Bear the Dog=Does Not Own a Hatchet!

[tknife]

Bear, if you're willing to do some reworking of the edge, you can get a mighty fine hatchet from wetterlings. Nice ash handle and all. Be sure to sand the laquer off of it so it won't give you blisters. You might find that a small knife and a hatchet is a better hiking pair than you think.

Hey Andy, how bad are the Wetterling edges? Can they be fixed with hand tools? I have one on it's way as we speak.

 

[Fonly]

Hey Andy, how bad are the Wetterling edges? Can they be fixed with hand tools? I have one on it's way as we speak.

Mine was, then again its wasnt that bad. there was an edge, but it just haden't been "developed". After a bit of filing and sharpening my wetterlings out cuts my fiskars 2 to 1, It bite's really good.

19" wetterlings is perfect for me, if I got anything to replace it, it would of course be a GB SFA, but I wonder about that some times with diffrent post and reviews I've read.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

Bear-

No hatchet?!? I can't believe it. As proud as you are of your RC's, is as proud as I am of my Fiskars. Despite the recent problem with the breakage, I still have a lot of faith in the design and the strength. I've had mine for a good while and have beaten the crap out of it, it just keeps on going. This is after a cheaper synthetic hatchet broke on my (years ago) first trip with it, so it was a big deal to try another one.

I sincerely feel like the Fiskars best compliments your current gear and your tastes. It's synthetic, so it's light, durable, and impervious to all elements (jungle or woods). The steel is very good and takes a great edge, enough that you could use it as a decent blade for finer work. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

 

[texastonydobbs]

Bear ,
buy whatever you think is best for you...
and then pick up Rat Cutlery Hatchet hopefully soon after the RC6 or there after !

 

[jackknife]

bear, are you sure you even need a hatchet?

I have a few hanging around, but rarely use them. I find that one of my 12 inch Ontario's does alot of what a small hatchet will do, plus more. The machete gives you a bit more versitile tool. A few years ago my better half and I took a trip in the Costa Rica rain forest. It was a hiking-ecco tour and all the guides had a 12 inch machette in a leather sheath on thier hip. They used those small machette's for just about everything from firewood at night to butchering and carving up a roasted pig on the last night we spent in the jungle. Machette's and sak's were the only knives we saw them use all week. It seemed a good enough combo that I switched to it, and have not looked back.

Examine your needs carefully and judge what you really need for you geography and type of camping.

 

[Fiddleback]

Hey Andy, how bad are the Wetterling edges? Can they be fixed with hand tools? I have one on it's way as we speak.

I got the smallest one they offer. The edge was atroscious. I'm talking 45 degrees. I reprofiled it much thinner and its an awesome hatchet. I posted this once before, and was told this wasn't the norm. So maybe I just got a bad one.

 

[tknife]

That's the same one I ordered, the little one. Shoot I hope my edge is better than that! That's like trying to chop with a hammer.

 

[HighDesertWalker]

Maybe you don't need one

Need? We don't need no stinkin' need. This is Balde forum. If it has a blade we must have it, Period.

I concur. Need is a relative thing

My favorite is Gransfors Bruks. I've got the Wildlife Hatchet, the Swedish Carving Axe, the Hunters Axe and the Small Forest Axe. I used the Wildlife Hatchet to cut an 8" blow down off a trail I use frequently. Lots of power in a fairly small package (14" handle, 1 lb total). If you go for GB, bear, that would be the model you're looking for. :thumbup:

 

[Dannyboy Leather]

I must have 2 dozen hatchets of various brands and sizes in the tool shed. However, I mostly use the broad hatchet for bowmaking (reducing staves to shape), using small, accurate little chops. I was given the Gransfors Mini (engraved handle) a few years ago and I will sometimes carry it because of its light weight. Other than that, for me, hatchets are too heavy to carry for any distance given their limited use. I would much rather carry a not-so-sexy saw that will do many times the work, with much less effort than a hatchet. If I do use a hatchet in the bush, I simply use it to split wood as you would use a wedge and cudgel. Hatchets can be extremely dangerous to use if full attention is not given to the task. Not a tool for the kids. I have been in many guided hunting camps over the years in Alaska and Canada, where the guide service did not allow ANY swinging tools in camp, period. After listening to some of their stories about having to fly or pack "experienced" clients out to emergency rooms, I could not fault their policy.

The GB Mini. I also have their Wildlife hatchet and two of their excellent axes.

I found an old Norlund hatchet head the other day that I purchased about 35-years ago (lots of memories). I ground the rust off the faces and sharpened it to a razors edge. A new hickory handle and it was ready to go.

A portable 24" bucksaw, Norlund hatchet, and hook knife...I'm ready to go look for some spoon, cup, and bowl carving wood.

 

[tarmix101]

That's the same one I ordered, the little one. Shoot I hope my edge is better than that! That's like trying to chop with a hammer.

You'll be OK T.

Of the three Wetterlligns axes I have owned, they all needed a bit of work. One needed to be re-hung all together. I don't' mind though. I love axes. Using them, working on, and with them.

