Big Red, You are on to something that the Indians, pioneers, and mountain men all knew. A chopping tool is indispensible in the wilderness. There is a reason why they all carried a light tomahawk as a minimum. Sure, you can use a baton and a heavy bladed knife for chopping, but that is a very poor substitute for even the lightest hatchet or tomahawk. If you do carry a tomahawk or hatchet, you can get by with a much lighter knife such as a Mora or a simple folder. I have numerous tomahawks, hatchets, and axes, but generally take my Cold Steel Trail Hawk on my lightweight excursions in the woods. Can't beat it for cutting poles for shelter, sharpening tent stakes, making a walking stick, cutting a fishing pole, splitting kindling, field dressing a deer (opening the pelvis and splitting the sternum), quartering big game for hauling, etc. Hard to do those tasks quickly and efficiently with a knife. Hawks are for chopping, knives are for finer cutting. A hatchet or a tomahawk with a poll can also be used for pounding, driving stakes, cracking hickory nuts, etc. Marooned in the wilderness and given a choice between a knife and a tomahawk, I would choose the tomahawk as the more versatile tool.

Don't leave home without them.

Carn't argue with that one.
You forgot the ferronium rod/matches/lighter/Ritter PSK <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I'm also one of those who believe in the hatchet over the "survival knife."

Let's face it, the large knives that are usually touted as survival tools are too big for doing things like cleaning small game, etc. If you have one of those behemoths, you still need a small utility knife. So, if you have to carry 2 implements anyhow, why not make the second one really extend the work envelope?

I've found that even the Gransfors Mini-Hatchet (often derided) is a better chopper than a much larger knife, and weighs less than a BK&T Companion.

Even the much larger GB Wildlife Hatchet is lighter than many knives I've seen in BOBs, and is worlds apart in chopping and splitting ability.

Of course, I grew up in the age when axe skills were considered essential to the wilderness experience, so I may be a bit behind the times!

-=[ Grant ]=-

I add a mora and a woodman's pal. The Pal does everything a hatchet can do, but a little easier (I think) and not much heaver, if at all. Also, it can be batoned for simple, controlled splitting tasks.

At least one pocketknife is a must.

But if you are planning on going out in the bush and can carry something more substantial than your EDC blade, either a machete or a tomahawk would be ideal, IMHO.

My EDC includes a multi-tool and a SAK. In my GHB I have another multi-tool, 4" Mora & a small hatchet.