Lee Valley Yankee Hatchet

Well made with a traditional design, this hatchet offers a great combination of quality and value. It has a classic “Yankee” pattern head (a form that originates in the UK, incidentally), with a thin, gently concave profile that’s ideal for splitting kindling or cutting saplings.

It is forged in Germany by a family-run firm that has been making axes since 1919, and fitted with a 12 1/2″ lightly recurved handle made from American hickory. Weighing 2 lb, the hatchet is nicely balanced to minimize fatigue in use, and has a 3 1/2″ face with a flat hammer back, suitable for driving tent stakes.

A dependable tool for a reasonable price.