Very ligth weght hatchet

T

TLM

Joined
Jan 11, 2000
Messages
2,279
I have been putting up a new light weight backpacking set and just now I am looking for a light weight hatchet.

What is the lightest hatchet anybody has found useful. Any style goes. I am kind of interested on tomahawks or similar as I understand they are light and I have never used one.

So far I have mostly use Fiskars' but they are a bit heavy for what I am now looking.

TLM
 
a few friends i know, have the gransfors and bruhks mini-hatchet....:thumbup: it's a great little chopper....
 
Maybe a gerber small pack axe would be lighter? I know the GB mini would be the ticket to your problems.
 
As far as I know Gerber and Fiskars are the same product, might be some differences but nothing major.

TLM
 
I have a GB mini and like it.

However I recall seeing a comparison here or somewhere where somebody paired one against some sort of folding saw and the folding saw made it thru the branch quicker than the mini.
 
Once they get lighter and shorter than a Fiskars, they also tend to get less useful, IMO. There is a really short Fiskars/Gerber on the market. I have my doubts about the utility of such a short hatchet, which seem to have been backed up by forum members who've tried them.

I have a couple sub 12", sub 1 pound hatchets, and their utility is quite compromised simply because they are so small and light. I find they're outperformed by even a cheap short machete of similar mass.

Hollowdweller also makes a good point, that saws are not to be dismissed as lightweight yet very efficient cutting tools.
 
I do have a Roselli hatchet that is very light weight but that is really optimized for splitting and not what I am looking for just now. That bearded thing is actually surprisingly useful for its purpose because of the fairly long handle.

My guess would be that a light head needs a long handle to be of use.

TLM
 
I have a very light hatchet that I have had for many years. I got it at K-Mart and it was their brand called SHARP. I don't know who made them but its avery light hatches that holds a very good edge until you hit a rock or something. Its easy to touch up with a small file when needed. I don't know if they still carry that hatchet or if its made anymore. It came with a good leather belt sheath.
 
hollowdweller said:
I have a GB mini and like it.

However I recall seeing a comparison here or somewhere where somebody paired one against some sort of folding saw and the folding saw made it thru the branch quicker than the mini.
Click to expand...
Saws are great but they aren't any good for driving tent pegs!
lol.
 
shecky said:
Once they get lighter and shorter than a Fiskars, they also tend to get less useful, IMO. There is a really short Fiskars/Gerber on the market. I have my doubts about the utility of such a short hatchet, which seem to have been backed up by forum members who've tried them.
Click to expand...
I have a Gerber Backpaxe and Various Fiskars. The Gerber Head is the same weight and dimensions as my 14 inch Fiskars. However the Backpaxe handle is waaaay too short. The extra 5 1/2 inches of handle on the Fiskars doesn't add much weight but makes them many many times more useful! After i got the Fiskars my Gerber got dumped in my toolbox.
 
For reference, the GB Mini is the smallest one in these pics.

Axes2.jpg


Axes3.jpg
 
The GB Mini-Hatchet is a lot more chopper than a lot of folks realize. It's an excellent tool and easy to pack.
 
Guyon said:
For reference, the GB Mini is the smallest one in these pics.

Axes2.jpg


Axes3.jpg
Click to expand...

I want one of those minis! Lee Valley carries them but for some reason the mini is about 40$ MORE expensive than the next BIGGEST Granfors!?
 
TLM, just out of curiosity, what else are you planning on taking in the way of edged tools?
Click to expand...

A good question, at the moment I don't know, a few months ago it would have been one of my puukkos but some time ago my daughter managed to break one of them too easily (brittle fracture on tang) so now I am seriously considering something like the British "bushcraft" design with puukkoish outline....

TLM
 
Hey Guyon,
How about a picture of your living room? The reason I'm interested is it's obvious you have no room for furniture. :)

Doc
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top