New Raker Knives Survival Hatchet, Thoughts??

jeremy1517

jeremy1517

Joined
Sep 11, 2012
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Check out this new tool made by ABS Mastersmith Ray Kirk. He doesn't have a name for it but he tells me its a do all survival hatchet. He has used it from processing wood and skinning deer. Per his website:

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Forged to shape from 52100 steel.

This skinning hatchet is about 11 1/2" AOL and has 4" of cutting edge. The handle on this one is scorched Bois D Arc and is attached with K & K epoxy and copper pins. The bare part of the handle is wrapped with 8 feet of paracord and it has about 20 inches braided for the thong lace. The blade and tang has a forged distal taper to make it lighter and easier to use. It can be gripped just behind the cutting edge for skinning or the end of the handle for chopping. There is a striker notch for the fire steel supplied with the sheath.

The skinner has been differentially heat treated and tempered to about a 56 RC, same as the Bug Out Blades. There is a striker notch on the tang for the fire steel and a hole in the head of the hatchet to utilize it as a holder for a bow drill fire starter.

The sheath was designed by Mike Stott and myself for handle up carry. It is made from heavy leather to provide security and safety for the hatchet. There is a pouch on the belt loop for a fire steel (included), or for something else you may want to carry in it. It has been riveted at the stress points to insure a lifetime of service.

skinning hatchet 6.jpgskinning hatchet 7.jpg
 
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See the Shakaulu by CRKT. Looks like a long handle ripoff of the Shakaulu, that came out 2 years ago. Basically a thick blade ulu with a hatchet handle. Woo hoo. old news. Difference is CRKT knew better than to market it as both a food cutting, skinning, deboning tool AND a hatchet, since you won't be skinning much after chopping a few logs, which will be a real chore anyway due to the blade shape.
Oh yeah, and made to look old school frontier style for gimmick, just for all you 'bushcrafters' to look live off the land used even when new.

= cha ching suckers.
 
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There have been knives of that sort around for some time now, long before the Shakaulu, so I think the term "ripoff" is wayyyyyyyy strong. Also there's zero reason why you couldn't both chop and skin with it so long as you have a sharpener with you, so no big deal there. Also I wouldn't call the "old school frontier" look a "gimmick". I don't care for the knife myself, but that's a pretty opinionated assessment of it you've got there. :o
 
Looks good. We make a lot of things that look the same in America. It's our country's style.
 
I got to meet Ray a few weeks back - seemed like a pretty nice guy and had some sweet looking blades in his for sale case.
 
Ray has made me many knives. Excellent blades, hold tremendous edges and just work! I've been debating on having Ray make me a big Chopper then I saw this hatchet.

To me, its a tool that either you like or you don't. All about personal preference. The problem I see with it is it's a tool that won't excel at one thing but can be used to accomplish a variety of tasks. Either you like that idea or you don't.

I have several traditional knives that have been made the same as the hatchet. I carry a small Diamond card sharpener and it easily touches up my other blades. I assume it would be the same.

JimH, very strong feelings about the hatchet. Don't think I would ever make a comparison between a CRKT, or other mass production product, to any work done by any ABS Master Bladesmith. But with that being said, I understand.
 
CRKT's Design was by Ken Onion. I think that gives his design creedence. BTW, the ulu has been around a looong time. Adding a hatchet handle to it is what seems copied. And sure, I can chop cinder blocks in the wood with a knife and resharpen it, but that doesn't make it for the task.

As far as the look: gimmick. I stand by that.
 
Sometimes a "Gimmick" works. My thoughts on it. It's a do all tool to throw in the back of my car. Sure, it won't skin a deer like a real blade and it won't cut or limb a tree like a axe. In an emergency, it's built to do it though..... In a perfect situation, I'd have the right tool for the job.

I used to think the Gransfors mini was a gimmick as well. Until I saw a buddy actually skin a rabbit as well as use it to chop 6" trees for a shelter. Was it perfect, no, but it got the job done.

I understand your opinions on it and thank you for sharing.
 
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