Camping hatchet recommendation.

Post Reply
gwinyak
Posts: 195
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:37 am
Location: Kyle

Camping hatchet recommendation.

Post by gwinyak »

Can anyone reccomend a good light weight hatchet for camping? Looking for good mix of quality/durability and light weight for carrying on the kayak for multiple day camp trips. It would be for clearing brush for campsite and gathering firewood. Thanks!
User avatar
Earl
TKF 1000 Club
TKF 1000 Club
Posts: 1139
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: DFW, Texas
Contact:

Re: Camping hatchet recommendation.

Post by Earl »

After years of using your average hatchet I was sold over on a tomahawk like the one in the link below. They are very light, sharp, and serve a dual purpose, protection. It clears brush quickly and can split, used by hand to carve notches and prep for starting a fire. I also have taken the time to practice throwing it with pretty good results and repeatability. I would not want to see it coming as it is sharp and will stick to what it hits.

https://www.thinkgeek.com/product/f074/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My 2 cents,

Earl
User avatar
Fin-Addict
TKF 4000 Club
TKF 4000 Club
Posts: 4210
Joined: Thu May 04, 2006 2:36 pm
Location: Baytown

Re: Camping hatchet recommendation.

Post by Fin-Addict »

Whats you budget?
User avatar
bowgarguide
TKF 5000 Club
TKF 5000 Club
Posts: 5370
Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2007 7:52 pm

Re: Camping hatchet recommendation.

Post by bowgarguide »

Earl
I thought a tomahawk was illegal to carry in TX.
Ron
User avatar
Hirsch
TKF 10,000 Club
TKF 10,000 Club
Posts: 17850
Joined: Sun May 27, 2007 4:11 pm
Location: Killeen

Re: Camping hatchet recommendation.

Post by Hirsch »

Yes it is. It is also illegal to carry a club, throwing knives, throwing stars, switch blades, knives with over 5 1/2" blades. Further these are not defined in the statute so if so inclined a prosecutor could probably include numerous kitchen knives, Grandpa's Bowie, machetes, roofers hammers, hatchets and a variety of other tools.
User avatar
Earl
TKF 1000 Club
TKF 1000 Club
Posts: 1139
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: DFW, Texas
Contact:

Re: Camping hatchet recommendation.

Post by Earl »

Thanks Ron, I would not have thought that but indeed it is true. Just looked it up. I just got back from a trip to Colorado and we used it a bit. Good thing I did not get caught with that thing.

Guess it is going to a shelf now and I will invest in a good quality hatchet.

gwinyak, I apologize for the bad advice.

Earl
User avatar
bowgarguide
TKF 5000 Club
TKF 5000 Club
Posts: 5370
Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2007 7:52 pm

Re: Camping hatchet recommendation.

Post by bowgarguide »

Texas Laws are crazy on some of this stuff.
From my understanding a switch blade is legal now . A bowie knife is illegal but they dont say what a Bowie knife is. A machete is illegal unless you are using it to cut brush or wood Dah.
I try to keep up with most of these laws because I build custom knives but they are super confusing.
Dont take my word for these laws do your own checking because I sure could be wrong on them.
Ron
PS
The hawk may be legal in Colo , I really dont know.
User avatar
Earl
TKF 1000 Club
TKF 1000 Club
Posts: 1139
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: DFW, Texas
Contact:

Re: Camping hatchet recommendation.

Post by Earl »

Legal in Colo?? Well, I bet if it had a hemp rope grip it would be :D

Yea, I looked it TX law clearly states Tomahawk.

Earl
User avatar
bowgarguide
TKF 5000 Club
TKF 5000 Club
Posts: 5370
Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2007 7:52 pm

Re: Camping hatchet recommendation.

Post by bowgarguide »

Yep :lol:
Ron
User avatar
Fin-Addict
TKF 4000 Club
TKF 4000 Club
Posts: 4210
Joined: Thu May 04, 2006 2:36 pm
Location: Baytown

Re: Camping hatchet recommendation.

Post by Fin-Addict »

Gransfors Bruks
User avatar
Hirsch
TKF 10,000 Club
TKF 10,000 Club
Posts: 17850
Joined: Sun May 27, 2007 4:11 pm
Location: Killeen

Re: Camping hatchet recommendation.

Post by Hirsch »

Gransfors Bruks carries a very fine reputation and a price to match. Gerber makes some nice looking axes at a fair price available at Academy. Estwing's one piece design has been around a long time and carried a good reputation also.
User avatar
Hirsch
TKF 10,000 Club
TKF 10,000 Club
Posts: 17850
Joined: Sun May 27, 2007 4:11 pm
Location: Killeen

Re: Camping hatchet recommendation.

Post by Hirsch »

This one is interesting.

http://www.estwing.com/ao_black_eagle_d ... _black.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Estwing line up.

http://www.estwing.com/axes_outdoor.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
bowgarguide
TKF 5000 Club
TKF 5000 Club
Posts: 5370
Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2007 7:52 pm

Re: Camping hatchet recommendation.

Post by bowgarguide »

I cant recommend any hatchets, a few years ago I switched over to a good machete and it handles all my wood working chores.
Ron
User avatar
Hirsch
TKF 10,000 Club
TKF 10,000 Club
Posts: 17850
Joined: Sun May 27, 2007 4:11 pm
Location: Killeen

Re: Camping hatchet recommendation.

Post by Hirsch »

Academy offers a variety of Gerber hatchets, axes, machetes of different designs and a saw you will find scattered among the knives here.

http://www.academy.com/shop/browse/Sear ... geSize:120&" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
rodloos
Posts: 522
Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2007 10:51 pm
Location: DFW

Re: Camping hatchet recommendation.

Post by rodloos »

I have a Granfors Brucks Small Forest Ax, a little bigger than a hatchet, but if you had some large logs to cut it is nice (and pricey). I too prefer a machete to a hatchet, especially for clearing brush. Just don't get one from Walmart :) they don't have to be expensive to be good, Tramontina and Imacasa are both pretty decent for the money. A folding saw can be handy for cutting branches for firewood.

Regarding Texas laws, they make allowances for having e.g. a longer filet knife than 5 1/2" while you are fishing, a long hunting knife while hunting/camping, etc. At least they repealed the switchblade ban (you still can't purchase across state lines though due to federal laws) and effective Sept 1, 2015 the Knife Law Preemption goes into effect, meaning cities like San Antonio and Corpus Christi can no longer have stupid additional restrictions such as no locking blades or 3" limits.

I have used an Estwing hatchet and it was pretty decent.

Hey Ron, I haven't been on in awhile, I remember you posting some pics of some of the first knives you made (and they looked pretty good!) have you posted any more of tyour more recent creations? That would be fun to see.
User avatar
Coastal Country
TKF 6000 Club
TKF 6000 Club
Posts: 6048
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:21 pm
Location: Seat of a Magic 14.5 ~ Santa Fe, TX

Re: Camping hatchet recommendation.

Post by Coastal Country »

Alot of the laws regarding these are in the eye of the LEO questioning you. Took a pig sticking knife (basically a large bowie knife) to get a scabbard made for it. A Constable was in there having a holster made was reeeeeally interested in it till I said I carried it running hog dogs on ranches not while in town
Post Reply