Hello my friend and welcome back! To day we have a guest post from Paul Burton who is the founder of Perfect Blades. I think you will enjoy it, I know I did. Grab a cup of coffee my friend and have a seat while we visit.
Prepper Gear Considerations: Survival Knife vs Hatchet
Even though there is such a wide variety of different hatchets and fixed blade knives available, very few of them are actually made for survival. When looking for proper gear for survival and choosing between a hatchet and a knife, you should take into consideration the following features which your survival gear should have:
- Durability. Look for a knife or a hatchet which is made of high quality, strong materials and have a durable design and make. Don’t opt for a cheap one, because it is most probably of low quality and definitely won’t do the job when it comes to survival.
- Ability to be sharpened. Whether you choose a knife or a hatchet to be part of your survival kit, you need to make sure that it can endure being sharpened time after time, year after year. Survival hatchets and knives need to be kept sharp at all times.
- Versatility. Choose a versatile knife or hatchet for survival, rather than a tactical knife made specifically for combat or a hatched made for splitting wood, for example. A good survival knife or hatchet should be able to help you complete a variety of tasks when out in the wild, such as: cutting, game or fish cleaning, chopping, etc.
- Mobility. Choose a knife or hatchet which you can easily carry for long distances.
So, these are the features to look for when picking a knife or hatchet suitable for survival. Now, the question remains – which to choose for survival if you can pick only one?
Obviously, both tools are excellent for survival purposes, but if you are faced with the choice of choosing only one type here are some of the pros and cons of both to keep in mind:
The knife for survival
It is a common belief that a good survival knife is the most important part of a survival kit. It can
do more than any other piece of you carry with you can. You can use it for defending yourself, for game or fish cleaning, dealing with injuries, snare preparation, for making precision tools and for shelter making.
The hatchet for survival
A good quality hatchet is the best tool for heavy duty tasks, such as splitting logs, hammering nails, ice cutting, digging, making sparks to start a fire and other tasks which are much more difficult to do with a knife.
The problem with survival hatchets is that they are bulkier and heavier to carry than knives, and so taking a hatchet for longer treks would be more difficult and noticeable.
In conclusion
This ongoing debate among survivalists and other outdoor enthusiasts began decades ago and most probably will continue for years ahead. The fact is that the choice between which is better for survival depends on your specific needs and expectations. Of course, if possible you should include a good quality knife as well as a good quality hatchet in your survival kit, but if you can only take one – think about the possible applications you will be using it for, and pick the proper tool based on that.
The key thing to remember is that whichever you choose between the two, always make sure you buy and pack a durable, versatile, high quality and sharp knife or hatchet for your outdoor survival experience.
Always choose wisely when picking the most appropriate survival gear, because your wellbeing and even your life can depend on it! Also, making sure that your knife, hatchet or both are properly cleaned, maintained and regularly sharpened is crucial for their durability and their performance when you are out in the wilderness.
~Written by Paul Burton, founder of Perfect Blades
Well my friend that is it for today and I hope you enjoyed Paul’s post. Until next time, stay safe, stay strong and stay prepared. God Bless America!
-Sarge-
Good article, but I have a question for Paul:
Many articles on knives and hatchets talk about purchasing “good quality” steel, but very few actually tell you what this is. So, what is the minimum quality for durability and sharpening, and what is the “ideal?”