Took a hike yesterday and tried carving a try stick with a small hatchet my daughter gave to me for Christmas. It's just a cheapie she found at a discount store, but it took a good edge, and I've modded it since, adding paracord and tape to build up the handle, and some spray paint to kill shine. It was interesting to me, as carving with a hatchet presents a whole different set of manipulation challenges when you are used to a knife. Still, it was fun and I learned a thing or two. Always good to add new knowledge in case a "what if" day ever comes calling. Now I am thinking i may need look into that Gibson ESEE axe!!!
Actually, not hard, just different, `cause the handle is offset/not in line with the blade. I will say, that lashing notch was a bear, trying to work the toe or heel into the notch. Nessmuk knew his stuff when he selected a large folder, a fixed blade, and a belt axe. . .they all do their own specialty tasks very well.
I’ve always been a “practical thinker”, years ago I lived in a very environmentally different part of the state and carried around an Eastwing Campers Hatchet as a primary tool. Did everything from from fishing poles to kitchen work with it. A pot hanger might have been the limit of my carving but I discovered basic batoning and push/pull strokes still worked. The Mora Foraging hatchet tempted me for a long time after that.
"...The Mora Foraging hatchet tempted me for a long time after that." Wow, had no idea Mora made a hatchet???
It’s supposedly based on the Roman one that cooks used during their campaigns is what I read. It gets decent reviews for a lighter chopper.
Nice lines, though I kind of like the idea of a loner bear I can slip my hand up into - seems to me it acts as a guard JIC you slip [dry hands!!!].