat must be spot on as the blade is still shaving sharp after several fires worth of splitting and chopping. Needless to say, I'm quite happy with this one. It's already got a permanent home in my fireside bag. Thumbs up! :thumbup:
Jeff
As soon as we started heading into cooler temps, I started looking into a compact axe or hatchet that I could pair up with a small fixed blade or SAK to make a my "campfire combo". I remembered that another BF member (CBryant) had done a review of this hatchet some time ago, and that it really spoke to me at that time. The size and weight seemed just right and I really liked the traditional style.
John makes this one out of 1/4" O1 and the finished dimensions are 10 1/2" in length with a 3" cutting edge. I have several other small wood handled hatchets, but the thing that I like about this one is the one piece design. I wouldn't beat on the handle of my GB Mini to get it through a 4" seasoned round, but that is what this hatchet is made for. Even after the poll disappears below the surface, you still have 3" of spine in front of the scales to pound on.
It proved to be a great chopper as well, blasting through this length of seasoned oak in short order. I also used a choked-up grip to carve a point on an old axe handle to be used as a fire poker. The hatchet had very good control with this type of grip and of course had no problem slicing nice thin curlies of fatwood and kindling.
The grind is beautiful and the heat treat must be spot on as the blade is still shaving sharp after several fires worth of splitting and chopping. Needless to say, I'm quite happy with this one. It's already got a permanent home in my fireside bag. Thumbs up! :thumbup:
Jeff
