Gransfors Bruk Mini hatchet

Hey guys,
I got my mini hatchet for hunting. Small hatchet for the
pack. I haven't chopped any wood with it yet. I have used it to
cut the heads and paws off of 6 squirrels. Cut the heads wings and
legs of of 3 pheasants. The 3rd pheasant was my brothers, and no kidding he went to clean it with his knife and he couldn't even cut in to the breast to gut bird, his knife was that dull. I said give it to me, and I completely field dressed his pheasant with the mini hatchet. My brother and brother in law could not believe it. This is
the only hatchet I have. They are incredibly sharp. And this week I used it to cut the pelvic bone on my whitetail. I don't know if the mini hatchet will cut wood, but it serves my purpose to a T. Lightweight hatchet that I can leave in my pack till I need it!!
By the way, from splitting the pelvic bone there is some real small chips in the blade. It does have a thin edge. But it is as sharp as a knife.
Side note: I sharpened both of my brother's knives for him!! They cut now!!!;)
 
A buddy bought me one of the GB Mini's back in September, and I absolutely love it. I backpack a lot, and am here to tell you I'd never carry this thing in a million years. I'll stick with my folding saws and leave this little beauty by the bedside where it belongs! Darn thing's sharper than any of my zero-edged knives...

Professor.
 
Bringing this up from the depths. I'm comparing the mini and the wildlife myself, as well as some of the midsized "camp" knives on the market, like the new offerings from Swamp Rat and the new Becker. I'm getting into lighter and lighter weight back backing, and more leave-no-trace type of ethics. I almost never cut wood or brush, and all my fire comes out of a pressurized bottle. At the same time, the deeper I go, and the more exposure, the more i'm considering a just in case type tool. The mini seems to fit, as it is one light, well designed hatchet by the sounds of things, but it still needs to do some cutting. Thoughts? Oh, and I just read everything archived on this forum with the word "mini", so I am trying not to be to redundent.
 
Afee,

I'm trying to get back to lightweight packing again, since I no longer have the strength/endurance to haul the big loads many of my friends favor. Being a blade enthusiast, it is hard for me to go without bringing at least one cutting tool larger than my SAK Rucksack, even if I don't really need it. A good part of the weight justification would be the fun of using it. At about 13 oz., the GB mini is several ounces lighter than my Busse Basic 7 so I can't argue with selecting the mini if you already have something like a SAK for general cutting work.

For what emergency chores would you expect to need the mini: Shelter building, firewood preparation?
 
Thanks for the reply- I'm thinking possible shelter building, fire wood collection and splint making. All pretty basic. I can do most of that now with either the small fixed blade or my folder I alternate between. I was thinking the small FB and the mini would be just about perfect for everything, save the possibloe (though rare) necessity for rapid brush removal, when something like the swaprat battle/basic 9 would possibly take the lead. I keep rolling over options in my head. Unfortunatly I can't seem to find any of these options locally (OR) to handle, and don't think I'd be disapointed, quality-wise, with either. Might have to (eventually) get both :rolleyes:
 
Afee,

There have recently been some extensive discussions of this topic in the Wilderness Forum, with people voicing strong opinions for hatchets, Bowies, large camp knives, Khuks, machetes, saws, etc. It always seems to get a lively debate going (sort of like posting a "Handguns for Griz Protection" thread at Huntamerica!). I'll be in Alaska in August and am taking a Basic 9 because brush abatement is sometimes needed. I'll probably leave the GB mini at home because we'll have a larger axe and I don't want any of the other trip participants messing up my GB.

Like most of us, it sounds like you could accomplish your emergency objectives with several different tools and it might come down to a matter of personal preference.
 
Sounds perfect for the times when I bring a hatchet (carcamping and beach hikes--especially the beach hikes).
 
I've had my mini for a while now, and I love it. I take it day hiking all the time. I've chopped some decent sized branches with it, and with a baton I've split bigger logs. It's also really easy to use it for whittling and slicing.
 
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