Smasher, spiker, or cutter?

S

Scottman

Joined
Jun 24, 2007
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With your big tool choice in your kit, do you like a

1. Spike option: spike hawk, estwing hawk....
2. A smasher: the poll a hawk/axe/hatchet
3. A big cutter: a parang etc.


I was just thinking about this as I start to look at the estwing hawk I got for Christmas.... It has some smashing power if you turn it sideways, or overstrike but not as much as a dedicated hammer poll....

What survival needs influenced your choice?
 
Spike hawks are primarily a combat design, unless your talking some of the modern havier hawks which are primarily for breaching cinderblock and mud walls.

Poll hawk is much better for woods and utility work than the spike hawk, and a strike from the poll is still highly effective.

A hatchet or light axe isn't as easy to rehaft in the field, but is more effective in utility work, and is very underrated as a weapon.

It depends on what your intended use is (not your fantasy use), what your weight limitations are in your kitchen, and your skill level in use.
 
I agree with Wildmike.

However, if we're talking hatchet/tomahawk size, i.e. one handed for the most part, I'd rather have a properly built big blade, like a parang. They'll do pretty much all of the cutting tasks a hatchet can do and then some (try cutting a mass of briars with an ax!), if the spine is thick enough you can use it for some hammering, and with a blade 12" or more, you have the option of using it as a drawknife, which is a very useful ability for working wood out in the wilderness.
 
The estwing's spike isn't like the CS spike hawk even modded it's a good pry tool if necessary, you can hammer by striking with the side of the head or over striking- the shaft is much thicker then the estwing sports axes.

What do your bush swords weigh James?
 
Scottman - In the 20 ounce range.

Here's what I mean about a properly made big blade being able to do the kind of cutting a hatchet or light ax will and then some:

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That's about a 13 1/2" blade.
 
For where I'm at (wet side of the Cascades), a parang seems like it would come in handy, but if I'm out in the boonies, my "big" tool is that Cold Steel shovel: dig pits and chop pretty well, too. If I've got some cutting to do, I pack a folding saw. Combo all that with a small/medium sized "bushcraft" knife, and I'm pretty well set.
 
Bushcraft chopper - mine are 1311, kabar grass machete, BRKT machete

At this stage my ideal trio is 1311, wetterling hunters axe and a small bushcraft knife 8.5-9 inches

But you did say 1 large tool so if its 1 it would be the 1311 for me..
 
Storm Crow you make a good point.

In my several year long ordeal my main survival blade was my HI M43 Kukri. Partly due to the fact that I could find no decent hatchets in this area (GB was unknown to me then), and it's versatility. It will output most axes in its size range.
 
I usually prefer a large blade, it can do a lot of things. But I have yet to try my CS trail hawk. I can't imagine a practical purpose for a spike hawk. I'd rather have a hammer pole.
 
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