Best Bushcraft Hatchet ! 

Dave, you would have loved spending time with my dad! He always thought outside of the box to conclude what was most efficient, practical and ergonomic with any tool or device. He taught me from early on that the best tool was the one you used the most. I'm sure you understand that thinking. As a brick and stone Mason for over 30 years I learned that the tool for any particular purpose not supplied by the industry could be thought out, designed and prototyped. It's actually been very satisfying to create specialty tools and handles for the trowel trades. A finisher friend of mine worked with me to create some new style of handles and trowels that actually worked faster with better quality and comfort than the best of Marshalltown and others. I'm grateful to my father for teaching me welding, metalworking and finish carpentry amongst others that have earned me a living and the ability to make great tools! You keep up the great videos that serve us regular people that don't have the budget for $250 hatchets and knives. Now that's being radical! Craig, Chicagoland

I appreciate videos that educate/bring awareness to outdoor tools (not just sell gear) so thanks!

These videos never get old. Straight to the point. Keep them coming.

Great video! Excellent idea! Roofing hatchets are easy to use and weigh less than the heavy stuff at Wally World.

i got the exact hatchet from an estate sale for 2.50 a few years back and loved it handle was already perfectly coated with linseed oil too PS: made a sheath out of electrical tape and bike innertube rubber works like a charm

I have always know this style of hatchet as a shingling hatchet. I have heard others call it a roofers hatchet and a carpenters hatchet. I have one and have used it for so many different tasks I could not count. Nice to have handy @ the campsite for driving stakes. Great video man, thanks for sharing. Watch your topknot!

I h was d one when I was a kid. Perfect hatchet. Good steel and a pulled head for pounding in stakes etc

I've used a rigger's/framing axe for years while camping. It's not recommended to use an axe poll for pounding but with these there is no issues. I find a longer (14"-18") straight handle on a hatchet far more efficient than the standard shorter (10"-14") & overly thick curved handles so prevalent on most hatchets.

I have also found that a roofer's axe is almost perfect for light camping chores. It chops, splits (better that battoning my knife) and will do carving, and in a pinch...even cut up the sausages, steaks & potatos. Wish that I had though of this years ago (though my brother has had one for maybe 20 years). All the best to Brook...I'm watching on TV, & hope all went well for you.

Thx for the video. I just found a Stanley Handyman that looks just that in my garage. Probably been sittin there for 30 years. Has the nail puller n everything. I’m in the process of reprofiling it because it’s definitively a lot fatter behind the edge than your Vaughan.

Great video Dave. I love Vaughn California framing hammer's for framing and concrete great tools. I have a Chrome X Quality carpenter hatchet made in the 1930's by Western Auto with chromium, vanadium carbon steel alloy by Wizard tools who have since change to Westcraft tools are now called Mastercraft tools for Sears. I got it from a friend of mine who restores old tools and axes. It's become my favorite now. Just something about tools made long ago when quality meet something and people took the time to make tools with a little heart into it and took pride in it. I enjoyed it so much I did a review on my channel.

Thanks Dave! We are all so bombarded with advertising for the newest and shiniest that is hard for us to settle for good enough .

I like how Vaughan is still made in USA. Their saws are amazing.

I like that you are honest and speak your mind. Keep the good work!! Hugs!!

I carry a Tommy hawk. I've had it for years. In fact it always in my truck. It's my defense. I use it for cutting walking sticks.

The Vaughan Carpenters hatchet. $19.00 plus change at most of the hardware stores near me, and best of all still made in the USA. Thanks for sharing

The unsung hero of bushcraft tools

Those Carpenter Hatchets are multi-purpose & will serve an outdoorsman well in the woods in addition to home carpentry chores. I've only bought oneNEW & it was a USA made Vaughn which I caught on close-out for $13. Most of my hatchets have been purchased at flea markets for pennies on the dollar, but the quality of the steel from the mid-1900s is far superior to much of what is on the market today. In fact, today I found the carpenter's hatchet which belonged to my 84 year old brother-in-law's Dad, so it is well over 100 years old & is still in excellent condition. His dad made a straight handle for it instead of purchasing a new one. The straight handle gives the resemblance of a tomahawk/axe. I need to clean it up, re-sharpen it, & treat the handle with boiled linseed oil. Along that same line, I have a drawknife which belonged to one of my grandfathers, & it is probably more than 100 years old. I myself am Old School & 83 years old. The fact that you see the usefulness & value of OLD tools has persuaded me to subscribe. I look forward to seeing more of your videos. One more thing: I also have several carpenter hatchets & a couple of camp hatchets made in Germany; ALL of them have excellent steel! I really enjoyed this particular video.'Blessings on you & yours! The Old Preacher who grew up in old fashioed hardwards stores with tools made in USA.

