I just got my first Hardcore hammer today. Just wanted to say thanks for all your input. I am a boy scout leader and have been looking for a hatchet to teach my boys proper woodsman survival skills. I appreciate quality and function, and the Hardcore Survivalist is a beautiful, sharp and comfortable hatchet to use. I was worried about the value but after receiving this masterpiece it was well well worth the money. Thanks again.
Glad to see a US made axe in this range. I would pay that for a Hults Bruk or a Gansfors Bruks without thinking twice. This US made hatchet makes me happy!
Nice review. Those "rings" and "nails" as you called them are actually wedges that help keep the haft firmly seated in the eye of the axe. Both styles are equally effective so not really an upgrade. Also, it is actually better for the haft to protrude out the top of the eye a little (such as on the Supernaturalist) instead of completely flush like on the Survivalist--makes it a tighter hang. My favorite camp axe has come to be the Velvicut Hudson Bay by Council Tools. Of course, as mentioned by others, the Swedish camp axes are also very high quality potent tools. You'd probably like the Bushman axe made by Wetterlings and designed by Les Stroud. Keep up the good work!
can't be beat, great point, thanks for smacking me with reality. \m/ $70 now +shipping from sweden, still a better deal, 20"&1kg or 15"&.5kg same price and both seem a GREAT value, only issue with that purchase is sending the money out of the country. gunna wrestle with THAT now til i come to a conclusion: a two-fer from sweden (both with leather edge covers) or one american made glory. thanks again for the reality check.
J. Garcia for sure, I have some $5 garage sale axes I’ve been using for a while now, yet really want the Survivalist. Want vs need! That’s money in my pocket now buying a new one. Sigh, why am I so practical.
You ALWAYS do great reviews!! Those both look like fantastic axes. how is the handle feel in your hand on the survivalist? I know in the other video you did of the supernaturalists you really like the feel of the handle in your hand. Just wanted to know your thoughts on the survivalist handle? I definitely going to be ordering a knife and I'll be ordering one off of Amazon to help you out I just want to know your thoughts about the feel a d grip of the survivalist the handle will be my deciding factor for me but I do really like the extra features that the survivalist an axe has. Again thank you for all the time you take in putting out excellent vlogs
I hope you're gonna do review of Gransfors Bruks or hultafors axe's to compare to this one,i hope they are on you're list because i'm on the market to buy one and i know there are many others that would value your opinion on same.
I love and look forward to all your videos. I consider you a professional and really value your opinion. For the first time brotha I think I disagree with you.
Buddy of mine got the super naturalist. There nice no doubt but I like my H&B forge camp axe a lot more. We did a kinda head to head challenge/race on a 8”-10” river burch and I smoked his ass! Lol I think the thinner scandi on my hawk was just getting deeper bites. But they are nice
Bought a $45 Hardcore Hatchet until I could afford something from Sweden, because my Swedish axes failed me (yes, you read that right, plural). Never looked back. USA Made, built for work and high quality build. Good stuff. Love mine.
Wetterlings, chipped edges, loose heads, poorly fitted handles literally off by 3/4". Doesn't matter any more. They went belly up and got bought by Gransfors.
4140 is a supreme steel with good heat treating a outstanding steel. 1055 is good but not great. Both are good for shock such as axes. 4140 will do everything 1055 can but hold up better.
Say Heah, When I was around your age, heh heh heh, I was still a 3Knife carry guy. a Large Chopper like Knife. a Medium and a Small Knife. than I was introduced to the Axe. Yup. I started with the Estwing Sportsman Hatchet. then I got the 17" or 18" Camper Hatchet and Finally the Camp Axe. But everybody cried Wooden Handles. So I got the Gransforrs Bruks Small Forest Axe. But to this day I still use my Estwings, a great set of axes. But then I found out about the 2Hawks copy of Nessmuks Hatchet the Double Bit Hatchet. But Devin had Tomahawks so I got the Warbeast, and that Tomahawk is a born chopper with its three sharp edges, Not only does it bite deeper but retracts easier. Then on one B'Day I found a 17" Hultafors Bruks Agdor Hatchet on a closeout. I really didn't need it. But what the heck it was my B'Day so I bought it, and it became my Fav. Bush Craft Hatchet because its more compact and carries easier in my Axe Holster on person and I got it as sharp as my G.B. But before that, I had a vintage Oxhead made by Iltis 2 1/2lbs head hatred on a 19" White Hickory handle, I love it. So when I sent back my Husqvarna All Purpose Forest Axe back because it was defective. I exchanged it for a Ochencopf Axe OX 620 H-1257 with the Rotband Plus. They screw a steel plate over the eye into the handle for extra strength, plus it has a steel sleeve for against over bites. It's a brute. too heavy to lug around but a great camp Axe. I harness carry it in. But then I found a Cold Weather Council 24" Wood Craft Peach Axe. It's a Velvet Cut but out of the 5160 Carbon steel and a 2lbs. head on a 24" hart. It's my Fav. I take it on Cold Weather Solo Scouts. Infact I just ordered my Agawa Canyon 21 Boreal Saw. I also just inquired an a EZ KUT Folding Saw you should L@@K into. Infact both ate awesome. So Satin L@@K into both of them and be the first to share it the way you do reviews. I think both are keepers and I know you will like both. Oh, I got the heavy duty Sheath and sling for my 24" Council, So I carry it sling over my shoukdrt, I can easily still carry my Kodiak Gearslibg and my new Agawa Canyon Boreal especially for winter solo scouting. That's why I had my Rodent 7/Rident 3 Piggybacked.,,.
GC Knives Oh lord yes. I commented before watching the video. I have a hard time justifying the price of this when you can get the finest, hand crafted axes in the world in the same price range. He definitely need to get his hands on some Sweedish axes!
The shafts is suppose to be protruding out a little from the head. Flush is the wrong way to do it. Love the hatchet though. I've got a really old Germantool 1857 carpenters hatchet.I put a long handle on. My favorite chopper by far. If anyone could tell me the steel they use,that would be great. It's really hard to sharpen,but holds an edge a long time.doesnt chip. And only the slightest role after days of use without touching up. (I use a hunk of tungsten with 90 degree corners for touchup.)
5:17 be careful where you put your hand, ive seen my friend doing that and the head deflect whilst it hits a knot and hit his hand! I didnt hit him hard but it cost a trip to A&E
"Survivalist", what a marketing gimmick. A fancy carpenters hatchet. They maybe good working products but at this price point there are more affordable quality hatchets that will get the job done. Not complaining about the the review, just getting tired of outdoor gear being labeled "survival gear" and the price jacked up. At my age, my coffee mug plays a greater role in surviving the day than these things would.
gideonstactical Gränsfors are just night and day difference compared to any other. Like a big heavy slow crappy doge charger vs a million $ carbon race car.
Guys don't buy this. Go on eBay and buy an old hatchet head that has the same design.there are tons of head with the same design on eBay. Go to a hardware store and buy a handle for it . Older hatchet and axe heads have really good heat treat and steel. If you do it this way you will not spent more then 30 dollars. Trust me do this, unless you are to lazy to spend 20 minutes to hang the head on the handle
I'm not really impressed. Those look like far, far more work than any of my regular old 1 1/4 lb hatchets with a thin convex edge. I think these axes could benefit from some edge profiling work. Not just sharpness, but getting rid of the hard step between the edge and the cheeks. Just a smooth curve from edge to cheek. The first branch being chopped in the video would take 5 to 6 chops with almost any of my dozens of hatchets. If it was green wood it would be a 3 chop job.
batmanacw I reprofilled the edge on mine after a month of hard use. convexed it and smoothed out the shoulders like u said, it bit wood great before but I think it is more efficient now. it is a great hatchet, does the work you'd expect and then some
For 3 figure money, gransfors hatchets beats these hands down. A similar and superior purchase would be the gransfors bruk small forest axe. I get it tho, this channel just gets free items to review so he has to pump up the excitement for mediocre products.
Plumb, Estwing, Stanley to name a few. Made in the USA out of 1060 steel. $170 for a hatchet? Are you insane? You had to get it for free. If not, i have some swamp land you may like.
