Preference -- Hawk or Hatchet

Cpl Punishment

Cpl Punishment

Joined
Jan 28, 2006
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Just something rattling around in the empty space between my ears.

For the guys that use hatchets and/or hawks, which do you prefer utility-wise?

I'm thinking for most of our hiking or camping, we do tend to use smaller pieces of wood for fires and such. Is the thin head of the 'hawk superior for that kind of gathering than a hatchet head? It seems the thicker profile of a hatchet head would be the superior splitter, but I noticed my hatchets aren't that great at limbing small branches from other small branchs, particularly with hardwoods. My kukris and even machetes do better on that kind of stuff.

So what say you -- for the small stuff, hatchet or hawk? (Please limit the responses to one of the two).
 
I dont have much experience with hawks, but I'm not fond of the straight handles, I much prefer the ergonomics of a hatchet.
 
hatchet for sure. i just see them as more well-rounder tools than a hawk, because a hawks main function is throwing and a hatchets main function is woodwork.
 
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The only thing i use a hawk for is throwing for fun. For all other outdoors tasks i like a hatchet.
 
I prefer a hawk. I have used them for wood work, camp set up. Not as good at splitting wood, but I seldom do that anyway. the hawks I have used are lighter than the hatchets I have around, but have longer reach. I found that to be handy when I was fighting a brush fire. I could hook burning brush and drag it out of the way.
 
I use a Wetterlings hunters axe, it has served me well.

I just moved from the piney area of New Jersey to the Houston area so I still need to get used to the kinds of trees in the area and could change my mind.
 
Brian Jones said:
"tomahawk" is algonquin for "hatchet." :D

That oughta confuse ya! :eek:

:D
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I like the lightness of a hawk. But that is also a disadvantage when it comes to chopping. I guess I'm spoiled with the Lee Reeves Nessmuk axe because it's light and a better chopper than my hawk.
 
Depends on how far I'm hiking. If I'm hiking very far, I want the lighter one, even if I lose some chopping efficiency. So, I use a heavier hatchet around a base camp, but I'll take a hawk on the trail.

A hawk is still better at chopping than whatever knife I'm carrying. I'd prefer to have the hatchet, but those ounces start to add up if you're gonna hike very far.
 
A properly profiled hatchet will cut very well and split better than a 'hawk. The hatchet would be my choice.
 
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