Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => All Other Gear => Topic started by: jdb on January 19, 2021, 07:27:01 PM

Title: Hatchets
Post by: jdb on January 19, 2021, 07:27:01 PM: Anyone actually carry one? Which one? Let’s talk about them.
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: treefarmer on January 19, 2021, 07:43:54 PM: Fiskars are really good, I use a short axe for chopping small stuff out of the road. Super sharp and well built. Not sure if it would be considered a hatchet though. They sell them at chainsaw shops and home home depot
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: fly-by on January 19, 2021, 08:02:36 PM: Plan to carry one this spring to maintain trails to some fishing spots. Found a machete too fragile and not very useful for other tasks. Ended up ordering a Condor Bushcraft Tomahawk which looks like a good size and weight and comes with a shoulder sling. Really like the Karesuando bushcraft hatchet but it may be too nice to abuse. Wranglerstar on youtube has some very good hatchet reviews.
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: MADMAX on January 19, 2021, 08:26:35 PM: Really like mine

https://www.woodmanspal.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvuyLyNWp7gIVeQytBh2AUA4gEAAYASAAEgISM_D_BwE
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: CastleRocker on January 19, 2021, 08:35:16 PM: I've always bought Hatchett, and axes with replaceable handles, but I picked up an Estwing hatchet,, and love it. Picked up a camp hatchet several years ago at our local saw shop. Was sold as a Husqvarna, but was actually made (and branded), by Grandfors Brux. Not actually a hatchet, but a "forest axe". It only has a hatchet size head, hung with a longer handle. I use the heck out of both around camp, and home.
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: jrebel on January 19, 2021, 09:21:40 PM: A really good hand saw or arbor saw is what I carry in my pack. I carry a hatchet and camp ax in my rig at all times.

That woodsman pal looks pretty cool. Do they hold up well! I have tried multiple machetes and they pretty much all suck.
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: jackelope on January 19, 2021, 09:33:49 PM: I have a Hults Bruk Akka Foresters Axe in my vehicle all the time. I haven’t used it a ton but it’s about the perfect size for general woods use. I don’t think I’d ever carry it backpacking but it wouldn’t be far fetched to. It’s not very heavy.
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: Rob on January 19, 2021, 09:39:04 PM: A friend gave me a gransfors bruk over the summer.

I must say, Iam impressed!
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: Cylvertip on January 19, 2021, 11:09:08 PM: A Husqvarna Carpenters Axe ( really a 20" hatchet) and a 26" Fiskar's axe ride in the truck.

Carried with me on the trail is a modified Fiskar's Brush Axe ( brush hook). I t is an amazingly handy tool on the trail.
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: jdb on January 20, 2021, 06:17:58 AM: Quote from: Cylvertip on January 19, 2021, 11:09:08 PM
A Husqvarna Carpenters Axe ( really a 20" hatchet) and a 26" Fiskar's axe ride in the truck.

Carried with me on the trail is a modified Fiskar's Brush Axe ( brush hook). I t is an amazingly handy tool on the trail.
hows it modified?
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: elkboy on January 20, 2021, 07:42:56 AM: For timber inventory work, I carry a 14" Fiskars (black handle) on my belt along with the rest of the gear (Spencer tape, etc.).

When I am hunting, backpacking, etc. I don't tend to carry one. If I had to rely on firewood on a backcountry trip, I would probably consider the weight worth it!
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: Buckhunter24 on January 20, 2021, 07:57:34 AM: I'm in the estwing camp, I've got one of the linger handled blue ones and the smaller leather handled hatchets. Single piece of steel, easy to sharpen, and they get sharp!
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: Skyvalhunter on January 20, 2021, 08:00:07 AM: are they good for throwing?
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: headshot5 on January 20, 2021, 08:33:42 AM: For a smaller sized axe I use a Cold Steel trail boss or Eastwing long handle camper (I prefer the trail boss). For brushing and machete style work I use a Bear Gryls parang made by gerber (this not a regular gerber machete those things are trash) It is a cutting machine with enough weight forward to really bite in, also really does the trick on hanging vine maple limbs slices right through.
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: OutHouse on January 20, 2021, 08:59:03 AM: Quote from: treefarmer on January 19, 2021, 07:43:54 PM
Fiskars are really good, I use a short axe for chopping small stuff out of the road. Super sharp and well built. Not sure if it would be considered a hatchet though. They sell them at chainsaw shops and home home depot

