Little Spike Axe/Hawk for gardening? Coldsteel, Estwind, CRKT?

I've got a song fast hawk I got dirt cheap at Wally World, it's my go to abuse taker for a couple of the things your listed.
I've chopped roots cut wire loosened up hard ground and trimmed back small branches.
It's not the highest quality hawk or the best steel but it's cheap easily replaceable and compact.
 
Sparky415 said:
To be honest I think you are looking at the wrong tool
I know you were after something smaller but I think you would find a mattock to be the best tool for what you are doing

I use a full size one

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mattock

You can get a small one but I would go for the full size one

http://www.screwfix.com/p/roughneck...r&gclid=CPrimJeiwccCFUaeGwodLDcHrQ&kpid=18368

That will cover your problem with roots and you can buy a nice hatchet for the above ground jobs :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I think Sparky is on the right track. What you want is a small one hand pick mattock. The old US army ones are pretty good and readily available on ebay.
 
I alternate between a Budk kukri and an Estwing camp axe. I actually prefer the kukri... It was a tad cheaper than the Estwing and it has a much longer cutting edge. Both have some weight to them, so they make short work of branches, limbs, shrubs, or whatever.

The Estwing I have is the one with the stacked leather handle.

The sheath for the kukri sucks though. I still use it, but it needed some modification to carry on my hip and now it's starting to fall apart after 3 years. The Budk sheath that is.
 
Yeah, the big Mattock is definitely what in German is called Breithacke.
I had seen it before, the big version, and it is the first thing my colleague suggested me when I told him I wanted to buy a spikehawk.
But I had never considered a big Mattock because I do not like those kind of big tools. You need lot of space for the swing.
I mean, I can understand when they are needed and I would be happy to have one in case I need it, but, I am looking for something more like the little Roughneck, which I can use for smaller jobs like the ones I am more likely to do now that I work mostly with perennials and small gardens.

Personally I do not understand why a Mattock should be better than a Spikehawk. The Spikehawk has got a better chopping side and should be able to do more things with it, better chopping of wood, better cutting branches away, better cutting roots. And its spike should be better to penetrate the ground, break through roots etc.
What am I not considering?

On the other side I must admit that to really go through stony ground you need a big real spike, and space for a good swing.
So, once you have the roots already naked, the little Mattock will probably be better then a spike.

Anyway I have no more money now and maybe will not have any for the next month. A couple of unexpected surprises :(
So I have still time to figure out what to buy.

I liked the suggestion of Roughneck plus a good chopping axe.
Considering that I still wish to have a spike I was thinking of Roughneck plus a good (not too big) spikeaxe.
Would the CRKT Woods Kangee be good as Axe, to chop wood, fall little threes etc?
I mean, what is that Kangee really for? I have no experience with axes, born in a city, never had to use one :)
And would the spike of the CRKT, given the dimensions and weight of the tool, be any good as spike?
If it is supposed to be a sort of tactical tool and be able to brack walls and doors and metal, it should be able to go through stony ground, right?
 
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