camping hatchet

D

deltawhisky

Joined
Apr 6, 2011
Messages
42
does anybody have any ideas on a good hatchet for camping. was thinking of the sog or the cold steel tactical tomahawks. any other ideas or input?
 
For camping I would want a cold steel trail hawk. Why do you want a tactical one for camping?
 
I ordered a Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe two days ago, looks like the dealers are getting them back in stock.
It's going to be my first GB, they look awesome.
They make a hatchet, for one handed use.

pete
 
Gerber makes a really nice camp axe for around 40

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but i would suggest this eswing campers axe you can find at just about any fullsize hardware store, or home depot / lowes /sears... another 40 dollar job.

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but if you want to go coldsteel, get the Special Forces shovel, the sharpened edges work great for de-limbing and hacking plus it digs like a sonuva' - not sure about its woodchopability.
 
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I would like to help you out but I am kinda in the same boat. I have a few Cold Steel hawks but have not got to use yet. I do have and used my Cold Creek Forge hammer hawk and it is a great hawk for general use.
 
If I was going to use a hawk, it would be a CS Trail Hawk or the Rifleman Hawk. Wetterlings' axes are great! If you are looking for something like the Wetterlings but at a lower price, check out the CS Trail Boss.
 
thank you for your input all. no particular reason for the tactical just cool. have an axe so not looking for something for chopping wood. just to compliment.
 
You're better off with a proper hatchet than a hawk. Gransfors, Wetterlings, Council Tool, etc. If you look for the Husqvarna hatchets on Ebay you can find them for around 35-40 bucks. They are rebranded wetterlings...but they are quite small. Just depends what you want.
 
If I was not planning on a lot of chopping and had an axe, I would compliment it with the CS Trail Hawk. I would probably modify it to make it uniquely mine.
 
The problem with the pack axe in my experience has been that a small error in your swing results in smashing your fingers. I slightly overshot a limb I was cutting for firewood and the pain was beyond description. I had been using a 14 for years prior to this and I still recommend the 14 as a much better hatchet. I own and love GBs Mini and SFA, but for general use I like the Wilderness. If you have some dinero look at Reeves hatchets. I have both the single and double. I had Lee do the double in the Nessmuk grind, and I have used the hell out of it. For a tactical, it is hard to beat RMJ. I have had a Kestrel for the past two years, and am going to try a Loggerhead. RMJ is some serious money.
 
Tactical weapons are not the best camp tools. The hatchet is the best camp tool IMO because it is good at chopping and splitting. Tomahawks can do most of what a hatchet does but they are less efficient at splitting wood larger than wrist size. It can still be done, you will just have to beat the head through or use wedges. I think for light camp duty, a hawk will do fine if you want the cool factor. I would stay away from the pure fighting hawks with thin blades and no eye for camping.

I have a Fiskars hatchet. It's a really good tool, but eventually the plastic will wear out around the head. By then, you'll probably want another hatchet anyway. The Graintex single bit camp axe got an excellent review on Wood Trekker and the Husqvarna hatchet also has great word of mouth. Cold steel tomahawks are a good place to start. If you get the spike types, you will not be able to baton them through logs. Keep in mind these inexpensive tools will require a little sharpening on your part. Happy chopping!
 
+1 on nipsips' recommendation for the Husqvarna... it is an *excellent* camping 'hatchet' made by Hults Bruk

the Gransfors Bruks are quite good, but overpriced, IMHO

i found a nice Hults Bruk at a local flea market for $9, but also have the Husqvarna - i'm very happy with both - especially knowing i saved more than $100

here's the Husqvarna, which comes with a nice sheath - i added a lanyard hole and applied linseed oil:

Photo27.jpg


here's the $9 Hults Bruk, for which i built a sheath (leather, Chicago screws, 2 d-rings), and stripped, roughened, added a lanyard, and applied Linseed oil:

Photo29.jpg
 
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