Narrow edge, light weight hatchet

[TLM]

Recently I have wondered about the usefullness of a very small, light weight hatchet/hawk that has a very narrow edge let's say an inch wide. Handle length something like 16". Usage would be trekking or generally very mobile anyway. Has anyone any experience?

TLM

 

[oregon]

I read your post last week and thought it put out a good question. However, today I saw in the flesh the hawk you described. It was on display at the Lewis & Clark Discovery Center in The Dalles Oregon alongside the Columbia river where the Oregon Trail Tbones it. http://lewisandclarktrail.com/section4/orcities/thedalles/discoverycenter/ It was under glass as an item from the period of the Lewis & Clark expedition. It was classified as a typical trade item and was said to have been used for throwing. The blade was about 1.5 inches long and the wooden handle was about 15 inches long. It was suspended above my head in a glass case on the wall. Interestingly the business end was sheathed in tightly fitting leather with a thin shoulder strap (no belt loop was indicated but then that part of the sheath was against the back of the case). Unfortunately, nothing in the way of weapons (guns, knives, hawks) or other trade goods from the expedition itself exists. All of the artifacts at the museum were period objects purchased by or donated to the museum from others (not any part of the L & C Expedition). Apparently, the expedition acquired the majority of it's official weaponry from the Harper's Ferry Arsenal (a terrific place to visit, want to return, people were friendly and articulate), including the hawks. Each member of the party probably had their own gear as well. The list of Indian trade goods shows 24 Squaw Axes http://www.nps.gov/jeff/LewisClark2/CorpsOfDiscovery/Preparing/Gifts/Gifts.htm Here are some interesting small axes, including a Squaw Axe: http://members.tripod.com/tomahawks-r-tatca/id78.htm