What is a Bushcraft Tomahawk? 🔔
It is a type of hatchet that is used for carving and clearing vegetation in outdoor activities such as camping, bushcraft, survivalism, or self-sufficiency. It has a broad axe head with sharp cutting edges and a spike on the opposite end for hammering.
I hope this video will help all the beginners 💻
Features 💡
They are designed for versatility and durability in outdoor wilderness environments. The head of a tomahawk is typically made of durable high-carbon steel with a slightly curved blade. This allows the tomahawk to be used for chopping and cutting wood, clearing brush, splitting kindling, driving tent stakes, and other bushcraft tasks. The blade is usually coated in a black oxide or ceramic coating to prevent rusting and reduce friction when chopping.
The handle is typically made of hickory or other hardwoods and ranges from 12 to 18 inches in length. A longer handle provides more leverage for chopping while a shorter handle gives more control over delicate tasks. The handle may have a lanyard hole on the end and often has grooves or ridges for grip. Some models have removable handles with sturdy steel heads that can be swapped out for portability.
What sets these tomahawks apart is their balance of utility and portability. They are lighter and more nimble than full-sized axes making them ideal for camping, hiking, and survival situations. The ability to perform a wide range of wilderness tasks from constructing shelters to processing firewood makes a quality tomahawk an essential piece of gear for any outdoor enthusiast looking to live off the land. They combine the chopping power of an axe with the control and finesse of a hatchet into one durable, dependable tool.
Safety Rules ❌
- ⭕ Always wear protective eye gear when using a Tomahawk.
- ⭕ Keep the blade of your Tomahawk away from your body and other people, as it can cause serious injury or death.
- ⭕ Make sure you have a secure hold on the handle of your Tomahawk before swinging it to avoid losing control and causing injury to yourself and others around you.
- ⭕ When not in use, store your Tomahawk in a safe place, such as a secure cabinet or container that is out of reach of children and pets.
- ⭕ Be aware that throwing requires special care and technique, so practice with appropriate safety measures in mind before attempting any throws.
- ⭕ Ensure that the blade is sharp enough for effective cutting but not too sharp to cause potential harm to either yourself or others who may come into contact with it unintentionally.
- ⭕ Always inspect your Tomahawk for signs of damage or wear before each use to ensure its optimal performance and safety while using it outdoors or in any other environment where blunt force impact could occur unexpectedly from nearby objects or people passing by you.
Popular Uses 🧐
⚪ One of the most fundamental uses is processing firewood. Its lightweight chopping head can quickly split logs and kindling to gather fuel for campfires. The ability to split timber with precision and control is vital for firecraft. A good tomahawk can take medium-sized logs and divide them into ready-to-burn pieces. Having an effective camp axe makes starting and maintaining fires much easier when in the wilderness.
⚪ Another core use is shelter building. Bushcraft axes are ideal for chopping and shaping wooden poles and beams to construct temporary shelters. Their portable size allows you to easily carry the tool with you, unlike a full-size axe. Whether you need sharpened stakes for a debris hut or are notching beams for a log cabin, a sturdy tomahawk is up for the task. Having a quality chopping tool can make building a lifesaving shelter much faster and more efficient.
⚪ In addition to wood processing, they work great for clearing brush and trails. Their lightweight design won’t wear you out as quickly as heavier tools. When you need to clear brush to make a path, mark a trail, or clean up a campsite, it will blaze through thickets efficiently thanks to its sharp curved blade and slicing power. The ability to quickly clear obstacles improves mobility and safety in the wilderness.
⚪ They also provide peace of mind for emergency self-defence and survival duties. Whether driving off aggressive wildlife or a makeshift weapon of last resort, its chops and strikes can protect in a life-or-death situation. While not designed for combat, a tomahawk can deter threats and allow you to survive long enough to get to safety when endangered. Its utility for security should not be underestimated when facing the unknown in the wilderness.
Best Bushcraft Tomahawk | Best Survival Axes | Best Bushcraft Axe
1# Schrade SCAXE2L 15.7in Large Survival Axe
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Our first candidate for one of the 10 best survival axes is the Schrade SCAXE2L one. We’d like to tell you about its features. First of all, the blade of the axe is made of reliable titanium-coated stainless steel with black rubber, a cold resistance flexibility handle, which should be convenient in use since it won’t slip from your hands due to the material.
