Thanks- I think "choking up" on a hatchet is an often-overlooked point, not just for fine work with wood, but as a skinner (I'm told), as a food chopper ("ulu" style) and even for slicing.. and I'm beginning to think that's partly behind the surprise popularity of the Gransfors Mini. It's amazing how many "knife" tasks it does very well, even food prep... and it chops wood much better than any knife it's weight I've tried... and it doesn't seem to alarm some people at all the way a large knife does... or, sometimes, any knife does. It's versatility makes it hard to beat for the size and weight.

The Estwing sort of reminds me of the old Dodge in-line six-cylinder cars, like the "Valiant". They were utterly reliable, and lasted forever with minimal care, but after a few years of driving one, you were looking for any excuse to get rid of it. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />