Tomahawk or Hatchet for camp use?

shecky said:
A lot of times, the difference between a 'hawk and a hatchet is nothing more than the spelling. To make fair comparisons, one has to account for things like overall length, size of the bit, weight, etc. There are plenty of 'hawks on the market that will function as well as a comparable hatchet.
Click to expand...

Very true. IMO the only real tangible difference between a hawk and a hatchet is how they're attached to the haft. There's only three major geometrical differences to the bits on my GB mini and my trail hawk. They are the length of the bit (the trail hawk is longer from the edge to the eye), the size of the eye, and that the GB has more of a pronounced beard. The thinness of the edge and bit from the edge to the eye, are almost identical.
 
Some work I like a hawk for the heavy work I like a hatchet..I usually have both, but if I had to pick just one for camp work it would be a hatchet,,
d
 
For me, it depends on whether I plan on moving a lot, or staying pretty much in one place. For movement, a hammer poll hawk, and a 6-10" knife, for sure. Maximize the usefulness of the hawk pattern, but keep it light. If I'm going to stay put for awhile, I'd rather have a heavier hatchet, and at least a couple of smaller knives, probably a Swiss Army style, and a 4-6" fixed blade, as a minimum. It's the difference between roughing it, adapting to suit the local conditions, and camping, adapting the local conditions to suit you. Just my opinion.
 
Both can be used quite well, depending on what exactly you need to do and what kind of edge you put on them. Many hawks come with a rather obtuse edge and that makes people think they don't cut/chop well.

There's many useful hawk head shapes, though I'm partial to the longer-edges ones like the Cold Steel Frontier hawk, or my favorite, the Norse:
100_0249.jpg


Fine, sharp edge.
100_0248.jpg
 
I have both (don't we all?!) and I prefer my hawk. The best fit for me is the CS Pipe Hawk, it has great heft, but isn't heavy, has a very handy hammer poll, and cuts like crazy! I also like that it does have some "weapon" to it (just in case, God forbid!), and that I can fabricate a new haft on the fly if need be. Not to mention, it's inexpensive, but not cheap! Pipe Hawk + 5-7" knife will do pretty much everything I need and a whole lot more!
-Matt-
 
Hatchet for me, although I use both. Part of this may be that I have used hatchets since the age of 8, and I bought my first hawk when I was close to 40. If it was a hawk I would go with a hammer poll. I like the hawk for the ability to remove the head and use it as an Ulu combined with the fact I could easily fabricate a handle if I needed to. I have yet to break a hatchet handle but it would be no easy chore to fabricate and replace it under field conditions.
 
jw2n said:
I like the hawk for the ability to remove the head and use it as an Ulu combined with the fact I could easily fabricate a handle if I needed to. I have yet to break a hatchet handle but it would be no easy chore to fabricate and replace it under field conditions.
Click to expand...

I think that is exactly why I don't like hawks. :) To me most of the things people see as advantages result directly from the head being loose. If you have a hawk with a properly attached handle, the head is about as hard to remove and replace as it is with a hatchet. To me a hawk with a handle that slides up and down is just as bad as an axe with a loose head (even if the head is tapered so it doesn't fly off). I would never tolerate that with an axe, and I can't tolerate it with a hawk. Having to do things like bind the handle so the head doesn't slide down and hit my hand while chopping, is just a non-starter for me.

All that aside, even assuming that a hawk is much easier to rehandle (presumably because one does not mind a loose head), I've been using axes for a lot of years now. I am yet to break a handle. I have sure done a lot of chopping, splitting and carving in that time though. For me, giving up a tool that is superior in all those tasks, for the off chance that some day I may need to make a replacement handle in the woods in 15 minutes rather than an hour (countng the added time to remove a properly attached handle on a hatchet), is just not worth it.

On a side note, the actual making of a hatchet handle is just as easy as making one for a hawk, assuming we are willing to lower our standards to the same level we do for hawks: http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2011/03/best-chopping-tool-hatchet-vs-tomahawk.html

That's just my opinion anyway.

http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/
 
RG598, I really like my hawk for many of the reason stated here but i took a look atthe article you posted and have to say that was awsome! For alot of the reasons that i liked IAwoodsmans video, you actually did something and showed what can be done with the resources at hand. I'm going to stick with my hawk but really appreciate the perspective. I think this issue really does fall into the "pick what you like catagory"
 
I find the handle on a hatchet to be more comfortable for long term use.
For short jobs, a poll hawk works fine. (kindling, pounding in tent stakes, etc...)
 
The hawks I have used have fallen into two different catagories as to the head to handle fit. I have used those in which the head will easily slip on the handle and those that take several good hits on the base of the handle to dislodge. It is a combination of the shape and taper of the eye combined with the shape of the handle that dictate how this works.

I have replaced many axe and hatchet handles due to the number I have bought or been given with broken handles. Even with the convenience of a vise, drills, chisels, punches, and hammers, removing the broken stump of a handle can be one hell of a task. Could I carve and shape the hatchet handle itself in the woods, you betcha. Swapping one out in the woods is not something I would look forward too. Yes, I have seen or read the tricks such as burying the head to the eye in soil and burning the handle out. With this being said, I carry a hatchet with a wooden handle with the critical inches below the blade tightly wrapped with wet 550 cord. Or, as is what is in my daily carry pack, is a RMJ Kestrel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top