Hand axe suggestion

James w

James w

Joined
Aug 6, 2015
Messages
951
Hey all

I'm looking for a hand axe that would bridge the gap between a 5 in knife and a felling axe small enough that I can throw in my backpack only criteria is under 80 and wooden shaft cheaper the better

thx all
james W
 
I'm not a big fan of hand axes; a longer handle gives you better leverage and greater utility, at a cost of not much more weight. My preference is a Hudson's Bay single bit by Snow & Nealley. It’s a better all-round tool than a hatchet, although with the relatively short handle you still have to be careful to have something between you and whatever you’re chopping. Lots of similar good makes around, too.
 
Lots of good options. Thr current batches of cheap Chinese imports are serviceable for about $20. Council tools sells an affordable American made hatchet. Another thread recently highlighted some rebranded Adler (German) hatchets that were selling for $26. Then there's the Fiskars X7 that is both cheap and decent quality. Lastly, an old claw hatchet re-hafted on a 17" riggers axe handle makes a dandy bushcraft hatchet.
 
If cheap (and fearsome-looking?, and perhaps useful) is singularly what you're aiming for (I notice you're already figuring that lousy old 'wood' is going to be cheaper than space-age plastic) then troll around the clearance sale counters of big box outdoor and hunting & fishing stores. They'll be overjoyed to take your money. Last year's unsold toys take up valuable space!
If on the other hand you have some patience, and don't have much money, then start reading up as much as you can about striking tools and start visiting garage sales and flea markets. A lovely 'take-up screw' Plumb, Kelly perfect or E&S etc roofing or flooring hatchet you accidentally stumble across, have the sense to bring home and clean up for $10, can bring you infinitely more pleasure and physical/practical use than some $50-100 "flavour of the month tac jobbie" that was concocted offshore.
 
It will have to be a 1 day project but the 20$ Vaughan sub zero hatchet is an awesome tool with great American steel. Just find the " the mini hatchet " thread and you'll learn all you need to know 👍
 
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