belt axe vs hatchet

[Muaddib1116]

I did a quick search, but couldn't find anything. Is there a difference between a small axe like a belt axe and a hatchet? Thanks.

 

[bearhunter]

no not really. personaly, i don't like to carry my axe/hatchet on my belt. i prefer to carry it in my day pack. i generally carry a side arm and belt knife with me when im out, so a hatchet on the belt with a pistol and knife gets on my nerves.

 

[Muaddib1116]

But as far as terminology they are the same thing? Thanks for the reply.

 

[Kentucky]

Sometimes they are refered to as "Bag Axe" and "Belt axe"..The bag axe is smaller than the belt axe..With a head often no more than 4" long and a 2" wide cutting edge..The belt axe often with a 5"-6" long head and a 3" wide cutting edge..
of course these terms are subjective to many folks..

 

[Shotgun]

They're all axes. Terminology varies from place to place and person to person. Belt axe, pocket axe, hatchet, mini hatchet...none of these are actually very descriptive terms. It's not until you get to head weights and haft lengths that you can start to differentiate between axes.

 

[Ravaillac]

They're all axes. Terminology varies from place to place and person to person. Belt axe, pocket axe, hatchet, mini hatchet...none of these are actually very descriptive terms. It's not until you get to head weights and haft lengths that you can start to differentiate between axes.

Agreed, there isn't any absolute reference terminology.
From what I gather, people tend to call hatchet, the kind of "down-sized" axe meant for splitting and chopping you can see everywhere nowadays. Some hatchets can be pretty heavy.
Belt axe in comparison are necessarly lighter seems to be used for lighter multipurpose, mostly meant for carving and small utility jobs.

The key point is that it has to be light enough to be carried on belt (aknowledging light enough being subjective too).

Subjectively I'd say one stereotypical type of belt axes comes with a pretty light head, a pretty short edge, and pretty thin and generally fairly long handle, a bit like tomahawk with slightly heavier head (or even a tomahawk), and that they rely more on sharpness and speed to chop than on general momentum.

I'd say all belt axes may be considered hatchets but not all hatchets may be considered belt axes.

 

[Muaddib1116]

Cool, I didn't know if there was a specific design attribute that existed in hatchets but not small axes, or vice versa. Thanks for the clarification.