Talking about some nice traits we’d say that there is a hammer pommel along with an extra-large Ferro rod for your convenience, with these you should be able to do multiple tasks with one tool. Great, isn’t it? However, looking through the reviews the situation with this axe doesn’t seem as perfect. Some people are incredibly pleased with the tool (most of them), however, it seems like not everyone was that lucky with the axe.
Firstly, some commentators claim that while the axe itself is pretty lightweight, sharp, and solid, the blade chipped after several uses. Some people also say that the axe literally fell apart from the handle, so it probably won’t be a perfect choice if you need an axe for cutting very hard materials. Of course, you should think carefully before purchasing the axe. Considering all the pros and cons of this product, this axe seems to be a decent choice for outdoor survival, however, you should be careful because it might as well let you down in some cases.
2# SOG Bushcraft Tomahawk (Survival Axe, Camping Hatchet)
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Our next competitor is definitely worth your attention. We think this SOG product is convenient for hiking or outdoor activities since this ax (hiking hatchet) is pretty lightweight and easy to carry around. The wood chopping axe can be used as a hammer, which may be a good thing for some people. The reviews are great, there are a few remarks from people, but we don’t think they are too serious. For example, the manufacturer tells us about the included hard-molded glass-reinforced nylon sheath guard for safety.
However, reviewers think that this ax needs a better sheath to make it safer to carry around and stow since it’s very easy to cut yourself trying to attach it, you need to be careful. If that does not bother you much, we believe that you can consider this an option. Some people find the handle too short, we think that the SOG ax looks more like a utility tomahawk than a hatchet.
You can read all the details in the description of the product, but we believe that this axe is worth your attention, so consider buying it if it meets your requirements. We have some other competitors though, so stay tuned to find the best axe for yourself!
3# Gerber 9-Inch Bushcraft Tomahawk
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Another great option to think about is this Gerber Hatchet, It’s available in different sizes so you can choose which one you like on the website. Talking about the axe, we believe that due to its compactness axe fits well in the kit of hikers and car camping. This axe combines lightweight heft and a decent sharp blade. The material of the blade is hardened forged steel and it should be hard and durable enough for long-term use.
Of course, there are some remarks from people, like the exaggerated back curve on the handle, people say that it can irritate the pinkie. Some people managed to break the axe completely, but there are not many comments like that. We believe that the hatchet should be great for splitting small logs, reviewers say that the product does its job pretty well for the price. All in all, we’d recommend this hatchet if it fits with your needs.
4# Estwing Special Edition Bushcraft Axe
Now we would like to introduce you to this axe by Estwing, The reviews on this one are great, is it that great? Let us find out! Firstly, we’d like to point out that the axe is forged in the USA, the manufacturer claims that the axes are made using the finest American steel and should be great for chopping logs, small trees and branches or splitting firewood. Considering the comments, we can say that the hatchet actually does its job pretty well. Some complaints about the steel, it feels softer than it should be, and dulling is possible.
Talking about its advantages, we would point out that the size of the axe is adequate; it possesses good balance, feels solid and should feel comfortable in your hand due to the material of the handle, which is made of genuine leather and is lacquered for a durable yet comfortable feel. As you can see, there some pros and cons of the axe, you should decide for yourself whether it is worth your attention. Summing up, we think that this axe is a good choice of outdoorsmen, you should consider it an option!
5# CRKT Kangee Bushcraft Tomahawk (Tactical T-Hawk with Spike)
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The CRKT Kangee Tomahawk is our next competitor, let’s see its pros and cons. The nylon handle with a textured grip seems to be loved by many people. The axe is a good size for carrying around and feels great, nice, and grippy in the hand. This axe is very sharp out of the box and the ergonomics, the design looks cool and the axe itself cuts very well. If we are talking about firewood, branches etc., that is.
Some people claim that the edge of the blade is brittle and there may be some notches in the blade after chopping through something really sturdy. The material is SK5 Carbon Steel, The material is good and rust-free, but this axe won’t suit you if you need it for chopping something really solid. However, we think that the axe may be considered if it meets your requests, you should be careful and read the description of the product though. Whether to buy it or not is totally up to you.
