{"id":4102,"date":"2020-12-15T11:27:35","date_gmt":"2020-12-15T16:27:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/outdoorsportsnation.com\/?p=4102"},"modified":"2020-12-15T01:13:26","modified_gmt":"2020-12-15T06:13:26","slug":"survival-hatchets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/outdoorsportsnation.com\/survival-hatchets\/pentecostkyle12\/survival-prep\/12\/15\/2020\/4102\/","title":{"rendered":"Survival Hatchets"},"content":{"rendered":"
Few tools are as ubiquitous in the outdoors world as the hatchet. It functions as a tool for general camp use, butchering, bushcraft\/survival, and even self-defense. In short, there are very few tools that offer the versatility and durability of a hatchet, especially in a compact format. I am going to clarify that when I say hatchet in this article I am referring to a small hand axe with a flat back.<\/p>\n
Shopping for a good hatchet can be a little overwhelming. Options are endless, prices vary wildly, and it is more difficult to find certain models than when shopping for a knife. If you stop in at your local outdoors store you will find hundreds of different knives, but likely only a few different hatchets. I’m going to outline some of the features to look for in a good hatchet and present you with my three favorite models.<\/p>\n
What A Good Hatchet Should Have<\/strong><\/p>\n A hatchet should have several distinct features that make it a quality choice. First, it needs to be compact. You probably won’t be using a hatchet to fell a large tree. A good overall length is about 12-15 inches. The sweet spot seems to be right about 13 and a half inches. Hatchets of this size can be easily carried in a belt holster or tucked inside a pack. Unlike some of the newer “micro” hatchets, at just over a foot in length, the size still allows a decent mechanical advantage when being swung. Conversely, a 13-inch hatchet is small enough that it can be controlled well by hand for tasks such as carving, hewing, and fire starting.<\/p>\n Second, a good hatchet should be strong. It will likely be beaten up a bit more than a knife and needs to be able to absorb some shock and remain intact after repeated blows against hard materials. If the hatchet is all steel, it needs a full tang construction. A traditional hatchet will need a handle made of a strong wood like hickory. Synthetic handled axes are sort of the wild card for durability, but a good model should be as strong as a wood hatchet.<\/p>\n Finally, the most important part of a hatchet is going to be the head. It needs to be made of a tough tool steel that can stand up to chopping wood at various angles, yet must still be soft enough that it can be easily sharpened.<\/p>\n Three Hatchets To Consider<\/strong><\/p>\n