Good Hatchet/Axe for Camping/Survival under $50

L

lcampbell89

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Feb 12, 2009
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Just curious what axe or hatchet that you guys would suggest for under $50 in a situation where all you may have is a knife axe and possibly multi-tool.

Also are there many good ones for under $20?

Thanks
 
Any of the fiskars are great. I have the small hatchet and its very useful. Also there big one also is great and "ALMOST" indestructible. if a man can make it a man can break it. There great for the price, plus there better than others 2X the price.
 
buy an antique at a yard sale, rummage sale, consignment shop. get em for cheap and you know they'll hold up!

Jason
 
Wow I didn't know Fiskars made axes my mom uses Fiskars scissors for her seamstress stuff and always flipped out if I ever touched them. Heh.

Are the Gerber axes any good?

Also is getting a small axe a bad idea?

EDIT: Also where is a good place to look for some axes? (Website?)
 
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small axe as in a hatched or small axe as in a axe with a shorter handle...

I like a shorter handle due to my short arms, they are a better fit and feel comfortable..which is the most important part!
 
Well is the only difference between a hatchet and an axe the grind? Sorry I am not really sure?

As the axe/hatchet I get will be for chopping wood for fire or shelter, and in an extreme case self defense from a wild animal. It may also be used to help process game, not sure on that though.
 
lcampbell89 said:
Just curious what axe or hatchet that you guys would suggest for under $50 in a situation where all you may have is a knife axe and possibly multi-tool.

Also are there many good ones for under $20?

Thanks
Click to expand...

First of all I would suggest the Wetterlings hatchets:

1.5 lb head, 16" hickory handles, between $40 and $50.

http://www.888knivesrus.com/product/WETHUNTMED/WETTERLINGS_SAW16H_HUNTING_AXE_16.html

The same head on a longer handle, and slightly more than $50:

http://www.888knivesrus.com/product/WETHUNT/WETTERLINGS_SAW20H_HUNTING_AXE_20.html

Or if you want a lighter, shorter hatchet, the 1.25 lb, 13" long Wetterlings Wildlife (heavier than the GB wildlife!) for about $42:

http://www.888knivesrus.com/product/WETHUNTWILD/WETTERLINGS_SAW13H_WILDLIFE_HUNTING_AXE_13.html

All these axes are very sturdy, suitable both for chopping and splitting.

If you want cheaper and American made:

For a lot of chopping, light splitting (up to 4-5" diameter), very little shaping I would suggest the Craftsman 1.25 lb Camp Axe, $17 at SEARS.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00948101000P?sid=BVReview

There is a great variability in fit, handle grain, head alignment, but you can personally pick one suitable for you. Made by Vaughan & Bushnell in the USA, great warranty (if SEARS stays in business, of course).

For less chopping, more splitting and shaping, the Craftsman 22 oz. Half Hatchet, $20 at SEARS and also made by Vaughan in the USA:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...Hand+Tools,+Carpentry&sbf=Brand&sbv=Craftsman

Both have hickory handles.
These are not Wetterlings or Gransfors Bruks, but are probably better than the more expensive ($25-30) Marble's hatchets made in China, which were reported to have very poor head attachment resulting the heads to fly off, and which have oak handles instead of hickory ones.
 
I am in the same market as the OP. I would like to spend about $50.00 to upgrade my wilderness experience. I currently use a Gerber Pack Pack Axe and the handle is a bit to short for wood chopping (works great for a lot of other applications).

Has anyone tried a Buck Camp Axe?

http://www.888knivesrus.com/product/BU757BK/BUCK_757_CAMP_AXE.html

No one has recommended a CS trailhawk - this looks like a fun piece of gear. Maybe not practical enough for wood chopping?
 
MBTull said:
I am in the same market as the OP. I would like to spend about $50.00 to upgrade my wilderness experience. I currently use a Gerber Pack Pack Axe and the handle is a bit to short for wood chopping (works great for a lot of other applications).

Has anyone tried a Buck Camp Axe?

http://www.888knivesrus.com/product/BU757BK/BUCK_757_CAMP_AXE.html

No one has recommended a CS trailhawk - this looks like a fun piece of gear. Maybe not practical enough for wood chopping?
Click to expand...

