Tiny little hatchet or tomahawk….suggestions?

[HorseGuy]

When cutting down medium sized branches of around 3 to 4 inch diameter I always prefer to use a hand saw because it feels like the safest option. But once the branches are cut down they need trimming and all the smaller branches which are grow out of them removing. This I usually do either by hand with the easier bits or use my small knife, a Fallkniven F1, which is a good tool for many other jobs but is a bit too small and light weight to be an effective chopper.

I do also own a small Robin Wood Carving Axe which has a head weight of 550g and a total weight of 720g with a handle length of 12.5″. This is also a good tool elsewhere but a little on the heavy side for this particular job. What I really want is something which is a better chopper than a Fallkniven F1 but smaller and lighter than the Robin Wood Carving Axe.

A larger chopping knife of some description would probably do the job well but what I'm really the most interested in knowing how well an tiny little hatchet or tomahawk would work here. I'm thinking something around 10" long and about 500g in weight give or take a bit. Has anyone here ever tried anything like this before or are there any specific models which you would suggest I consider looking at?

I'm a naive amateur so any opinions or suggestions will be welcome.

 

[Toddy]

No idea just how good it actually is; the friends who have one use it for splitting kindling for their log burner; but there's a Chinese made Spear and Jackson one that only weighs 400g and is about ten inches long. I'm sure they said it only cost £11 on Amazon.

I'll find a link.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spear-Jackson-Cutting-Axe-Blue/dp/B076CH9TFB/ref=sr_1_10?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zGkxhXmNR6rpS0s95derD9pPyP_BnRBuCEeUxmwf3kMy__JYIsfN50aFMvm9Eg_dMp2Fm_U0c7ie_5Aq29FnAW2X0-FnV1p5LV8676FS162jZ2TXw845MXazIRFeP9P9plqfDCCYuPxL4GQH6xsx04XUrf4nZkICaIbqE1szmU6KurCI2YIlbsHdIFK-5y2MvSpHQ4JBJNBCRol2f7pQpsbSsBjg30eBg6K1zgxZZfiBthEt53xyyND1jiMiz8aHA0e6n-3jddhcu3JuRvfF_7t0SCh8Vds5tWWYKBty358.9vbs5nvG0rzTVcQcufSnR70pPuf4neChg-qJK3gB0BE&dib_tag=se&keywords=kindling%2Baxe&qid=1766923661&sr=8-10&th=1

 

[Stew]

I think it was cold steel who did a good tomahawk. I have one somewhere and it was a fast thing.

 

[Bhod]

Kent pattern axe or kindling chopper?

 

[HorseGuy]

No idea just how good it actually is; the friends who have one use it for splitting kindling for their log burner; but there's a Chinese made Spear and Jackson one that only weighs 400g and is about ten inches long. I'm sure they said it only cost £11 on Amazon.

I'll find a link.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spear-Jackson-Cutting-Axe-Blue/dp/B076CH9TFB/ref=sr_1_10?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zGkxhXmNR6rpS0s95derD9pPyP_BnRBuCEeUxmwf3kMy__JYIsfN50aFMvm9Eg_dMp2Fm_U0c7ie_5Aq29FnAW2X0-FnV1p5LV8676FS162jZ2TXw845MXazIRFeP9P9plqfDCCYuPxL4GQH6xsx04XUrf4nZkICaIbqE1szmU6KurCI2YIlbsHdIFK-5y2MvSpHQ4JBJNBCRol2f7pQpsbSsBjg30eBg6K1zgxZZfiBthEt53xyyND1jiMiz8aHA0e6n-3jddhcu3JuRvfF_7t0SCh8Vds5tWWYKBty358.9vbs5nvG0rzTVcQcufSnR70pPuf4neChg-qJK3gB0BE&dib_tag=se&keywords=kindling%2Baxe&qid=1766923661&sr=8-10&th=1

That looks alright and at that low price could be worth a try. I wonder if spending a bit more on something like a Fiskars X5 might be worth the extra outlay?

 

[HorseGuy]

I think it was cold steel who did a good tomahawk. I have one somewhere and it was a fast thing.

Sounds interesting. Which model do you own?

 

[TeeDee]

Sounds interesting. Which model do you own?

Cold steel made the Fast Hawk which I think ( maybe wrong ) is an obsolete item now - based on a Vietnam era tomahawk,



I'm not saying that maybe ideal - the blade geometry for me seems less than ideal for wood.
I have however noticed , if you have an MKM builders merchants in your area - one of there suppliers is selling a knockoff copy if you fancy a look.

 

[TLM]

I would prefer a half way heavy working knife like a parang or variations thereoff. A billhook with double edge works, one has to be a bit careful with that beast though but it is handy.