A mouse pad and some 320/600/800 grit sandpaper will re-profile the axe just fine. If it's really bad (shouldn't be) use a file to get the initial edge you want.

Strip the clear crap off the handle and soak in linseed out (raw) for about a week. Takes another two weeks to dry completely.

Your new hatchet will be just as good as a GB, for less $$$.

Sorry for the thread hijack.

 

[Dannyboy Leather]

Perhaps another axe size to consider. I have a 19" Wetterlings that is reasonably light weight. Not much more weight than one of the heavier hatchets, however it will do work that a hatchet can only dream of. Too, you can choke up on the handle and work with it like you could with any hatchet.

After getting the Wetterlings in shape (all axes/hatchets need work before you head to the bush with them), I much prefer it to my Gransfors Small Forest Axe. The Wetterlings has a little more cross section that really makes the chips fly. Doesn't cut as deep as the Gransfors, but it doesn't stick like the Gransfors either.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

My Trail Hawk is another good example of something that came with a crap edge, but became a winner after some file work. Mine went from blunt edge that would've had trouble with a twig, to shaving sharp that works through a downed tree quicker than a saw.

 

[Scott Free]

I sincerely feel like the Fiskars best compliments your current gear and your tastes.

This is exactly my thoughts, too. We're not just suggesting a hatchet, we're trying to pick one for BEAR. And looking at all his other toys/tools, I'd say the Fiskars fits perfectly.

Bear-- since you're not going to carry this (and rely on it,) then get the Fiskars and use it hard. It's not going to break, but even if it does, it's not a life and death situation. To me, the Fiskars is a perfect fit for you and all those moras.

 

[Wabajack]

+1 to what Spooky said, I love Fiskars. I'd pick one up and see how I like it. It's a good first hatchet.

To get maximum performance you will need to grind the edge back so it's more acute and if you don't have the time/equipment to do that sharpen the edge back anyways because factory sharpening can screw the heat treat up on the edge. That's what happened to my Fiskars, takes only a couple minutes to fix though and it now holds its edge much better.

It gets more woods time than my Gransfors Wildlife Hatchet, the Gransfors is great, but the Fiskars is lighter and with the reground edge chops on par to the Gransfors. I am also partial to the synthetic handle as there is no maintenance and the hatchet is rather disposable due to the low price. Feels bloody indestructible. The Gransfors pulls ahead as far as aesthetics and the hickory handle feels better.

Also, as others have said - - don’t worry about breaking the Fiskars.

 

[bearthedog]

Wow thanks everyone. Seems like the Fiskars would be a good starter hatchet to learn how to use one and see if I like them. Like HDWalker said the G&B Wildlife was top notch I think it would be a nice upgrade from a Fiskars.

Hollowdweller-Most of the places I hike in are heavily wooded forests with trees and much blown down wood that is why I stated I wouldn't be hiking with it. There is not too much of a need for chopping if you know the areas I frequent there are either many blown down dry wood or many people on the trail. You are right about the no fire sightings in my pictures. I try to stay away from fires while backpacking in heavy populated areas since it is frowned upon in CA with the dry years we've had and the annual wild fires that follow. When I am at home I am splitting and chopping wood almost daily for the fireplace. I get a chance to practice skills quite a bit too.

This hatchet would be for car camping (1 or 2 times a year) or home fireplace use.
SpookyPistolero and Scott Ridgeway said it best about being perfect for my style of gear.

I mainly use a 12" Machete for what should be hatchet work already. It just works great for splitting.

Do you guys think the Wetterling is in the middle of a Fiskars and G&B?

 

[tknife]

Thanks tarmix, I will do just that :thumbup:

Dannyboy, excellent pics, you have have some nice tools.

 

[Dannyboy Leather]

I plumb forgot about hawks until reading Sooky's post. The hawks and small pole hatchets of the same genre are some great options worth considering, too.

Not to show off my leather work; but when I am roaming the hills, plains, and rendezvous, I wear my hawks and small axes in comfortable, quick-to-git-at shoulder sheaths that save room in the pack. One of my favorite diminutive axes (hatchets), is a forged Fort Ticonderoga polled belt axe. These are as small as the GB Mini with a slightly longer handle. Several excellent axe smithy's out there, too, that can customize your hatchet dreams. More options!

 

[Dannyboy Leather]

This hatchet would be for car camping (1 or 2 times a year) or home fireplace use.

In that case, Yep, the Fiskars would be just dandy.

Dannyboy, excellent pics, you have have some nice tools.

Thanks, Tknife!

 

[Wabajack]

Do you guys think the Wetterling is in the middle of a Fiskars and G&B?

No. IMO It's just more closely related aesthetically (i.e. the wooden handle and traditional mounting). I rate Fiskars and Wetterlings in the same class as each other. Although Wetterlings seems to have a lot more out of factory problems.

 

[bearthedog]

No. IMO It's just more closely related aesthetically (i.e. the wooden handle and traditional mounting). I rate Fiskars and Wetterlings in the same class as each other. Although Wetterlings seems to have a lot more out of factory problems.

Got you thanks.