Thoughts on a tiny hatchet over a large knife?

[Steely_Gunz]

Once again, Amazon ruins the Christmas surprise for me
When someone selects something off your wish list I now seems to knock it to the top making it painfully obvious what was purchased for you. My wife seems to have snagged me a Gransfors Bruk Hand Hatchet to go along with the Forest Axe she got me a couple of Father's Days ago.

Truth be told, I tossed this one on my list on a whim as I think I would rather have an axe a step up in size than my Forest Axe, but upon thinking about it, this may not be a bad item for my needs. For those unfamiliar with this tool, it's basically a slightly oversized head mated to a sub 10" handle. Clearly it's not meant for processing a lot of wood. That said, it comes in right at about a pound which will make it lighter than a Tops fixed blade of a similar length.

My wife, daughter, and I are taking a hiking trip out to Yellowstone next summer. I don't anticipate needing much in the way of a huge knife as we are planning to stick to the well trodden areas. However, one thing I will need to do is process some firewood at the little houses and cabins we are staying at. We'll be up in Glacier as well and it's not out of the realm of possibility that a little fire outside on the evenings is not just for ambiance Here's my issue...I don't have unlimited space or weight. Everything I take has to fit in a suitcase and I also need room for clothing and gear as we are flying out there.

As of right now, I am thinking of bringing my Leatherman, a robust folder like a Cold Steel something or other, and I was going to pack a slightly larger fixed blade knife. However, now that I am expecting to receive this hatchet, I very well may take it along in place of the fixed blade. My philosophy is going to be this (unless it is flawed, and please educate me if so): I plan on keeping the MT and Folder on me at all times. If I'm just doing the wall to wall people walks, I'll leave the axe back at camp or in the car. If we are setting out on one a bit less traveled, the little hatchet will be lashed to the side of my pack or stuffed in a pocket. At a bit over a pound it doesn't weigh much but a pound is a pound and I am already going to be the pack mule of the family sporting the water, some well sealed food, first aid, bear spray, etc

My question for y'all is beyond splitting some wood at the cabin, what skills should I look into honing with an axe this small, or should I just pack a larger knife instead of? I've got some hatchet adjacent experience as I have been using khukuris in similar ways for the last 20+ years. However, I'm trying to keep my weight and "scary" footprint down. I'm mostly curious as to what sort of useful tricks I should add to my skill set lest I find myself needing to rely a hatchet this size in an emergency...or even just for fun around the fire

Keep in mind that I am open to suggestions and have like 6 months to decide. Also, I will be making my every two-three pilgrimage to SMKW in the spring, so there is no telling what I may end up with .

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mistwalker]

I think it mostly depends on the area you live in or frequent when out in the field. I grew up in the deep south, southern Georgia, an southern Florida, and I have never been an axe guy, though I sometimes carried a hatchet in the winter. That's why my first editor approached me about doing a two part article series of a knife vs an axe in a survival situation...which is of course location specific. He was in the Northwest and the axe guy, and I'm in the Southeast and the knife guy.

In south florida I often cut palmetto fronds and saplings, for making paths or building shelters. And in Georgia I would do largely the same thing. I only used an axe for splitting firewood at home. In the woods I used a machete till I bought my first large heavy Bowie, then I stuck with that method to this day. I still carry a Cold Steel Recon Scout if going to be out in deeper woods for multiple days. The heavy blade, wide spine, and strong but sharp tip serve all my heavier needs in shelter building and cracking black walnuts and hickory nuts etc., and it's paired with 2 smaller knives, one fixed one folder.

That said, I have been eyeing the GB pack hatchet for years, and if I ever stumble on a good deal on one it may replace my bowie on winter wanders here in the hills, or it may just augment it

 

[Steely_Gunz]

I was team Big Knife for decades being a khukuri guy. However, once I got my hands on the GB axe and actually started to use a well made axe for cutting, I'm seeing the value of a lightweight axe for those who are used to them.

