advice for a hatchet ignorant knife guying looking for a camp hatchet

dogwood dan

dogwood dan

Joined
Aug 19, 2011
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I am looking for a light hatchet to take camping / back packing.

I am looking for something with hammer like head on the pole end for driving tent stakes and so on. I think it is from all my years as a carpenter but I don't like to use the flat pole I see a alot of.

I will be using it for fire wood and bushcraft type work.

I would like to stay in the $100-200 dollar range

what would y'll recommend and why? thank you for your advice and time

Dan
 
A half hatchet is a hammer...and a hatchet. And they are surprising adept in the woods. Like this:

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Though, I would go vintage cause you'll get better quality. Check out what operator has in mind.
 
Though, I would rather have a scout type in the woods, they are a little more well rounded, hence why the scouts used them and not half hatchets.
 
Operator1975 said:
Though, I would rather have a scout type in the woods, they are a little more well rounded, hence why the scouts used them and not half hatchets.
Click to expand...

But he wanted an actual hammer, right?

Unless your using steel tent pegs, you don't really need a hardened poll. Just a flat poll. And operator is right, an actual hatchet is better overall for woods use.
 
You kinda described a tomahawk. Too bad they are inferior to hatchets...:D
 
i spent a lot of my life swinging a 16oz finishing hammer so I like to have an actual hammer head, but if the two are not compatible then I will learn to swing a flat poll. I have a shingle hatchet but it is thick and it feels "wrong" when I chop with it
 
Estwing makes a pretty nice camp hatchet for $30. And it's not an ornament, it's a real axe.
 
Estwing also makes a Rigger's hatchet,Operaator has some dandies to look at, But you could look around eEepray or flea mart or antique barn and find a vintage pall hatchet head like a rigger's or half hatchet head.
 
dogwood dan said:
I am looking for a light hatchet to take camping / back packing.

I am looking for something with hammer like head on the pole end for driving tent stakes and so on. I think it is from all my years as a carpenter but I don't like to use the flat pole I see a alot of.

I will be using it for fire wood and bushcraft type work.

I would like to stay in the $100-200 dollar range

what would y'll recommend and why? thank you for your advice and time

Dan
Click to expand...

You can get a top of the line new ax for the price range you mention 100-200

A good proven bushcraft axe can be had for even less. Here is one suggestion under 100bucks
http://www.wetterlings.se/the/index...le&id=75:large-hunting-axe&catid=35&Itemid=57
Good steel,well made, long company history.
They have good resale value as well.
I would recommend it because you really can't go wrong with it. Smallish enough to pack, comes user ready, quality steel, will do most camp chores well.

The only thing is it sounds like you may be hammer centric if that's the case a more traditional American pattern might suit you better. Something with a larger poll. A Bahco 19inch ax comes to mind and their pretty cheap.

I had a really nice vintage Plumb house ax I wish I never sold another good choice if you can find one.
There are loads of vintage options too.
 
omniviking said:
Estwing also makes a Rigger's hatchet,Operaator has some dandies to look at, But you could look around eEepray or flea mart or antique barn and find a vintage pall hatchet head like a rigger's or half hatchet head.
Click to expand...

I love the Rigger's Axe. It's one of the few axes/hatchets I genuinely adore, as I'm usually more of a machete guy.
 
give the guy a break...

operator nailed it to begin with IMO...

he was asking for some good steel...

thats all...!
 
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