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Gerber BackPaxe vs. SRK Paul's Ratchet?
- Thread starter csp20108
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- Mar 18, 1999
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Not to take away from the two mentioned, but I'd like to throw the GB Mini Hatchet in the mix. A friend owns the BackPaxe, and once you put a proper edge on it, is a great little chopper. The Paul's Hatchet and Ratchet are really tough, and come super sharp, but seemed just a bit too small.
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2000
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- 677
Sounds like you need a War Rat
But realistically(is that a word), I would go for the Ratchet. My wife carries one daily in her bag or in the car. If you were just going to use the tool for camping, I would suggest the gerber packaxe or better yet, as tknife mentioned, the GB Mini. I think those 2 are better choppers and overall camping tools. But since your possible uses will include urban, I think the rachet is tougher and better for those odd jobs(prying,breaking,etc.). The rachet is also more compact and I think people freindly. That is why I got my wife one. All IMHO
But realistically(is that a word), I would go for the Ratchet. My wife carries one daily in her bag or in the car. If you were just going to use the tool for camping, I would suggest the gerber packaxe or better yet, as tknife mentioned, the GB Mini. I think those 2 are better choppers and overall camping tools. But since your possible uses will include urban, I think the rachet is tougher and better for those odd jobs(prying,breaking,etc.). The rachet is also more compact and I think people freindly. That is why I got my wife one. All IMHO
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2000
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- 217
Buck has their version of a small axe/hatchet with a more functional sheath for pocket carry. See them at the 1SKS or AGRussell. Cheaper than the others mentioned too.
For the needs you specified, I would go with the ATC Vietnam Tomahawk.
That sucker will work fine as an ax, but will also do a whole host of forced entry tasks as well as serve as a h2h combat weapon. The spike alone will make the tool much more versatile.
Additionally, it has a polymer handle that will be very difficult to damage and reduces carry weight of the hawk.
Overall, the VN tomahawk is pretty small and weighs a lot less than you would think. Consequently, pure axes will out chop it.
At $170, it may cost more than you are willing to spend.
That sucker will work fine as an ax, but will also do a whole host of forced entry tasks as well as serve as a h2h combat weapon. The spike alone will make the tool much more versatile.
Additionally, it has a polymer handle that will be very difficult to damage and reduces carry weight of the hawk.
Overall, the VN tomahawk is pretty small and weighs a lot less than you would think. Consequently, pure axes will out chop it.
At $170, it may cost more than you are willing to spend.
The hawks aren't a bad idea, but they seem a little less practical and concealable than a smaller hatchet. The Back Paxe, the Buck mini-hatchet and the Ratchet can all be used as a hammer and are only about 9" vs. 14-15" for a hawk. That's a big difference when you're still hunting or running out of a burning building. I think it would take a lot of explaining if a cop say you running down the street with a tomahawk in your hand. Finally, like most of my BOB contents, I want these things to be somewhat disposable if need be. I can see leaving a $30 ax behind without any concern - even $100, but almost $200 for the hawks? I think the price would cause me to waste needless seconds trying to figure out a way to take them with me.
I forgot to mention in my previous post that the NYC knife laws appear to permit the carrying of a mini-hatchet based on this:
"It shall be unlawful for any person to carry on his or her person or
have in such person's possession, in any public place, street or park
any knife which has a blade length of four inches or more."
I don't know how you measure blade length on a hawk with a sharpened rear point, but I'm going to guess that no cop is going to look the other way if he sees one. That being said, I think that if you hit someone with anything in New York, the object is considered a deadly weapon no matter what it is.
"It shall be unlawful for any person to carry on his or her person or
have in such person's possession, in any public place, street or park
any knife which has a blade length of four inches or more."
I don't know how you measure blade length on a hawk with a sharpened rear point, but I'm going to guess that no cop is going to look the other way if he sees one. That being said, I think that if you hit someone with anything in New York, the object is considered a deadly weapon no matter what it is.
