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Hatchet or Machete

G

gungho

Joined
Jun 25, 2009
Messages
78
I'm getting into outdoors/wilderness survival for the past few months, and I'm starting out slowly purchasing equipment.

I'm still looking for a good knife (and I may have a bead on one through a friend), I'm looking for a larger wood chopping tool. Either a hatchet or machete.

I've been watching a lot of pathfinder videos on youtube and I know he uses a machete.

Is it personal preference or does one have more of an advantage over the other?
 
Nice.

Just googled it. Looks like it could definitely get the job done. Not so sure what the curved part on the back is designed for. Any idea?
 
since you're in michigan i'd suggest a hatchet over a machete. i believe the woods over there are quite hard arent they?
 
gungho said:
Nice.

Just googled it. Looks like it could definitely get the job done. Not so sure what the curved part on the back is designed for. Any idea?
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Cutting vines. Given your location, jca21 may have a good point.

You can watch several videos of the Woodsman Pal in action on Youtube. There is one that focuses on its use as a woods survival tool.

I like the premium model - it has a hand gaurd and stacked leather handle.
 
There's a lot of different kinds of trees here in MI. Just on my folks property there's oak, pink, maple, ash, etc. I know on state land there's hickory, sycamore, elm, and I'm sure more. I'm not entirely sure out of those I mentioned which are considered hard wood or not.
 
Personally I find the Woodsman's pal to be more of a machete shaped hatchet--not really my style. For a machete I recommend Condor. I have...let's see...four now, and they've handled everything I've thrown at them to date! And we have a lot of oak, beech, and maple up here. They've even handled frozen pine knots, with a bit of caution. :thumbup:
 
I like my kukris better than the Woodsman's Pal, although I have nothing against it. The brush hook would be useful in certain situations. If I used one regularly, I'd want to sharpen the edge all the way out to the end of the blade.

DancesWithKnives
 
DWK2 said:
I like my kukris better than the Woodsman's Pal, although I have nothing against it. The brush hook would be useful in certain situations. If I used one regularly, I'd want to sharpen the edge all the way out to the end of the blade.

DancesWithKnives
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i also prefer kukris to the woodsmans pal.

still, given the original posters intentions it seems a hatchet would be better than a machete.

although that i'd REALLY suggest is a good sized axe, anywhere from 19-25 inches in handle length.

there are many options,

snow and neally
gransfor bruks
wetterlings
estwing


some of those woods that you listed on your property and crown land are fairly hard woods, the oak especially. if i was doing anything in your neck of the woods i'd definetly want an axe over a machete. even something like a heavier barteaux machete will not penetrate nearly as well as an axe or a hatchet.


also, in my opinion, a hatchet is a much more useful tool in carving than a machete is. which may be a selling factor if you want to do more woods crafts such as carving.
 
Just buy a cheap machete, sharpen it, and see how you like it. I chopped hard maple with a machete today. On the big stuff I used the axe and chainsaw, but whoever thinks a machete can't chop wood needs to watch me on my property sometime. You would be amazed at how many things you can do with a machete. Personally, I prefer it to a small axe for most chores.
 
I'd suggest a medium sized axe and a stiff machete. Unless you're hiking, you will probably welcome both.

The woodsman pal is handy for rolling logs if you are concerned about snakes or things like scorpians underneath so you keep your hands clear.
 
Horn Dog said:
Just buy a cheap machete, sharpen it, and see how you like it. I chopped hard maple with a machete today. On the big stuff I used the axe and chainsaw, but whoever thinks a machete can't chop wood needs to watch me on my property sometime. You would be amazed at how many things you can do with a machete. Personally, I prefer it to a small axe for most chores.
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Not that Horn Dog needs my confirmation, but he is exactly 100% correct. My first real experience with machetes happened a bunch of years ago, when we took a new friend canoeing. He asked, "How come you guys don't use machetes?" (I have to mention, that he is from Jamaica). The response was, "Because we don't have sugar cane here."

Well, we were wrong. Subsequently, we all have and take machetes. You'd be surprised how well machetes work on hardwood. I'm talking about the thicker, shorter machetes, usually bolo size.

I have a Machax which does the job well (on hardwoods) for me, but if I didn't it would be a machete or khukuri for sure, and you see where I live. Also an excellent tool for roughing out a bow stave.

OTOH, I've used hatchets in the past, and while they can work well, too dangerous for me if I'm tired, and if you're many miles away from the nearest road..........................

Doc
 
Lots of nice opinions. Thanks everyone.

My general usage for it would be like splitting wood for fires, building shelters, etc. Plus knocking down some tall grass/weeds that are blocking my hunting spots. ;)
 
Horn Dog said:
Just buy a cheap machete, sharpen it, and see how you like it. I chopped hard maple with a machete today. On the big stuff I used the axe and chainsaw, but whoever thinks a machete can't chop wood needs to watch me on my property sometime. You would be amazed at how many things you can do with a machete. Personally, I prefer it to a small axe for most chores.
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:thumbup::thumbup:

Same here. Just make sure you don't buy one of those god-awful Wal*Mart machete-like objects. :barf: Get yourself a $7 Tramontina, give it a little elbow grease to shape the handle scales flush to the tang, and sharpen it up. You'll be amazed at how much you can do with it!
 
gungho said:
Lots of nice opinions. Thanks everyone.

My general usage for it would be like splitting wood for fires, building shelters, etc. Plus knocking down some tall grass/weeds that are blocking my hunting spots. ;)
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sounds like a barteaux heavy machete with the edge reground or an ontario machete will fit the bill. maybe you could consider the becker bk-9???
 
Well I'm not sure on the bk-9. It looks like a decent knife, but it's quite a bit shorter than the machete, so you'd have to get lower I'd think to chop with it. I like the looks of that Ontario machete.

I'll be going to the local outdoors shop here soon and see if they have anything that might fit the bill. I want to pick up a ferro rod so I can try and participate in a contest going on.

P.S. - Thanks again for all the suggestions. I've definitely have a lot to consider now and put into a decision. I'm thinking I'll have to go out and get one, and just see how it works for me.
 
For machetes, I recommend Condor. For hatchets, Wetterlings. A great compromise would be a Chitlangi or M-43 khukuri from Himalayan Imports. My M-43 chops better than any hatchet I've ever used, and slices through light vegetation as well as any machete.
 
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