First off, I’d like to thank Derek Cnota of Connect Communications for reaching out to me and offering to send me a part of the Les Stroud series to evaluate! ~Desert Rat
When Derek asked what I would like to have a look at, I asked for the Vigor Hatchet. What a great tool! This hatchet is so well made that it is easy to forget that it is marketed as a “survival” hatchet – it is “almost” good enough for every day use.
This hatchet comes with some great features, most notably a sturdy sheath, a chisel blade, a hammer striking surface and a fire starter. Further, it has a Lifetime Warranty!
The most impressive feature of this hatchet is the heft, grip and balance. It is superbly balanced and swings easily. As a matter of fact, the handle facilitates a grip so well made for swinging (using the cutting surface) that it is a little bit off, when using the hammer side. that’s a small price to pay though.
The blade comes pretty sharp, out of the box. Some hatchet purists of old may insist that hatchets are meant for splitting kindling and don’t need to be that sharp; most modern day outdoorsmen and women use them for everything however, so the keen edge is appreciated. Based on the handle design, the balance, and the blade – you could put a lot of time and effort in around the campsite – clearing brush, chopping wood, splitting kindling – and this hatchet would let you go all day (and go with you).
I didn’t really have any good ideas on how to test the chisel, but it is a chisel blade. Not fancy but I’m sure it would do in a pinch. The hammer surface works, but this is my only concern with the whole tool. The back of the hatchet is the same thickness as everything else – around 1/4 “. I fear that heavy use would eventually cause the hammer section to mushroom and spall. For extended use, it would have been nice to see a thickening or reinforcement near that area of the head. On the other hand, this is marketed as a survival hatchet – and it would definitely serve that purpose.
All in all it is a great tool. Quality materials, great design, quality construction, and it is pretty light. Mine was slid in between my day pack and the small of my back. A few times I had to check and make sure it was still there. It’s well thought out, has an awesome warranty and carried the reputation of Camillus along with it. If you’re in need of a hatchet that is meant to be used sparingly in certain situations, this would be a great one. I think it would stand up to regular, heavy use as well, with the exception of the hammering surface. The Hatchet retails for around 55 bucks. Well done, Mr. Stroud, well done Camillus.
From Camillus: Les Stroud, AKA Survivorman, is best known for producing, directing, creating, and staring in Discovery Channel’s Survivorman. Les is a true survivalist and a true survivalist need tough knives built to withstand every challenge. The Les Stroud Signature Series combines the essence of survival and innovative thinking with Camillus’s best materials and craftsmanship. The result is a true survival knife line that is also great for hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and more.
