Do light hatchets and axes really work?

[DaleW]

I've been looking at light hatches and axes to use for hiking. I've looked at Wetterlings, Vaughan Sub Zero, Gransfors Bruks, Firestone, Buck, Fiskars and Gerber models.

I bought the Firestone Pocket Axe via mail order and it isn't an impressive chopper as it doesn't have the weight to follow through. I wonder how the other small axes do for chopping, and how they compare to shorter machete-like blades like the parang, golok, and kukri. For hiking, I want the most horsepower for the weight--- if I'm going to haul it up and down hills, it needs to work.

 

[hollowdweller]

In my experience the heavier the hatchet is, the better it chops.:thumbup:

Comparing a big knife with a hatchet I think that if the weight is the same, the hatchet outchops the big knife, assuming the hatchet is not total crap. However with the big knife you can also machete, so it's more what you are going to use it for. If you are going thru a bunch of brush it might be the big knife or khuk, golok, etc is better because it's dual purpose On yet another way of thinking if you are carrying a big knife you must consider the overall weight with sheath, and with the hatchet you can rig up a very light head cover so even though you may start out with a knife as heavy as the hatchet the sheath weight puts the big knife at a handicap as far as weight versus pounds of chopping power.

The SMALLER a hatchet is, IMO the SHARPER it must be, because the thinner and finer the edge is the more penetration you can get with a lighter weight.

I think that the Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet cuts like mad, but it is nearly 2 lbs. I wouldn't want to carry it backpacking unless it was dead winter and I really needed to chop a lot of wood to stay warm. The GB mini is very light and you really need to whip it to cut wood well with it, but in my opinion it is great when you don't want to carry heavy stuff.

I kind of draw the line at about 1 lb plus minus a few ounces, so I look for the thing that is the sharpest and best chopper in that weight range.:thumbup:

 

[hollowdweller]

Oh yeah, I don't think much of Firestone. I have a Firestone Belt Axe and it's one of my least favorites.

 

[digispam]

i'll chime in again for the Gerber Gator II Combo Axe with buiilt in saw. Backed up with a pocket chain saw, you can cut hella wood with it for the $$.

 

[Any Cal.]

I have had two of the axes you mention. First, I had the Gerber BackPaxe. It weighed just over a lb., and cut well. The handle was so short that it was a workout to use on a 3" log. I sold it and later bought the Vaughan axe. It is nice and light, and I thinned the edge down w/ a file. It cuts about like you would expect a tiny little hatchet to. I keep it in my bag just because it is so light and handy.
I have a Corona machete I cut down to 18", and convexed a little. It weighs about 2 oz more than the little vaughan, about 3 oz less than the Gerber, and cuts several times better than either of them.
If you insist on a hatchet, the gerber that is the next size above the backpaxe is a nice little tool. 14" long or so? That has the length you need to be more efficient.

 

[Fonly]

I personaly love using an axe, I like the gerber gator "mini" axes, they work great and even come with a little knife (though not the best quailty) But they can be had for $30 canadian. Many like a large knife over and axe, kuks, parags and everything else, but in the end your going to have to see what works best, try them all out and see what you like

 

[Mansour]

another option is the double bit marbles #9 inexpensive and is an excellent hand axe

 

[sunnyd]

I know I am old fashioned and have been out in the bush way too often(or at least that is what the old lady says) but I am very fond of the following..

These Knife/Hatchet combo's are very easy to pack as they are lightweight(Lightwieght is my preference,IMO.) but scary sharp because of the old carbon steel that was used. This one is an old vintage Western Brands with 1095, full tang, and a leather stacked handle on each.

 

[benjammin2]

It really depends on what you intend it to do. For Gen Purp, a hatchet or a big knife is still a compromise. The degree by which one works better than the other is relatively close compared to using a full size axe. If I am going to do some felling, such as for lodgepoles or firewood, then I would rather have a hand operated chain saw in my backpack. For splitting wood, I've seen some big knives that I think would do the job just as well as any hatchet is capable of. On the other hand, for general use around camp or on the trail, I have to go with a big knife over any hatchet. You are just able to do more chores with a big knife than you can with the hatchet or small axe.

Since my pack has finite space, I prefer to pack things that are either uniquely essential, or else serve the greatest number of functions. For this reason, I will reach for a big knife every time for the back pack.

Now for base camp, I grab the Stihl, my splitting maul, my kindling axe, along with my backpack load.

 

[misanthropist]

I ALWAYS pack an axe. But it is a Wetterlings Large Hunter's Axe - about a pound and a half head on a foot and a half of handle.

I nearly bought a Scrapyard Dogfather recently - and then I realised I just don't have any need for a big chopping knife like that, although I think it's a beautiful blade. It won't come anywhere close to the axe I pack literally every day, because it is a big knife, and I am used to a small axe.

A REALLY small axe will probably chop similarly to a really big knife. But for me, that's not really enough chopping power to be worthwhile.

Of course anyone who packs two pounds of axe with them, every day, in the city, has some issues.






(I do use it a lot at work.)