6# Cold Steel Trail Bushcraft Tomahawk
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Our next choice is the cold steel Trail hawk, This one is a really affordable choice and if you don’t want to spend much money on a hawk you should pay attention to this product. As you can tell from its name it is made of cold steel. The steel is good and sharp enough, that you won’t have to sharpen it too often, The handle is solid, but needs a little work it since it’s not too comfortable in your hand. Our research has shown that the hawk is good for light chopping and for gathering kindling-sized wood, but you may need something stronger for splitting firewood or anything else.
That is to be expected due to its inexpensive price. The hammer poll is small, but it’s enough for stakes if you’re careful and it can be used to finish off pieces of wood. It’s really lightweight, which may be good for throwing and packing, but as we’ve already mentioned, you won’t have enough power for heavy-duty chopping. We would recommend the Trail Hawk if you want a nice lightweight tomahawk for a great price. Make up your mind considering all the pros and cons along with its price.
7# Schrade SCAXE2 Small Survival Axe
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This SCHRADE axe seems to be a very worthy candidate in our top. The blade is made of a reliable 3Cr13 titanium-coated stainless steel head and seems to be sharp and sturdy enough, based on the reviews. A good thing for a survival hatchet is that the axe features a hammer pommel as well as an extra-large Ferro rod that is stored inside the shaft.
However, some people managed to break the blade of the handle while using it as a hammer pommel so you should be aware of the possibility. The handle is strong and comfortable enough. You also should know that based on the reviews you shouldn’t buy this one to carry around for camping, because it may be way too heavy. As always. You can read about the dimensions and all the details on the website. Other than that, we believe that it is a good quality product at a great price.
8# Fiskars X7 Bushcraft Tomahawk
Our next competitor might be the best one in our top (review-wise). People say that the hatchet feels good in the hand and is nicely balanced. Considering its description this axe should fit great for chopping kindling and small- to medium-sized logs. There are not many negative comments. Some people claim to have issues with the metal of the edge folding over or being hard to sharpen.
However, it is soft steel and the blade will dull fairly easily if you use it for high-duty tasks. You should be aware that the hatchet is not made for that. Most of people don’t find it a problem though and think the blade is d easy to sharpen. To sum up, we recommend you buy this product for light backyard use or hiking since it is pretty lightweight.
This product seems to be of good quality and the price is just another bonus. If it is what you’re looking for then you should go for it!
9# Snake Eye Tactical Compact Tomahawk
This Snake Eye tomahawk is the next product we’d like to show you. People find it to be great for target practice. Let’s see its traits. Firstly, these are short and compact, the axe is literally made for throwing. Sure, these hatchets work great and throw well, but some people think they are a bit too small and light (that may be due to individual preferences).
The Stainless Steel Blade can be used on some branches or for any light work. There is not much information about the product, you should check it out on the website and read the details and reviews, but we think if you want to practice your throwing skills for hunting or self-defence, you can definitely think about buying them.
10# Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Bushcraft Axe
Last but not least in our top best tomahawks/axes is this Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet. The blade of this axe is sharp and the handle is extremely solid. However, people say that this axe might be good to use on softwoods exclusively since they are not made for very hard materials and there may be divots in the edge after several uses on something really strong. People in the comment section also say that they enjoy the design and ergonomics of the hatchet. The next thing to point out is that the hatchet is suitable for typical camping activities and is lightweight.
Well, despite the fact that 80 per cent of people are satisfied with the quality, we believe that the main problem with the tool is the poor quality control in some cases. The thing is, some people got exactly what they didn’t want to and not as well-made as other customers. Summing up, the tool itself is great and is worth your attention, however, you should be careful with whom you buy this axe.
How To Use 🔨
🟩 Chopping Wood |
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🟩 Clearing Brush |
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🟩 Shelter Building |
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🔴 Remember to always follow local laws and regulations regarding the use of tools in outdoor environments and practice responsible and safe handling. Always grip the handle towards the bottom end for more control and never raise the tomahawk above head height. Clear the area of any obstructions and keep proper spacing between people when swinging a tomahawk. Sheath the tomahawk securely when not in use and never throw or wield it recklessly.
