both the handles (plastic composite) are a little sharp around the fingergrooves, i believe its 440 something or other steel. i have used both a bit, the bushpilot is useful and compact and it stays in my tackle box, the canoe hatchet is heavy to say the least, i rehandled mine in g-10, softened the fingergrooves quite a bit and convexed the edge really improved the overall piece. But it depends on what your needs are too, they both can pretty much do the same things with the edge going to the canoe hatchet as far as chopping and splitting do to the extra weight and length. lastley i'll add that they do hold a decent edge. :thumbup: