One of the advantages of a hawk is that the head can be used in the hand, without the handle. A handle can be made in the field very quickly, and a very interesting YouTube video is available from IAWoodsman on that subject, called “Cold Steel Trail Hawk.” You will be surprised at the versatility of a hawk in the field. After watching that video, you just might decide to carry only the head, and if a handle is needed, make one in the field.
If you are looking for some interesting hawks with some additional versatility, you might want to check out equinoxcoronado.com. They make the Mk-V Hawk with a custom composite handle which has a .50 caliber tube through the length of the handle. This tube has chloroprene plugs that are secured by turning stainless heads which expand the plugs to hold them in place. The tube can be used for various purposes, including as a blow gun or blow tube for fire, or to hold a survival kit. They also offer a product called the ECO-Hawk which is just a head with various blades. It can be handheld or easily attached to a stick to make a field hawk type tool.
A very small hatchet which can be carried in almost any small pack, or attached to a belt, is the Gransfors Bruks Mini Hatchet. Although very light, it is effective at small chores and with a very sharp convex grind works well at batoning. It also has a small hammer head allowing its use to pound stakes for a tarp, or other chores.
Another nice little hatchet is made by Gerber and is called the Sport Axe. It is 13-7/8 inches long and can be carried on or in a pack. Gerber makes various other lengths, but I find the Sport a good size for the money for larger kits or packs.
There are many other manufacturers of hatchets and another good one for a larger kit is the American Snow & Neally Penobscot Bay Axe (It is called an axe but, being 17 inches long overall, it’s a hatchet in my mind). Although I have not personally used this model, a good friend of mine, Steve “Critr” Davis, the Lead Instructor for the Pathfinder School of Survival, has tested this model extensively and highly recommends it. I trust his judgment.
I have not addressed axes and do not want anyone to think they have been disregarded. They are large tools and are not normally carried with a survival kit. They are a handy item for a truck kit, if you are skilled in their use. If you want to carry one, that is your choice, but as an injury can be extremely severe, learn the proper use before planning to use one in a survival situation.
Saws
The are various type saws that can be carried in a survival kit. I have always found that their versatility makes them ideal for many survival situations. They come in many configurations and sizes, so let’s look at a few that can easily be carried in different size kits.
A wire saw is exactly that. It is constructed of eight strands of interwoven stainless steel wire. Split ring handles swivel providing twist-free performance. It can also be used to make a bow saw and will slide over itself, for use as an emergency snare, by placing the small ring through the larger ring. This saw fits in an “Altoids” tin survival kit.
When using with the split rings on the ends, I recommend cutting two short pieces of a branch and placing them through the rings instead of trying to saw with your fingers through the split rings. This provides a more substantial hand hold. When making a bow saw, get a sturdy bendable sapling and notch each end so that the split rings stay attached to each end without sliding up.
The pocket chain saw is a great addition to any survival kit. It features 124 bi-directional, heat treated steel cutting teeth that cut on both the upstroke and the down stroke. Also, since it is flexible, it wraps around the wood on three sides, increasing its efficiency. In a survival situation, this saw is safer than an axe or power chain saw since it won’t bounce off a log into a leg or foot. By attaching a cord to each end, it can cut limbs in hard-to-reach places. It stores in a small metal can about the size of a small shoeshine tin and easily fits in a shirt pocket.
A small folding saw is something I am never without in the field. It starts with the small folding saw blade on my Victorinox Farmer and One Hand Trekker and goes up from there. Small pruning saws are invaluable for cutting wood to lengths with a flat end to facilitate batoning. They are also great for building shelters and many other purposes in a survival situation. Most can be carried in a small to medium sized survival kit, and when used wisely are safer than swinging a sharp tool.
One of my favorite pruning saws is the Bahco Laplander. This a robust folding saw and really cuts. Another option I have carried that is less expensive is the Gerber Sportsman’s saw. This saw is very light and fits in any medium size kit.
Larger folding saws can make cutting wood a pleasure as opposed to a chore. Two of my favorites are the Trailblazer Sawvivor and Take-Down Bucksaw. The Sawvivor is one of the strongest saws for its weight and I carry the 15-inch version in my pack. It assembles in seconds, is easy to use and is an efficient tool. A unique tensioning system and a box frame provide for superior blade tension. This is a lightweight saw that really cuts. The rustproof aluminum handle is padded and stores two blades when they are not in use. This saw is available in both 15- and 18-inch lengths.
The Trailblazer Take-Down Buck Saw is one of my favorites, but is heavier than the Sawvivor. I carry one of these in my truck and when I am canoeing. The Take-Down Buck Saw is modeled after a classic wood saw design. The aluminum saw has a tension rod that tightens the blade until it twangs like a guitar string. The Swedish steel blade can be put to work cutting pieces of wood as thick as 15 inches. For transport, the saw collapses and its parts all fit inside the 19-inch round handle, along with up to two blades. Available in 18- or 24-inch length.
Another way to have a buck saw in the field is to carry just a blade and make one when you get there. A good friend of mine, Rod Garcia (remember the Skookum Bush Tool), carries a saw blade in a leather belt that holds the blade safely so he can wear the belt as a normal belt. He then makes a buck saw from available wood in the field. My wife fell in love with the saw when we were with him for a week in the field, and he was kind enough to gift it to her when we left. It was fun taking apart to fit in a bag for the flight back.