Recomend a Hatchet?

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sketchbag

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I'm looking for something light and easy to handle, good quality material (whats the ideal metal for hatchets and axes?) and a wrist cord, or hole in the bottom, or a style of handle that could be modified to accommodate a cord.

What are you guys packing?
 
sketchbag alot of guys use the Friskars hatchet found at Lowe's hardware stores. Quality materials and good steel and good price at around 20 dollars.
 
Wetterlings are very good. Doesn't have the fit and finish of a Gransfors, but are usually 1/3 of the price.
 
I use a Gransfurs Bruks hunters axe when I'am going to be in the woods for more than a few hours and need to build a shelter or a fire. gransfurs axe's are nice but maybe too pricey for a first axe. I still have a Estwing sportsmans axe my DAD bought for me in 1966 when I earned my boy scout tote-N-chip card, tons of wood been cut with that axe and its still in good shape

http://www.estwing.com/axes5.htm
 
I'm really happy with my Fiskars. It usually ends up being the most used tool on my ventures.

P8030041.jpg
 
I've got a Fiskars I got at Lowes also. I really like it and it was only $20. It is a good buy in my opinion.
 
My Wetterlings was 1/4 the price of a GB and it does the job pretty well.
 
Diamond Dog said:
sketchbag alot of guys use the Friskars hatchet found at Lowe's hardware stores. Quality materials and good steel and good price at around 20 dollars.
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I haven't been able to find them at my Lowes lately. Sears has them for $25 dollars. With a 7/8 lb head seem to be a great light hatchet.

I think I would like something a little bigger in the 24" range. Sears has a 24" fiskars with a 2 lb head. I think it is dangerous though because it is too heavy for me to safely control with one hand.
 
+1 for the friskars hatchet! I ussaully take that and a LM wave for all my camping/hiking trips. No complaints at this point, just make sure you put a better edge on it before you use. The factory edge tends to dull quickly IMO.
 
How about the Buck hatchets sold by Sportsmans Guide? They appear to be the same as the Fiskars, but are they? Maybe sort of a slightly lower quality Fiskars?
 
MidwestDave said:
How about the Buck hatchets sold by Sportsmans Guide? They appear to be the same as the Fiskars, but are they? Maybe sort of a slightly lower quality Fiskars?
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I have never been able to find out too much about them. I think I remember reading on the Buck Forum one time that they were not made in America, but I don't remember where they were made. There was a thread started on the Axe, Hawk, Hatchet Forum about them a few months ago, but there were no replies. I would like to know about them as well, so maybe someone can chime in.
 
Thanks for the input guys. I'm gonna go check out one of those fiskars, cant go wrong with the price. Although I prefer wooden handles for axes, I doubt the it will matter considering the comparatively delicate work the light hatchet would be doing. Does it have a wrist strap by chance?
 
Does have a lanyard hole on the handle. My first recommendation is to wrap the handle with some kind of friction tape. When the handle gets wet it can be very slick.
 
GEC,

I use a Fiskars hatchet on courses and extended outings on a regular basis and find it to be managable when the handle gets wet. The flair of the handle towards the open end with the lanyard will help it stay in the palm of your hand even when wet. I've tried various tapes and find them to eventually strip off and be a gunked up sticky mess. One option I've been toying with is the idea of putting a stippled section on the handle with a hot rod. Try it at home in your backyard. You'll find it is still secure regardless of conditions.

That is only one of the reasons I love that little gem!

Kev
 
Look around flea markets or Ebay and get yourself an old axe, one of the old Kellys, or Plums. These axes were made with the best steel and the best hickory for the handles.

-Yooperman
 
Fiskers = Gerber by the way!

The Gerber Sport Axe is very light, and has a reasonably long handle (unlike the Pak Axe). The Gerber Camp Axe is just the right combination of size/weight, when weight isn't an issue (like on an ATV where you may find trees down across the trail!). And, I carry a Gerber XL Axe in my truck.

If I must go ultralight like when backpacking, then it's the Greber saw.
 
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