types of axes

A

andrew7978

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Mar 19, 2007
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Does anyone know what the difference is between axes sold at home depot or in a tool department vs. axes sold in a camping section. I am just looking for a cheap lightweight hatchet.
 
I'm not sure what you mean by difference, but as far as traditional lightweight hatchets go, you can't go wrong with a Wetterlings Wildlife Axe. It will cost you between $25-30. If you don't mind the plastic handles, then I have heard really good things about the Fiskars Hatchets but have never used one. I am just not a huge fan of the plastic handles. For me it is more of an aesthetic thing, since the plastic handles are unbreakable, unlike the wooden handles on the Wetterlings.
 
WE had a small debate around here awhile ago about terminology. Hatchet vs Hand axe In my neck of the woods a Hatchet is a flat edged carpentry tool used for notching beams and logs usually found in tool section and a hand axe is a small one hand or Hudson bay type axe used mostly for trimming tree limbs and splitting small wood for fire when camping or hunting it has a rounded cutting edge (belly) these days hatchet can be used to describe both:)
 
If you want very light....Gerber (=Fiskars) Sport Axe.

Heavier and a bit longer....the Gerber Camp Axe.

They call these "axes"...I would call them hatchets. To me, an "axe" has a full length handle...anything shorter is a hatchet.
 
Axes in a camping section/department/store would be limited to types for splitting wood.

At a hardware store, you might get other types, such as a roofing hatchet.

In general, I see many of the same types of hatchets/axes in both stores - particularly $10 generic chinese models and the Estwing hatchet with stacked leather handles. A hardware or farm supply store with a wood cutting section would probably have the best selection.
 
Fiskars or wetterlings are the most economic while still being of top notch quality. I personally preffer Gransfors Bruks but their a little more expensive than the other two mentioned.
 
Wetterling Large Hunter axe, For camping I think it will do everything for you. I still like the look of a forged axe over the Fiskars.
 
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