I'm looking forward to this winter getting over so I can get out and get a chance to use whatever I'm going to purchase, the weather in the northeast has been brutal and we're all sick of it. I want to have some beers, get out in my kayak, catch some fish and get some sun.

It always good to pass some time, doing some tomahawk throwing against a dead log in camp.

I bought a triple set of Wetterlings, including a tomahawk, with all hickory handles and drop forged blades.

I like the Benchmade knives, but a machete is very nice for cutting brush, as long as you keep your non knife holding hand, behind your back like a fencer.

I prefer training swords when I'am scouting for deer, in order to slice thru spyder webs, slashing flying bugs; brush, etc without the fear of getting cut.

Cold Steel sells some nice ones with 100% polypropyene construction.

You can order them, [except for the Wetterlings,] and some nice tomahawks and knives at Smoky Mountain Knife Works.

www.knifecave.com

"Hurl that Hawk"

Book: Knife and Tomahawk Throwing by Harry K. McEvoy, Tru-Balance Knife Company 2155 Tremont Blvd., N.W. Grand Rapids, MI 49504

if your on a budget, go to a pawn shop and find a shinglers hammer,it has a 1 1/2 wide blade you can sharpen, about 5-6 inches long, and a hammer head on other end handle is one piece, 2$ last one i bought.cold steel sells special forces shovel, its highly rated,very versatile.regular hatchets and short axes do work great, but they are WAY too dangerous, they always seem to be too close to parts of your body, and too readily to cut you. a long handled light axe is way to go, if you intend to use it a lot.you need distance to keep the sharp edge from your body parts,a deep cut in the boonies means death.estwing sells these with a one piece head and handle you can hammer with.for light duty the small shovel can be sharpened on one side and will chop very well,just get a high quality one.for a saw, take with you a bow saw blade,and run a 2 inch long bolts though holes on both ends , with a nut and tighten,cut a branch,one foot longer than blade, slot with bow saw blade on both ends 2 inches deep,bend branch and install blade into slots,and presto,wood branch bow saw.kukuri knifes can be good tools ,but most are cheap and made from soft steel, they dull as fast as you can sharpen them,they need carefull handling too, you cant carry all the knives and hatchets and axes you want too.survival knives are overated and most uneccasary,a 4-5 inch sheath knife ,good quality will do most of what you require of it,and a swiss army knife,then deside on the larger axe,machete,shovel,and call it done.

You can get a full steel hatchet at any bigger store for maybe twenty or thirty dollars.For a survival knife spend 50-100 bucks and get a nice bowie knife.Make sure the blade is one piece down to the bottom of the handle,full tang.None of that blade goes an inch into the handle garbage.