I have been looking hard at mini-Hatchets lately (in particular the GB mini-hatchet) and I am currently reading Kephart again. Many people like mini-hatchets and Kephart's take on them is quite clear, however, I don't seem to see their advantage and want to be convinced.
What is the advantage of a mini-hatchet over a decent fixed blade. When I did the calculations for the chopping physics, I convinced myself that a hatchet will always outchop (on hard targets) a knife of same length and size. However, I also convinced myself that a longer knife can outchop a hatchet. Now the mini-hatchet is only 10", that is shorter than a 7" knife, while it is about as heavy. So chopping ability can not be better than a 7" to 8" fixed blade. So the hatchet doesn't really have a weight advantage. Durability is not an issue these days anymore. I trust a decent fixed blade just as I would the GB. On the down side, it has a much shorter bladelength and even though they might be equally sharp and accute at and near the edge, for though cuts the hatched flares out at the eye to a width that would make through cuts difficult. And batoning is much more difficult if not impossible. The hatchet is easier to choke up, but I am doubtful it will actually handle better.
So why do so many experienced woodcrafters prefer a mini-hatchet over a 7-8" (always bladelength) fixed blade?
What is the advantage of a mini-hatchet over a decent fixed blade. When I did the calculations for the chopping physics, I convinced myself that a hatchet will always outchop (on hard targets) a knife of same length and size. However, I also convinced myself that a longer knife can outchop a hatchet. Now the mini-hatchet is only 10", that is shorter than a 7" knife, while it is about as heavy. So chopping ability can not be better than a 7" to 8" fixed blade. So the hatchet doesn't really have a weight advantage. Durability is not an issue these days anymore. I trust a decent fixed blade just as I would the GB. On the down side, it has a much shorter bladelength and even though they might be equally sharp and accute at and near the edge, for though cuts the hatched flares out at the eye to a width that would make through cuts difficult. And batoning is much more difficult if not impossible. The hatchet is easier to choke up, but I am doubtful it will actually handle better.
So why do so many experienced woodcrafters prefer a mini-hatchet over a 7-8" (always bladelength) fixed blade?