Dave I have the same Vaughn head as yours. Bought the head at garage sale for about $4, as I remember. I put a new handle on it that is straight hammer type and 17" long. Then found one of the original leather Estwing sheaths (No.5) that fits it perfectly. I have used for everything and have been pleased with it's performance. Great Video.

I kinda agree with you. I don't know about new ones, but I've never passed up a vintage carpenters axe before and have a rack with about 20 of them. I overpaid for the first one, a vintage Plum in mint condition for $40, but since then I find them farm fresh and clean them up for next to nothing.

Looks a great deal like my Stanley Handyman hatchet, original handle has “742” in silver paint in the wood. I need to re-hang it on the original handle to fix some wedge issues. Re-hanging on an original handle is more work, but it saves the wood. I have a Norland “tomahawk” 1 or 1 1/2 pound hatchet that was hung crooked, and had some kind of aluminum wedge in it. I was able to get the old wedge out, built up the business end with some hardwood slabs glued on with Total Boat flexible marine epoxy, reshaped it so the head was straight on the handle, and re hung it with a wooden wedge with no steel wedges. My preferred way of hanging tool heads is to mix up the flexible epoxy with silica powder until it is the consistency of peanut butter, butter the inside of the eye, butter the outside of the handle, butter the slot for the wedge,, and butter the wedge. Put it all together and place the wedge against the floor, and drive it from the handle end until it is tight, leaving the wedge a little proud. The epoxy has a long “open time” and a 24 -36 hour cure time, so I just put it aside until the stuff is fully cured. If done right the epoxy oozes out both ends, and removes all voids between the steel and the wood. Since the wedge is glued to the inside of the slot, there is no need to drive steel wedges into the eye. Once the wedge is trimmed, a good soaking of the eye with boiled linseed oil prevents moisture from getting into the wood and loosening up the handle with wet-dry cycles.

I have an old Stanley I use after failing to find a tomahawk like I wanted and am very happy with it

I had one of these years ago was a great hatchet. I even used it to cut a hole in the hood of one of my beater yard cars. I miss it so much

Funny but I have one that's old. My dad used it . On day my oldest son welded a metal handle on it and we use it all the time!! Thanks much for sharing this information and blessings 😇🇺🇸

Honest advice from a down to earth, no nonsense, experienced outdoorsman. Love your videos, subscribed and look forward to learning from your knowledge. Thanks for sharing. Oh and I thought you were from Canada Eh! then you mentioned Michigan the state that says Eh as much as us Canadians.

Grew up calling that a roofing hatchet. Also use to make cedar shakes for my uncle. Great practical advice. Not just RU-vid reguratating. .

Thank you for the video. I watched you on season 4. Great shelter, by the way. I am making a homemade hatchet. I was inspired by the Gerber pack ax and the Silky Ono. It would be a whole lot cheaper just go go buy one like the one you have. I have been looking at the Estwing carpenters ax because it is solid tang for throwing.

It's a roofing shingler's hatchet. It just adopted the name of "carpenter's hatchet" years after carpenters started using them too because they were so versatile. "Hardcore Hatchet" makes brand new ones in the old style from high carbon steel hand forged in America for only $40 and they come with rock solid warranties. No two are alike. They are all handmade.

Hey Dave I know this video is older but Im hoping you can help me with something. I just bought one and it came very blunt with a 45° edge. What angle do you recommend I grind it too for bushcrafting? and carpentry? 27°? Microbevel or no? Thanks brother

I agree, somewhat. I have two hatchets that I use for camp chores , "bushcraft" and really any general woodworking. One is a Collins homestead hatchet which reminds me of a Dayton and a Connecticut pattern and the other is a Plumb rigger's hatchet much like yours except mine has a thicker more wedge shaped profile which makes it perfect for kindling and light work.

Always been my go-to. With the hammer cut down super short.

This company has a factory about a half hour from me. We always just called it the hammer factory growing up. Never knew it was Vaughn until this video and then did some research, lol. Just bought one this last weekend. Do you have steps or a video of what you did to the hatchet?