RokJok
Gold Member
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- Oct 6, 2000
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- 4,077
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Originally posted by csp20108:
I'd like it to be light, but more importantly easily carried without drawing undue attention...wacking through wooden doors and/or smashing windows (in the case of another Terrorist attack), cutting up/chopping up game, and hammering of tent pegs and whatever else needs hammering.
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My quick $0.02 worth: get a 12"-24" Destaco or hooligan prybar for door breaching & window smashing and the Gerber or Granfors-Bruks axe for the chopping & hammering chores. Either a GB or Gerber ax should work well for the camping & game butchering uses listed. Don't forget to have a file for resharpening the axe.
Short prybars can be easily stashed out of sight in day- or book-packs, which are ubiquitous enough to be good "camo" in urban environs where the prybar may be wanted. If you are evacuating a building, you will be breaching doors when necessary, not chopping them up. Hence a prybar is the tool of choice over an axe IMHO. By merit of being rather invisibly carried, prybars meet your criterion of not drawing attention to themselves. A fireax would also work, but isn't as easily carried and would probably raise a few eyebrows.
Originally posted by csp20108:
I'd like it to be light, but more importantly easily carried without drawing undue attention...wacking through wooden doors and/or smashing windows (in the case of another Terrorist attack), cutting up/chopping up game, and hammering of tent pegs and whatever else needs hammering.
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My quick $0.02 worth: get a 12"-24" Destaco or hooligan prybar for door breaching & window smashing and the Gerber or Granfors-Bruks axe for the chopping & hammering chores. Either a GB or Gerber ax should work well for the camping & game butchering uses listed. Don't forget to have a file for resharpening the axe.
Short prybars can be easily stashed out of sight in day- or book-packs, which are ubiquitous enough to be good "camo" in urban environs where the prybar may be wanted. If you are evacuating a building, you will be breaching doors when necessary, not chopping them up. Hence a prybar is the tool of choice over an axe IMHO. By merit of being rather invisibly carried, prybars meet your criterion of not drawing attention to themselves. A fireax would also work, but isn't as easily carried and would probably raise a few eyebrows.
Rokjok:
Pretty solid idea for building escape! What length prybar would be adequte for opening doors? I searched some firefighter supply sites and found some inexpensive halligan tools that are frequently used to get into the same kind of places I would like to get out of. Check out: http://www.allhandsfire.com/tools.html
The smallest ones are 16" - almost as long as a hawk. And, I wonder if you could use it to get the leverage you'd need to bust open a locked or jammed door. Maybe a plain old crowbar would be better? Still, even 16" is probably better than just a hand axe alone, and definitely sweet in combination with a small sledge hammer. Hmm, the urban b.o.b. is suddenly getting very heavy...
Pretty solid idea for building escape! What length prybar would be adequte for opening doors? I searched some firefighter supply sites and found some inexpensive halligan tools that are frequently used to get into the same kind of places I would like to get out of. Check out: http://www.allhandsfire.com/tools.html
The smallest ones are 16" - almost as long as a hawk. And, I wonder if you could use it to get the leverage you'd need to bust open a locked or jammed door. Maybe a plain old crowbar would be better? Still, even 16" is probably better than just a hand axe alone, and definitely sweet in combination with a small sledge hammer. Hmm, the urban b.o.b. is suddenly getting very heavy...
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- Feb 1, 2003
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- 78
Wow, a lot of suggestions, I didn't read all of them though. I have the medium length Gerber Axe. Sounds like the other Axe you are looking at is pretty pricey. I have had the Gerber for a few years now and I do a whole lot of camping, backpacking, and just general outdoor activities w/ it. This thing takes some serious abuse and is fairly light. It's fun to throw too, when you get bored out in the woods. You can't go wrong w/ this Gerber for $35. I have a few friends that have the short versions(which are slightly lighter and easier to carry) and they love them. None of us have had and breakage problems or anything of the sort. I just sharpen the edge on a grinding wheel and it gets pretty sharp. Buck and Columbia make Axes similar to the Gerber, but they have a ~8" knife that snaps into the hollow handle. Interesting, but I opted for the Gerber because of its lighter weight and reputation for quality. Hope this helps. 