Machete vs Kukri vs tomahawk

medicmike · Post by **medicmike** » Thu Apr 14, 2016 2:52 pm

What do you prefer for general Bushcraft chores in Texas?
Of course an axe and bucksaw would be better suited for a major shelter but I don't always need an axe on a short outing. I am thinking about picking up a cold steel trail hawk but I didn't know if I might be better served using a machete.

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Post by **Bill** » Thu Apr 14, 2016 5:21 pm

I much prefer a machete or even better a Kershaw camp 10 with the foliage around here. An axe is not that great on juniper

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Post by **real_steel** » Sun Apr 17, 2016 11:47 pm

We live in a state that suffered a major drought just a couple years ago. Everywhere I go there is plenty of dead wood on the ground. I have a trail hawk and it is a great tool. I also have a cheap ax I got from lowes. I have used the ax once and the hawk at least 50 times in the last two years. If you live in big timber area like east Texas I can understand the necessity of an ax. Otherwise it's just extra weight. If I want to actually down a tree in my area it is much easier to use a saw.

You can do anything with a trail hawk that you can do with a machete. You can do more precision work with a hawk cause you can choke up on the handle and give yourself more control.

Full disclosure, anyone who knows me here also knows I carry a BK9. It is basically a machete except more bad ass.

metalaaron1 · Post by **metalaaron1** » Mon Apr 25, 2016 5:49 pm

I know it's cheap and I'll probably get made fun of - but! I've found that my Tremontia 12in machete is great for the majority of things I do in the woods. It also is great for use with the ferro rod, I've skinned many squirrels with it, processed panfish (only because it's easy to do. I probably could to other types of fish).

It holds and edge very well too!

But the trail hawk idea seems really cool too.

metalaaron1 · Post by **metalaaron1** » Tue May 03, 2016 11:15 pm

So what did you end up going with?

Those Trail Hawks look great!

2 is 1 and 1 is none.

Post by **Bill** » Wed May 04, 2016 9:11 am

Just got a trail hawk, like I needed another axe but I told the wife this one is for the boy. Kind of rough out of the box and dull but I will get it fixed up for him.

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medicmike · Post by **medicmike** » Fri May 06, 2016 11:49 am

I went with the trail hawk. Reshaped the edge to remove belly and convexed it. Great for roughing out spoons and stuff.

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metalaaron1 · Post by **metalaaron1** » Fri May 06, 2016 12:10 pm

Ohhhh man. That looks great. What kind of knife is that? Holy crap, it's beautiful.

2 is 1 and 1 is none.

Post by **real_steel** » Fri May 06, 2016 10:11 pm

Nice! I removed the powder coat off mine. I just like the way it looks. Requires a little more up keep though.

medicmike · Post by **medicmike** » Mon May 09, 2016 5:16 pm

metalaaron1 wrote:Ohhhh man. That looks great. What kind of knife is that? Holy crap, it's beautiful.

2 is 1 and 1 is none.

That is one I made from a leftover piece of a broken old hickory. Handle is stacked antler and Osage.

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