no reason to. There are better splitters the same size, but the estwing cuts better. If you're in the wilderness cutting is more important than splitting, because cutting takes more energy and an axe shaped for cutting can decently split if you know what you're doing. Wranglerstar made the same point in his 2013 video where he talked about shape. Estwing's also USA made, a great choice for a lifetime tool
I use the Fiskars version of this hatchet every day to split firewood/kindling inside the house. Works a treat as I don't have to swing a larger one around :)!
Handle too damn short, you can also choke up on a longer handle. You can get a kindling axe/hatchet for about £7.00 on ebay or any cheapie ironmonger, I had one from woolworths for over twenty years, was fine. Forget the Estwing , the grip will get wet and then get loose. The trick with hatchets is to find one where the balance suits you. That Gerber is meant for throwing.... at fish !
That's great news! I just bought two, the smallest from Fiskars! Just got them today and I already love them!! Next to chopping small pieces they are super in the hand when woodworking! I scraped the paint of today on a wooden cabinet and WOW how thin this slices!! I'm also training with them (masks on..!) as if they're dumbells 😂😂 to get a good feeling and really make them an extension of my arms and hands.
The whole point of these mini hatchets is that they're small and portable. I think it's a bit unfair to compare it to larger hatchets or choppers. This would be a nice thing to have in a lightweight survival or bug out bag, it doesn't take up much room and has more utility than a belt knife. Get rid of the clunky mask/handle and you can fit that thing in a very small space.
So save a bunch of calories carrying it then use them all trying to make it work? I mean it would be good if one were doing carving though I rarely use a hatchet anymore.
Sorry bud, but I have to disagree...weight vs rate, and this thing rates like junk, yes you save weight, but you lose virtually every reason to bring a hatchet that the knife on your belt can't handle...
@@johnhildenbrand2642 not every reason, I am looking for a little lightweight hammer for tent stakes. When the ground is hard or frozen. So it might aswell be a hatchet. Wish they were half the weight.
Great review, and I hear what you're saying, but... Over here in Belgium (and other countries in Western Europe), our "national parcs" are the size of a handkerchief compared to yours, and camping in the woods and making a shelter and campfire etc. are often not allowed. So when you're hiking with a Fiskars X7 on your belt (which I also own, and love, but mainly use at home) , people will automatically think you're up to no good, and a big knife like you use in your video is definitely a no go... That's why most of my fixed blades are also rather small (Casström Woodsman, or a Mora Garberg) compared to the ones you often test. So I bought the small Gerber, since it fits in my camera bag and I can use it in an emergency situation, or when I find a quiet spot in the woods and quickly want to collect material to make a bow drill back home, to practice my skills. Anyway, love your videos, keep up the good work 👍. Greetings from Belgium, stay safe. Eric
I've got the x5 and consider it as a splitting wedge with a handle, paired with my silky 270 and a SAK farmer with a ferro rod lanyarded to it it's a great lightweight set up for feeding the fire stove or making shelters, as soon as you think of it as a splitting wedge on a handle it makes far more sense
I found one of these about 10 months ago while out hunting. My son put some skateboard tape on the handle and we sharpened it makes a world of difference. I like it we’ve put it to work a good bit.
@@mountaingoattaichi there really wouldn't be a point. Wranglerstar has spent a long time doing that. He's pretty much one of the authorities when it comes to comparing axes. that being said he'll pretty much always pick a gransfurs.
I have a small Hults Bruks trappers axe, I love it for camp/utility tasks. Making ridge poles, cooking tripods, cutting kindling, etc. Scandinavian axes are the best, hands down. This little Gerber would be plenty useful for carving if the edge was filed properly, this guy doesn’t really know about axemanship.
I’ve used one of the older ones with the knife in the handle over the last 15 years for processing big game. It works great for splitting the sternum and pelvic bones. It fits in my back pocket of my hunting pants so I don’t even know I’m caring it.
I made one of these my self and I put a folding saw into the handle, has been serving me well over 5 years never had any problems and its solid as heck!
Yep, totally agree with you. I’ve got a similar Gerber. I guess you could baton it through some wood, but I really miss the extra length of a more full size hatchet.
It’s a great hunting hatchet and when space is limited in your pack and you need it to clear limbs and process your kill - especially when hiking way out and trying to keep your pack limited in weight and dimensions.