Unfortunately they sell nothing of this quality at my local home depot. My splitting wedge is pretty mediocre at best, going to have to adjust the angle on that thing one day myself.

I have a hatchet almost exactly like that. 😀 My hammer poll may be a bit shorter. Another thing I like about the design is you can choke up on the handle for fine cuts/chopping and still have your fingers protected. 😀

Nice little hatchet.

An interesting side note, that design goes all the way back to the middle ages, England's famous longbowmen carried what were called "archers axes" as a standard part of their kit that were nearly identical in design to yours, they used them to make the big stakes that protected them from cavalry, the hammer pol pounded them into the ground.

I have my Estwing Camp hatchet. All I need.

Hahaha This was Right On Time...I Have Always Loved these Carpenters Hatchets...A Friend put a 18” handle on one of those Heads and gave it to me...With a Sheath he made hahaha....Always with me...I’ve been on a soap box about these hatchets hahaha....Really Just Can’t Beat Them And For the price....Thanks for Posting about Them hahaha.....Right on Time

I got one of those that I made sort of a hawk like axe, if that's what can call it. I marked a line and used a cutting torch but now I wish I would have left more cutting edge on it, though. I also had to thin out the handle because it was too thick. Thanks for sharing.

I am not a metal worker but I was able to reshape my Vaughan’s head by removing the nail puller by filing away from the chin to the handle in a gentle arc. It also provides more room for my hand when gripping the head. I rounded all the edges around the handle head area. I was thinking about removing some of the hammer poll. I do like the weight though. What do you think?

Great video Dave. To be honest I've got a couple of these hatchets (my dad and I did remodeling when I was a teenager) but I usually don't take them camping/ hiking. If I take a hatchet I've got a tomahawk that goes out in the woods with me. The only reasons I'll admit to for that choice is, it's got a longer handle which gives me more options and I can remove and reinstall the head when I want. I could also make a new handle in the woods if It broke. I won't say anything about carpenter's hatchets and sentiment.

I have one of those that was my grandfather's, he was a builder. it is probably close to a hundred years old, I don't use it though. Like your presentation.

That looks like it would make good throwing ax...which leads me to...vintage hatchet & axes bring good money these days. Maybe not so much in wooded areas where nearly everybody has a few?

Thanks for the video. I want to point out that the old Plumb roofer's hatchets have more of a standard hatchet blade curve. Good stuff.

That thin profile looks sweet! My only Gransfurs is a wildlife hatchet I've had for 15 years or so and I love it. Recently got a CRKT Chogun woods hawk and with a minimum amount of work its a really good chopper. Love your channel man, keep up the good work!

I've been lookin for a decent hatchet or maybe an axe... but leaning towards the hatchet. I'll hv to go find one of these n see how it feels n my hand. What do u hv wrapped around the handle? I'm new to ur channel, jus gettin to some of the older vids..

That would actually make a good bushcraft tool, the straight thin edge is easy to maintain and makes carving much easier.

Dave do you think that nail puller is a left over from an earlier time when you were specifically replacing ceader shingles and shakes and the nails were always standing proud?

I have the Estwing riggers hatchet, like framing hammer with hatchet on the back, and it is amazing. If I had to have only one tool, this would be it, or something like it. Thinking to get one of the Vaughns to keep in our 4runner standard kit. Thanks.

The old BSA hatchets actually had a nail puller on some of them. Common man tools and gear gets the job done and gets you into the woods quicker. It's nice to see vids on top of the line gear and tools. I just don't want to spend a grand on a hobby. I don't live in the 18 th or 19 th century. Just want good enough to make it easier. I enjoyed the vid.

Hey Dave, do you have a sheath or anything for this? How do you carry it in the bush? I have a CRKT Woods Chogan tomahawk and I absolutely love it. It is heavier than most tomahawks and I really feel it is the best of both worlds between tomahawk and hatchet. It goes for I think around $40 and in my opinion it is beyond worth it. It has a big hammer poll which I cut off to a flat poll, and I like it much, much better this way. Honestly, every time I use it I am impressed by how well it performs. I've used it for a fair amount of limbing, done some carving with it, splitting, even bucking up to 7" or so logs. It's fun to use. Mine came almost sharp from the factory but sharpened up in 1 minute flat and it keeps a good edge. I think it has an 18" handle, which I am finding pretty ideal. It's a blast to throw it, too! I need to procure a sheath for it though. They sell them, and they look like a good leather sheath, but not for cheap, and I'm not sure how it will fit since I cut off the extended poll. I will probably make one. They make another CRKT tomahawk called the Nobo without the poll. I think that one came out right after I got the Chogan, but I think I would prefer the Chogan anyway with the mod because I get the nice flat poll instead of the rounded back of the head. The tomahawk is cool for the bush too because the handle is easier to replace than an axe or hatchet. I recently picked up an old 1.75 lb Collins Homestead axe head with a really narrow bit that I think should do well. I found a 19 inch handle for it and I am looking forward to hanging it and using it.

