Fiskars and dark ops collaberation?

3

3wolves

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Dec 28, 2007
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I went to Canadian Tire today and picked up a fiskars 14" hatchet for sale (a steal for $12). I don't know why I have a feeling this is a collaberation between dark ops and fiskars, maybe you guys can tell from the pictures;). I have not modded it at all, this is how it was.





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:cool::cool::D

Well anyway on to the review, First thing I got it I took it into the backyard to play with but decided to do a good deed and take pictures for you guys.
First impressions, This thing hasa sharp scandi grind, its also very light and has a perfect wedge shape for a head. The handle is hollow so I might put a psk in there and seal it up with silicone or something. It sliced paper easily and cuts alot better than some of the tactical knives out there.
So first the chopping,

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It took me about 30 seconds for me to get this far, the wood is really old but that is still exeptional.

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Took me about 3 minutes to sever this piece off of the the whole piece, really good for a hatchet this size.

Splitting,

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The same chunk of wood I cut of above split into little pieces. It was done very easily and didn't take more than one good swing to split completely. Like I said, the wood is old and also free of knots so it probably wouldn't be as easy in the field.

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I never actually chopped this, I just pushed down on the poll and it went right in.

Continued.......
 
Carving/whittling,

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I just made this rough bowl by chopping sideways into the plank at both sides and cutting straight down into the other two sides.

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The fiskars hatchet even does fine work like this fuzz stick.

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This is a trap part for a spring snare I whittled out of maple using just the hatchet.


Digging,

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I know some people would consider this abuse but I do it all the time, who's gonna lug around a shovel. The trick to digging with an axe is to cut into the ground and move all the dirt to the side. You have to go slow so you don't hit any rocks. It dug well for a hatchet I guess, no better then my old hardware store one.

Food prep,

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About to make a simple salad,

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It chopped the lettuce well but not as good as a knife.

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Tomatoes were alot trickier, the edge sliced them easily enough but the thick edge geometry caused them to come out very uneven and a little skooshed.

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I would say it sliced carrots the best, almost as good as a knife. I got very thin slices without any cracking.

Continued.....
 
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The obligatory knife shot.

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All thats missing from this great setup is the fixed blade (spot reserved for bravo-1:D).

Well I think it did really well, I would be perfectly comfortable having just this hatchet is a survival situation, it does fine work as well as the brutish stuff and is super light (little over a pound). I tried trowing it but failed miserably and the handle held up fine. It lost its initial edge after all this and the coating on the bevel came off (I think it adds character) but I sharpened with a few strokes on a river rock and it was back to flesh cutting sharpness. All of you canucks better rush out and buy this, it's just so awsome.

So, how did I do for my first review in W&SS? Any other tests I should have done?
 
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I would send it back, skooshed tomatoes are just unacceptable :grumpy: :D

If its a true Dark Ops collaboration though than it should be an effective bar fight deterrent in exotic third world locales. I'll be waiting eagerly for that review.
 
Canadian Tire had them on sale this time last year, i bought two.
Great little hatchets!
if they follow last years pattern they should have the full-sized fiskars camp axes on sale half price in another 3-4 weeks.
So keep watching the flyers!
:)
 
I bought a mid-size Fiskars this year and put it through a bit of use. I like how shaving sharp the edge gets on these things. It is the sharpest hatchet that I've owned.

I've noticed a lot of dings and a bit rolling of the plastic at the edge holding the blade onto the handle which I don't like to see. I know they are supposed to be guarenteed not to separate but I don't like how the bit of splitting that I did cause as much damage to the lip of the plastic as it did. I'm also not a fan of the feel of the hollow handle. Just a personal thing. I think I'm saving up for a GB forest.
 
Excellent review, I'll be on the look out for 1, For a hatchet under $20, why not
 
I have 2. I agree with 3wolves, it gets scary sharp. I've taken to carrying just it and a SAK in the woods (granted, my SAK is of the 111mm variety), it can handle most knife tasks pretty well, as the pictures have shown.
 
Excelent review on the Fiskars, I'am also a big fan of the older Puma Bowies it looks like you have a great example thats seen some honest use:thumbup:
 
Excellent review! I picked up two of these myself... One for the truck and one for my back-country kit.

Cheers,
hsld.
 
Jet black man, that's really cool.

I'm a big, big fan of the Fiskars. It's really an amazing all-around performer in the woods, and is capable of much more than any hatchet ought to be. It's not far from being a good 'solo' wilderness tool. Certainly a regular companion in the woods.
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Picked one up last week...though all I did was pound some tent pegs with it so far.
Very sharp, nice and light. Heading to camp in a couple weeks so it will get a work out then. 12 bucks was hard to beat.

Craig
 
Nice pickup, $12, darn nice. I'll certainly be picking one up. How do you like you Puma Bowie?
 
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