MBTull,
I have used the CS Trail Hawk, and IMO it is fun but nowhere so effective as the true hatchets. It has a narrow edge (2.25"), the bit is relatively thin and abruptly widens around the eye. This results in that it sticks easily and is not efficient for splitting thicker or longer rounds. I did not like the balance: it is too handle heavy due to the light head. (The CS Rifleman's Hawk is just the opposite: it is too head heavy.) On the positive side, the hammer poll is excellent and it is a good thrower, but it is less of a firewood/shelter prep tool, and more of a weapon. It is definitely more versatile than the axes/hatchets I have recommended in my previous post, but its weakest uses are the fire and shelter prep. Also, I think a stout hiking staff has more potential to deter a wild animal than a hawk. In close proximity a knife might be of more use to fight the animal than a hawk IMHO (In the Cold Steel "Proof" videos the targets never seem to charge Lynn or his buddies.:D)
 
I am thinking I am going to get the 19" Wetterlings Hunter Axe. What do you think the big difference is between the hunter axe and the carpenter axe?
 
lcampbell89 said:
I am thinking I am going to get the 19" Wetterlings Hunter Axe. What do you think the big difference is between the hunter axe and the carpenter axe?
Click to expand...

lcampbell89, for your stated purposes of fire, shelter prep, self defence and game proscessing the Wetterlings 19" Hunter is perfect.

As for the Carpenter's axe, are you interested about the Wetterlings one or the Craftsman Carpenters Half Hatchet?

The Craftsman Carpenters Half Hatchet is not so robust, and the Wetterlings has probably a better steel and/or heat treatment (HRC 57-58, which is harder than that of the hardness of most knife blades). The Wetterlings 19" Hunter is also more suited for game processing IMHO. You can use the Hunter both for one handed and two handed chopping. Since there is a variability in the Wetterlings axes, ask your retailer to hand pick one according to your specs (handle grain, head alignment etc.).

Now, the Wetterlings Carpanter is very good for carving, chopping, splitting, but it is HEAVY, and less useful for game processing or self defence. I like it as an outdoors axe, but once again, it is heavy to carry around and not as versatile as the Hunter.
 
COAL CREEK FORGE is selling a spiked hawk for $50 in the knife makers exchange right now. I've heared good things about his hawks and really like the looks of the ones for $50.

Also K R Johnson makes some nice ones for under $50. I bought two of his, one for a friend and the other I kept for my self both his Medium French hawks. Very cool!! We split firewood a few weekends ago with them and they held up great.

The Cold Steel hawks are also pretty cool. Picked up a trail hawk on Saturday and really like it. Now I really want a hand made pole hawk.


Heber
 
If you want a sturdy hand made tomahawk, look at Fort Turner:

http://www.fortturner.com/store/index.htm

Their Camp Tomahawk is $60, their Trapper Tomahawk $55, just slightly above the $50 limit of the OP.
Most of his poll-less tomahawks are below $50.
Great quality & excellent customer service.:thumbup:
And he sells the best hawk sheaths I have seen so far (not counting the expensive, custom leather-work ones).:thumbup::thumbup:

I have a Buck Tomahawk and am very pleased with it. IMHO they are much more useable for woodcraft than the Cold Steel Hawks (especially the Trail Hawk), but the Wetterlings Long Hunter is still a better axe.
If you are into hawks, get a Fort Turner. If you want an good axe, get a Wetterlings or a GB.
If you want cheap and fun, try the Cold Steel hawks.:)
 
The Snow & Neally lineup is all in that price range. I am currently trying to decide between their 24" Hudson Bay and 18" Penobscot. The shorter one would obviously be easier to carry, but the extra length of the 24" would allow for two-handed work without adding too much bulk.
 
I have several small axe's/hatchets, including a Gerber Back Pax and a TOPS Outfitters.

(edited, didnt see the $50 price restriction)

I bought a Buck Axe for my scout son and i think that it is equal in good durability and function as a Gerber Back Paxe, but it has a much better handle to work with. the length on the Buck allows for better use w/o busting your knuckles.

-------- Eric

----------- Eric
 
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I got an Estwing hatchet and knife set when I was a kid. ...about 12 years old. Well, that was 43 years ago, and I still have that Estwing hatchet. To give you an idea how long ago it was.... I talked my mother into letting me use her S&H Green Stamps to get the set!

I got into camping pretty heavily when I got married about 30 years ago, and used that hatchet on every trip. I own Estwing hammers, and my son will probably be using those in his workshop someday.

If you go to this link, you'll see just about the same model hatchet that I got as a kid. It has not changed much at all. They make them in Rockford, Illinois. Here's the hatchet.

http://www.estwing.com/category.php?category_id=2

You can probably pick one up at most camping stores, or a good hardware.
 
Foilist said:
The Snow & Neally lineup is all in that price range. I am currently trying to decide between their 24" Hudson Bay and 18" Penobscot. The shorter one would obviously be easier to carry, but the extra length of the 24" would allow for two-handed work without adding too much bulk.
Click to expand...

If it helps, I've got the BGA-mod'd Pen Bay. It's a superb axe, but a little heavy for what I'll carry into the woods. Or put another way, the 'packability' loses importance. If I ever break mine I'm getting it rehafted with the 24" handle, that length would be perfect I think. :thumbup:

But if you know the weight isn't going to be an issue, then I'd go with the Pen Bay.
 
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