I think I could get along fine with the big knife, but I guess there is nothing wrong with with expanding my skills

 

[gadgetgeek]

I've made the comparison before about moving from the land of birch pine and willow to the land of palm, lantana and ironbark. Tool and technique for the job, and it's always good to have additional skills. If I was teaching someone. I'd rather start teaching battoning with a good hatchet than a large blade, it just seems like it would be simpler and less to manage. And from a "what are other people seeing" I had one public campground trip where a dude seemed to keep showing up near us until I threw on my (very bad paracord baldric) khuck, and we didn't see him again, but there were clearly two axes already at our campsite. Dunno what was on his mind. But also, in that campsite, I doubt anyone would have cared about a big scary knife, because I'll bet about a third of the groups there had one person CC, and easily that many had a locked up firearm in their vehicles. But I'm only guessing at the carry habits in Montana.

As for extra skills, shouldn't be much different, just a smaller accuracy zone, but also have a quick look at a couple of ax hafting vids. I'm sure you could work it out on your own, and likely already have the basics, but adding a handle back on or knowing when to add a wedge are good to be sure of. The other factor is that unlike with a large blade, now you also have a hammer, so consider what you can do with that.

I think you'll like it.

 

[Drop bear]

I have tried both. With a fiskars and a skrama.

I prefer the skrama and think a dedicated chopping style knife is a bit more versatile.

I think at a certain weight an axe does not work all that well and becomes a bit of a cut yourself machine.

The big wedgie knife will avoid this by being able to baton with it.

Plus chop veggies, open packets, cut string.

But if you are getting the axe for a gift. You will take that and like it. I suppose.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

I've made the comparison before about moving from the land of birch pine and willow to the land of palm, lantana and ironbark. Tool and technique for the job, and it's always good to have additional skills. If I was teaching someone. I'd rather start teaching battoning with a good hatchet than a large blade, it just seems like it would be simpler and less to manage. And from a "what are other people seeing" I had one public campground trip where a dude seemed to keep showing up near us until I threw on my (very bad paracord baldric) khuck, and we didn't see him again, but there were clearly two axes already at our campsite. Dunno what was on his mind. But also, in that campsite, I doubt anyone would have cared about a big scary knife, because I'll bet about a third of the groups there had one person CC, and easily that many had a locked up firearm in their vehicles. But I'm only guessing at the carry habits in Montana.

As for extra skills, shouldn't be much different, just a smaller accuracy zone, but also have a quick look at a couple of ax hafting vids. I'm sure you could work it out on your own, and likely already have the basics, but adding a handle back on or knowing when to add a wedge are good to be sure of. The other factor is that unlike with a large blade, now you also have a hammer, so consider what you can do with that.

I think you'll like it.

One of the things I have wrestled with on the trip we have planned is not having a firearm. I'm not worried about bears. If a bear decides to attack me, I'm pretty screwed anyway. However, as you have mentioned, a find being potentially out away from people and running into a bad actor something that is not a less than zero chance.

Still, the hassle of flying with a pistol and then not really knowing the logistics of when and where we might be going into Canada for a day trip makes a gun a no-go. I'm not sure if we are going to drive from our base camp at the cabin up to Canada or just try to drive in for a few hours while we are close to the border. Obviously, what I have on my person will be dependent on that, and I would rather have a relatively cheep folder confiscated than commit a felony in a different country.

The nice thing about getting this hatchet soon is that I'll have several months to mess around with it. If it behaves well for me, then the idea of a small axe for my menial cutting needs should be fine. If I elect to bring it along, I think I'll go with an oversized folder to handle big blade tasks. The multi tool is coming along no question. So that would give me something to split some wood with, something to cut with, and something to fix stuff with.

Then again, this is happening in June which may as well be a lifetime away for a knife knut. Who knows what I'll buy between now and then

 

[LeGlocKandRoll]

You can only hold a hatchet in the upward position. That's not the best idea.

 

[Fonedork]

Just practice with the hatchet until your trip and bring it with you. Check out the book “Hatchet” by Gary Paulsen if you want to get hyped about your new hatchet.

 

[gadgetgeek]

Just practice with the hatchet until your trip and bring it with you. Check out the book “Hatchet” by Gary Paulsen if you want to get hyped about your new hatchet.

That was on our middle school reading list. While it wasn't the only reason I tried to pick up other skills, it wasn't a "non-factor" either.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

That was on our middle school reading list. While it wasn't the only reason I tried to pick up other skills, it wasn't a "non-factor" either.

Same. It's been 30+ years since I read it, but it was one of the better ones assigned to us.

 

[Lorien]

I'll take the big knife behind door number two please