Exactly 👍 And that little Gerber axe won't get you arrested in places where knife laws are stricter (like most of Europe...). Pair up the Gerber axe with a Mora HD Companion and you get a more versatile load out (and one that you can carry discretely) compared to that huge TOPS knife, and still save a nice penny.
I know how well Condor machete's would perform on those arm sized pieces of wood. Better than Tops and better than Back Paxe. But yeah, as Eric said. In Europe they are not too keen on large knives . Though a cheap machete easily competes with the X7 as well. And for clearing a path, think of overhanging brances, the speed of the machete does a way better job. For splitting the axe is better.
@@TheJoedonbakerfan True. But I'm not a minimalist in everything either. I do like my Cold Steel Tri-Ad Lock folding knives. It's a bit like what Mors Kochanski said, if you're paying more than ten bucks, you're wasting your money. Unless you like the beauty and quality of certain products. But for survival , to live , yeah, a ten dollar knife will work also. As the 10 or 15 dollar axe/hatchet, and machete.
Out here, in pa, i use one in place of a knife over the winter. Its pretty thin, especially compared to the fiskars style hatchet. But, Its less likely to be damaged by frozen wood. But i also carry a 2.5lb axe for my larger wood processing needs. Dont knock a style of product just because you dont understand its place or how to use it effectively.
That Hatchet would be great at processing animal carcasses . Takes after the older Case , Western knife / hatchet combos that was popular in the 60s 70s.
I use mine to trim small branches on trees. I’ve had mine 15 years and used it hundreds of times in my landscape business. Also great for splitting oak, pecan and mesquite for my bbq pit
I have one of the Gerber Gator combo axes with the small fixed-blade knife in the handle. I carry it for hiking, fishing and hunting. These are occasions in which I MIGHT need a hatchet. If I'm going to be in a situation where I WILL need an axe or hatchet, I'll take along a full size hatchet or axe. I don't expect my Swiss Army Knife or Multiplier to replace my tool box. I carry them for the occasion that a task presents itself that they can handle conveniently.
Traditionally they were used with more of a pushing motion while holding them near the head. They also had a bearded blade style to facilitate carving .
Those carpenter style axes are still around, but the handles aren't usually that short. More like the longer hatched he showed. They just need to be short enough that when you choke up on it like you mentioned, it wouldn't get in the way.
@@kaizoebara That’s not true. Vikings used different sized/shaped hatchets, small knives, medium knives, big knives, scrama sax knives/short swords, and plenty of other tools. Look at the Japanese and all the different food prep knives they use.
@@whengrapespop5728 Of course there were different sizes and shapes etc, because every weapon/tool was basically custom made at that time. However, apart from a nobleman, the average guy did not have an assortment of dozens of the same type of tool. As for the Japanese, you are wrong again: the vast diversity developed during the Edo-period, which is way, way past the viking age.
@@kaizoebara I wasn’t implying that the Japanese developed their knives during the Viking age, I was trying to say that it’s not uncommon for cultures/individuals to prefer a large assortment of tools, while others might prefer a “one tool to do it all”. In contrast to people from Japan, people from China pretty much only use a Chinese chef’s knife / vegetable cleaver and a meat cleaver, for example. So, owning an axe for kindling, another for carpentry, a third for chopping and another for splitting was/isn’t that uncommon. Sure, some Viking only used what they had (which is partly why the axe was a popular weapon as well), but I’m sure that was a case to case thing. Most people had multiple knives, however.
At the end of the day a hatchets handle needs to be a bit longer for better swing and not to smash hands on logs, but I suppose the shorter handles have their use in the wild for much smaller jobs, maybe handy if just out for a days hike in the hills
Splitting wood and pounding in tent pegs is all many campers will need. It does some tasks fairly well so I guess I won't knock it for that, but at that price I'd go Estwing for sure.
I'm trying to be under 15LB base weight, I'm at 16lb complete. Its been expensive because of buying all the wrong stuff over and over again. your videos are worth a lot, wish I'd started using YT sooner it would have saved me thousands. I'm close to having a pack we are going to duplicate many times.
You can go to Harbor Freight and get one of their little yellow handled ones for about $5 if you watch the sales. Wish they had those little ones with wood handles. Don’t tell my Gransfors Bruk but I’ve been really impressed with the steel on the HF junky hatchets and axes.
