What's the difference between a hatchet and a camp axe?

[johnnyKnives]

For example, I was looking at the Estwing products. They have a hatchet, camper axe, and an axe. The last one is a "real" axe. The other two are the same length but look a little different.

Also, GB has a small forest axe. Is that something different than both of those (it is a few inches longer)?

 

[savageknives]

this is sort of like finding the line where a long knife becomes a sword. it all depends on where how you use it. that being said there are some guidelines. a hatchet or a tomahawk for that matter can easily be used one handed, light chopping and maybe splitting for firewood would be the main tasks for these. a camp axe is a little larger, both in weight and length. it can be choked up on and used one handed or swung two handed to fell smaller trees and light splitting. a camp axe would be ideal for a long term camping trip as it is light enough to pack and carry easily enough. a full sized is best left at the homestead. it is heavy enough to use for heavy chopping and splitting tasks. hope this was sort of helpful. it all depends on what your going to do as to what you get.

 

[johnnyKnives]

this is sort of like finding the line where a long knife becomes a sword. it all depends on where how you use it. that being said there are some guidelines. a hatchet or a tomahawk for that matter can easily be used one handed, light chopping and maybe splitting for firewood would be the main tasks for these. a camp axe is a little larger, both in weight and length. it can be choked up on and used one handed or swung two handed to fell smaller trees and light splitting. a camp axe would be ideal for a long term camping trip as it is light enough to pack and carry easily enough. a full sized is best left at the homestead. it is heavy enough to use for heavy chopping and splitting tasks. hope this was sort of helpful. it all depends on what your going to do as to what you get.

It is helpful. Thank you. The problem is that with Estwing the camper and the hatchet are they same length, 16". With the GB the small forest axe is the length I would expect for the camper's axe in estwing but it is not:

http://www.amazon.com/Estwing-E24A-Sportsmans-Hatchet-Handle/dp/B0002JT0BO​

All steel construction
Head and handle forged in one-piece
Fully polished with genuine leather grip and sheath
16-Inch overall length
3-1/4-Inch cutting edge​

and

http://www.amazon.com/Estwing-16-Inch-Steel-Campers-E44A/dp/B00047F130​

For felling, trimming trees, and or splitting wood, notching timbers, and driving wooden or plastic stakes
Sheath included to protect axe while not in use
Steel blade
4" approximate cutting edge
16" approximate overall length​

So in this case, is it the cutting edge that makes the difference?

The Gränsfors Bruks Small Forest Axe:

http://www.shopatron.com/products/p...+Axe/part_number=420/235.0.1.1.58472.0.0.0.0?​

19" Hickory Handle
3 1/4" Face
1 ½ lb.​

The main reasons for worrying about the Estwing vs. GB is hickory vs. all steel and now the length. I am afraid I'll break the handle.

 

[cgover]

I have always called a hatchet something with a hammer poll and (usually) a nail-pulling notch. A hand axe has a short handle and a head resembling a Michigan, Jersey, Dayton, or Kentucky axe in miniature. Note that GB, Wetterlings, and the late Marbles call their axes "axes" no matter how tiny. I recently bought a Plumb Rigster's Hatchet with a 28-oz head and 17" handle. It has a nail notch and a checkered hammer head like a drywall hammer, and it's bigger than my smallest Wetterlings hand axe.

 

[cgover]

To simplify, if one side of the head looks like a hammer, it's a hatchet. If it looks like an axe for one hand, it's a hand axe. Some companies blur the distinction. My daughter just finished reading the novel, "Hatchet" for a class. The cover picture is of a leather-grip Estwing "Sportsman's Hatchet." The "hatchet" described in the book is the Estwing "16-inch Camper's Axe." Estwing also lists a "Carpenter's Hatchet." Now, THAT is a hatchet. When the head hits 2 lbs. and the handle 19", everybody calls it an axe, starting with the old Plumb "Boy's Axe." A hammer head is the dead giveaway IMHO.

 

[johnnyKnives]

I think I'll end up with one of the Estwing. From all I read over and over, much of the GB is about marketing. Not that their not good axes, just not $50 more than some of the others (wetterlings, snow & nealley, etc.)

Which Estwing I do not know. I still haven't figure out the differnence. I read on oldjimbo.com that he likes the sportsman (leather handled one) but doesn't like the skinny handle because it is hard to hold. I figured I could wrap something on it if I want to do an shaving or something special with it.

Thanks.

edit: I just found the estwing riggers axe. 17" long. don't really know what a riggers axe means. I just wanted closer to the 19" of the GB small forest axe. I found them here: http://www.benmeadows.com/search/axes/

 

[mrappraisit]

I think I'll end up with one of the Estwing. From all I read over and over, much of the GB is about marketing. Not that their not good axes, just not $50 more than some of the others (wetterlings, snow & nealley, etc.)

Which Estwing I do not know. I still haven't figure out the differnence. I read on oldjimbo.com that he likes the sportsman (leather handled one) but doesn't like the skinny handle because it is hard to hold. I figured I could wrap something on it if I want to do an shaving or something special with it.

Thanks.

edit: I just found the estwing riggers axe. 17" long. don't really know what a riggers axe means. I just wanted closer to the 19" of the GB small forest axe. I found them here: http://www.benmeadows.com/search/axes/

The GB's are definately not for everyone. Like many knives the "worth " of a GB is in the using of it, and is subjective. That being said the Estwing products are very well made, and very tough. I would use them but I can't stand metal handled hatchets, axes or hammers, they give me elbow pain.

 

[Blue Sky]

The problem is that with Estwing the camper and the hatchet are they same length, 16".

The amazon ad copy is incorrect, the 24A is not 16" long, it's more like 14". I have one and it is significantly smaller that the 44A. I would carry around the 24A, the 44A not so much.

 

[einsteinjon]

The amazon ad copy is incorrect, the 24A is not 16" long, it's more like 14". I have one and it is significantly smaller that the 44A. I would carry around the 24A, the 44A not so much.

I was going to point that out also. The 24A is 14", Amazon is incorrect. And not to disrespect your opinion, but I've had success carrying the 44A (that's the 16" Estwing) with a hammer loop on my belt. It's just personal preference I guess. Maybe it's a height thing...I'm about 6' 1"...but for all I know you're 6' 8". Again, just personal preference.

Johnny...As a bit of a tie in to the rest of this thread, Estwing makes a 26" Campers Axe also (is that the one you meant in your first post?), identical to the 16" only with a 10" longer handle. I own this one as well, but barely use it. The reason is when an axe gets to be this size, it would be a little more useful with a heavier head in my opinion. I feel like the 26" is too long to carry around, too long to swing with one hand, and isn't heavy enough to split any big stuff as effectively as I think an axe this size should (although it'd be fine for camping and campfire wood). I see an axe with a head of this size being used with more control than you'd be able to obtain by using the 26" version.

I hope this all makes sense and helps in some way...

 

[JD Spydo]

I have a Sears Craftsman model # 4810 hatchet. I've recently discovered that the tool was actually made by Vaughn & Bushnell. I looked on V & B's website today and sure enough they still make that model. They call it the "camp axe". It has a full steel handle forged with the head and it has a rubber handle for shock absorbtion.

I have used that tool on so many deer hunting trips and for all purpose work of every type and it has held up like you wouldn't believe. But in reality I can't really distinguish between what they call a "camp axe" or the Barco hatchet I also own. Now my Barco hatchet does have a hickory wood handle. Other than that I don't see any notable difference.