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Ask any survivalist which tool they’d choose to venture into the wilderness with and I guarantee you that most will say a hatchet. Because of its reliability and versatility, a hand ax, or hatchet, makes an excellent tool when practicing wilderness survival or bushcraft. From cutting, chopping, and slicing, your bushcraft hatchet goes through a lot of use in the field. Sharpening a bushcraft hatchet is simple and keeps your tool reliable. This guide is meant to teach a beginner the basics and how to sharpen a bushcraft hatchet effectively.
The History of Hatchets
Axes in general have been used by humans as far back as you can imagine. Early humans were using stone hand axes as early as 1.8 million years ago. This goes to show the reliability of a hatchet, since it’s still in use to this day.
At the end of the Stone Age, humans began making their tools out of metal. Copper and then later Bronze took the scene and humans remained steadfast in their ax use. Metal axes proved to be harder, sharper, and more reliable.
The ax is also one of humans’ first close combat weapons, along with the spear and club. During the Bronze age in particular, an entire culture was born around the battle axe.
It is also important to note that the ax became a symbol in religions and mythologies. Many of the deities of old were pictured holding axes. Stories and mythologies are filled with depictions of people and creatures that wield axes. This is how important the ax has been to humans throughout our history.
The Hatchet in Bushcraft and Wilderness Survival
A bushcraft hatchet is a particularly versatile and compact tool that is used in a variety of ways. The very essence of bushcraft is to carry as little as possible and to survive and thrive off of the natural materials around you. Lugging around a heavy, full sized ax rarely fits the bill.
Sharpening a bushcraft hatchet is important for it to carry out the tasks needed in survival. One could think of its uses through the Five C’s of wilderness survival:
- Cutting Tool: This is self explanatory. If one is going to survive the wilderness they must have the ability to cut things. I prefer a hatchet because it is small enough for food preparation and carving, but large enough to chop small logs for a fire.
- Combustion: In addition to cutting, a hatchet is a fine choice for chopping wood. It’s not as bulky as a full sized ax, but gets the job done. The ability to create a fire requires the ability to chop wood.
- Cover: Without a tent or other form of shelter, one must make one from natural materials. A bushcraft hatchet is perfect for chopping branches and sticks to construct your cover. Cover protects you from the elements.
- Container: It’s hard to imagine how a bushcraft hatchet can solve the issue of a container. Certain trees like the Birch make excellent material to create a container. Besides the tree, a decent cutting tool like a hatchet can help in carefully harvesting Birch Bark for this project.
- Cordage: This is usually made from roots and certain small plants. The ability to cut these plants to make the cordage is essential. Once again, a perfect job for the bushcraft hatchet.
Other Helpful Articles:
- The Best Uses of Spruce in Wilderness Survival
- Backcountry Water Purification: The Ultimate Survival Guide
- How To Master Campfire Cooking
Maintaining a Bushcraft Hatchet
The importance of maintaining your bushcraft hatchet cannot be understated. When properly cared for, the hatchet can be a valuable tool for many years. This includes basic maintenance after each use as well as a deep detail 1-2 times per year. This depends on how often it is used.
Basic Maintenance In Between Use
For basic maintenance after use, make sure to wipe away any water, dirt, and debris. Doing this prevents rust and damage to the head. Little is often thought about the handle. It is especially important with wooden handles to keep dry and clean of debris. However, conditions that are too dry cause cracking of the wood. It is also important to consider sharpening a bushcraft hatchet after a few uses, depending on the condition of the edge.
Deep Maintenance 1-2 Times Per Year
On top of the basic maintenance, a deep conditioning is important to carry out 1-2 times per year. This includes sharpening a bushcraft hatchet, as well as oiling the head and wooden handle, and treating the leather sheath. This deep conditioning keeps your hatchet in top performance.
Tools For Sharpening a Bushcraft Hatchet
Your kit for sharpening a bushcraft hatchet can be as simple or complex as you like. If in a wilderness survival scenario with no fancy gear, a simple flat rock will do. But if you have the ability to use tools made for the job, that is what is recommended.
