The Tomahawk guys probably won’t love this, but let’s be honest: Tomahawks suck for bushcraft. I’ve had this one for years—it originally came coated in some tactical black paint, and don’t ask me why I bought it because I honestly don’t know.
On the other hand, I have my trusted Swedish axe. I bought it in Sweden over 20 or 25 years ago. Everyone knows the brand, and guess what? It still performs like a beast.
When you compare them side by side, the difference is clear. I’m a peaceful guy, but there is a fundamental distinction here: An axe is a tool for building a log cabin. A tomahawk is a weapon designed for entering someone else’s log cabin and beating the shit out of them.
One is for crafting; the other is for killing. And out in the woods, you need a tool, not a weapon.
1. Prepping Firewood (The Stuck Bastard)
A tomahawk is lightweight and has a very thin, narrow blade. If you try to split firewood with it, you’ll realize quickly that it is exhausting. Because it lacks weight, you have to force all the power into your downstroke. And because the blade is so narrow, the little bastard constantly gets stuck deep in the wood.
With a proper axe, the blade is broader, and you can just let the slightly heavier head do all the work for you. It takes way less effort, it doesn’t get stuck easily, and it blasts big chips out of the log.
2. Woodworking and Ergonomics
I love working with wood and shaping it, but trying to do fine carving with a tomahawk is terrible. When you try to choke up on the handle to get a precise grip, that fucking hammerhead is constantly in the way.
An axe allows you to grip right behind the head comfortably. It gives you the control you need to get a beautiful, smooth surface. You just can’t get that kind of precision with a tomahawk. (By the way, I love making my own leather axe covers, and a proper axe head just fits and feels right).
3. The Useless Hammerhead and Tactical Garbage
“Tactical” tomahawks are even worse. Look, I don’t see any logical need for a hammerhead out in the forest. Why? Because I don’t carry nails with me in the woods. If you need to drive a wooden tent peg into the ground, you can easily hit it with the flat back of a normal axe.
The Verdict
To its credit, after all the abuse, the tomahawk was still surprisingly sharp at the end. But as a bushcraft tool, it makes you quit out of frustration.
If you want to crush skulls, buy a tomahawk. If you want to actually survive, craft, and process wood efficiently in the forest without destroying your arms, stick to a real, traditional axe.
Axe wins. Period.