I use a sawvivor and a large knife. I dont really think a hatchet comes close to having a saw and a blade. If you have real tough wood to split its gonna be a real pain in the a$$ with a little hatchet, with a knife when the splittn' gets tough you can drive it through the rest of the way with a batton. use the sawvivor to cut logs to length and the knife/batton to split them. I believe this to be the most efficient way to pack and use.
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Hatchet verses R-6
- Thread starter flor1
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I'm going to suggest going with a 19" or larger axe for UP MI, especially in winter. My Snow & Neely Hudson Bay Axe has a 24" handle and is lighter than my Fiskars 17" axe (go figure). Also out chops the Fiskars by a mile. I did splurge and get one of the modified ones by Brian Andrews, a custom knifemaker, who grinds the sides flat and puts a mean convex edge on it for about $30 more than the retail cost.
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Give me a hatchet over a knife to chop any day.
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If a Wetterlings is what appeals to you when you first think of outdoors with your Izula, that is what you should try first. Many people use and recommend them.
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It depends on the types of wood you come across. From the research I've done:
Gransfors Bruks is suited for the softer conifers of Europe and sports a thin sharp edge.
Wetterlings is a bit in the middle - a medium thickness edge, but still a soft wood, european pattern.
Snow & Nealley has a thicker edge, more suited for hard woods of NA (S&N is a Maine company though the heads are forged in China) and a traditional North American pattern.
With that said, you will most likely have to give both the wetterling and S&N a good sharpening and set it up properly - or you could send it out to Bark River to set it up for you.
I have a wetterlings 10, 13 & 19" and a 17" S&N that was modified by Brian Andrews. the wetterlings 19" (large hunting axe) and S&N 17" (pen bay hatchet) get the most use by far.
Again, its worth it to go for the longer handle - there is virtually NO difference in weight.
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I'll carry a folding saw instead of my hatchet if I'm going light or just on a short trip. A hatchet can be more versatile but with the small light saws they have out these days it's easy to put one in your pocket.
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*shakes fist* DAMN YOU!
No really, thanks for the take on it. This thing is the PERFECT size, and I was torn which one to get. Course, I doubt it'll be the only thing I carry
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why not get both
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go for the 19" wetterlings as suggested by Trailwolf, Diz you will love it. I fully agree that the extra handle length makes it much more effective.
Love my rc-6 but if you know in advance you will be making fires and not just impromptu emergencies or quickie cooking you will need the axe to easily process wood, especially in snow.
Your companion izula will get your knife chores done but if you have the cash buy the rc-6 as well and carry all 3 as a 2010 nessmuk trio.
If you process your kills and not just skin/gut to the butcher the izula will fall short, the rc-6 will be a great fleshing blade with the nice flat grind. Limbing small branches for shooting lanes and for kindling as well.
Love my rc-6 but if you know in advance you will be making fires and not just impromptu emergencies or quickie cooking you will need the axe to easily process wood, especially in snow.
Your companion izula will get your knife chores done but if you have the cash buy the rc-6 as well and carry all 3 as a 2010 nessmuk trio.
If you process your kills and not just skin/gut to the butcher the izula will fall short, the rc-6 will be a great fleshing blade with the nice flat grind. Limbing small branches for shooting lanes and for kindling as well.
I don't tend to recommend hatchets because most people I know (i.e. city slickers) would end up embedding them in their legs, but this forum has mainly knowledgeable folks and I have no problem recommending them here (I prefer one also - I'm up in Canada), though if you don't need to pack it, a full axe is even bigger.
Yes, we're a nation of lumberjacks up here...
Yes, we're a nation of lumberjacks up here...
I have been wanting a Wetterlings for a wile. Do any of you think RAT will make a ax / hatchet sometime? I would like to See some type of a tomahawk head that could be used in the hand or could have a field expedient handle made for it. I think Eco hawk is like this.
19" Wetterlings on pack, izula on neck, and RC-4 on belt.
I use my axe on hard wood, and even though it has a thin blade, it bites very deep. To be honest with you, I even do some things with my axe that I should be doing with my knives. My advice is, get the axe, learn to use it, and you wont be sorry.
If you go with Wetterlings, get the 19" hunting axe. you can actually make feather sticks for a fire with it just with some fine sharpening. I highly recommend it!!!
I use my axe on hard wood, and even though it has a thin blade, it bites very deep. To be honest with you, I even do some things with my axe that I should be doing with my knives. My advice is, get the axe, learn to use it, and you wont be sorry.
If you go with Wetterlings, get the 19" hunting axe. you can actually make feather sticks for a fire with it just with some fine sharpening. I highly recommend it!!!
