Custom hatchets--the last challenge???

Bark River makes a nice hatchet. Not truly custom but certainly extremely well made.
 
KnivesShipFree has some Wetterlings half axes that were customized by Bark River. Not sure if they are worth the price, though.

I think a Gransfors Bruks is the way to go. They're built by hand. Close enough to custom if you ask me.
 
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PJ Tomes double bit
 
If you are interested in these, you have to be prepared to pay. Whereas many will readily shell out the dinero for a good knife, they balk at spending the same amount for a hatchet/axe/hawk. Also, you may wish to look into the tactical side, where there is far more makers and selection.The RMJ that I have would easily outlive my great grand children. I also have Reeves single and double bits. Worth every penny.
 
To me the stock removal hatchets are inferior to the wood handled ones because they have to be so much heavier to achieve the same chopping power.

Indeed. Then there's that many of them suffer the same problem as my Estwing – it is piggin uncomfortable to choke up on the head. In addition poor damping and the ding ding sound when you whack something with one means vibration and energy wasted, or worse sent to your hand.
 
GB owns Wetterling, and wetterling makes the hatchets for Husqvarna. The husqies seem to have the same geometry as the GB. A touch thinner than the wetterlings. I rehandled and polished a husqie and love it.. Performs like a custom now!! Might think about going this route.
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Great grain for a handle!
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Razor sharp convex edge!
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Geometry comparisson with a Wetterling.
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The Husqies can be found for about $45, still a little under the radar..
 
i think this is a great thread, lots of good ideas for everyone.
for me personally however, i have many hatchets, axes and mauls, everything from fiskars garden hatchets all the way up to many of the models discussed here. i'd guess i have a dozen floating around here.
i also have moras all the way up to some fine customs. my interest was in starting to do the same with hatchets. since i use one so often and love them my interest is in a packable hatchet, comparable in size to a fiskars garden hatchet really. not because i need one, i don't need anything more than a mora either haha, but lord know i own and use more than that. i have never been a machete guy, but do love hatchet, i have been researching them online and have found a lot of interesting stuff from a lot of makers.
as with anything i need to come in on the "cheaper" side of them before i dive right in with the big dogs.
 
I have two of the Reeves. One is his regular configuration. The other I ordered with a different edge and haft (15 month wait). Lee will make what you spec but you won't get it for a year or more.

DancesWithKnives
 
Well I have one of those crappy stock removal hatchets...

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It's a nice tool for what it is. I thought it would be nice to have something nigh-on indestructible that I could keep in the vehicle at all times for interesting situations. It chops well enough, although it is on the heavy side. It also carves well and I've used it to clean game.

Were I to get another hatchet it would probably be something like a Wetterlings... But I'm not at all disappointed with this purchase. And I will not hesitate to use it to smash windows and pry doors open if the need arises. An Estwing would probably have about the same effect but I like this one much better, and it is custom sized for my preferences for such a tool.
 
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