I have a few sizes that are Gerber/Fiskars brand. I've had the short 17" hatchet for probably 15 years and that thing is a beast. Came very sharp with heavy ax blade. You can fell a tree with it if you need to it's so productive.
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: Fl0und3rz on January 20, 2021, 09:38:49 AM: Quote from: treefarmer on January 19, 2021, 07:43:54 PM
Fiskars are really good, I use a short axe for chopping small stuff out of the road. Super sharp and well built. Not sure if it would be considered a hatchet though. They sell them at chainsaw shops and home home depot

I have two Gerber branded ones that are great. One is hand-sized (about 8") and is not too heavy to fit in a pack, if you are wanting to carry one. The other is in my truck and is a bit longer (about 17") and heavier. Both make quick work of limbing, chopping up kindling, or various rough carving tasks like making tent pegs or tarp poles.
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: Cylvertip on January 20, 2021, 10:01:26 AM: Quote from: jdb on January 20, 2021, 06:17:58 AM
Quote from: Cylvertip on January 19, 2021, 11:09:08 PM
A Husqvarna Carpenters Axe ( really a 20" hatchet) and a 26" Fiskar's axe ride in the truck.

Carried with me on the trail is a modified Fiskar's Brush Axe ( brush hook). I t is an amazingly handy tool on the trail.
hows it modified?
Quote from: Cylvertip on January 19, 2021, 11:09:08 PM
A Husqvarna Carpenters Axe ( really a 20" hatchet) and a 26" Fiskar's axe ride in the truck.

Carried with me on the trail is a modified Fiskar's Brush Axe ( brush hook). I t is an amazingly handy tool on the trail.

Some mod info on the brush hook:

https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,248975.msg3378137.html#msg3378137
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: bearhunter99 on January 20, 2021, 10:04:00 AM: Quote from: jrebel on January 19, 2021, 09:21:40 PM
A really good hand saw or arbor saw is what I carry in my pack. I carry a hatchet and camp ax in my rig at all times.

That woodsman pal looks pretty cool. Do they hold up well! I have tried multiple machetes and they pretty much all suck.

I have a couple that are similar to that one. They work pretty well because of the weight out front and the blade is thicker.
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: KFhunter on January 20, 2021, 01:28:54 PM: I got an estwing I took a work sharp too and made it crazy hair popping sharp thinkin I could use it for a roadkill elk or something plus a truck axe.

The edge will roll though if you hit harder wood, and in soft wood it sinks too deep and sticks.

It's less sharp now but still better than factory . Couple wacks in a tree across the road, hook a tow strap to break it off, and drag out the way its quick.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: Guardhair on January 20, 2021, 04:46:12 PM: The estwing axes are nice. I pack one on the atv for stuff in the road. I like the gerber/fiskars hatchets for hack and squirt work. Both the 14in and smaller work great. Haven’t had to sharpen them yet after a few seasons of hack and squirt work. I’ve packed the 14 in one on my pack board during hunting season. Mostly just to get a fire going if the need arises
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: predatorpro on January 20, 2021, 06:28:31 PM: I have a few gransfors bruks and they are an amazing axe and hatchet but it depends what you want to do with one. You wouldnt want to use one of them to chop roots in the ground lol snow and nealley make a good looking hatchet too.
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: Fl0und3rz on January 20, 2021, 06:37:09 PM: I'd be afraid I'd set a GB down somewhere and forget about it, not oil it, or swing and miss and hit a rock. Don't get me wrong, I'd really like a GB Carpenter's axe. But I wouldn't be using it for general hatchet chores.
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: fly-by on January 22, 2021, 01:39:15 PM: Quote from: fly-by on January 19, 2021, 08:02:36 PM
Plan to carry one this spring to maintain trails to some fishing spots. Found a machete too fragile and not very useful for other tasks. Ended up ordering a Condor Bushcraft Tomahawk which looks like a good size and weight and comes with a shoulder sling. Really like the Karesuando bushcraft hatchet but it may be too nice to abuse. Wranglerstar on youtube has some very good hatchet reviews.
Condor arrived. Razor sharp out of the box. Made some kindling yesterday and it's very handy though handle diameter is a little small for me
Shoulder sling was awkward so repurposed a pistol holster. Snap from the sheath happens to be compatible. Rearranged the Chicago screws to fit the handle and it rides nice and snug.
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: jrebel on February 12, 2021, 07:13:28 PM: I drank the cool aid.
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: MADMAX on February 12, 2021, 08:23:55 PM: :yeah:
Now your talking
Title: Re: Hatchets
Post by: KFhunter on February 13, 2021, 07:58:37 PM: I lost my scabbard for my estwing :bash: :bash: