-
Forum Update: We've upgraded the software to improve security, performance, and the overall experience.
👉 Read why we made the change | Support the Forum
A Good Hatchet
- Thread starter Onomea
- Start date
Snapping Twig
Member
I have an old shingle hatchet. It has a larger blade face and some considerable heft.
Additionally, I collect hand mauls whenever we get into a back road area. Part of our trip is me going to the local hardware store to see if I can find one. They are excellent additions to a camping package like the one that lives in my truck. I also have an oven rack that I use to make my fire ring into a cooking surface.
Additionally, I collect hand mauls whenever we get into a back road area. Part of our trip is me going to the local hardware store to see if I can find one. They are excellent additions to a camping package like the one that lives in my truck. I also have an oven rack that I use to make my fire ring into a cooking surface.
I bought a Gerber hatchet probably 15 years ago and use it all the time camping and hunting. I have yet to sharpen it, and I would recommend one to anyone who asked about a good hatchet.
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2013
- Messages
- 4,983
- Reaction score
- 12,403
Still got my Plumb hatchet from the Boy Scouts, as well. I recall the day I bought it, in the late 1950s.
While a resident of Kentucky in the late 1970s, I was able to acquire Daniel Boone's axe, which I still own. It is in excellent condition, as the head has been replaced twice and the handle three times.
My older brother has the True Temper BSA axe our dad bought us 50 years ago. The rubber grip is still good and my brother keeps it in his truck. I liked the steel handle so when I saw an Estwing while looking for something else I picked one up to replace the fiberglass handled one I found in the road years back.
I looked at a few before I found the one with machining I liked, especially where the handle meets the shoulder and head and around the flat of the butt.
Finally got around to sharpening it today, first time ever with a brand new axe. Looked at it for a while, corrected the bevel at the toe but only went back 3/8 of an inch until I figure out how to get that nice crescent while keeping it concave. Plus I wanted a beer. Seems OK, can't shave with it but it cuts paper. I'll try it tomorrow when I shorten some areca palm trunks after I drop them with a chain saw.
I looked at a few before I found the one with machining I liked, especially where the handle meets the shoulder and head and around the flat of the butt.
Finally got around to sharpening it today, first time ever with a brand new axe. Looked at it for a while, corrected the bevel at the toe but only went back 3/8 of an inch until I figure out how to get that nice crescent while keeping it concave. Plus I wanted a beer. Seems OK, can't shave with it but it cuts paper. I'll try it tomorrow when I shorten some areca palm trunks after I drop them with a chain saw.
I understand Lizzie Borden had a pretty effective hatchet that she isn't using anymore. I don't know the brand.
Stevens
Member
Lizzie Borden, with an axe.
Steve W
Steve W
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 26,034
- Reaction score
- 48,435
I counted eight vintage hatchets in various forms in my shop just now. There are some fine ones there.
But for kindling, you can't beat a hand maul.
I never knew I needed one till I saw this one at a yard sale years ago for a ridiculously low price. 12" handle.
Now that I have it, the pretty hatchets stay oiled up hanging on display.
It ain't pretty, but it FALLS through a block.
But for kindling, you can't beat a hand maul.
I never knew I needed one till I saw this one at a yard sale years ago for a ridiculously low price. 12" handle.
Now that I have it, the pretty hatchets stay oiled up hanging on display.
It ain't pretty, but it FALLS through a block.
Attachments
Last edited:
Rastoff
US Veteran
Whatever you end up with, please be careful with it.
When I was in the Boy Scouts, a friend almost cut his hand off because he was improperly using a hatchet. The ironic part was some other Scouts were learning the proper way right next to him.
Keep it sharp. If his had been sharp it wouldn't have glanced off and hit his wrist.
Keep it in good working order. Don't let the handle get loose.
Treat it like a cutting tool. It's not a hammer, pry bar or kitchen knife. It's a hatchet.
If you want to throw it, get a throwing hatchet.
Keep it in a nice cover.
When I was in the Boy Scouts, a friend almost cut his hand off because he was improperly using a hatchet. The ironic part was some other Scouts were learning the proper way right next to him.
Keep it sharp. If his had been sharp it wouldn't have glanced off and hit his wrist.