Surviving is all about using using your calories efficiently. You have a limited amount of food, and food is energy. You waste it doing Parkour or chopping down trees with a little hatchet, and you're toast. Might as well carry an axe or a saw. If that's going to be a tool to build shelter.
The survivalist, with a mill face hammer for tent pegs? I think not! It would chew up your plastic, wood or metal tent pegs. Not for camping. This is a marketing gimmick.
Great review as always. However, please set a good example by wearing some eye protection, at least while you're being filmed. Also, don't have your camera man stand directly down range of you while you're swinging all out. If that head separates from the handle, it's going to kill someone. Just have him take two steps off axis and he'll be fine.
Hard enough that I wouldn't want to have that blade smack me in the head if it slipped out of his hand or it departed. It's not a matter of how hard he's swinging but the fact that if any woodsman/logger used his chain saw or axe or pick or splitting maul or any other tool with someone directly in front of him, he'd be fired on the spot. Besides that, in this case, there is absolutely no reason to do it. Just have the guy step off to the side.
John Smith not saying youre wrong. Youre right. Its just that A: its a small axe/large hatchet so its not massive and B: u can tell when the head is secured on properly its just a feeling maybe he had confidence i dont know.
I just got my first Hardcore hammer today. Just wanted to say thanks for all your input. I am a boy scout leader and have been looking for a hatchet to teach my boys proper woodsman survival skills. I appreciate quality and function, and the Hardcore Survivalist is a beautiful, sharp and comfortable hatchet to use. I was worried about the value but after receiving this masterpiece it was well well worth the money. Thanks again.
I'm so thankful for the nail puller, there's nails all over the place out in the woods that MUST be pulled!
pretty sure its for pulling steel tent pegs.
Gungeek no it’s originally meant for nails. This axe is designed after a carpenters hatchet. Your right tho it could be used to pull tent pegs.
I've packed nails in my camping bag for years for shelters so a carpenters axe in the woods makes sense to me.
Glad to see a US made axe in this range. I would pay that for a Hults Bruk or a Gansfors Bruks without thinking twice. This US made hatchet makes me happy!
Nice review. Those "rings" and "nails" as you called them are actually wedges that help keep the haft firmly seated in the eye of the axe. Both styles are equally effective so not really an upgrade. Also, it is actually better for the haft to protrude out the top of the eye a little (such as on the Supernaturalist) instead of completely flush like on the Survivalist--makes it a tighter hang. My favorite camp axe has come to be the Velvicut Hudson Bay by Council Tools. Of course, as mentioned by others, the Swedish camp axes are also very high quality potent tools. You'd probably like the Bushman axe made by Wetterlings and designed by Les Stroud. Keep up the good work!
jonnyt16 thanks for the info and I will look into them
Loved seeing the amount of chips flying during the testing. Looks like a very effective chopper. Price wise still pretty affordable, AND USA made.
Great review Aaron, Altho I'm not planning to build a log cabin or run around the woods and play Bushcraft. I think I'll stick to a saw and my GSO 4.7
I'm more of a 4.7 and 10 kind of guy.
heavy duty firepower, love these axes !
for under 50 bucks you need not have to go farther then the husqvarna axe, swedish steel well made
can't be beat, great point, thanks for smacking me with reality. \m/ $70 now +shipping from sweden, still a better deal, 20"&1kg or 15"&.5kg same price and both seem a GREAT value, only issue with that purchase is sending the money out of the country. gunna wrestle with THAT now til i come to a conclusion: a two-fer from sweden (both with leather edge covers) or one american made glory. thanks again for the reality check.
J. Garcia for sure, I have some $5 garage sale axes I’ve been using for a while now, yet really want the Survivalist.
Want vs need!
That’s money in my pocket now buying a new one. Sigh, why am I so practical.
Reminds me of the Plumb hatchet I just bought for $5.
I just found one in a shed. Zero dollars.
beautiful tool. out of my price range. I do have a vintage Plumb boy scout hatchet. it cuts like a slasher film!
That looks like a great camp/pack axe. Thanks for the review. Nice little axe
OldPackMule no problem thanks for watching!
