i have been looking at the gerber gator II hatchet. the one with the saw blade in the handle. anyone have one of these? what do you think? how does it compare in quality with a friskar's?

I have the really short version with the knife instead of a saw. It's a pretty cool little rig, and I'm pretty sure they're identical to a fiskars as they are the same company.
The only downside is, I would never carry it handle down, and thus can't make use of the belt sheath as I don't trust the magnet holding the knife in to not drop it out on the trail at some point.
Also I don't really like the grind and it didn't come remotely sharp... I think I'm going to save up for a Gransfors.

Fiskars and Gerber are one and the same for axes. I've used the Gerber camp axe for years. Haven't tried the smaller one.

does anyone own one of those SOG vietnam style hawks?

Yes, I do. I own just about everything that SOG makes. I really like most of their fixed blade knives and even though they have contracted out the manufature of most of them they are still made to excellent standards. Now, with that being said, the "Fusion" series products that they sell leave a lot to be desired. The throwing knives are kind of cool, and the Vietnam style Hawk is pretty neat looking and feels good in the hand. The down side is that they are very spotty on quality. Some of them break the first time they hit something, and I have a couple of the Hawks they have taken a fairly good beating with no issues. The ones that I have that have held up have been from the latest manufatured bunch, so if you get one I would suggest trying to find out when the Hawk you're buying was made.

Some of the Fusion products...

www.americantomahawk.com

if you want high performance tactical tomahawks, ATC is the only way to go. the Crash Axe is heavy duty bc its SR77 but is terribly UN-tactical in regards to weight, and carry, primarily.

I have used an Estwing camper model for several years and have had no problems. It's pretty affordable and has seen some pretty heavy duty.

If you are wanting an excellent performing hatchet but don't want to spend big money do yourself a favor and look at the Wetterlings line. They are only about a half a step down from Granfors bruks but they cost much less. It is also very hard to beat the Fiskars axes in the "bang for the buck" category.

When it comes to the tactical dealios, get in touch with Justin Gingrich . His entry tools are without equal in real world environments in my opinion, and I have actually used them for what they were designed to do. They work, and they work well!

i dont think wiggity is lookinf for a tactical hawk like an ATC.he wants something that can cut wood i'm guessing.

i have the gerber hatchet with the saw in the handle.i never owned a fiskers so i cant compare the too.i thought they where the same company really.

all the gerber hatchets are good and tough.i think i remember a problem with the saw coming out of the handle with repeated chopping blows.there only held in place with a tiny magnet smaller than a pea.eventually gravity mixed with the vibrations from all the strikes/blows will have it come loose and fall out.

as far as tactical pieces are concerned the ATC V-TAC is alright.its worth the money.i wish the head wasnt as long though.it really screws up the balance,when it strikes something it wants to cant left or right.

i like RMJ forge better but they cost 4 times as much.

the CA is a bit heavy but that heaviness lends to some serious beastly power.the CA is also a bit hard to hold onto with its thin,strait handle.it never fattens up anywhere along the handle.

i love my CA and of all the tactical hawks it is the only one that can really cut wood as well.

As has been said, Fiskars owns Gerber. I love mine, they're great quality, and take a sharp edge that stays sharp. Besides these, I also have a Fiskars folding saw, and a Pukko, and I like them all.

This is mine. It keeps a decent edge and sharpens up nicely.
The only problem that I've had with it, is that I hit a rock with it and
chipped the top corner of the blade. But you know, that's ok, cause it only
cost me $9.00

$9??? You should have bought $100 worth of them!

Yeah they were on sale at "Canadian Tire" up here for $9 last year and I forgot about them until they were all gone...

I just picked up a Cold Steel Riflemans hawk. I plan on doing some modding to it and try it out this spring. I will let you know.

I have an American Tomahawk Lagana Vietnam model. It is real light, and according to AT is just about indestructible. Their quality control leaves a little to be desired though......

Marbles and Eastwing also offer some viable alternatives. I've used/owned them all - still do, and hatchets and axes are as much a matter of personal preference in terms of feel and balance as are knives and firearms.

I recently was at a Home Depot and checked out the Eastwing camp axe. I was disappointed. I’ve seen sharper butter knives. The grinds were uneven, and they were all severally blunt. They looked like they would bounce off a log instead of cut it. Also, I thought the handle was supposed to be solid, but the blue part of the handle just down from the head felt like it was hollow. If it is hollow, I didn’t know how tough it would be, and if the solid part attached to the head could come out under heavy use.

Welcome to the Yard Rooster.

Welcome to the Yard! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I watched a friend of mine bend and Estwing axe pretty good while chopping down a tree with "enthusiasm", and no, he didn't hit it sideways.

