short axe / hawk

D

dogrunner

Joined
Dec 26, 2003
Messages
1,524
hello,
I have been thinking about purchasing a short/compact tomahawk. I want something easy to carry, not heavy, and have been wondering how short I can go and still get something effective (primarily as defensive weapon, but also camp/chore use when necessary (= only chopping tool available)). I have several small hatchets - Fiskars 14", Estwing - the small one, a couple of CS hawks, CRKT Chogan and a Storm Crow Warchief on order.
So all those are fairly compact, but all have overall length of 12" or more.
My question is about the utility of something under 10" total length. Specifically I am interested in the Winkler compacts that mostly are around 9" (several different models). I assume Mr. Winkler thinks this size is ok because he seems like a pragmatic person designing for pragmatic users (even if ease of carry is the primary need, it still has to get the job done).

If you actually have one, and have actually used it, how do you like it (as a useful tool, I already think they are nice to look at and I know the Winkler reputation for quality)?
I am not asking how they compare to something longer - I already expect they won't have the oomph of comparable 12+ inch OAL varieties. But how well do they work / how compromised is performance to get that extra ease of carry?

Thanks for any insight and just a general thanks to everyone here for all the interesting reading you have provided over the past several weeks :)
 
I own this one from Gerber. It measures in at 9 inches. I later bought the Fiskars 14 inch model because I kept barking my knuckles when chopping with it. If you stuck to branches narrower than the width of the blade you'd be ok but any wider and your index finger would suffer.
 
I have that Gerber and have used it for chopping, driving tent stakes and hammering. For its size It does the job.
 
The reviews at LLBean for the Timberline bush pilot hatchet, also about that size, are mostly positive too. But that was one of my concerns. Maybe I should buy the Gerber to try it on for size, before spending the big bucks :)
 
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dogrunner said:
hello,
I have been thinking about purchasing a short/compact tomahawk. I want something easy to carry, not heavy, and have been wondering how short I can go and still get something effective (primarily as defensive weapon, but also camp/chore use when necessary (= only chopping tool available)).
Click to expand...
Any modern forearm-braced surgical rubber slingshot using steel or lead balls will easily take care of all your defensive needs! Hatchet, or bladed something or other under 9 inches long is needlessly gonna let you wrestle only with opening sardine cans and making marshmallow sticks and, maybe impress a few young children. Small Swede saw is very light and around 12 inches long and will make more firewood in an hour than a 9 inch 'dwarf axe' will make in an entire day.
My apologies; I think I know what you're getting at, but a Chihuahua will never be a Rottweiler.
 
Thanks for your thoughts - it what I was asking for: opinions on effectiveness of short tools. Just two observations - (1) I would not want to be bit even by a chihuahua (even knowing that the rottie will do a LOT more damage), and (2) there are a fair number of shorties (10" or under) on the market, both on the utility side (the Gerber already mentioned, the Timberline, Winkler, etc) and the "combatives" side (Winkler). WRT point #2, is that all marketing at mall-ninjas, or what is the real application?
 
I have a 2Hawks war beast and long hunter. I choose both for diff reasons. If I had to choose one specific I would choose the war beast. a little heavier. I like having a wooden handle that can be removed and replaced if needed.
 
notajerryskid said:
I have a 2Hawks war beast and long hunter. I choose both for diff reasons. If I had to choose one specific I would choose the war beast. a little heavier. I like having a wooden handle that can be removed and replaced if needed.
Click to expand...

Wow! You actually do this?
 
I've already replaced a hawk handle in the wild, didn't destroy the old one but wanted to test it (CS Norse Hawk). Took me about 30 minutes, made from a beech sapling. Looked more or less crappy but worked fine. My favorite size for working and fighting with a hawk lays between 18 and 22 inch. I always take my CS Trail hawk into the woods, handle cut down to 16 inches but the 22 inch replacement handle is ready and just waits to be put on when it's needed for longer trips/bug-out/survival-situations. I really enjoy the 16 inch trail hawk for daily hikes, it's enough and fun to throw while it's small enough for me to carry. 22 inch works best for me, for fighting and working. I personally don't like anything under 12 inches. If it's shorter than 12 inches a knife works better for me in the case of fighting but any small hatchet with a heavy enough and wedge shaped head will do most wood working tasks better than a knife and works for small to medium wood working tasks. My 2 cents.
 
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