Hatchet, machete or kukri

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SuzukiGS750EZ

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Dec 30, 2008
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Hey guys. In the market for a new woods tool. I'm leaning more towards a machete or kukri, but if it's a useful hatchet i may want one. I only have 40$ (i've NEVER bought a 40$ knife) as a gift card, so it's what im limited to. Can you guys help me?
 
If you want a kukri (I think you know where I stand on this) save up for a Himalayan Imports, you won't get a kukri from them for $40.

The pipe hawk or spike hawk from CS would be mny choices for your price range. Depending on if you want a hammer or spike poll.
 
Pipe hawk all the way. Love CS hawks. The spike hawk is also awesome and right in that range.

I have a Rifleman hawk and Norse hawk that I have been throwing for years. Fun stuff........Oh, and you can actually use them for chores too!

Also, not to be overlooked are the CS machetes. You could get the CS magnum machete in that price range too. I have one, and it is a fun toy. It is a bit thicker than normal machetes, and you will have to refine the edge.
 
Get a khukuri.
It will do pretty much anything a machete or hatchet will do.
In the case of a himalayan imports khukuri...you can add an "and then some".
 
SuzukiGS750EZ said:
Hey guys. In the market for a new woods tool. I'm leaning more towards a machete or kukri, but if it's a useful hatchet i may want one. I only have 40$ (i've NEVER bought a 40$ knife) as a gift card, so it's what im limited to. Can you guys help me?
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This is my first post here, so go easy please. I say, put one of each in your collection. Quality ones can be had for not a lot of $$. I do NOT have a Hawk yet, but plan to sometime soon. I do have an Ontario Knife Company 18" sawback machete & a OKC 1/4" thick 12" blade Kukri---both are Made in the USA !!! Each one will shave hair or paper the entire length of the blade after I sharpened them. They are AWESOME workhorses. For self defense, i can not even begin to imagine the amount of damage i could do with just one swipe, but my guess is---it would be a game ender for the criminal. If you want a real deal Kukri, then i suggest this new modernized/Americanized one from Nepal. I would be seriously concerned with my hand being able to slip & make contact with the blade on an original handled one.
http://www.khukurihouseonline.com/C...p?PID=49ae49a23f67c759bf4fc791ba842aa2|5a4549
 
Get a CS khukri machete, and have money left over to get a folder or something. They can be had for around 15 bucks, and work great for bushcraft, shelter building etc.
 
Just posted about the success my Rangers have had with the Marbles Scouting Jungle Machete. $15. YOu could buy one of these and still get that CS Pipe Tomahawk mentioned above and be just about in your budget.
 
The Condor Kurki Machete seems to be pretty good for its price - and I've read several opinions saying they're much better than other low-budget-kukris (cold steel, ka-bar).
I don't have one but... if I can use one and/or just want a kukri really bad I'll probably buy that one. ;)
[they're not as cheap in Europe as they are in the US, so...]
 
Remember you asked this in the Hatchet/hawk forum. results would be different in a machete forum. Based on my general uses I would get a USGI Machete with the rubber type scabbard. this is under $40. The machete needs a good edge put on it after you get it. I don't know how how similar your uses will be to mine, so not saying that is what you would like best. perhaps some more reading in woods or survival forums. Or get the recommended hawk now and the machete next month.

The Khukri, I don't have one and don't see the benefit.
 
You can buy a pretty good hatchet for $40. Estwing hatchets run ~$30-35 at Home Depot, and Sears sells a hatcet made in USA by Vaughn for $17. You can also buy an quality old used head and add a handle yourself for cheap.
 
I am a big Cold Steel fan and second the hawk. I have one of the short camp axes and I think it is awesome. It has a larger cutting edge than the hawks and will throw some amazing chips with my convexed edge.

At one time I also really wanted a Kukri but didnt want to pay big bucks so I got the CS Kukri machete. I have to say I was very disappointed. I have worked the edge many different ways, and can never get the cutting performance that I want. The best machete I have ever had is my 26 inch blade Bartaux ( I think the spelling is correct ). Bought it about ten years ago and after recentering and convexing the edge is an amazing brush clearer and chopper. Hope this helps out.
 
I've used a cold steel trail hawk in the woods to cut firewood and it worked, but the handle was to short to suit me. I think the handle on mine is 19". Am guessing that 24" would work better for me. Because of this, I went back to carrying a Khukri or Machete instead of a hawk.

This spring I when I'm backpacking I plan on carrying a Machete or Khukri, small Axe and a saw. That combo Should handle anything from brush, to branches to big logs acrost the trail. Have not desided which machete yet, though I'm leaning towards something in the 14 to 18" range. The Axe will be a 1.75lb to 2.5lb hudson bay style and the saw will be a 30" or 36" bow saw.

By the way, Great River Forge makes a French style hawk with a 16oz head. I have one that needs a new handle (to many throws and misses) and am planning to make a 24" handle for it. That thing is awesome! It came from GRF with an 18" handle and when I did a side by side with my trail hawk, in my hands it out chopped it. My favorite hawk. Would love to have him make me an axe head with the same shape as the French hawk, but one that weighs between 28 and 32oz.
 
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wildmanh said:
This spring I when I'm backpacking I plan on carrying a Machete or Khukri, small Axe and a saw. That combo Should handle anything from brush, to branches to big logs acrost the trail. .
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Seriously? That's a lot of edged power... you doing trail maintenance ?
 
Cold Steel Frontier hawk edged out my Becker Brute in a side by chop I did this fall. This hawk is light to pack but still has some bite to it. I have a Rifleman also but it's ugly next to the New Frontier. The Rifleman is considerably heavier and bites deeper.

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pullrich said:
Seriously? That's a lot of edged power... you doing trail maintenance ?
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Yep, thats going to be my load-out for trail maintenance. I sometimes help the forest service or local municiples with trail cutting, clearing and maintaining. Last year I hiked a few trails that were cleared of brush, but not downed trees so I'm planning to help clear said trees this spring if someone doesn't beat me to it (IE they have a work crew go up before they open the trail).
 
wildmanh said:
Yep, thats going to be my load-out for trail maintenance. I sometimes help the forest service or local municiples with trail cutting, clearing and maintaining. Last year I hiked a few trails that were cleared of brush, but not downed trees so I'm planning to help clear said trees this spring if someone doesn't beat me to it (IE they have a work crew go up before they open the trail).
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Right on. Man I was hoping you were going to write something like that :thumbup:

Im the same but lesser scale: I bring along a light axe or machete on hikes to carry out some casual light maintenance. If I'm hiking or backpacking just to enjoy the outdoors I bring just a Mora with plastic handle, only by habit. I dont think edged tools are really necessary for camping/hiking these days.
 
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