 

[demented dale]

I think it was cold steel who did a good tomahawk. I have one somewhere and it was a fast thing.

are you selling it??? xxxx

 

[demented dale]

are you selling it??? xxxx

2nd ask obviously. i am not muscling in on a request but would be interested if horse guy isn't xxxx

 

[demented dale]

Cold steel made the Fast Hawk which I think ( maybe wrong ) is an obsolete item now - based on a Vietnam era tomahawk,

View attachment 100225

I'm not saying that maybe ideal - the blade geometry for me seems less than ideal for wood.
I have however noticed , if you have an MKM builders merchants in your area - one of there suppliers is selling a knockoff copy if you fancy a look.

you can still get them. 2 different models. they are advertised as throwing axes xx

 

[Nice65]

Varusteleka Skrama 200 or 240 would be a more versatile option than a mini axe.

Knives and Tools

Looking for tough and proper bushcraft, hunting and military knives? You've come to the right place. Order online safe and easy!

varusteleka.com

I do keep a Gransfors Hand Hatchet in the van for kindling or bashing out a bit of wood to whittle, it's a better tool for that. A hatchet would work well for your needs, but the tool that any coppicer would use for trimming up Chestnut sticks etc would be a billhook or similarly weighty blade like the Skrama.

 

[Nice65]

I think it was cold steel who did a good tomahawk. I have one somewhere and it was a fast thing.

They did a magic set of throwers too, LittleJohn used to recommend them and based his homemade ones on them.

 

[Broch]

As someone who does this on a weekly basis when coppicing I have to say an axe of any kind is not the tool for the job; the blade length is just too short. You want a tool with a long enough blade that it can stay in contact with the lead shoot throughout the motion of your arm sliding along it - which is a naturally curved motion. This is where the billhooks can be used but I prefer a long, gently curved, knife with reasonable weight - at lease 3mm spine but I find 5mm a bit too heavy.

 

[C_Claycomb]

I am in full agreement with Broch.

Also, mod hat on…looking at you @demented dale, HorseGuy was not posting a Want ad and Stew wasn’t posting an advertisement, please don’t suggest pulling sales out of the Classified area.

Depends on when and why you are cutting wood.

I have a GB Mini, GB Wildlife, and several larger knives that I have used for this sort of thing. However I see a difference in whether I am cutting dead wood for firewood, out camping, or engaging in tree clearance or pruning work.

For green wood, doing tree clearing, I use the now discontinued Condor Eco Parang Machete (orange poly handle) which is excellent.
I would be very happy using the slightly larger Bushcraft Parang machete (green poly handle) since I previously used a hand forged parang with 18” blade. I would argue that one of these is the best tool you can get without spending much more.

Bushcraft Parang Machete | Moonraker Knives

19 3/4" overall. 13" 1075 high carbon steel blade with natural finish. Molded olive green high impact polypropylene handle. Lanyard hole. Black nylon belt sheath with cord lanyard.

www.moonrakerknives.co.uk

If the job is dead wood, then I might lean towards an axe and block approach.

If it’s on trail or camping, the cutting tool needs to be lighter and multifunctional, and I would lean towards the Wildlife hatchet size axe as it can split too.

 

[forrestdweller]

not a hatchet in the european sense, but i'd suggest a nata (silky f.i. has several sizes)

 

[Stew]

Sounds interesting. Which model do you own?

Searching it up, it's the trail hawk.

It's a wooden handle so easy to change the length. Removable head if you like that sort of option. Some great mods out there.

 

[Stew]

are you selling it??? xxxx

Well the head is in an open shed round the side of the house and the handle is somewhere else but even so, nope. It's a fun thing to play with on occasion.

Pop a wanted up.

 

[TeeDee]

Cold Steel Trail Hawk

Buy your Cold Steel Axe - Trail Hawk (Ref: CS-90TH) Today! Supplied by Cold Steel official Distributor PJS (UK) Ltd t/a Blades.co.uk

www.blades.co.uk

 

[demented dale]

I am in full agreement with Broch.

Also, mod hat on…looking at you @demented dale, HorseGuy was not posting a Want ad and Stew wasn’t posting an advertisement, please don’t suggest pulling sales out of the Classified area.

Depends on when and why you are cutting wood.

I have a GB Mini, GB Wildlife, and several larger knives that I have used for this sort of thing. However I see a difference in whether I am cutting dead wood for firewood, out camping, or engaging in tree clearance or pruning work.

For green wood, doing tree clearing, I use the now discontinued Condor Eco Parang Machete (orange poly handle) which is excellent.
I would be very happy using the slightly larger Bushcraft Parang machete (green poly handle) since I previously used a hand forged parang with 18” blade. I would argue that one of these is the best tool you can get without spending much more.

Bushcraft Parang Machete | Moonraker Knives

19 3/4" overall. 13" 1075 high carbon steel blade with natural finish. Molded olive green high impact polypropylene handle. Lanyard hole. Black nylon belt sheath with cord lanyard.

www.moonrakerknives.co.uk

If the job is dead wood, then I might lean towards an axe and block approach.

If it’s on trail or camping, the cutting tool needs to be lighter and multifunctional, and I would lean towards the Wildlife hatchet size axe as it can split too.

the post says wanted. what am i to think???