I agree. Simple is good.

@Bushradical What knife pairing would you suggest with this hatchet? Every knife I buy seems too large or too small to use in my left hand while using a axe or tomahawk in the right.

I don’t know how to send you a picture of mine, Or I would. It’s one of my favorites. I agree with you it’s a great tool for bush crafting or camping ⛺️.

I buy those really cheap used and drift the eye out bigger, put more of curve to the blade and add a longer handle and they make a decent lightweight ax. Of course you have to re-harden and re-temper, but that is not problem. You would be surprised how well they hold a edge.

Vaughn is still made here in America!

glad im not the only one who discovered this one weird trick that grans hates

*Radical* idea... low dollar so nobody is gonna feak out if it gets a nick. I used a half round rasp to make a few finger grip notches and flared the end of the handle a bit deeper. I found mine in the trunk of a car at a junk yard. It was painted bright red!

hahah, That is one of my tools of choice,, I sharpened it and it's nuts

I hear they're dang good hatchet. I do know they're about $20 new at most hardware and big box stores. I have a vintage Belknap brand just like it. However, I prefer a 16"-18" handle & the new Vaughns, at least all I've seen, only have a 14" handle & that's the ONLY reason I haven't bought one.

Yes, I have used these, they are good (cheap) :) and many different companies make them ( the ones I had came from Stanley and Vaughan). They are the poor mans Wetterlings Les Stroud Bushman Axe...haha!

Great video, keep up the good work!

What kind of tape do you have on the handle? Makes me want to go get one of those hatchets!

hi dave like your style and outlook on life just come across your channel ,im subbing thanks for your vids cheers

Dave u right about that...

I think that is a roofing hatchet. Seems like I had one like that 50 years ago.

I like this video and thanks .

Ha cool I have a made in England one of those that I bought for the equivalent of about six dollars that was really worn and used on a fishing boat to open clams lol. Real useful tool though.

I have a Plumb that I use for timber framing.

walmart, but the ones with 17 inch handles you will probably have to buy online

hello dave , is the quality of old and new vaughan same or different?

So damn true.

I got one from wallmart and it's great

What's the difference between a hatchet and a throwing axe ?

They are even sold at walmart and they are still made in the US.

Cool video

Never seen one of those here in Denmark???

hi dave i like your vids and you ,im subbing cheers

The best hatchet is the one you got with you when yore out

Frequently referred to as a half hatchet.

Awesome. I think it's funny Americans will spend $200 for a axe made in Sweden and a person in Sweden is probably spending a equal amount on a $20 axe made in the U.S.

imho that is one of the biggest problems with the bush-craft/ survival community, this belief you have to spend a fortune and use a dwarf made master piece to have a good tool. the truth is, does it work, does it do what you need when you need it? then its good. doesn't matter if you paid $3.50 in a yard sale or $500 at a trade show the important thing is do you have it when you need it and will it do what you need done

The best hatchet for me is the really weird condor thorax hatchet, it's basically a full tang axe with an ulu knife head with a 6" bit and a convex edge, it's an incredibly versatile belt axe. This from a guy that really doesn't like hatchets, I prefer tomahawks for my light chopping tool, but this ugly little axe is just too useful not to bring out with me. You might want to check it out, if a belt axe was ever going to have a "1 tool option" contender it would be the thorax, it can do a one stick fire, it can be battoned like a knife, the bits big enough to clear like a small machete, it can even do good prep as well as hatchet work.

Walmart 20$

This is what I was looking for. Something cheap and good, with a hammer head like that. I'd arc cut away that bullsh*t nail puller for the same reason you mentioned and round off the sides of the hammer head and have a nice looking Viking style axe head to put on a handmade handle. I don't have a lot of money to play with and I don't need a "god tier" forever axe right now... I just need a right now until maybe 3-4 years down the road and then I'll get fancy with it. This is perfect.