I hope they bring the quality back to USA
You ALWAYS do great reviews!! Those both look like fantastic axes. how is the handle feel in your hand on the survivalist? I know in the other video you did of the supernaturalists you really like the feel of the handle in your hand. Just wanted to know your thoughts on the survivalist handle? I definitely going to be ordering a knife and I'll be ordering one off of Amazon to help you out I just want to know your thoughts about the feel a d grip of the survivalist the handle will be my deciding factor for me but I do really like the extra features that the survivalist an axe has. Again thank you for all the time you take in putting out excellent vlogs
S WOLFGRAMM thanks, same handle so it is great
Great review brother! That hatchet truly kicks ass.
mister smith it rocks, thanks for watching
I hope you're gonna do review of Gransfors Bruks or hultafors axe's to compare to this one,i hope they are on you're list because i'm on the market to buy one and i know there are many others that would value your opinion on same.
Great hatched, it works amazing wow 😲😲😲😲
Great Hatchet, and the chips were flying!
old geccko heck ya
For camping and bushcraft tasks...if you can only buy one, which do you pick? Hardcore Hammer (either) or a Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe?
I should have waited for the end. Heard you just say you've never used a GB. Never mind.
I love and look forward to all your videos. I consider you a professional and really value your opinion. For the first time brotha I think I disagree with you.
Thomas Jackson totally understand
Like the video and hatchet seems to be pretty good. Also, just found your channel and subscribed. After a few videos like what you guys offer.
You need to get your hands on a gransfors bruks axe. You can't know what quality is until you have had one in your hands.:)
benjamin holtzen agreed
Is it just me, or does the grain orientation on those handles look really poor? At the price for these, id expect to see much better handles. Imo
Love the review. Definitely getting a survivalist.
Again a very nice review - like it very much - Not available in Europe though ....it's heartbreaking -
They sell both at Menards for under 40 bucks.
Seriosly? From 135 to 40 bucks?
Thanks, like the review. Might get one for this coming winters firewood splitting.
Heck ya, it is sweet and can be used two handed as you saw Brian do.
Buddy of mine got the super naturalist. There nice no doubt but I like my H&B forge camp axe a lot more. We did a kinda head to head challenge/race on a 8”-10” river burch and I smoked his ass! Lol I think the thinner scandi on my hawk was just getting deeper bites. But they are nice
Long term thought Aaron? Have a survivalist ordered up
did you try to pull nails because I have never seen a puller of that style that worked will
allen vasher I did with the supernaturalist it got the job done
Those notches on hatchets, etc., are more often than not meant to pull up tent stakes, and are not meant for nail pulling at all.
Bought a $45 Hardcore Hatchet until I could afford something from Sweden, because my Swedish axes failed me (yes, you read that right, plural). Never looked back. USA Made, built for work and high quality build. Good stuff. Love mine.
Yankee I've never heard that before.
Yankee what manufacturer were your axes from ? how and why did they fail ?
Wetterlings, chipped edges, loose heads, poorly fitted handles literally off by 3/4". Doesn't matter any more. They went belly up and got bought by Gransfors.
Not just that but Council Tool makes decent axes and is USA made. Though they can be hard to get, the Basque axes are pretty impressive.
Luis Gonzalez no council sucks compared to Gränsfors, only people who argue are people who haven’t used the masterpiece called Gränsfors
So i think they all have their places but just seems that a saw uses less effort.
Nice one I need to pick one up! Great review! Can you get the milled face on both or one is flat and the other is milled?
Not sure, you could contact them directly and ask.
Will do thanks brother!
everything you review it make me want to buy lol love your Channel
Is this hatchet better than the estwing sportsman in your opinion?
Price drop on Amazon $117. Sold! Thanks for the great review of both axes (yes I got both).
How does that 4140 steel compare to the 1055 mid carbon steel Estwing uses on their products?
Felix Zaragoza much tougher from my use
4140 is a supreme steel with good heat treating a outstanding steel. 1055 is good but not great. Both are good for shock such as axes. 4140 will do everything 1055 can but hold up better.
