Axe vs. Hatchet — What's the Difference?

A device for cutting or shaping wood, typically larger than a hatchet.

Has a short handle and a sharp blade for precision work.

Predominantly used in forestry and logging.

Portable and easy to carry, often used by campers and hikers.

A tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle, used for chopping wood.

A small, light axe used with one hand for minor chopping tasks.

Often dual-purpose, used both for chopping and as a hammer.

Can also serve as a tool for making kindling or carving.

Requires two hands for effective use due to its size and weight.

Less fatigue when used due to its light weight.

An axe (sometimes ax in American English; see spelling differences) is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood, to harvest timber, as a weapon, and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol. The axe has many forms and specialised uses but generally consists of an axe head with a handle, or helve.

A hatchet (from the Old French hachete, a diminutive form of hache, 'axe' of Germanic origin) is a single-handed striking tool with a sharp blade on one side used to cut and split wood, and a hammerhead on the other side. Hatchets may also be used for hewing when making flattened surfaces on logs; when the hatchet head is optimized for this purpose it is called a hewing hatchet.Although hand axe and hatchet are often used interchangeably, they are not the same thing.

A tool used for chopping wood, typically of iron with a steel edge and wooden handle

A small, short-handled axe for use in one hand.

A musical instrument used in popular music or jazz, especially a guitar or (originally) a saxophone.

A tomahawk.

End, cancel, or dismiss suddenly and ruthlessly

A small, light axe with a short handle; a tomahawk.

Cut or strike with an axe, especially violently or destructively

(transitive) To cut with a hatchet.

A tool with a bladed, usually heavy head mounted crosswise on a handle, used for felling trees or chopping wood.

A small ax with a short handle, to be used with one hand.

Any of various bladed, handheld implements used as a cutting tool or weapon.

Weapon consisting of a fighting ax; used by North American indians

(Informal) A sudden termination of employment

Short ax used to chop wood

(Slang) A musical instrument, especially a guitar.

To chop or fell with or as if with an axe

(Informal) To remove ruthlessly or suddenly

Variant of ax2.

A tool for felling trees or chopping wood etc. consisting of a heavy head flattened to a blade on one side, and a handle attached to it.

An ancient weapon consisting of a head that has one or two blades and a long handle.

(informal) A dismissal or rejection.

(figurative) A drastic reduction or cutback.

A gigging musician's particular instrument, especially a guitar in rock music or a saxophone in jazz.

(finance) A position, interest, or reason in buying and selling stock, often with ulterior motives.

(archaic) The axle of a wheel.

(transitive) To fell or chop with an axe.

To lay off, terminate or drastically reduce, especially in a rough or ruthless manner; to cancel.

To furnish with an axle.

Alternative form of ask

See Ax, Axman.

An edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle

Chop or split with an ax;

Terminate;

While possible for small trees, a hatchet is generally used for smaller tasks like making kindling.

A hatchet is typically better for camping due to its portability and versatility.

Safety precautions include using both hands, ensuring a clear swing area, and wearing protective gear.

Maintaining an axe involves regular sharpening of the blade and care for the handle.

Yes, hatchet handles can be replaced if they are damaged or worn out.

An axe is primarily used for felling trees and splitting logs.

An axe is chosen for tasks requiring more power, such as chopping large logs or felling trees.

Hatchet handles are typically made from wood, fiberglass, or metal.

Hatchets are generally less expensive than axes, though prices vary by brand and quality.

A hatchet is lighter than an axe, making it easier to carry and use with one hand.

The best way to sharpen a hatchet is using a sharpening stone or file, maintaining the correct angle.

Yes, there are various axe blade types, including splitting, chopping, and broadaxe blades.

In some regions, there may be regulations regarding the purchase and use of axes and hatchets, especially for minors.

With proper care, an axe handle can last many years, depending on usage and material.

Children should only use a hatchet under close adult supervision and with proper safety gear.