I have a gerber pack hatchet and ive been using it for making trails to ride dirtbikes on. Its way better than trying to use little lopers and its way more fun. They definitely have their uses
Glad to see Estwing Sportsman getting some love in comparison. It is my first purchase of an axe for backpacking and just in general outdoor use (camping, bushcraft, getting wood for bonfire, ect). Glad I went with it.
I have the SOG mini-hatchet (Hand Ax); bought because it was full tang and has a lifetime guarantee. I told the guy at the store I was going to try and break it. Since then I've been beating the hell out it using to baton fire wood for my mountain cabin for three full years. It is a piece of shit chopper, but surprisingly batons pretty well for what it is and the low cost. Now I use the Tops El Chete as it is much more pleasant to beat on with a club; but if you use a baton with this little hand ax it does an amazing job. Others hatchets that have the synthetic handles will not hold up, but this thing has G-10 scales with 360 degree exposed tang. You can literally beat it to death and it will not break. Not my favorite tool, but it has its place for light work, not (not cabin building). Thanks for all of your videos; I've enjoyed them through the years.
So true..I luv my double bit estwing.. But that little Gerber is so cute..I guess it has its purpose..being so light and easy to pack. Another inch an the handle would be nice.....thats what she said
How often do you really miss with a hatchet, though? I own this myself, and never missed a hit. Practical little thing, and you could probably diy a longer handle with its hollow handle (haven’t tried it myself, though).
Another excellent video thank you. I have a couple of small hatchets this size and find that they are great for when you only have a small bushcraft shoulder bag and they don’t take up any room. Good enough for a small fire or crafting. Horses for courses. I love my Fiskers X7 so may look to get the 9 inch version.
A few years ago, I was in Teton NP in WY and got stuck when a tree fell across the road. After a few and park ranger finally showed up. I had no saw or axe in my truck, so ashamed and I've remedied that now, but the "ranger" tiny little blond girl, only had one of those tiny Gerber axes and it was dull. She directed traffic and I had to cut. The tree was about 6" in Diameter and it took me nearly half an hour to get through it. Worthless in my book. I now carry a Saw, Tomahawk, half axe and machete in my truck. Better to have and not need than need and not have.
Great information thanks for sharing and taking the time to make this. I will say that looks better than the slim one I carry. But still my favorite is the estwing!
Love Gerber and Fiskar stuff. My gf got me a set of no big deal Gerber folding knives and theyre my favorite knives and hold up well. My problem with modern hatchets, and axes: I can't shove a stick in the hole and bang a wedge in it in any environment when the handle eventually breaks if my hatchet is a solid wedge of steel forced into some molded plastic.
A small axe like this is good for firecraft and large carving tasks but there are better designs. I would suggest shopping consignment/resale pages/flee markets for something like this if you want to do a lot of carving, 10-20 dollars will get you a piece of history that will patina beautifully. If you're going to be going out into the wilderness you want either a 16-20 inch hatchet or a machete/chopper.
I am used to a larger hatchet, but recently I did get a Marbles 12". I had a bit of learning curve to use the 12". I do not think I would ever be comfortable with a 9" hatchet. you talk about your Large size hands, I wear XL leather gloves, and find I need to stretch the knuckles out before they fit right. I prefer a 16" hatchet, but I do like how packable the 12" is. I just do not see any future for a 9" hatchet in my hands. Some people might find it useful, just not me.
A good video demonstrating all the reasons why I don't like hatchets( and even axes)! Let's be practical - who in their right mind would want to do that kind of work with a hatchet? It's nuts! A Silky saw would do it in a fraction of the time, with far less energy expenditure! I could even do it easily with my Cold Steel Trail Master (if I had to!), which I would have anyway! Why would I also carry a fiddly little hatchet? With a decent saw, like a Silky Outback Gomboy (or Bigboy, depending), and my TM I'm up for processing lumber!
have one. fiskars x5. great backup tool to carry in your car for example. also becomes handy when knife is not enough, but axe takes too much space in bag...
