Maybe a stupid question

Joe Chen

Joe Chen

Joined
Dec 13, 1999
Messages
551
Well, because English is not my language and I'm new for hawk.
Can you please tell me these three words: tomahawk, axe and hatchet.
What is what and a brief introduction for each one?

Sorry if this is a dumb question. :p
Thanks a lot.
 
It is not a dumb question, and I have wondered the same myself. I believe that the one thing that all tomahawks have in common are that they are weighted so that they can be thrown. As to the differences between axe and hatchet, I must defer to someone else as I, too, am a novice at this game. Hopefully, some of the experts can jump in and help us out. Good luck.:)
 
not that i'm an expert or anything, but generally americans refer to an axe that you weild with 2 hands as an axe & a smaller 1 handed version is a hatchet.. hatchets are only good for throwing ;p u cant fell trees with them very easily. a nice saw almost beats them both, but i like to use an axe sometimes for choppin stuff.. hatchets are for ppl who cant afford an axe & for boyscouts ;p lol... uh-oh, i bet i get flamed for this..

blah
 
Hatchets are compact making them great as a camping utility, a tomahawk doesnt need to be balanced for throwing, and in general tomahawk is a utility tool but commonly associated as a weapon than a tool. both small axes are great for camping, cutting rope, hell anything outdoors bar felling a huge tree which would take a LONG time lol. And as for the comment of it being a poor mans tool, my RMJ hawk cost more then most full sized axes you'll get so that isnt an issue. But in the early tomahawk reference, the tomahawk was made of flint, not steel and was a weapon prodominantely, then when steel came in they could be used even more sparsely if a hammer poll was put on one end for nailing a cabin together, cutting a log, shaving bark of that log, even skinning a deer if you wanted.

Axe is a loose generic term encompassing any edge weapon designed solely for chopping, so tomahawks come under the term of axe. But its generally associated with a axe made for felling tree's and splitting firewood (even though a block splitter is good for that). they'll have a broad blade and two handed haft, designed with a high impact capacity in mind so you dont spend forever cutting a tree down.

In general an axe is an axe, if it does the job then use it...;)
 
I like to think that a hachet is a small axe... a Tomahawk is a hachet with a long handle, sometimes with a spike and an axe is a large heavy chopping tool.

On a side note...
Hello Joe Chen, it's the first time I see you on the Forums. My Father's family originated in Jiji and my Mother's from FengYuan. My wife's family is from FengYuan as well (Married 6 months now). Much of my extended family is still back there. We go back there to visit once or twice a year and will often take the train to Taipei just to visit the big ShingGong Mutsikoshi department store with the cute elevator girls. That, and looking at the BetelNut girls... LOL

here is a pic of me in Gugang
f9fb48db.jpg
 
An ax...Made to chop down trees with (as a logging tool)...Also used as a fireman's tool to chop into buildings with. Some axes are double-bladed, so that as one edge dulls, there is another sharp one in reserve.

A hatchet...A smaller version of an ax...(Generally used as a camping tool, and can be worn on a belt in a sheath.).

A tomahawk...A throwing/close combat weapon...Some/most with a spike on the other end of the cutting head...This was seen in use by American Indians, frontiersmen, and pirates (among others).

Come companies blur the line between a hatchet and a tomahawk, (such as ATC who call their ATC/Brend fighting (tomahawk) a "Fighting Hatchet"...).
 
Sorry for drudging up an old post, but it seemed interesting & unanswered.

plus I figgured I'd hear all kinda cool stories & history & junk for free.

I guess I dont really understand a hatchets intended use. or mebbe cuz all the ones I've used were cheap & couldn't get the job done.
 
Get a decent hatchet. No it won't fell large trees very efficiently, and if you are working on hard woods, then yes you might want a larger axe, but for most camping and survival type tasks (fire woods, shelter building) you are not chopping down 12" sticks either. One of the better pack compromises is the small forest axe from GB. This has enough handle to use two handed, but is not so large that you can't use it has a hatched one handed, nor whittle with it effectively.

-Cliff
 
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