Hatchet vs tomahawk for long term camping?

J

jay1992

Joined
Mar 8, 2022
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Hey yall. Hope this belongs here, very first post. Recently I've gained an opportunity to go for a very extended camping trip. Putting together a gear list from the ground up, I'd prefer the best of the best as I will be relying on these tools daily for several months. Tomahawks seem a better option simply because hypothetically i can replace the shaft in the field, easier than a hatchet head. But hatchets seem a bit more rugged and hefty. I'm torn. Please give opinions, and please tell me if this post would be serviced better in a different place. Many thanks.

Jay
 
Im a slightly accomplished bow maker, and in an area heavy with hickory. May sound noobish, but I'm fairly confident I could make one if push came to shove. Is that overzealous or should I look into man made material as the handle?

Jay
 
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A hatchet is more no-nonsense tool, so you will be happy with your choice. I love hawks though! They are not as efficient as a hatchet, but I love the simplicity and lore of the tomahawk.
 
That's what I was thinking, they do look cool and, well, who wouldn't want to play injun in the woods?? As well as the fact I may be over confident in my own woodworking ability at creating a replacement shaft lol. Should be planning on building worthy shelter, not fixing my equipment.

Jay
 
I second FTB’s recommendation- the Woox Forte is a very practical option, particularly if your camp isn’t going to be moving around very much. I have a link to a full review in my signature.
 
I will only add that I prefer the longer handle of tomahawks to get the blade away from me. I just don't like hatchets anymore and if going witb an axe it would be closer to a forst axe or boys axe for me. Purely preference.

Sounds like you have a nice tool on the way already. Please come back and let us now how that works out in you testing BEFORE the trip.
 
Get a good claw hatchet and hang it on a 17" riggers hatchet handle. You will be pleased.

If you're concerned about re-handling then consider a removalable wedging system.

Removable wedging system for axes

This is a follow up thread on a post I made in another thread about slip-on type handles. See that post here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1249140-What-are-the-performance-differences-between-Tomahawk-eye-vs-Axe-Wedge-eye?p=14306344#post14306344 This wedging system...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
Oh that's a blast from the past and actually just gave me an idea based on old scythe fastening ring-and-wedge systems...Will need to do some experiments when I get a chance.
 
Thank you Peg for dredging that up, well worth reading (although I couldn’t get the pics to load on my phone).

I like both hatchets and tomahawks, and have a small pile of each scraped together. Spike hawks in particular are a great outdoor tool for me. However, now that I’m old, and my grip isn’t as strong, the hatchets are gaining a little by reason of their swell at the butt. Anymore when I swing a hawk hard and fast, the lack of a knob makes me wonder if it’ll slip out of my hand. Not that it has, just feels different.

I tried (feebly) making a haft with a small swell that would fit through the hawk eye, but that made the grip area too thin. Maybe I need to build a hawk with a bigger eye.

My current favorite is one I built many years ago. I modified a 18” framing hammer handle and hung it about 1/2” proud in the (untapered) eye and pinned it. Looks like shiite but works well.

Anyway, I think I’d choose a hatchet by a small margin like Jay did, but it would be hawk-like in many respects.

Ordinarily I don’t use steel wedges, but the tang wedges seem like a neat idea.

Parker
 
jay1992 said:
HA! Answered my own question. Didn't know Bark River made a camp hatchet, ordered and waiting. Sorry for making yall read that! Lol.

Jay
Click to expand...
That's not going to be the " best of the best " from a performance standpoint, but I suppose you won't have to worry about it breaking.
 
Wow guys. I had no idea y'all would be this informative. Im still in the testing phase, and money will not be an issue in about a weeks time, so I have no problem with testing multiple items. I am literally building this from the ground up, and either selling what doesn't make the cut, or keeping them in my shop. I LOVE the design of the woox, fourty two. And you are right, hickory and steel. I've always heard good things about prk, while it may not be the best of the best, you are absolutely right about not breaking. I'm loving all of the information, guys. Bikerector, I actually planned on giving a full review of my entire set up, on my property I have a good amount of woodland, the idea is to haul everything I get and test it all individually over a couple weeks. And make the cuts from there. Again, thanks everyone. Please keep it going, I'd like to hear many opinions.

Jay
 
Square_peg said:
Get a good claw hatchet and hang it on a 17" riggers hatchet handle. You will be pleased.

If you're concerned about re-handling then consider a removalable wedging system.

Removable wedging system for axes

This is a follow up thread on a post I made in another thread about slip-on type handles. See that post here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1249140-What-are-the-performance-differences-between-Tomahawk-eye-vs-Axe-Wedge-eye?p=14306344#post14306344 This wedging system...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
Click to expand...

Square_peg said:
Get a good claw hatchet and hang it on a 17" riggers hatchet handle. You will be pleased.

If you're concerned about re-handling then consider a removalable wedging system.

Removable wedging system for axes

This is a follow up thread on a post I made in another thread about slip-on type handles. See that post here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1249140-What-are-the-performance-differences-between-Tomahawk-eye-vs-Axe-Wedge-eye?p=14306344#post14306344 This wedging system...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
Click to expand...
https://flic.kr/p/2n7Nw2x

Is this what you mean by claw hammer?

Jay
 
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