suggestions for a small hatchet?

F

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Dec 20, 2004
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I'd love some recommendations for a small hatchet that would be used mostly for collecting and preparing campfire wood, and that could be carried around without being too cumbersome.
 
Gerber,fiskars and eastwing make good quality hatchets at reasonable prices their may be better choices but these work well for me.If you want a more traditonal hatchet I'd try a wetterlings.:)
 
GB mini. Once you own a GB nothing else compares.
 
You may also want to check out a Vaughan Sub-Zero Supersportsman's:

http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/tinyhatchets.html

http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/view_catalog_page.asp?id=1747#

The factory edge is terrible so you'll need to do some reprofiling unless you get a Bark River Knife and Tool Mini-Axe which is a Vaughan Sub-Zero reprofiled by Mike Stewart.

Be warned that the Vaughan is truly a tiny hatchet - most people don't enjoy taking the time or mental focus that's required to chop wood with one. But it sure is nice to slip a 10 oz hatchet into a pocket and barely notice it's there.

All that being said, the Gransfors Bruks mini is probably a superior hatchet - you get what you pay for.
 
I'll cast another vote for Gerber and Fiskars. I have a Gerber 14" camp axe (about $30-$35) that I have used at campsites for more than 10 years now. For it's size, it chops and splits like a champ. I acquired it's Fiskar's equivalent cousin in January for $16.99. The difference between the two: Gerber comes with a sheath with a belt loop, Fiskars does not come with a sheath. Same hatchet, vastly different price points.
 
I have used both GB SFA (my favorite) and a Wetterlings. For my first one I would go the the Wetterlings Small hunter. For the money it's a great value. Well make axe, but F&F is not up to GB standards.
 
tarmix101 said:
I have used both GB SFA (my favorite) and a Wetterlings. For my first one I would go the the Wetterlings Small hunter. For the money it's a great value. Well make axe, but F&F is not up to GB standards.
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Yeah, another one for wetterlings. I do like gerber/fiskars products as well, But if you prefer wood handles, than wetterlings with a little work will be up to the standards of GB.
 
For the money, the Estwings are hard to beat.

Estwing-Hatchet-1.jpg
 
I would opt for the Fiskars over the Gerber, but if you are into traditional style and quality, the GB or SA Wetterling mini's are both excellent, though the GB is probably sharper and better manicured than the S.A.W. axe, but the Wetterling can be brought up to snuff without much trouble and it'll serve you very well, at half the price of the GB.
 
If weight and/or bulk are a concern, a tomahawk is lighter. Get a small, lightweight head, and you increase the chopping power with a longer handle while adding very little extra weight or shorten the handle to make it more compact.

A friend of mine had a tomahawk on a recent backpacking trip to Colorado. He'd gotten it a civil-war-reenactment-rendezvous-type-thing, and it was hand-forged. The small, light head held up very well, and the handle was fairly thin and therefore rather light.

I got a Cold Steel tomahawk for a gift, but they are a little bulkier and the head is screwed on.
 
I rescued and rehandled an old Norlund hatchet that I'm quite fond of. It has a head shaped like a miniature Hudsons Bay axe. I like the look of the Snow&Neally hatchets as well, but have never actually used one.
 
The Last Confederate said:
Yep...BRK&T Sperati and Estwing
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I thought that was yours. Great setup. I have never used the leather stacked handled Eastwing, but used leather stacked knives before. Definitely worth a look. The Eastwing hatchet I used was a roofing hatchet, and was very impressed. :thumbup: :D
 
If there is a harbor freight store near you go check that out. A few weeks ago i was in there and found a small hatchet, probalbly a little over a foot long. Very sharp and has a nice wood handle. I did some chopping and it could still shave bark easily. It was only around 8 bucks. :thumbup:
 
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