Got Hatchet?

C

Charliegoodfellow

Joined
Jun 23, 2005
Messages
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Any advise would be much appreciated.

Looking for a good portable hatchet for travel and camp into the Canadian north. My theory on equipment budget is buy the best available. It has to be durable and functional. Any advise would be appreciated. I'll be on foot most of the time so weight is the only issue.
Thanks, folks.

-c.
 
I've heard nothing but good things about the Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet. If you're REALLY weight-conscious, you might look at the mini-hatchet.
 
I've found the Fiskars to be a good, widely available, choice. Not as classy as the GB, but practical and lightweight.
 
I have had a Fiskars for quite some time (13years). It has done everything I have needed it to do. Nice and light and easy to sharpen in the field with just the file on your Letherman.
 
Any of the Fiskars and Gerber hacthets and axes Are great for the price. I have the Gerber gator axe with the knife in the handle, and cuts like you would not believe.
 
Charliegoodfellow said:
Any advise would be much appreciated.

Looking for a good portable hatchet for travel and camp into the Canadian north. My theory on equipment budget is buy the best available. It has to be durable and functional. Any advise would be appreciated. I'll be on foot most of the time so weight is the only issue.
Thanks, folks.

-c.
Click to expand...

Take a look at the Gransfors Bruks line. The Small Forest axe weighs in a just over 2 LB and has a 19" handle. Gives you a little more punch. They also have a hatchet that is fantastic.
 
Of my hatchets, my Gerber 14" camp axe is my favorite.I have seen the Fiskars equivalent without a sheath for almost half the price of the Gerber.

I also have hatchets/hawks by Cold Steel, Marble's, Craftsman, and a couple other off-brands. The Gerber is my favorite.
 
This is a greate place to start looking:

http://ragweedforge.com/ThrowingCatalog.html

You may also want to consider the Vaughan Supersportsman's Sub-Zero Mini Axe available here: http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/view_catalog_page.asp?id=1747#

It's a great lightweight little hatchet that's very affordable. You'll need to reprofile it for optimum performance - the factory edge isn't good. If you don't want to go to the trouble of reprofiling, you may still be able to acquire a Vaughan that's been re-ground by BRKT: http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=BA180

Otherwise I'd go with a Wetterlings that fits your weight constraints - and if you can afford it, a Gransfors-Bruks.
 
Gransfors Bruks Small Small Forest Axe is a great camp axe for your region. I have the Gerber and it is a good axe, but not the quality or ergonomics of the GB. In terms of productivity you should get a quick return on the additional money spent.
 
If cost is a factor Fiskars is the way to go. I picked up a Fiskars hatchet at Lowes for $14.99 about a year or so ago.
 
i have carried the GB hunters axe, it will skin, cut and make your camp, butcher large game animals, it is long enough to be effective and short enough to be packable, has a razor edge, and kept it through multiple animals, i carry this axe when i go afield.

alex
 
I've had my eye on the Roselli. Anyone out there with any (Roselli) experience. They seem like they would be fairly lightweight, great for close work (because of the cutout), and would carry nicely on a pack (also due to cutout). I remember reading a comparison a while back between Roselli, GB, and westerling? I think the Roselli held its own. Anyone else care to comment?

SS93
 
yup, a wetterlings. that review was on outdoors-magazine. The roselli was a good small axe, and in that review the reviewer found he liked the wetterlings chopping ability better.

I know I love my wetterlings, and if your lookin for a lower price axe or hatchet they are a very good choice.
 
Charlie,

There is al ot of good information at oldjimbo's page regarding axes, hatchets, comparisons, what to look for, etc.

http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/axes.html

At the bottom of th epage is a link for the index where there are many more pages of information regarding axes and hatchets. Some of these are picture heavy so if you have dial up like me, it may take a bit for some of them to load.

Also, like Fonly mentioned, http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_summary.php
has good reviews of different brands of axes compared to each other. It also has other good information and is worth checking out.

in my opinion the best thing for oyu to do is go to a store and pick up some of these axes or hatchets and see how they feel. Personally, I do not like how the Fiskars and Gerbers feel. I don't like the synthetic handles. Hickory feels much better tome, provided you can find a good handle with the right grain and no heartwood or knots.

So read up, pick up a few, and see what you think. Good luck!! Let us know what you end up getting. ;)
 
I have both the large and small Wetterlings hunter's axes. They both chop and split very well. My daughter broke the helve on a Vaughn and I haven't replaced it. This hatchet is too small for my tastes. The Estwing is a nice splitter but too heavy and imbalanced for much chopping. Hults Bruks is nothing special.
 
Has anyone used the wetterlings hatchet?, Or was that what you meant my small hunters axe 2dogs?

I cant remember how the do their naming, but the large hunters axe is awsome, I just remember the hachet looking a bit to large, Like the handle was too fat, and the head was think and heavy for a hatchet.
 
I have one of the small Gerber Hatchets and the thing is great. Sharp as hell and chops great.

KR
 
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