CS Trail Hawk vs Husqvarna Hatchet

cody1 said:
The huskies from the last three runs have all come from Wetterling. Wetterling has under gone a bit of a reshaping, as they were bought recently by the guy who owns GB. The Wetterlings of recent times have had far worse fit and finish issues. The Wetterling is on the left. See the pits, thick obtuse geometry, and miss aligned grain in the handle? The Husqvarna on the right is far better.
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Please tell that to the Husky I ordered. Maybe that'll align it's bit, fix the pits, and keep the head from starting to falling off after chopping a 4" tree.
 
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Drummertist said:
Please tell that to the Husky I ordered. Maybe that'll align it's bit, fix the pits, and keep the head from starting to falling off after chopping a 4" tree.
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I'm not sure I could tell it anything your, obviously astounding, wit has not already. Please post some pics of your, horribly misshapen hatchet. I have seen questionable handles come out of every factory. On the net, no pics, it didn't happen. Only Lip service!!

My opinion is based on the four hatchets I have purchased. I have no stake in Husqvarna. For under $40 they are the best I've seen. According to Wetterling, the steel used in all the private labeled products is the same as in their name brand line. The heat treat is the same as well. Any difference in edge retention will be do to differing edge geometries. The Husqvarna hatchets have a thinner geometry then the Wetterlings. All on the handles on mine are good.

All four hatchets, two on top from the pre GB days, and two on bottom from after the GB purchase.
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The two on the bottom don't have a metal wedge. Two on top do. I rehandled the polished one.
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The finish is different on the runs as well, and the bottom curve on the bit is larger, on the second run. GB factory maybe? Guessing, influence for sure.
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The darker finish is pre GB.
The Snow and Nealey, pictured here with my Wetterling large hunter, had the bit start to move on the second swing into a hard log. Sometimes they break loose. Rehandle it, it's not rocket science.
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Let's see the multiple Hawks purchased, so we can take a look.
 
This does not have to be a pissing match. CS and Husqvarna are both relatively cheap, so will have some quality issues. I'm sure most of them are good tools.

I own several cheap products from CS and they have all been good.
 
cody1 said:
I'm not sure I could tell it anything your, obviously astounding, wit has not already. Please post some pics of your, horribly misshapen hatchet. I have seen questionable handles come out of every factory. On the net, no pics, it didn't happen. Only Lip service!!
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:foot: Sorry about the lip service but I'm only telling you what I've experienced yet it goes on deaf ears. You may have had four strokes of good luck with your Huskys.

cody1 said:
My opinion is based on the four hatchets I have purchased. I have no stake in Husqvarna. For under $40 they are the best I've seen. According to Wetterling, the steel used in all the private labeled products is the same as in their name brand line. The heat treat is the same as well. Any difference in edge retention will be do to differing edge geometries. The Husqvarna hatchets have a thinner geometry then the Wetterlings. All on the handles on mine are good.
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I agree with you on that they are some of the best traditionally made hatchets for under $40. The only advice I offer is if anyone buys one, then go to a store and look at a whole batch and don't order it online (which I did).

The one I bought must have come before the GB days. It'd be interesting to buy a newer one and see how it is. Maybe put a pin in the head or rehaft it like you said. Thanks for the pics of your old and new. There seems to be a big difference to me between the pre-GB and post-GB.

Shotgun said:
Drummertist, that bit alignment is unexceptable IMO. I would have sent that one back.
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Yeah, well tell that to my novice-axe-handler self back in 2008. :o
 
I have found very few stores carry the Husqvarna line, and the one place I found in Denver had the hatchet priced at $70. I have requested that the distributor pick me a well ground and straight grained handle, on all the huskies I've bought off the web. All have been good. They will be far cheaper off the web. If you call your knife guy, he'll pick you a good one. I've developed relationships with several online sellers and they always treat me right. Have never used Amazon, no one to call. As i said in previous post, it's always best to handle it, if you can. Not always an option.

Drummertist, the finish is very different. I have not used one of the new ones, so I can't comment on the steel performance. The new ones have the same finish as I have seen on the GB line. The older ones have a smoother darker finish. Non of mine have any pits. All the pitting has been on my Wetterlings. I bought the extras because they are going into a couple Nessmuk trio sets I'm making as gifts. I'll polish them and make them disgustingly sharp, before heading out.
 
Thanks for the extra info. Looks like I need to get another one.

What are some online sellers you would recommend?
 
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