JK Hatchet in Action

[C Bryant]

Took my new hatchet to the Ca Bush Bash this weekend to see just what this little guy is capable of.

It just so happened there was a nice test subject right next to camp.

A few wacks

A few more

what do you know, we have some fatwood!

I was so excited to be using the hatchet that I did not even realized until I was half way through the branch that is was all fatwood. The hatchet had no problem at all and cut strong and clean.

Nick (Stingray) gave it a go

As did Dave (DWK2)

 

[C Bryant]

A new test subject. A piece of a pine tree that had fallen in the little rain storm we had.

I was cutting most of the branches off that were about this size with one good wack. I took my time to get a good shot of how clean the hatchet cuts.

I moved on to the trunk of the fallen tree

At this point I was at about six minutes of chopping.

My hand for scale

 

[C Bryant]

A couple more minutes of chopping and TIMBER!!! Ok ok...it was already on the ground. I think it took eight or nine minutes oveall to chop through the trunk.

A job well done.

My and again for scale.

 

[C Bryant]

Now I know a hatchet this size is my no means intended or too well suited for that kind of chopping job, but I wanted to see what it could do. It sure did a lot more than I thought it would. I was extremely pleased with it's performance. The convex edge took some getting used to as it does not really stick into what you are chopping (which is the what I'm used to feeling when chopping). It comes right back out of the wood not ever getting wedged in. The handle was very comfortable, I did get a nice blister, but I was wacking the crap out of that trunk for almost ten minutes with no glove on. I think I may add some cross hatching to the handle just to aid a bit with grip. I found it was starting to slide up a bit after a while, which could also have just been my grip after all that chopping. If I could go back and change anything on the design ( I already had John make mine with a smaller head than his others) I might add a bit of a curve to the handle to aid in grip and slippage, or maybe a bird's head shaped handle for the same purpose. Though, I have a feeling just adding the cross hatches will take care of any issues with that. Also, when I first arrived at the camping spot I used the hatchet to pound in my tent spikes, which of course it did with no problems at all. Thank you again John for making such an outstanding tool. I forgot to mention that it was still sharp enough to shave a little hair off my arm after all that!

 

[JK Knives]

All in all, it looks like it worked out pretty well for you. That`s a pretty good sized log! I`m glad to see you giving it a workout. :thumbup: Plus, it`s a rare model, only 3 made!

 

[PB Wilson]

John is quite the craftsman!

Nice pics and great job on those trees!

It's reassuring to know that smaller tools can perform very well when called to task. Like pitdog's SAK test, this hatchet looks like it can stand up to the bigger jobs very nicely.

 

[caine]

very nice

 

[mtnfolk mike]

great stuff Christian...:thumbup: that little hatchet rocks.... the tree was no problem for it....

here's a few i took...

 

[pitdog]

Great stuff buddy that sure looks a handy tool to have around camp. The last time I camped I chopped through a tree about that size with my Fiskars axe and I'm sure it took me a lot longer than it took you !!!

 

[Mr. Sogetsu]

I've been in the hawk forum lately. I'm trying to figure out something that is light enough to carry but strong enough to chop. I'm keeping this in mind when I am ready for a hatchet.

 

[JK Knives]

I've been in the hawk forum lately. I'm trying to figure out something that is light enough to carry but strong enough to chop. I'm keeping this in mind when I am ready for a hatchet.

According to C Bryant, this one weighs about 1 lb. and it`s plenty strong!

 

[Rockywolf]

I like it! Great review. Looks like it can do what you need and a bit more.

 

[Mack]

According to C Bryant, this one weighs about 1 lb. and it`s plenty strong!

Only 1 pound?
My Ontario sp-8 weighs twice that and isn't nearly the chopper that is.

 

[C Bryant]

Only 1 pound?
My Ontario sp-8 weighs twice that and isn't nearly the chopper that is.

I weighed the hatched again, this time on a postal scale. It weighs just a hair under 1 1/2 pounds. Still a beast for it's size.

 

[pimpnugget]

great pics how did the edge hold up

 

[C Bryant]

great pics how did the edge hold up

It held up great! It was still shving sharp after, not super clean but it still took hair off. John's heat treating is outstanding. I used the poll (narrow but useful) to hammer my tent stakes in and they hardly left a mark at all. I absolutely LOVE THIS HATCHET. I can't wait to take it out again.

 

[pitdog]

I was trying to sketch out an idea for a hatchet today that it's my head, when I get it right I'll post a pic........I can just see John shaking his head now at hearing this !!!!

 

[hoopster]

I thought you guys might want to see the sheath I made for this neat little hatchet. I hope Christian doesn't mind me sharing and I also hope he gets a lot more good use out of it. The holes are spaced for a Spyderco g-clip in case he decides to clip it to his belt or pack.

 

[C Bryant]

You totally beat me to it! I was going to take pics in the morning of it!

 

[C Bryant]

Thanks again Hoopster, great work on my favorite piece of cutlery!

I also had this sweet sheath for my Izula made.

(sorry for the crappy pics, I couldn't wait until daylight)