Keep it in good working order. Don't let the handle get loose.
Treat it like a cutting tool. It's not a hammer, pry bar or kitchen knife. It's a hatchet.
If you want to throw it, get a throwing hatchet.
Keep it in a nice cover.
I to only buy Estwing hammers and hatchets. I have my grandpa
Estwing hammer, he used it everyday in his work until his death
in 1953. My dad used it too, but not everyday, he gave it to me
and I use it every day. I have several of the Estwing tools with
the stacked leather handles. I have a California framer, lathe
hatchets, Mason's hatchets with the Blue cushion handles.
I got a piece of steel in my leg from hitting a Chinese axe with
a 3lb hammer, splitting stove wood. Axe sprawled off a sliver of
steel that flew like a bullet. I will not use any tools from any
country in the east. Down here in the hills it is common to see
good old brands of axes and hatches in yard sales. Most of the
time they need rehandled and cleaned up. There are a lot of
Post Axes, that were used in the coal mines. All them were good
American brands. They are excellent for splitting, they have a
heavy head and a 1/2 handle of normal axe.
Estwing hammer, he used it everyday in his work until his death
in 1953. My dad used it too, but not everyday, he gave it to me
and I use it every day. I have several of the Estwing tools with
the stacked leather handles. I have a California framer, lathe
hatchets, Mason's hatchets with the Blue cushion handles.
I got a piece of steel in my leg from hitting a Chinese axe with
a 3lb hammer, splitting stove wood. Axe sprawled off a sliver of
steel that flew like a bullet. I will not use any tools from any
country in the east. Down here in the hills it is common to see
good old brands of axes and hatches in yard sales. Most of the
time they need rehandled and cleaned up. There are a lot of
Post Axes, that were used in the coal mines. All them were good
American brands. They are excellent for splitting, they have a
heavy head and a 1/2 handle of normal axe.
Texas Star
US Veteran
Stevens-
and gave her parents forty whacks? ("Lizzie Borden took an axe..."
This board is messed up a lot and the Quote function isn't working for me today.
Who knows about axeman Paul Bunyan? I bet most young people now never heard of those tales.
and gave her parents forty whacks? ("Lizzie Borden took an axe..."
This board is messed up a lot and the Quote function isn't working for me today.
Who knows about axeman Paul Bunyan? I bet most young people now never heard of those tales.
Estwing calls their hand maul the Fire Side Friend. I have it and a wood handled one with a cast head shaped like a full size maul head. The latter was very inexpensive because its handle needed to tightened. This is a case of to each their own but I do not use them. That much weight deserves another 5" of handle.
Three to five(!) pound axe heads on 17" handles are sold by a local store that markets to loggers. Before the big logging companies quit using chain saws for falling trees they sold a lot of them to fallers who primarily used them as heavy hammers to pound in wedges.
Modern tree harvesting machines saw the tree off the stump, limb it, cut it to length and set it on the trailer. Paul Bunyan never dreamed it could be done so fast.
Three to five(!) pound axe heads on 17" handles are sold by a local store that markets to loggers. Before the big logging companies quit using chain saws for falling trees they sold a lot of them to fallers who primarily used them as heavy hammers to pound in wedges.
Modern tree harvesting machines saw the tree off the stump, limb it, cut it to length and set it on the trailer. Paul Bunyan never dreamed it could be done so fast.
Last edited:
Stevens
Member
The correct version is:
"Lizzie Borden took an axe, And gave her mother forty whacks,
When she saw what she had done, She gave her father forty-one."
I have always remembered it a bit different, from childhood, it was one of my Mom's favorites.
Steve W
"Lizzie Borden took an axe, And gave her mother forty whacks,
When she saw what she had done, She gave her father forty-one."
I have always remembered it a bit different, from childhood, it was one of my Mom's favorites.
Steve W
My current favorite is a nice, new Stihl hatchet. The latest restoration was a Riverside Tool Co. hatchet that was manufactured around 1900.
The version I remember was:
"Lizzie Borden took an axe,
And gave her father forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her mother forty one."
There was some indication her father was molesting her and her mother was complicit with him.
Grayfox
US Veteran
I want one like Rick Grimes is using. 
