For processing game and not abusing a knife I always have a pack hatchet available. I like several of the commercially produced ones such as Gerber but a custom one is hard to beat. 5160 high carbon steel with a forced patina and a black walnut handle.

Nice looking hatchet, that will dang sure get the job done

That’s nice. I’ve made some but can’t say that mine were any better than commercially made ones.

Really nice

Saweet!

Very Nice!

My twins. Full tang, leather wrapped titanium slab handles, 80CRV2 tool steel:

Zombie Tools Traumahawks. Those are very well made and certainly aren’t cheap. Nice!

Craftsmanship on them is outstanding. Look is a bit gimmicky (classic walnut on yours is beautiful) but i can live with that as their utility more than makes up for it. I was originally searching for something from Winkler but almost impossible to get in Canada. Not illegal or anything you just can't find them and to order from US the wait time is outrageous. The ZT hawks are almost at the same level of craftmanship and cheaper (but still pricey as far as a hawk goes). Plus the wait time is only 6 weeks. Joey Arbour and his crew at ZT are a bunch of redneck drunks for the most but they know how to make a bomber blade with excellent fit and finish.

This one is about 45 years old. 1/8" carbon steel sawblade brazed through dogwood handle. Throws straight and true.

Hatchet I put elk on for my late father many years ago

You guys are talented

I have a cheap one i use around the house, but i've been tempted to get one of the RMJ ones for a while now, just because they look cool!haha

Never thought about making actually making a hatchet or axe. My approx 50 year history is taking high carbon steel and turning it into a blade. Then installing a couple of pieces of wood. Can’t imagine me doing woodwork that I could slide an axe head onto and making it fit. I can make a hatchet as long as it is one piece and then installing 2 slabs of wood for handles. One piece handle is not for me.

I’ve bought several ancient hatchets, complete with rust, and got them repurposed. It has generally taken me about 3 tries to build a suitable wood hammer type handle. Actually the suitable part is questionable.