Camping Hatchets

Our camping hatchets are one-hand axes for camp chores: splitting kindling, limbing branches and trimming tent stakes. They run 7.5 to 17 inches overall. All are hand-forged pattern-welded Damascus (1095 and 15N20) with a 4 to 5 inch edge, and each comes with a leather head mask.

Knives
3
Price
Overall length
Handles

3 knives

The collection

About Camping Hatchets

What is a camping hatchet used for?

A camping hatchet splits kindling, limbs fallen branches and points tent stakes. The 7.5 inch walnut hatchet is the small bushcraft hatchet that packs into a bag. The 17 inch Damascus hatchets on walnut or rosewood give a longer swing, still in one hand.

Camping axe or hatchet?

A hatchet is the camping axe you swing with one hand; a full-size axe takes two hands and splits larger rounds. We sell no two-hand axe, so a camping hatchet from us is for kindling, branches and stakes, not for felling trees. Read hatchet vs axe for the full comparison, see the Damascus hatchets alone, or pair one with a knife from camp and bushcraft knives or hunting knives.

Common questions

What is the best hatchet for camping?

The best hatchet for camping is the size you will carry. For a backpack, the 7.5 inch Damascus hatchet with a 4 inch edge packs small and handles kindling and stakes. For a car camp with more wood to split, a 17 inch Damascus hatchet gives a longer swing in one hand. Each comes with a leather head mask.

Walnut or rosewood: which handle suits a camping hatchet?

Both are dense hardwoods that hold a firm one-hand grip. Walnut is lighter in tone with a straighter grain, and rosewood is darker and a little heavier in the hand. The 17 inch hatchets come in either wood and the 7.5 inch hatchet in walnut. Both dry out in heat, so oil the handle now and then.

Does a camping hatchet come with a sheath?

Yes. Each camping hatchet comes with a char leather head mask at no extra cost, with a pale welt, straw-gold saddle stitching and a brass stud. The mask covers the edge so the hatchet can ride in a pack without cutting anything else. Fit it only once the head is dry, because leather holds moisture against the steel.

How do you care for a camping hatchet?

Dry the head after use and wipe on a thin film of oil, because Damascus steel rusts if left wet. Touch up the edge with a file or a fine stone, following the existing bevel. Walnut and rosewood dry out in heat and sun, so oil the handle now and then and keep the hatchet out of a hot vehicle.

Can a camping hatchet be engraved?

Yes, as a paid option, priced per surface, in any combination: the head can be engraved, and so can the leather head mask. The handles are walnut or rosewood, and a wood handle cannot be engraved, so the handle stays plain. Choose the wording when you order; a name or a date on the head makes a camping hatchet a personal gift.
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