You’ll need two types of grit, one that is coarse for shaping out dings and burrs on the edge. Also, a smoother grit for fine tuning, shaping, and sharpening the edge. There are different acceptable variations. You can use a file as your coarse grit or a coarse whetstone. Another whetstone, the smooth one, will finish and hone the edge.
Aftermarket sharpening kits are also handy for this and take out the guess work. Buying the tools individually is fine, but having a whole kit just makes things easier. This is the one that I use for all of my sharpening needs, from my bushcraft hatchet to my kitchen knives.
Complete Knife Sharpening Stone Kit
At minimum, your tool kit for sharpening a bushcraft hatchet should include:
- Course whetstone and/or file
- Smooth whetstone
- Non-skid surface to hold stone in place
- Oil for conditioning the hatchet head and wooden handle
- Water (to soak the whetstone before use)
The Best Angle and Grit For Sharpening a Bushcraft Hatchet
Different types of tools require different angles for sharpening. It is a rule of thumb to use a 25 degree angle for axes and hatchets. There are different variations, but this is the standard.
For hatchets, I use a two sided whetstone that does the job perfectly. One side is 400 and the other 1000. I start with the coarse 400 side and end with the smoother 1000.
If your hatchet has taken significant damage, you may have to go up in grit to a 250 or so to really work the edges. But the 400 is a great standard.
Quick Tip: For quick touch ups in the field, the 400 grit does a fine job in removing imperfections and bringing your edge back to performance.
Sharpening a Bushcraft Hatchet
Helpful hint: When sharpening a bushcraft hatchet, never bring the edge to razor sharpness. An edge that is too thin damages much easier and will chip away when in use.
- The whet stone should be soaked for 5 to 10 minutes before use. At minimum, apply a small amount of water or oil to your stone. Not using oil or water damages your stone.
- Wipe the hatchet head clean of any moisture, dirt, mud, debris, etc.
- Equally important, make sure to remove any rust that has made its place on your hatchet’s head. A simple steel wool pad does a great job at removing rust. Gently scrub the rust away.
- The first step in sharpening is to position the hatchet on the 400 grit whetstone at a 25 degree angle. Most sharpening kits include an angle guide to get the perfect angle.
- Begin by pushing the blade away from you as if you are trying to carve a slice off the top of the stone. Make sure to apply adequate pressure in the process and repeat 3 to 4 times.
- Finally for the other side, place your blade on the opposite end of the stone and repeat step 5. Instead of pushing the blade away, you’ll pull it towards you. Make sure to keep the same angle throughout the entire process.
- Continue this process, keeping the stroke on each side even, until the edge is sharp.
- Repeat steps 4-7 on the 1000 grit whetstone to finish honing and fine tuning your edge.
- Applying a light coat of mineral oil or other lubricant to your hatchet at the end helps preserve its longevity and prevent rust.
Sharpening a Bushcraft Hatchet In the Field (No Tools)
If you ever find yourself out in the field without your sharpening tools, an improvised sharpening stone does the trick.
Find a smooth, flat surface stone to use as you would a sharpening puck or whetstone. Stones like these are usually found along rivers and streams, where the water naturally flattens and smooths stones.
If there are no smooth, flat rocks then you’ll have to get crafty and make your own. By rubbing two rocks together, you’ll create a flat surface by grinding them down.
Conclusion on Sharpening a Bushcraft Hatchet
Properly maintaining and sharpening a bushcraft hatchet improves its lifespan and quality of use. Taking care of your tools is an essential part of any bushcraft and wilderness survival task. A bushcraft hatchet in the field provides food, shelter, and warmth from a fire.
Furthermore, the long history of use by humans goes to show the importance that this tool has for our very survival. From a cutting tool to weaponry, we use this tool in a variety of ways to sustain our culture and livelihood.
The good news is that it is not difficult to adequately sharpen and maintain your bushcraft hatchet. In addition to maintenance in between use, a twice yearly deep conditioning serves to keep your hatchet in optimal performance. Don’t go out in the field with faulty tools. Learn the skills and tools required for sharpening a bushcraft hatchet and carry them in your kit. As Bear Grylls said, “In the wilderness, every mistake can be fatal.”