I think you're being unfair comparing this hatchet with large axes. Many of us buy smaller tools like the Gerber simply for the convenience of having a tool that is smaller and easier to pack. I carry a smaller than the Gerber hatchet in my Emerson Chest Pack. It is custom made and weighs ounces; however, it performs, even exceeds, well enough to process small wood; also an excellent self defense tool in hand-to-hand combat. I built a debris shelter with it. It fits in the pack alongside my CCW (with two extra magazines) plus an array of survival tools including an Esee Izula, SOL Bivy and a Baofeng radio. The pack weighs less than 7 pounds. I have a Gransfor Bruks, a Fiskars X7 and a Cold Steel Trail Boss but those go on overland camping trips along with an electric 18" chainsaw. Comparing the Gerber to the Fiskars or other large axes is like comparing my 18" electric chainsaw to a gas-powered full on chainsaw that foresters use. For many of us it's all about convenience.
I carry a 9" hatchet, an Agawa Canyon 21" folding saw, and my belt knife; I can handle 95% of my needs on wilderness canoe trips with minimal weight in my pack.
I was told by an old fisherman who lived close by where I grew up, that this style of hatchet was similar to the ones used on sailing ships pre 1900s. He said they made the handles short and used them in emergencies to cut lines without hitting the lines around them. The short handles lend themselves towards precision and one chop from that was significantly faster than trying to cut with a knife or a sword... I would love to hear your opinion on that, but I'm not sure of the accuracy lol. He could have just been trying to sound like he knew what he was talking about....
I have a Gransfors mini and it is awesome for splitting the sternum and pelvis of elk. Also helps using the poll to separate the hide from the meat. Small and packable butcher tool. Not sure if the gerber would work for that or not as far as the flay poll is concerned.
I got that X5 maybe 10 years now and it is my fatwood collector:) But i prefer using the X10. The best thing with that small axe (we say axe about every size in sweden) its that it take not alot of space in the backpack and will do the job pretty good.
Good honest review. Precisely my thoughts as well. Really no reason to take the Gerber Back Paxe II when you can have so much more performance with the X7 which is practically just as easy to store in the pack. Plus nearly the same weight. The leverage is what makes the axe/hatchet effective in chopping, longer is more striking power. This Paxe is too short. And it's also possible to hurt your hand being that close to the target.
My brother and I bought these small axes about 20 years ago. We did a lot of backpacking in the Adirondack mountains. We would go for a week or two at a time bushwhacking. pertaining and Big blades were not popular back then. I believe he carried a western 5 inch blade hunting knife and me a buck 110 so that small hatchet filled a niche for us. At that time. I have to say they never let us down. We did put grip tape on the handle though. We both still have ours they ride in our get home bags in our vehicles.
Not everyone has a knife they can baton to make kindling this would be great for that as you demonstrated as far as cutting threw trees not so much but thats what a saw is for cutting your bits of wood to make kindling.
Thanks for your nice demonstration of this short handle hatchet, and in concordance of your skill, I have now a good idea in my needs. I've seen your X7 compare to the Gerber Bushcraft. I will go on with this last as it's good quality and compromise in weight and size.
Honest review. I’ve never understood extremely short (sub 12”) handles on hatchets. I’ll keep using my $30 tomahawk or 1970’s boy scout hatchet. Both work well for 3” or smaller wood with the tomahawk having one added feature, if you really want to do fine carving with it (ulu style) just take the handle completely off and reinstall it when done.
I've got the Fiskars X5 and it is handy and it has done me well especially with the SW72 saw. I still have my Gränsfors, hachetes and large knives for however I need to pack for the trip. Very good as it is not tactical scary looking for carrying in SHTF situations. The police seem to overlook it.
I could see it if you have a specific way you camp I'd prefer an eastwing or a tomahawk but thats what I'm used to. Batoning with fixed blades hasn't been my thing but a esse 5 has actually been a good chopper for me so I can see someone just having a chopper and a smaller fixed blade too
I have the Fiskars XS which is basically the same hatchet as the Gerber. Have it for 2 years and carry it when I have a smaller pack. While it has limitations I really like it. It works great for splitting smaller pieces of wood, battoning wood, carving feather sticks etc. It's not as good as my Fiskars X7 which I carry for camping or longer trips. Is it perfect, no. But for me it's a good tool for it's purpose.
