Spyderco Hatchethawk

Someone1 said:
Based on the one i got i cannot recommend. The quality is shoddy. Not from the manufacturing standpoint, but from the actual finishing of the hatchet. It kind of surprises me coming from spyderco. I have some pictures but right now I'm a little let down so i don't feel like talking much more about this. Even the sheath has flaws which i wouldn't care about coming with an ace $100 cheaper, but for about $175, this isn't acceptable. Hope others have better luck with theirs. It's going back and I'm going to peruse for a small council tool velvicut.
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Interesting comments. I have the Council Velvicut Saddle Axe and its actually a pretty nice tool. Is it practical for my actual needs in the field - - well, not really. Other tools I have do the job for a lot cheaper, are superior values. I admit to being bit by the ‘Nessmuck trio’ bug when I got it. It has a double edge 5160 blade & a nice hickory handle & is still cheaper than the Spyderco.
 
Spyderco obviously has a huge fanbase, myself included. My favorite folder is a s110v para 2, pretty much the pinnacle of folder design, IMO. My only gripe is the compression lock digs into palm if really bearing down on the handle. But the ease of use and how it fits my folder needs bumped much more expensive knifes pretty much completely out of my pocket.

That said, the fanbase includes a lot of collectors. If they release a knife in 5 different steels, they have it in 5 different steels. I don't expect many of these hawks to be put through the wringer. I expect many of them will be lightly used until it starts to affect collectability, or just tucked away from the get go. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a novelty, but the target audience probably isn't hardcore users. And that's fine, nothing against collectors, no judgement.
 
Fmont said:
Spyderco obviously has a huge fanbase, myself included. My favorite folder is a s110v para 2, pretty much the pinnacle of folder design, IMO. My only gripe is the compression lock digs into palm if really bearing down on the handle. But the ease of use and how it fits my folder needs bumped much more expensive knifes pretty much completely out of my pocket.

That said, the fanbase includes a lot of collectors. If they release a knife in 5 different steels, they have it in 5 different steels. I don't expect many of these hawks to be put through the wringer. I expect many of them will be lightly used until it starts to affect collectability, or just tucked away from the get go. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a novelty, but the target audience probably isn't hardcore users. And that's fine, nothing against collectors, no judgement.
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I'd love to see a half tactical, half tool tomahatchet that fits the same bill as this one. I've been looking for the past two days and most with hammer polls are entirely tools and anything with even a touch of the "tactical" idea makes them almost completely unusable as tools. There's almost no middle ground. This one does fit into that middle groune territory but it is really, imo, out of the realm of reality for people who will put this to work
 
I might pick up the Vaughn for a project axe. (If I can ever find the time to work on it.) For around $30 new, that’s some real Value there.

As for ‘tacticool’ - I could outfit myself and 5 other ‘warriors’ for the price of the Spyderco. I’ll go up with the six of us so equipped against the Spyderco carrying guy anytime ! ;)
(For those who are too literal & lack a sense of humor , the last is offered tongue in cheek)
 
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Fmont said:
I suppose you could modify the Vaughn pretty easily to be more hawk-ish.
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That's a good idea.

My preference is vintage claw hammer. You still get a quality steel bit, you get a poll/hammer face and you get a real nail puller not just a notch. I put the longer riggers axe handle on mine. This is my camping hatchet. I like to keep a few nails in my camp kit. This will drive nails, pull them back out too, and serve for kindling duty and light carving or chopping tasks. It's the most functionality I've found in a hatchet.

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After a few years service it still looks OK. Sheath made for my broad hatchet is pulling double duty here.

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There’s a lot of Spyderco products that I like. I’m carrying an H1 fully serrated Dragonfly pocket folder now. But there’s definitely a difference in outlook on this forum versus the Spyderco (or any other manufacturer) forum. Guys here tend to lean toward being on the User end of the scale versus the Collector end. Of course, guys collect stuff here too. But there’s more emphasis on using the items rather than in just enjoying looking at them. Guys here are more willing to work on their items - to take file, stone, or saw to them if needed. Many enjoy restoring vintage tools.
There’s a thread on the Spyderco forum asking who would buy a ParaMilitary folder in H1 steel with yellow scales. Quite a few guys said they would take 2 or 3. That’s the Collector mentality, which is perfectly fine . . but different from this forum. As you can imagine just about everyone over there is enthusiastic over the new Spyderco hawk. - - Collectors.
 
Pointshoot777 said:
The OP likely got the responses he did because this tends to be a hardcore axe forum.
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It didn't use to be that way. 7 years ago this forum was about guys who would weave a doily to tie onto their trailhawk. There's still a sticky thread at the top of this forum which displays many fine doilies. Have a look!
 
That’s not to say there isn’t a collector element here, cause there is. Probably not as strong as in many of the other sub-forums. People who pound nails for a living, don’t go on forums & discuss their hammers for hours. To them, their hammer is just a tool. On the other hand, all of us are a little obsessive to some degree here on the forums.
 
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