Saturday, June 10, 2023

Everyone needs one

 



14 comments:

  1. Hasn't been improved on in 300 years.
    Make sure you get a puck sharpening stone or a mill bastard file to keep it honed.

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    1. That's how I did it for several decades, then. seven yeas ago, I got a big belt sander. Happy Sharpener, incarnate.
      I've got three of those, One near pristine, one very good, used, one with electric taped remnant of stacked leather.

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  2. Picked this exact hatchet up five years ago, used extensively. Would not recommend it as a first line tool. Soft metal, chips and edge folds easily. Looks great but not durable. Sad as I am always looking for high quality USA tools.

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    1. You know it’s for wood not rocks right?

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    2. Yes. Used it for brush clearing. Good looking but just not up to any serious field work. I bought it against a friend's advice who clears growth around his family's summer cabin near Tahoe. I told him it was probably a one off problem. Turned out he was correct. Buy it, put it on the wall to look at, don't take it to the woods as a useful tool.

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  3. My dad had one back in the 60s and kept it in the camper. Had it for 30+ years.

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  4. The older models seem to have better steel in them, I was given a new one for Christmas two years ago so I could "Retire" my duct taped handled old one.

    Axe seems to have very soft steel, doesn't hold an edge well compared to my old model.

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  5. I got a black one with a rubber handle back in the 70's when I was a Boy Scout. The wife uses it more than I do. Due to sharpening the blade is now 3 & 1/8th of an inch.

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  6. I prefer the rubber-handled Estwings over the traditional leather disk handles. Better grip when wet (from rain or sweat or... blood) and better shock-control.

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  7. As to those with complaints on the metal, contact Estwing. They're a very good customer service company.

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  8. really like the tommyhawk i got from them recently. works extremely well as an attention getter when needed.

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  9. I have one that I received 64 years ago from my Dad when I was about 8 (it was his 'old one' that he purchased in the early 1950's and he bought a shiny new one).

    I still have and use it. As stated by others above, I clean and sharpen it up every so often. Had to fix the sheath once, but otherwise trouble-free.

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  10. Wooden handled hatchets, not steel, will deliver more weight to the target with more accuracy and less strain on your arm.

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