Watch this video to find more information 💻
FAQ ❓
Conclusion 🤩
We hope this Bushcraft Tomahawk Buyer’s Guide has been helpful in providing you with useful information and product reviews to help you make an informed decision when selecting the best Tomahawk for your needs. Remember, it is important to consider all of the features that are available on each model before making a purchase.
Additionally, take into account how you will be using the tool as well as what type of environment or terrain you may encounter while out in nature. With these considerations taken care of, we wish you luck in finding the perfect bushcraft tomahawk! 💸🛒
Best Pick:
Tags: #Bushcraft #Tomahawk #Survival #Axe #Best #Tomahawks #Cold Steel #Gerber #Schrade #Hachet #Kangee #CRKT #Review
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Greetings! How strong is a tomahawk?
The strength of a tomahawk depends on various factors, including its design, materials used, and construction quality. A well-made tomahawk is designed to withstand the rigors of outdoor tasks and should exhibit sufficient strength for its intended purposes.
🟡 Tomahawks typically have a solid construction, with a strong handle and a durable head. The handle is commonly made from wood, fiberglass, or other sturdy materials, while the head is typically crafted from high-quality steel. The steel used in the head should have good hardness and toughness to withstand impacts and resist bending or chipping.
🟥 While tomahawks are sturdy tools, it’s important to note that they do have limitations. They are not meant for heavy-duty chopping or industrial-level tasks like felling large trees. Tomahawks are generally more suitable for lighter chopping, splitting small logs, carving, and other bushcraft-related activities.
⭕ It’s crucial to use a tomahawk within its intended purpose and not subject it to excessive force or abuse. Regular maintenance, including inspecting the head and handle for any signs of wear or damage, will help ensure the tomahawk remains strong and functional over time.
Overall, a well-designed and properly maintained tomahawk can offer sufficient strength for a variety of outdoor tasks. However, it’s important to use it responsibly and understand its limitations to avoid any potential damage or accidents.
Although tomahawks are great for throwing and it can be a fun sport, it’s a common misconception that they are primarily throwing weapons. It’s important to remember that a thrown weapon is a lost weapon. Unlike stationary targets, animals move, so it’s unlikely that you would make an immediate kill. Moreover, if you throw your tomahawk or knife at an animal, they could run off with it. In tomahawk fighting, fighters never let go of their weapon.
To my mind, it is not comfortable to take tomahawks everywhere. Isn’t the it heavy and bulky to carry?
No, one of the advantages of the Bushcraft Tomahawk is its compact size and lightweight design.
🟡 It is typically designed to be portable and easy to carry in your backpack or attach to your belt, making it convenient for outdoor adventures.
I personally believe that the tomahawk is a versatile all-around tool. It’s interesting to see how some people claim they need an axe while resorting to using their knives for batoning wood. It just goes to show that a well-designed tomahawk can handle a wide range of tasks effectively.
I’ve witnessed firsthand how a good tomahawk can excel in chopping, splitting, carving, and even hammering. Its compact size and sturdy construction make it a reliable tool for various outdoor activities. Whether I’m camping, hiking, or engaging in bushcraft, having a tomahawk by my side gives me the confidence to tackle different tasks efficiently.
I think the tomahawk is not very practical. It lacks versatility since it cannot be used for chopping wood or detail work, unlike a knife. Additionally, it is heavier than a large knife but has a smaller blade edge. Furthermore, it is only slightly lighter than a boy’s axe which is more effective for processing wood.
I highly recommend getting rid of the set screw. Instead, I prefer to use a wood rasp and sandpaper to properly fit the head to the handle, just like it should be. Tomahawk heads are meant to be friction fit, and they always have been.
Personally, I own three Cold Steel hawks: the Trail Hawk, the Norse Hawk, and the Rifleman’s Hawk. I must say, they are all exceptional hawks and reliable tools. I prioritize their use as tools first and weapons second. However, I can’t deny that they are also a lot of fun to throw. Throughout the years, I’ve used them extensively for camping and hunting tasks since I acquired my first one way back in the late 70’s.
The bushcraft tomahawk is my reliable companion for any outdoor adventure. Its versatility, durability, and compact design make it an essential tool for wilderness enthusiasts.