I'm a big knife guy that's starting to be drawn to the idea of a small axe or hatchet

[Old Axeman]

Can a bolo chop wood ? Yes, I use bolo, kukri, machete, golok, parang, cane knife and even an old coupe coupe for a lot of different chopping. But, none of the above can even come close to an ax for felling and bucking trees. We are talking about humans first two tools, the ax and the knife. The first humans invented these two tools to do seperate functions. For me, these original functions still hold true for the ax and the knife.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Do you own a Mora sized Knife ? And do you own a decent folding saw ? If so they pair up nicely with a sub zero sized hatchet (I know I've said it before ) at this point your really just interested, so for 20$ the Vaughan is worth trying out to see if a small hatchet is the way to go . people are too hung up on the camp knife vs small hatchet thing instead of just giving thoughts or recommendations for a little hatchet, when you've already decided to try the concept out for yourself. There's really no point in arguing, when you just have to find out for yourself. If someone only tries a camp knife or hatchet and never the other how can they argue anything. ( some people here have tried both, but not the best of each, only a good example of one and horrible example of the other ) so my point is just to buy one and ( after a little work bringing it to its full potential ) try it out for yourself , because only you can ( prevent Forrest fires ) determine weather or not it works for you.

 

[thunderstick]

Not a technical aspect but ... Carrying a long knife on a camping or backpacking trip in this culture often gives a "rambo/macho/freaky/Crocodile Dundee impersonation type" persona to a lot of people. In South America a long machete type knife is the norm; but not here. A long "bad" knife is seldom viewed as a tool even among many campers. Carry a belt axe/hatchet (not a hawk) paired with a shorter knife and you'll more likely be viewed as being normal and prepared.

I"m not saying perception should decide the question, but when around parents who are camping with children and this will be a concern--especially if you "have" to use your "big knife" for tasks more efficiently performed with an axe or small knife.

 

[David Martin]

I agree. I see guys carrying those in town and it makes me uncomfortable being near them. But they're free to be Rambo in a grocery store purchasing a pack of cigs. Just don't worry about anyone speaking to them.
Another aspect is they are bulky with that huge sheath extending down their leg. If I were walking in the woods with that, it takes some effort to draw it. Whereas a hatchet could almost be hidden. DM

 

[Cobalt]

Not a technical aspect but ... Carrying a long knife on a camping or backpacking trip in this culture often gives a "rambo/macho/freaky/Crocodile Dundee impersonation type" persona to a lot of people. In South America a long machete type knife is the norm; but not here. A long "bad" knife is seldom viewed as a tool even among many campers. Carry a belt axe/hatchet (not a hawk) paired with a shorter knife and you'll more likely be viewed as being normal and prepared.

I"m not saying perception should decide the question, but when around parents who are camping with children and this will be a concern--especially if you "have" to use your "big knife" for tasks more efficiently performed with an axe or small knife.

of course this is all opinion, but there was never a movie made called "so I married a knife murderer". But there was one called "I married an axe murderer."
The point being that you are kidding yourself if you think that only big knives intimidate people and that there is no difference between the two to the general public. Trust me someone wearing a hatchet will get the same looks as someone wearing a large knife. In fact except in a camping scenario, you walking down a street with a hatchet on your belt is likely to get stranger looks than a knife since knives can be used for many purposes outside of camping.

I agree. I see guys carrying those in town and it makes me uncomfortable being near them. But they're free to be Rambo in a grocery store purchasing a pack of cigs. Just don't worry about anyone speaking to them.
Another aspect is they are bulky with that huge sheath extending down their leg. If I were walking in the woods with that, it takes some effort to draw it. Whereas a hatchet could almost be hidden. DM

Makes you uncomfortable to see someone carrying a knife? I honestly cannot believe someone in a knife forum actually made that comment. If I see someone with a belt axe or knife both in their sheath on a belt, I have no reason to worry. IF they are walking down a city street with either in their hand in an aggressive manner then maybe there is reason to worry. lol

I own both GB HAtchets/axes and large blades. I can draw a large blade out of it's sheath faster than I can remove the sheath off any hatchet. This is a plain fact and you will never beat anyone in a contest with that. A hatchet is more bulky in every direction than a knife of the same overall length. So a knife can be more easily hidden and in close quarters can still be used for defense, a hatchet cannot be easily used in close quarters, like your tent. It has no point and stabbing is nearly impossible. A knife has a point and much more edge. Much more usable tool.

