For wood chopping, would you pick a Fiskars or a hawk?

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Peak_Oil

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Nov 6, 2005
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I don't know anything about axes or hawks... I just know I don't want to hammer any of my knives into anything. I like using the right tool for the job. My best guess is I'd use it for trimming branches off a downed log. I'd use a saw or a chainsaw for cutting wood, most likely.

I have a Sarco khukri but I don't think that's the right tool for the job.

When I camp I go on a motorcycle and do about 50/50 campsite vs wilderness. What's the right tool for the job?
 
you'd probably be fine either way.

the more you go on foot, the more you might prefer a proper lightweight hawk.

if you are going short term, and keeping the work smallish, you might jsut want to forgo chopping and just pack a small folding-type fiskars saw with your knife.

vec
 
LOL

You know, a Fiskars saw is what I thought he meant by "Fiskars", I never thought about the hatchets for some reason.

For trimming branches, IMO the lighter head of the hawk will do better than the heavier head of a hatchet (the heavier heads, even is kept shaving sharp, tend to move the branch more than cut into it).

If you're trying to keep it lightweight, a machete does fine for branch work as well.
 
I got a Wetterling wildlife, 12 1/2 inches. got it a few year back, polished up the edge, slices right through small saplings or branches.

I love hawks but to me on wood I'll take a hatchet.

I you are out trying to light a fire you will be chopping and splitting up dry dead fall type stuff Dry wood chops a lot hard than green wood. A hatchet will do this part better, the hawk's thinner edge will sink deep, good for offense/defense. Not splitting kindling wood

but if you are running on an economy budget, you ought to be able to find either a hawk or hatchet for $20 to $40. get one now, get the other when you can.

hey if you put a piece of metal or string on a stick most men will find some use for it and keep busy for a while.
 
I love hawks and we make and sell a lot of them but get yourself a hatchet..Any ammount of chopping at all and you will wish you did..A good plumb or bluegrass hatchet can be picked up at the flea market for $15 or so and will out work you(or me) anyday..There are at least four different hatchets and several more full size axes in my tool shed. hawks hanging right there too..When theres real work to be done the hawk stays put..The axes and hatchets come out..
Dont take my word for it..Borrow one of each and hit the hills..Within a few minutes you'll know which one is right for you..
 
I'll probably get burned at the stake for this, but. . .I bought, several years before BladeForums, a $6 Collins (the new Made in Mexico Collins) hatchet. Sharpened it up with a Norton Puck, and it's one of the damned sharpest axes I've ever had. It's not pretty, grain isn't aligned real great, but it works. It does have a wooden haft, I hate fiberglass.

You can get a cheap hatchet, a Cold Steel Trail hawk, and a sharpening puck, and probably come in just at or a little under $50. Then decide what YOU like, and you can go up in quality from there if you want.
 
In my experience, my 30 to 40 dollar hawks out chop my 30 to 40 dollar hatchets OUT OF THE BOX. A wetterlings or gransfors bruks, which have good grind to them are properly made hatchets and will chop wood just as well as a hawk...with the same length handle. Personally I'd prefer a short poll hawk than a hatchet, but in some states tomahawks are specifically mentioned as being considered a weapon where a hatchet is not. The deeper, thinner blade on the hawk makes for good deep bites, but not as great for splitting wood like the hatchet though once you have the knack you can split wood just fine with a hawk. The thinner blade also makes it easier for me to fix the edge with a file in case of dammage from rock strikes. Of course one could argue the thicker edge on a hatchet will take less dammage in the first place. I guess it's just preference. When I have a lot of wood work to do in the woods I always have a 22-26 inch handled hawk with me, often as come-along, log roller, and delimber.
 
I think the hawk is entirely more practical for a variety of reasons.
1. They're a heck of alot of fun to throw.
2. They double as a great self defense tool.
3. You can replace a broken haft-if you snap the plastic hollow Fiskars handle, you have to buy an entirely new axe instead of sliding a 5 dollar haft through the eye.
4. The thin head and knife's edge allow for a multitude of finer, more precise tasks to be accomplished with a tomahawk, versus the wide chopping/splitting head of the fiskars axe.
 
Go down to the hardware store and pick up an Estwing model 24a hatchet. You'll never break it and it will do what you have described exceptionaly well.
 
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