Ax vs Hatchet vs Tomahawk?

[David Nowlin]

I really want the difference explained to me? I always thought an ax was bigger, heavier, and longer? I see and have purchased beautiful new so called “axes”
and “camp axes” with haths from 12-19 inches? So what’s the answer?
DN

 

[David Nowlin]

example. I think this is a hatchet? Think it’s a 15-16inch hath.

 

[lmalterna]

While I do understand "guidelines", tools are tools and need to suit the user and work to be accomplished. Generally hatchets are heads less than 2lbs and hung on sticks less than 19"

Boys axes or limbing axes, are heads 2-3lbs hung on sticks 24-28".

Axes are 3+lbs and hung from 28-40" sticks. House axes being an exception as they are a full size head on a 19" handle.

Tomahawks have an eye that is pretty much round and are a slip fit, no wedging.

Now, many felling or topping axes are full sized heads on handles in the 20's. New England axes from around the turn of the 19-20th century were often sub 30".

I personally like my limbing axes to be about 2 1/2lb heads hung on a 29-31" handle. Outside normal guidelines but I like them. Felling axes, I like short, full size head on a 27" stick. Bucking axes- full sized head on a 32-34" handle(I am 5'10").

All of these are my observation and opinions. NOT hard fast rules.

Bill

 

[crbnSteeladdict]

As general rule you can go with Bill's post.
Let me focus on outliers


Tomahawks
Some examples of Tomahawks that do not have slip on handles(I believe it is the function they perform that makes them Tomahawks:
RMJ, Winkler, LaGana, Sheldon Wells, Balanced Throwing Tomahawk

Axes
House Axe (2 1/4lbs and up on short handle)
Miner's Axe (short handle, heavy axe head with hardened poll)
Hewing Axe (heavy head could have short or very long handle)
1 3/4 lbs Hudson Bay with 24 inch handle or longer is an Axe
I have a mutant (light 1 1/4lbs head on 24 inch handle ) and in my mind I cannot call it a Hatchet


Belt Axe and Saddle Axe (could be very light ): Historical names

 

[David Nowlin]

Pack ax as well. Thanks for all the input.

 

[thunderstick]

I think it's pretty common to say a hatchet has a hammer poll and is designed as a tradesman's tool, and an axe of even the same size will typically have a poll and be designed for forestry work, and a tomahawk is primarily designed as a weapon.

 

[crbnSteeladdict]

I think it's pretty common to say a hatchet has a hammer poll and is designed as a tradesman's tool, and an axe of even the same size will typically have a poll and be designed for forestry work, and a tomahawk is primarily designed as a weapon.

Bingo!! Thank you!!
There is no other way to classify Hunter's, and Sportman's Axes. I am guilty of using incorrect term "Boy Scouts Hatchet"
https://archive.org/details/WmFrankfurthCoHardwareCatalogNo5/page/n77/mode/1up
https://archive.org/details/WarrenA...page/n10/mode/1up?q="sportsman's+axe"+catalog

 

[czpkl]

I think a simple definition is that an axe is comfortably used with two hands and a hatchet is primarily used with one hand.