A Mora and a hatchet are a great combination to take and I see no problem with it, but, it is just a different combination than a large knife than can perform the tasks of both of those tools. Try not to make erroneous statements about large knives to justify the use of a hatchet. They are both good tools.

 

[thunderstick]

My comments were within the stated context of "camping or backpacking." They had no relevance to street carry, or self defense against other humans, or even open carry in the general public. In a camping or backpacking scenario a small axe is typically recognized as a tool for wood processing whereas a knife is much more apt to be perceived differently.

 

[Cobalt]

My comments were within the stated context of "camping or backpacking." They had no relevance to street carry, or self defense against other humans, or even open carry in the general public. In a camping or backpacking scenario a small axe is typically recognized as a tool for wood processing whereas a knife is much more apt to be perceived differently.

And in that case I disagree with you as well. More people carry belt knives than hatchets in camping situations.

 

[thunderstick]

I'm not talking about "belt knives" but the "long belt knives" being discussed on this thread. I'm not referencing the numbers seen, but the perception of many on a campsite or backpack trail of carrying a long knife vs a belt axe.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Depending on the person either one could frighten them. if they're in the woods they should be carrying their own axe/hatchet or large knife/machete ,and anyone in the woods who would be weary of seeing a wood processing tool is probably the kind of person who would run screaming apon hearing a screech owl




But this thread isn't about how people would act, but about recommendations for a good option for a small hatchet ( and not about camp knife vs belt hatchet ) , because he wants to find out for himself.

 

[Cobalt]

Depending on the person either one could frighten them. if they're in the woods they should be carrying their own axe/hatchet or large knife/machete ,and anyone in the woods who would be weary of seeing a wood processing tool is probably the kind of person who would run screaming apon hearing a screech owl

Very true.
The point is that any person that will be scared of someone having a large blade on their belt will also be scared by someone carrying a small hatchet on their belt as well. The fact that someone on this forum would be scared of someone having a large blade in a sheath is disturbing to me.

But this thread isn't about how people would act, but about recommendations for a good option for a small hatchet ( and not about camp knife vs belt hatchet ) , because he wants to find out for himself.

Also true, and the best way to do that is not to guide someone by giving them erroneous information. Which I in turn have to correct. As a blade lover, I think people should own hatchets and axes as well as knives. But I am tired of hearing people that don't know better spouting off against large blades. Which is what threads like this on this forum become. Not saying you had anything to do with this, but my response was directed at those that are trying to imply things about large blades that are definitely not true.

As for hatchets, my GB Wildlife Hatchet is a perfect woods tool.

 

[David Martin]

I'm not talking about "belt knives" but the "long belt knives" being discussed on this thread. I'm not referencing the numbers seen, but the perception of many on a campsite or backpack trail of carrying a long knife vs a belt axe.

Yes, that's what I'm meaning. I wonder what place a 10-12" blade knife has on the cereal aisle in a grocery store. But all is legal here. DM

 

[lovemysteel]

Yes, that's what I'm meaning. I wonder what place a 10-12" blade knife has on the cereal aisle in a grocery store. But all is legal here. DM

I can go to my local grocery store and get a 12 inch knife. I can't get an axe. Axes scare me more than knives. Knives have many benign uses axes are very limited in their use. I would be more concerned of someone with an axe in their hand than a big knife.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Yes, that's what I'm meaning. I wonder what place a 10-12" blade knife has on the cereal aisle in a grocery store. But all is legal here. DM

They probably use them to help reach the coco puffs of the top shelf because they're cuckoo if I see someone with a large Bowie on their hip,it doesn't scare me because it's usually a farmer coming Into town and I never met a farmer who wasn't just a good ol' boy.