I don't think you are up the creek without a paddle I just think you are being extremely narrow viewed in your very accurate opinion from one perspective. From a bushcraft/survival perspective I completely agree with your comments and I would never carry one for that purpose. However, from my experiences hiking, these small pack hatchets are very popular with mainstream hiker/camper/trekkers who one; don't want to look like a complete psycho carry carrying a 9inch machete/knife and 2; want something to get firewood with and bang in their tent pegs. This model looks like a rebranding of the Fiskars x5.
Ya, but my point is this hatchet 🪓 doesn’t have the power to do that. The 12” sportsman’s will cost the same or less, weigh exactly the same, and when you account for the handle on the Gerber scabbard you have the same footprint. Plus the estwing has a thinner face, better for fine work, but still works well with the bigger tasks. My smallest 18L pack can easily conceal it, and I would think anyone is a psycho for carrying it. Since it’s so compact and retro/classic looking.
its a tool its basically a hybrid of a knife and small axe,it fits into a small backpack its very discrete and its cheaper then a bk2 whats not to like you just have to adapt how you use it.its an option thats very budget friendly compared to what you had to buy before on the market to get to something this small,if you want a bigger hatchet just buy the x7.and the x7 is a budget option over a small gränsfors axe for peanuts in price.just buy the x5 instead of the gerber branded one and its cheaper.the axe is designed in Scandinavia,the only other option before this in that size was custom axes in Finland and they are very very expensive and is popular with hunters.
@@DShiflet01 Depends on where you're living. Here in Belgium, the Estwing will cost more than double of what the Gerber or the Fiskars X5 (which is exactly the same as the Gerber) costs... Sadly enough 😞
I know its way late for the comment but the point of these small hand axes imo is blade preservation of your main knife. You want to keep that as prestine and sharp as possible. Those axes can be used for not only light splitting like youve shown, but used for feathersticking and doing light chopping as in sharpening a stick for a tent stake or spear. Like i said in my opinion its for preserving your knife and it takes hardly any space in a pack as long as you get a proper leather mask and not that crappy thing gerber gives you.
I pack the X5 and gerber game shears for the sole purpose of cleaning chuckar, pheasants, and other upland game birds. Wouldn't try to use it for ANY large campsite tasks.
If the blade had a really narrow profile it would make sense but that geometry is made for splitting and its just a matter of time before you slam your knuckles into the wood with that thing.
I like my fiskars x5 as a splitting wedge on a stick, it's the size of a bushcraft knife but splits well and you can carve a wedge then batton with it, if the battoning fails then the wedge goes in, between the tiny x5 silky 270 and a small pocket knife I've a very light set up that's very none threatening and can get alot of work done
i have a spot me and my friend goes in the wood the set up is already there so i think if i want to hike there and go drink there sleep and only make my fire you pair this tool with a folding saw or a silky zubat and you all set so i think of getting one even tho i love my bigger fishkar one eheh :P its just that me and my friend have both an axe so we alway split who brings it i usually bring my coldsteel shovel its a gnarly tool to redig the pond near out hammock spot ! great video thanks
I've never thought of a need to buy a mini. I mean, that handle shortness is pretty lame. The only chance I MIGHT be able to redeem my opinions of one of those lil guys, is if they added some sort of open, easy to use 'moulding' on the side or maybe even inside the hollow handle to where you could lash a decent log or branch to make a real handle with, because that lil test just looked awful. I'll stick with Gerber's saw blade backed machete. It was on sale for like $ 15 at Sportsman's a couple weeks ago
The 9" Gerber is my favorite hatchet. It goes on most outings while my 14" and 17.5" Gerbers stay home. I prefer to pair it with a bow saw blade and make a bow saw or buck saw when I need it. I use the saw to cut larger diameter wood and the hatchet to split it. On minimal winter camps the 9" hatchet fits in my haversack (wearing a leather mask I made, not the factory cover) and is perfect for making a buck saw, my bed, shelter, processing fire wood and most camp chores.It also works well for splitting the pelvis on big game. Just because you don't get it doesn't mean you need to imply those that do are posers. I'm definitely not the type of person to be "putting beard oil in my mustache carving a custom counter top." Then again, I'm not the type to be wearing trendy, name brand outdoor clothing either.
No experience with this one, but I find a small axe or hatchet to be a compromise. I can choke up on a small one and use it as a hand axe and still have the swing when I need it. My current go to is a Marbles outdoor axe (19.75 inch) or sometimes hunter's axe (17.75 inch). The Cold Steel Trail Boss rides in the truck.
