Do light hatchets and axes really work?

[Any Cal.]

I believe that much of the problem w/ using a hatchet as a hammer depends on what you are hitting. It has nothing to do w/ the hardness of what you are hitting, but it's mass. A person could drive nails into a stump for years straight and never hurt a thing. If you attempted to drive a hardwood wedge into a knotted log, the face of the hatchet will stop, and the edge will want to keep going. That is where the deformation of the poll comes from. I have seen pictures of this, but it was in larger tools. I think that the less moveable the target, the more of a risk you are taking.

Edited to add: I just went and looked at my old Craftsman hatchet, which I had been using as a field expedient hammer on some hot steel and a 100 lb anvil. The poll is fine after maybe 80 or so heavy hits. Not neccesarily the same as wetterlings/gransfors.

 

[Fiddleback]

Not hardened, at all??

Can you point me to some reference?

I find this odd.

Its a warning they print in that little book they send out with each ax. I dug for mine today, but couldn't find it.. yet.

 

[DaleW]

Its a warning they print in that little book they send out with each ax. I dug for mine today, but couldn't find it.. yet.

You can order "The Axe Book" free from Gransfors at http://www.gransfors.com/htm_eng/index.html. They have some PDF downloads with photos too. All kinds of goodies to drool over

 

[Pointshoot777]

It'll be interesting to see what you guys come up with on the Gransfors. I'm thinking about spending the extra money for the Wildlife model. I won't use it to pound nails all day, but do want to at least be able to set my tent pegs with it. - - Unfortunately, in this age of shark lawyers, - companies can get a bit over cautious. Why even have a flat surface on an axe/hatchet if you can't do some hammering with it ? It might as well be double bit. - - -

 

[cjpgeyer]

I gotta chime in for the Swamp Rat Ratchet. A great hatchet, if you can find one. They work really well as an ulu style knife. I have no fear of damaging it.
Have the Gerber plastic handled hatchet, but I don't use it any more. The plastic holding the head has been compromised, and I don't want to use it to failure. The Ratchet is the replacement, and is far more capable than the Gerber, IMO.

 

[upnorth]

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

Those look like two VERY practical choices.:thumbup: :thumbup:

 

[FoxholeAtheist]

The wording from the GB Axe book is as follows:

"Do not use an axe, felling axe, forest axe, or a splitting axe, for driving in a steel wedge, or as a wedge, when splitting. The poll of these axes is not designed for heavy pounding on a wedge or to be beaten on. That is one of the things which makes an axe different from a maul."

Thy way I'm reading this is specifically that you shouldn't use your axe to pound in a steel wedge, or use your axe as a wedge, being hit by another steel implement. They do specifically show the maul being used as a sledgehammer in their book. I would think that using one of their axes to tap in tent stakes or wedges of wood would probably be a safe thing to do. After all, tent pegs aren't being hammered into solid stone, and wooden wedges would give out before the iron of the axe head, right?

 

[DaleW]

The wording from the GB Axe book is as follows:

"Do not use an axe, felling axe, forest axe, or a splitting axe, for driving in a steel wedge, or as a wedge, when splitting. The poll of these axes is not designed for heavy pounding on a wedge or to be beaten on. That is one of the things which makes an axe different from a maul."

Thy way I'm reading this is specifically that you shouldn't use your axe to pound in a steel wedge, or use your axe as a wedge, being hit by another steel implement. They do specifically show the maul being used as a sledgehammer in their book. I would think that using one of their axes to tap in tent stakes or wedges of wood would probably be a safe thing to do. After all, tent pegs aren't being hammered into solid stone, and wooden wedges would give out before the iron of the axe head, right?

That is my take. Hammer heads and other steel-to-steel tools are hardened to suit. Being able to baton a small hatchet/axe (with wood) is a must in my book.

 

[sasha]

I posted before about an old Collin axe i had. I filed the edg down alittle. Then put a convex edge on it. It was my first time i even tried to convex anything. It is a 1 1\4lb head. It cuts like there is no tomorow. It also hold the edge so well that after playing around cutting some heart wood i stll managed to slice the finger when i checked the edge. At first i wanted to get my self a larger knife. Now with the axe im very happy to carry a small knife. I think with a properly sharpend axe you would do just fine. I have also tried to use my axe as the Ulu (spelling??) i did cut meat and i would do fine in a pinch.

Sasha