Either steel will get the job done. As long as you know how to sharpen your tools in the field your set.
This looks like Whites Ranch outside of Golden, Co
Say Heah, When I was around your age, heh heh heh, I was still a 3Knife carry guy. a Large Chopper like Knife. a Medium and a Small Knife. than I was introduced to the Axe. Yup. I started with the Estwing Sportsman Hatchet. then I got the 17" or 18" Camper Hatchet and Finally the Camp Axe. But everybody cried Wooden Handles. So I got the Gransforrs Bruks Small Forest Axe. But to this day I still use my Estwings, a great set of axes. But then I found out about the 2Hawks copy of Nessmuks Hatchet the Double Bit Hatchet. But Devin had Tomahawks so I got the Warbeast, and that Tomahawk is a born chopper with its three sharp edges, Not only does it bite deeper but retracts easier. Then on one B'Day I found a 17" Hultafors Bruks Agdor Hatchet on a closeout. I really didn't need it. But what the heck it was my B'Day so I bought it, and it became my Fav. Bush Craft Hatchet because its more compact and carries easier in my Axe Holster on person and I got it as sharp as my G.B. But before that, I had a vintage Oxhead made by Iltis 2 1/2lbs head hatred on a 19" White Hickory handle, I love it. So when I sent back my Husqvarna All Purpose Forest Axe back because it was defective. I exchanged it for a Ochencopf Axe OX 620 H-1257 with the Rotband Plus. They screw a steel plate over the eye into the handle for extra strength, plus it has a steel sleeve for against over bites. It's a brute. too heavy to lug around but a great camp Axe. I harness carry it in. But then I found a Cold Weather Council 24" Wood Craft Peach Axe. It's a Velvet Cut but out of the 5160 Carbon steel and a 2lbs. head on a 24" hart. It's my Fav. I take it on Cold Weather Solo Scouts. Infact I just ordered my Agawa Canyon 21 Boreal Saw. I also just inquired an a EZ KUT Folding Saw you should L@@K into. Infact both ate awesome. So Satin L@@K into both of them and be the first to share it the way you do reviews. I think both are keepers and I know you will like both. Oh, I got the heavy duty Sheath and sling for my 24" Council, So I carry it sling over my shoukdrt, I can easily still carry my Kodiak Gearslibg and my new Agawa Canyon Boreal especially for winter solo scouting. That's why I had my Rodent 7/Rident 3 Piggybacked.,,.
This is hilarious
Looks like granfors has some competition!😭
try a vaughn riggers axe
How about compared to the X7?
Please review the Gransfors brux wildlife hatchet and small forest axe.
GC Knives Doesn't need to. 100+ year history of being the best on the market.
I would still like it if he tried it out, so he can see what the best axes are like.
GC Knives Oh lord yes. I commented before watching the video. I have a hard time justifying the price of this when you can get the finest, hand crafted axes in the world in the same price range. He definitely need to get his hands on some Sweedish axes!
GC Knives you already know Gränsfors hands down
I've been waiting for this review. Went with a Wetterlings since the panic buying is about to begin.
Panic?
Wetterlings is closing up shop.
Nice content! Keep it up!
The shafts is suppose to be protruding out a little from the head. Flush is the wrong way to do it.
Love the hatchet though.
I've got a really old Germantool 1857 carpenters hatchet.I put a long handle on. My favorite chopper by far. If anyone could tell me the steel they use,that would be great. It's really hard to sharpen,but holds an edge a long time.doesnt chip. And only the slightest role after days of use without touching up. (I use a hunk of tungsten with 90 degree corners for touchup.)
nice review
Have one it’s better than any video can show
5:17 be careful where you put your hand, ive seen my friend doing that and the head deflect whilst it hits a knot and hit his hand! I didnt hit him hard but it cost a trip to A&E
Rhys Tucker arts and entertainment?
You NEED A gransfors!
both look good
I love hardcore hammers!! Amazing
woods chogun ... can do the same and cost less
It’s like a beefed up version of a carpenters hatchet. For less money you could get yourself an Estwing.
Or head over to SMKW and find any number of Marbles hatches and axes for pocket change.