 

[Cobalt]

Yes, that's what I'm meaning. I wonder what place a 10-12" blade knife has on the cereal aisle in a grocery store. But all is legal here. DM

You ever been to the kitchen supplies isle in a grocery store? Ever seen a 12" Butcher knife. I can post some pics if you need to see what they look like? No one outside of this one dimensional forum is going to agree with you.

 

[SC T100]

You ever been to the kitchen supplies isle in a grocery store? Ever seen a 12" Butcher knife. I can post some pics if you need to see what they look like? No one outside of this one dimensional forum is going to agree with you.

No need to get snarky. You seem to enjoy your big knives and want to carry them. Have at it. But context and environment are everything. A 12" butcher knife on a shelf in a grocery store is not the same thing as some dude wearing a 12" tactical knife in the same store, obviously. I use my machetes and axes quite often, but I'm not about to carry them into the grocery store, either. Why would I? Same for big knives for me. And I would be cautious around some dude toting a big 12" knife in the grocery store, just like I would be cautious if the guy was toting a hatchet around the grocery store. That same guy on a trail hiking? No biggie. Context and environment.

As to the OP, grab a cheap Harbor Freight or Northern Tool hatchet and get it sharp and take it out. It won't be a great tool, but as long as it's sharp you'll get a feel for whether you would prefer it or not to the big knife. More kindling and bucking logs? You may find the hatchet is faster and more efficient with good technique. Or not! It all depends on your needs. But for $10 or $20, try it out. And if you don't like it you aren't out much, and you can always leave it in the car for emergencies. But if you do like it, you can pick up a quality hatchet and have a great, useful tool. Experimenting is half the fun! Why else would I bring 6 axes to cut wood recently...I wanted to see what I preferred!

 

[Lieblad]

.......

 

[SC T100]

Haha!

 

[Cobalt]

No need to get snarky. You seem to enjoy your big knives and want to carry them. Have at it. But context and environment are everything. A 12" butcher knife on a shelf in a grocery store is not the same thing as some dude wearing a 12" tactical knife in the same store, obviously. I use my machetes and axes quite often, but I'm not about to carry them into the grocery store, either. Why would I? Same for big knives for me. And I would be cautious around some dude toting a big 12" knife in the grocery store, just like I would be cautious if the guy was toting a hatchet around the grocery store. That same guy on a trail hiking? No biggie. Context and environment.

I agree with everything in your first paragraph. And no where did I say anything different. As for snarky. I assume that was my one dimensional comment. It was not meant as an offense,. It was meant as a comment about the nature of this forum. Some of the forums I hang out in are one dimensional as well. But I have to ask, why did you not answer your own forum members when they made the following ridiculous statements(in red). Oh and by the way, a camp knife is not a tactical knife. there is a difference. A tactical knife does not normally make a good camp knife.

Not a technical aspect but ... Carrying a long knife on a camping or backpacking trip in this culture often gives a "rambo/macho/freaky/Crocodile Dundee impersonation type" persona to a lot of people. In South America a long machete type knife is the norm; but not here. A long "bad" knife is seldom viewed as a tool even among many campers. Carry a belt axe/hatchet (not a hawk) paired with a shorter knife and you'll more likely be viewed as being normal and prepared.

I"m not saying perception should decide the question, but when around parents who are camping with children and this will be a concern--especially if you "have" to use your "big knife" for tasks more efficiently performed with an axe or small knife.

I agree. I see guys carrying those in town and it makes me uncomfortable being near them. But they're free to be Rambo in a grocery store purchasing a pack of cigs. Just don't worry about anyone speaking to them.
Another aspect is they are bulky with that huge sheath extending down their leg. If I were walking in the woods with that, it takes some effort to draw it. Whereas a hatchet could almost be hidden. DM

I have and use hatchets and axes. I have no problem with them at all. My comments have been strictly directed at the characterization of someone who carries knives as a Rambo type. This is not something I would expect from someone who frequents a knife forum. Not a good attitude to have in a knife forum in my opinion.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I removed two recent posts from this page. The pictures were inappropriate.

Lets get back to talking about axes and back away from talking about each other.

 

[SC T100]

Thanks again to everyone for all of the input. I have a couple of different small hatchets on order to try out.

I missed this! What did you decide to order, and have they come in yet? Looking forward to hearing your impressions.