Compact and lightweight gear usually means the difference between it being carried on you or being left back at camp. Most small camp axes are actually quite heavy and their major use is for chopping large amounts of firewood. This is great if you don’t have to pack that axe all day. But on short or extended trips from camp, you’re probably not going to bring it along.
Too many times a good knife has been ruined or damaged by using it for other than its intended purpose. I've been there and done that! The problem was to find a small, lightweight axe that could be used on short outings or a day hike for “minor” chopping duties and still be easily carried without adding a lot of extra weight. This would also facilitate building a small fire to keep warm, cook a meal or to boil water in order to purify it.
At 9 inches in length and at a weight of slightly less than 10 ounces, this particular pocket axe seems to solve the problem. It is made from a solid piece of steel that is approximately 3/8 inches thick and has a cutting edge length of 3 inches. The handle has a slight curve to it and the axe also came with a nylon sheath with a belt loop. It also has a lanyard hole and a secondary hole about 4 1/2 inches up that allows the handle to be wrapped with cordage. This little axe will quite literally fit in your pocket.
This pocket axe is almost like a ulu with a handle. The blade is too thin for major wood-splitting chores but should work easily for splitting small pieces of kindling. You won’t be clearing any forests with this pocket axe but that’s not its intended purpose. It was also cheap enough that if it became lost it wouldn’t create major damage to my pocketbook. Some minor chopping has shown that the blade edge seems to hold up fairly well so far. A proper wilderness field test will ultimately determine its actual durability.
You can read about a gear test of the pocket axe here:
Got pocket gear?
Staying above the water line!
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12 comments:
Where to buy it and how much it was??
3/8" of steel is thick I seen some 3/16" thick. They dont cut, They slice!.
Good post.
To: anonymous 10:23
Mine cost $10 at a flea market and was the only one the vendor had left. He said they were a popular item and hard to keep on hand.
They're available from several different places on e-bay.
Google "tomahawk combat axe hatchet" and several sites will come up.
I'm still in the process of checking it out and will post an updated review in a few days.
Thanks anon.
RW
To: anon 10:23
About the thickness, it may be 5/16 instead of 3/8 as I didn't put a set of calipers to it but used a tape measure for a quick check. I've done some preliminary chopping with it and the axe does a pretty decent job of chopping small limbs.
RW
To: anon 10:23
Forgot to add the price info. They are as little as 7.49 plus 3.99 shipping on e-bay. Makes the total cost about $12 with shipping.
RW
My father used to take old meat cleavers and make extended handles and leather guards for the blades. They worked rather well for this. They took a good edge and cost almost nothing.
When he had them he used broken hatchet handles. They were perfect in length and the shape was great. He would add a lanyard.
Thats cool. I have a couple of hatchets, but haven't really used them much. I believe they are Kershaw made, one piece jobs much like Estwing, but not as heavy.
Down here, a small machete seems to be as useful (if not more) than this design. They both hack about as well as the other, but the machete can also be used to cut brush easier, and the machete tip (correct model anyway) can be choked up short to act as a knife.
Another possibility that makes sense - tomahawk heads that have a round pol can be more easily hafted than a hatchet with 'ovalish' shaped pol. Keeping one in your kit is very compact - cut a suitable branch, haft it and go to work.
My grandson likes my Gerber 9" ax.
I gave it to him. http://tinyurl.com/25soqrp
I still have my 14" ax.
http://tinyurl.com/2eb2cze
:-)
BTW, my comments above about machete are not a slam on this lightweight tomahawk - this one is much flatter and compact to carry in a pack!
To: Machinist
Your father had a great idea...need to keep a lookout for a small meat cleaver that could be converted or used for a similar purpose. They'd probably be less expensive... always looking for a cheaper alternative when it comes to gear.
Thanks for the great gear tip!
RW
To: vlad
Your grandson is very lucky to have you around to show him the ropes...
I'm sure he appreciates what you do!
I have a couple of hatchets also but are a little too heavy for EDC gear and are mostly used around camp when out and about.
Thanks vlad.
RW
To: anonymous 6:03
I still carry my machete but on a short day trip or depending upon the terrain isn't always necessary.
I was mainly looking for a cheap, lightweight alternative for EDC. This little axe will quite possibly do the job.
I've even toyed with the idea of making one out of some flat carbon steel...my metal working skills are sorely lacking and this may be something that would give me a reason to practice a different type of skill.
Thanks anon.
RW
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