Rooster - Howdy and Welcome to the ScrapYard! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> I have used Estwing hatchets for many years and have been quite happy with them. I'm surprised by a few of the comments - I hope they haven't sacrificed quality for immediate profit. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I've never had an estwing hatchet, but we've got one of their axes. Very old. The handle section is indeed hollow, but there is absolutely no flex or vibration in it. It feels like a solid bar of steel all the way through, not just friction fit and crimped. If you made it solid, in that size, the balance would make it a very inefficient chopper. A solid steel handle like your scratchets and crash axes requires a very different style of head to make the balance come out right (and the handle is not even remotely hand-filling, either).

I've got two Estwing hatchets myself; and just like you Tom, I love them. I haven't been gentle with them by any means, and they've held up very well. The little Estwing hatchet with the leather wrapped handle (I love their hammers with this wrapping as well!), is less than a year in my possession, and I can say the quality hasn't been degraded in that model. I've used it for hacking and slashing in the woods, and it's done the job nicely. It needs a touch up on the edge here and then, but nothing serious.

My camper axe by Estwing (with the nice long handle), is about roughly 15 years old (Guessing here), and I've pretty much been a rough, mean old bugger on it, and it's taken the abuse easily. Sure, Estwings are not as strong as Busse steel, but do they really need to be? I'm not taking them to WWIII, just normal, everyday, good clean labour. They do it fine, and they'll keeep doing it fine for a good while yet.

Anyone seen this one? It looks like a cool gadget.

Gerber Kick Axe



I hope it wouldn't fold on your hands though. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

I have one that is kinda the same concept as the Gerber folder. I had forgot about it until I saw the pic of the Gerber. I will see if I can find it and snap a couple pics for you. Don't know anything about it really except I picked it up late one summer and did not get around to ever using it.

That reminds me. I need to go order a Grayman Grax one of these days soon. It almost looks like a hatchet version of a fire axe:

Not quiet hatchets but doing a terrific job at the same chores <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Gerber must have cut a deal with the Patent holder of the Pack Ax looks just like it except fancier, nice guy I met him on the phone a few years back. I have a couple of the Pack Ax's and they're decent light duty Axes. Some people might think they're too gadgety to be any good, I say to each his own. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

BTW, the Pack Ax holds up just fine and I imagine the Kick Ax will too, within limits.

The guys who were producing the Pack Ax only had one return for a warranty issue in the whole time they were making them, and that's because someone tried to use the back as a hammer... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

the cold steel shovel chops extremely well and it can be used for more than just chopping, so i have to give it my endorsement here.

it's not a wedge, so it won't split like an axe, but you have those thick scrappers for that anyway.

i also have the trail hawk and it bites deep. i'd like to try the other hawks.

Plus one on the CS Shovel and the Trail Hawk! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I seem to be getting a lot of request for Trail Hawk pants lately for some reason... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

well if you're makin em, just throw one into the box with my quiver when you get around to it.

reminds me i found a nylon quiver for $20 on ebay a few days ago...think i'll buy it.

also considering an upgrade to the rifleman's hawk.

The Rifleman's Hawk is nice too, quite a bit heavier, more of a medium Axe I guess.

I'll keep that in mind on the Trail Hawk, I've been so busy, I haven't rushed getting to the Quiver, I'll try to make time for that soon, I'm sure it'd come in handy when the weather starts to warm. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

no rush, jeff. be at ease, let those creative juices flow, and take your time. it'll just make it all the sweeter.

Cool, Thanks. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I figured you'd let me know if you got to needing it.

even though they are a little more expensive i would go with a wetterlings i have both a wetterlings 19 in. and a fiskars of the same size and i find myself reaching for my wetterlings every time.

Wetterlings I have found to be similar to the Gransfors Bruks
except it isnt nearly as sharp out of the box.
It is much cheaper though.
Never used a Estwing.(well,not one that wasnt a hammer!)

I only have the small Gerber pack axe. I need to find one in a more mid range size. Sometimes the Gerber is just too small.

Nice Kukris - I love, love LOVE my Cold Steel kukri. I would give a kidney for a Yard kukri made from SR77 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Chops almost as good as a hatchet, and can be used to baton too. Great blade design!

I dont know how sharp a Gransfors Bruks axe comes on the acount i havent ever had one but my wetterlings came to me hair shaving sharp. i was extreamly supprised by this and also very happy until i was caping with it a few months back and ran out of fire wood 3 hours till light and out of stupididy chopped through a log and completly destroyed the top corner.

Im glad to hear that.
Maybe mine was just a fluke.
If you cant figure out how to sharpen your ax,
maybe you can send a message to horndog,he might be able to
give you some guidance.

I recommend you a Roselli axe, in High Carbon Steel:

I look at Wetterlings as a budget Gransfors Bruks and a great value.

There are many times that I will reach for an axe over a knife. Use the right tool for the job and 1/2 your work is done.

I like the axe/saw/knife combo.

i am a decent sharpener but i chiped out the edge too much i will post a picture and you could tell me what to do.

here are some picture. sorry for the bad quality

this is after i tried to sharpen out the ship so there is no metal i can move back to the edge