 

[2dogs]

My 12yo daughter broke a Vaughn. That was its last useage. I have several hatchets, too many really. Also several hawks. My favorite is a Wetterlings small hunter for carry and a large for tailgate camping.

 

[Grampa]

These Knife/Hatchet combo's are very easy to pack as they are lightweight(Lightwieght is my preference,IMO.) but scary sharp because of the old carbon steel that was used. This one is an old vintage Western Brands with 1095, full tang, and a leather stacked handle on each.

Wow! I haven't seen that in years! That was the first set of blades I bought with my own earned money back in 1965 or thereabouts! What a treat to see them again! Thanks, SunnyD!

 

[EmsRescueGuy]

I like light hatchets as long as they are sharp, for the weight they will generally outchop an equal weight knife in my experience, but as stated earlier a knife is more versitile over all.

I like the fiscars hatchets as they have a longer handle than the gerber pack axe, I diddnt like the gerber with the built in knife, since the knife is not so great and will come out, during heavy use.

Pick up a fiscars at a hardware store, for 20-30$ us you cant go wrong and if you like your big knife better its still a good tool to have around.

 

[hollowdweller]

This is my favorite to pack with

It weighs about 18 or 19 oz and is 12" OAL with a 3" bit.

The head cover is very light

When that one is too heavy I go for the mini

 

[Fiddleback]

I know I am old fashioned and have been out in the bush way too often(or at least that is what the old lady says) but I am very fond of the following..

These Knife/Hatchet combo's are very easy to pack as they are lightweight(Lightwieght is my preference,IMO.) but scary sharp because of the old carbon steel that was used. This one is an old vintage Western Brands with 1095, full tang, and a leather stacked handle on each.

Thats a beautiful set SD. And a quick ebay search revelas they are quite pricey.:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

[kvaughn]

I picked up an old Estwing carbon steel hatchet with the leather handles rotted off it for 2$ at a flea market. Convexed and cleaned up the edge. Put a 550 paracord wrap handle on it and made a sheath out of an old boot top. Though I dont use a hatchet much ( prefer a 12" Ontario machete), this one works and carries great. Batons well through the big stuff because of the integral handle. It even throws well.--KV

 

[DaleW]

This is my favorite to pack with

It weighs about 18 or 19 oz and is 12" OAL with a 3" bit.

The head cover is very light....

I ran across that yesterday while surfing small axes. It seems odd at first look, but it was mentioned that the double bit gave more weight to the head and each edge could be sharpened at different angles. I think I would miss the hammering option on a single bit head though.

 

[Fiddleback]

I ran across that yesterday while surfing small axes. It seems odd at first look, but it was mentioned that the double bit gave more weight to the head and each edge could be sharpened at different angles. I think I would miss the hammering option on a single bit head though.

Many single bit heads are not intended for hammering, and doing so will destroy the axe. Gransfors Bruks say so in their little book you get with their axes. So, be careful what you hammer with.

 

[akennedy73]

In my experience the heavier the hatchet is, the better it chops.:thumbup:

Comparing a big knife with a hatchet I think that if the weight is the same, the hatchet outchops the big knife, assuming the hatchet is not total crap. However with the big knife you can also machete, so it's more what you are going to use it for. If you are going thru a bunch of brush it might be the big knife or khuk, golok, etc is better because it's dual purpose On yet another way of thinking if you are carrying a big knife you must consider the overall weight with sheath, and with the hatchet you can rig up a very light head cover so even though you may start out with a knife as heavy as the hatchet the sheath weight puts the big knife at a handicap as far as weight versus pounds of chopping power.

The SMALLER a hatchet is, IMO the SHARPER it must be, because the thinner and finer the edge is the more penetration you can get with a lighter weight.

I think that the Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet cuts like mad, but it is nearly 2 lbs. I wouldn't want to carry it backpacking unless it was dead winter and I really needed to chop a lot of wood to stay warm. The GB mini is very light and you really need to whip it to cut wood well with it, but in my opinion it is great when you don't want to carry heavy stuff.

I kind of draw the line at about 1 lb plus minus a few ounces, so I look for the thing that is the sharpest and best chopper in that weight range.:thumbup:

What Hollowdweller says pretty much sums up my experience as well. Except I do carry a 10 ounce Vaughan Sub-Zero reprofiled by BRKT - HD is right in pointing out that a lot of performance is sacrificed when you go much below a pound in weight. A 10 ounce hatchet requires focus and patience - you need to focus to make every chop count as well as not breaking the handle since you're going to need to swing it faster than you would with a heavier hatchet. And you need patience - you just can't expect to chop through material as quickly.

Generally, for a small hatchet under a pound, you're really should buy a high-quality one - like a Granfors-Bruks Mini or a Vaughan that's been properly profiled (the factory grind is horrible). Such lightweight hatchets are pushing the envelope in terms of necessary weight for the tool to do its job - so you need to get the best quality you can find.

 

[hollowdweller]

Many single bit heads are not intended for hammering, and doing so will destroy the axe. Gransfors Bruks say so in their little book you get with their axes. So, be careful what you hammer with.

Never realized that FB. Thanks for the heads up:thumbup: