Picked myself up a little treat as an overtime gift to myself. Im not an axe man, I prefer a machete, and I prefer them on the larger side. But recently my bushcrafting style has mellowed somewhat so I decided on a small hatchet for carving and light stick chopping/kindling splitting.
The axe comes nicely packaged, and on opening the box, I thought to myself this is a little stunner. Nicely finished curly birch haft with bone inlay bearing the company logo and bone endcap. And a little diamond file to sharpen it up. No need out of the box mind you it's razor sharp! Easily passed the paper test.
The polished stainless steel head goes nicely with the haft, and it's perfectly contoured for right and left handed grips
It seems nicely suited to a grip for carving too, it's really comfortable to grip in a choked position with your hand under the beard of the axe.
After a few quick chop tests, the axe greatly exceeds expectations. It leaves deep clean cuts and the small head cleaves kindling no problem at all. Would I like to cut a mature oak down with it? No of course not, that's not what an 11 inch hatchet is for. But it certainly does have more cutting power than I expected from something so small. I certainly won't worry about 3 finger width branches, it'll make a cracking little splitter with the right application of brute force and ignorance. Anything larger will be machete or saw territory like it always has been for me. But stick whittling it's a superb little tool.
The mask/sheath is plain and functional
Then again it does what it says on the tin and keeps you from having any accidents walking about with an axe stuffed down your pants. One of our own fine leathersmiths may well be getting a tap to give it a fancy new jacket!
Overall really pleased with it and it'll be on my hip while camping from now on. Wasn't the cheapest but then if you want quality you expect to pay and it does scream quality. I feel it will last well and is exactly what I want, if you want a big chopping axe it's not much use, if you want a fine carving hatchet, give one a thought! Really nice bit of kit all told, even if I do have to eat the receipt and tell herself it was a tenner!
Oh. And the packaging gets the cats seal of approval!
The axe comes nicely packaged, and on opening the box, I thought to myself this is a little stunner. Nicely finished curly birch haft with bone inlay bearing the company logo and bone endcap. And a little diamond file to sharpen it up. No need out of the box mind you it's razor sharp! Easily passed the paper test.
The polished stainless steel head goes nicely with the haft, and it's perfectly contoured for right and left handed grips
It seems nicely suited to a grip for carving too, it's really comfortable to grip in a choked position with your hand under the beard of the axe.
After a few quick chop tests, the axe greatly exceeds expectations. It leaves deep clean cuts and the small head cleaves kindling no problem at all. Would I like to cut a mature oak down with it? No of course not, that's not what an 11 inch hatchet is for. But it certainly does have more cutting power than I expected from something so small. I certainly won't worry about 3 finger width branches, it'll make a cracking little splitter with the right application of brute force and ignorance. Anything larger will be machete or saw territory like it always has been for me. But stick whittling it's a superb little tool.
The mask/sheath is plain and functional
Then again it does what it says on the tin and keeps you from having any accidents walking about with an axe stuffed down your pants. One of our own fine leathersmiths may well be getting a tap to give it a fancy new jacket!
Overall really pleased with it and it'll be on my hip while camping from now on. Wasn't the cheapest but then if you want quality you expect to pay and it does scream quality. I feel it will last well and is exactly what I want, if you want a big chopping axe it's not much use, if you want a fine carving hatchet, give one a thought! Really nice bit of kit all told, even if I do have to eat the receipt and tell herself it was a tenner!
Oh. And the packaging gets the cats seal of approval!
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