John Smith true
"Survivalist", what a marketing gimmick. A fancy carpenters hatchet. They maybe good working products but at this price point there are more affordable quality hatchets that will get the job done. Not complaining about the the review, just getting tired of outdoor gear being labeled "survival gear" and the price jacked up. At my age, my coffee mug plays a greater role in surviving the day than these things would.
Scott Hill I totally hear you lol
Good review, but this is not for me, will stick with my Gransfors.
Paul Milnes totally inder
gideonstactical Gränsfors are just night and day difference compared to any other. Like a big heavy slow crappy doge charger vs a million $ carbon race car.
Over priced and a bit gimmicky but a cool tool all the same. I'd still take a GFB Outdoors Axe. preferably.
Guys don't buy this. Go on eBay and buy an old hatchet head that has the same design.there are tons of head with the same design on eBay. Go to a hardware store and buy a handle for it . Older hatchet and axe heads have really good heat treat and steel. If you do it this way you will not spent more then 30 dollars. Trust me do this, unless you are to lazy to spend 20 minutes to hang the head on the handle
Couldn’t agree more!!
I'm not really impressed. Those look like far, far more work than any of my regular old 1 1/4 lb hatchets with a thin convex edge. I think these axes could benefit from some edge profiling work. Not just sharpness, but getting rid of the hard step between the edge and the cheeks. Just a smooth curve from edge to cheek. The first branch being chopped in the video would take 5 to 6 chops with almost any of my dozens of hatchets. If it was green wood it would be a 3 chop job.
batmanacw I reprofilled the edge on mine after a month of hard use. convexed it and smoothed out the shoulders like u said, it bit wood great before but I think it is more efficient now. it is a great hatchet, does the work you'd expect and then some
batmanacw where's the video?
For 3 figure money, gransfors hatchets beats these hands down. A similar and superior purchase would be the gransfors bruk small forest axe. I get it tho, this channel just gets free items to review so he has to pump up the excitement for mediocre products.
Hope you're planting 20 trees for every one you cut down.
you are kidding me. you fell off the turnip truck. it's worth 35 bucks max. come on dude, get real.
willy p00 ??? I don't know of axes in this size made in the USA with this steel going for that price.
Plumb, Estwing, Stanley to name a few. Made in the USA out of 1060 steel. $170 for a hatchet? Are you insane? You had to get it for free. If not, i have some swamp land you may like.
willy p00 you are a moron
Surviving is all about using using your calories efficiently. You have a limited amount of food, and food is energy. You waste it doing Parkour or chopping down trees with a little hatchet, and you're toast. Might as well carry an axe or a saw. If that's going to be a tool to build shelter.
2 thumbs up
🇺🇸
Did I hear you say 450$---OMG
jennings flippen $135 is what I said
👍👍👍
The survivalist, with a mill face hammer for tent pegs? I think not! It would chew up your plastic, wood or metal tent pegs. Not for camping. This is a marketing gimmick.
Thumbs are not wood .......
Great review as always. However, please set a good example by wearing some eye protection, at least while you're being filmed. Also, don't have your camera man stand directly down range of you while you're swinging all out. If that head separates from the handle, it's going to kill someone. Just have him take two steps off axis and he'll be fine.
John Smith im curious exactly how hard do u think hes swinging here?
Hard enough that I wouldn't want to have that blade smack me in the head if it slipped out of his hand or it departed. It's not a matter of how hard he's swinging but the fact that if any woodsman/logger used his chain saw or axe or pick or splitting maul or any other tool with someone directly in front of him, he'd be fired on the spot. Besides that, in this case, there is absolutely no reason to do it. Just have the guy step off to the side.
John Smith not saying youre wrong. Youre right. Its just that A: its a small axe/large hatchet so its not massive and B: u can tell when the head is secured on properly its just a feeling maybe he had confidence i dont know.
He was wearing eye protection
Really? 5:07 5:34 6:22
Looks like quite mediocre performance of both of the axes … from what I see I will NEVER EVER buy such an axe 😂😂😂
👍👍💯💯⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🇺🇸🪓🪓🇺🇸
600th to like🤣