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    • Axes and Tomahawks

    Axes & Tomahawks: Camp Hatchets, Throwing Hawks & Tactical Tomahawks at Knifeworks

    An axe or tomahawk earns its place in a kit for jobs a knife can't do well: splitting kindling, felling small trees, driving stakes, or delivering the kind of chopping force a blade edge isn't built to survive. Knifeworks stocks everything from compact camp hatchets to full-length Viking-style bearded axes and tactical tomahawks built for breaching and prying.

    Brands here span CRKT's carbon steel Chogan and Freya lines, Cold Steel's drop-forged hawks, TOPS' heavier hunting and combat axes, Halfbreed Blades' hardened D2 rescue and breaching tools, and Karesuando's Swedish-made hunting axes, along with American Tomahawk, Condor, Gerber, and Mora Knives.

    Prices run from a $15.99 CRKT ExiTool seatbelt cutter up through a $539.95 TOPS Hammer Hawk combo, so there's a real range whether you need a light camp hatchet or a heavy-duty breaching tool.

    Axe vs. tomahawk vs. hawkAn axe head is typically heavier and wedge-shaped for splitting and chopping wood. A tomahawk or hawk has a thinner, straighter head designed to be swung one-handed or thrown, trading splitting power for speed and versatility.

    Call 888-225-9775 — our team can help you match an axe or tomahawk to camp work, hunting, throwing, or tactical use.

    CRKT, Cold Steel & TOPS Authorized DealerFull manufacturer warranty on every axe and tomahawk we carry.
    Camp, Hunting & Tactical OptionsFrom lightweight hatchets to heavy-duty breaching tomahawks.
    Carbon Steel & D2 ConstructionBuilt for hard use, splitting, and repeated chopping impact.
    Same or Next Business Day ShippingShips from Columbia, Louisiana. Questions? Call 888-225-9775.
    Compare Selected

    The Axe & Tomahawk Buyer's Guide (2026)

    How to choose between a camp hatchet, a hunting axe, a Viking-style bearded axe, and a tactical tomahawk.

    What Makes a Great Axe or Tomahawk+

    Five things matter most: head weight and shape matched to the job, steel that holds an edge under repeated impact, a full-tang or securely fitted head so it can't come loose mid-swing, a handle material that absorbs shock comfortably, and an overall length suited to how you'll carry and swing it.

    Carbon steels like 1055 and 1075, used across CRKT and TOPS' lineups, are common choices because they hold up well to repeated chopping impact and are easier to resharpen in the field than premium stainless steels.

    Axe vs. Tomahawk vs. Hatchet Compared+
    TypeHead ShapeBest For
    AxeHeavy, wedge-shapedSplitting wood, felling small trees
    HatchetCompact, lighter axe headCamp chores, kindling, one-handed use
    Tomahawk/HawkThin, straight headThrowing, tactical use, fast one-handed swings
    TipIf splitting power matters more than speed, choose an axe or hatchet. If you want something light enough to throw or carry all day, a tomahawk is the better fit.
    Camp & Bushcraft Axes+

    For general camp use, a mid-size hatchet like the Morakniv Camp Axe or CRKT Chogan Hatchet handles kindling and light chopping without adding much pack weight. For dedicated bushcraft work, Karesuando's Swedish-made bushcraft axes and the TOPS Grandpa's Axe offer more head weight and a longer handle for controlled, repeated chopping.

    Hunting Axes+

    Hunting axes prioritize a compact size and a durable edge for field dressing and camp tasks in the backcountry. Karesuando's Kniven AKSU line and the Fox Knives Hunters Axe are both built with hunting-specific proportions: shorter handles for control and a head shape suited to precise, controlled cuts rather than heavy splitting.

    Tactical & Throwing Tomahawks+

    Tactical tomahawks like the CRKT Provoke X Morphing Axe and Halfbreed Blades' Compact Battle Axe are built from hardened D2 or tool steel for prying, breaching, and controlled strikes rather than wood chopping. Throwing hawks, like the SOG Throwing Hawks and American Tomahawk Model 1, use a lighter, more balanced head designed to rotate cleanly through the air.

    Halfbreed Blades also makes dedicated rescue and incident-response tools, like the Rhino Tool and Incident Response Tool, which function as prybars and breaching tools rather than traditional chopping axes.

    Top Brands in Axes & Tomahawks+
    BrandKnown For
    CRKTCarbon steel camp hatchets, Viking-style bearded axes, tactical tomahawks
    Cold SteelDrop-forged 1055 carbon steel hawks and camp axes
    TOPSHeavy-duty hunting axes, hammer hawks, and combat axes
    Halfbreed BladesHardened D2 tactical and rescue tools
    KaresuandoSwedish-made hunting and bushcraft axes
    American TomahawkTraditional hickory-handled tomahawks
    Axes & Tomahawks Quick Reference+
    I need…Best ChoicePrice
    Light camp hatchetMorakniv Camp Axe$49.99
    Bushcraft axeKaresuando Bushcraft Axe$189.99
    Hunting axeKaresuando Kniven Vuogas AKSU$279.95
    Viking-style bearded axeCRKT Freya Axe$59.99
    Throwing tomahawkSOG Throwing Hawks$64.95
    Tactical breaching toolHalfbreed Blades Compact Battle Axe$450.00

    Axes & Tomahawks: Frequently Asked Questions

    Answers from Knifeworks' team on choosing an axe, hatchet, or tomahawk.

    What's the difference between an axe, a hatchet, and a tomahawk?+

    An axe has a heavy, wedge-shaped head built for splitting wood. A hatchet is a smaller, lighter axe meant for one-handed camp use. A tomahawk or hawk uses a thinner, straighter head designed for throwing or fast one-handed swings rather than heavy splitting.

    What's a good axe for camping?+

    A mid-size hatchet like the Morakniv Camp Axe or CRKT Chogan Hatchet handles kindling and light camp chopping without adding much pack weight. For heavier splitting, the TOPS Grandpa's Axe offers more head weight and a longer handle.

    Are these axes and tomahawks good for throwing?+

    Purpose-built throwing hawks like the SOG Throwing Hawks and the Gil Hibben Pro Thrower Axe are balanced specifically for rotation and accuracy. Camp hatchets and hunting axes are built for chopping and aren't designed with throwing in mind.

    What steel is used on most axes and tomahawks?+

    Carbon steels like 1055 and 1075 are common on camp axes and tomahawks from CRKT, Cold Steel, and TOPS because they hold an edge well under repeated chopping impact and are easier to resharpen in the field. Tactical tools like the Halfbreed Blades line use harder D2 tool steel for prying and breaching work.

    What's the difference between a hunting axe and a bushcraft axe?+

    A hunting axe, like Karesuando's Kniven AKSU line, is typically shorter and more compact for field dressing and quick camp tasks. A bushcraft axe, like the TOPS Grandpa's Axe, is built with more head weight and a longer handle for sustained wood processing.

    What is a tactical tomahawk used for?+

    Tactical tomahawks like the CRKT Provoke X Morphing Axe and Halfbreed Blades Compact Battle Axe are built from hardened tool steel for prying, breaching, and controlled strikes rather than wood chopping. They're a different tool category from camp or hunting axes.

    Does Knifeworks carry rescue or breaching tools?+

    Yes. Halfbreed Blades makes dedicated tools like the Rhino Tool and Incident Response Tool, built as prybars and breaching tools from hardened D2 steel rather than traditional chopping axes.

    How do I maintain a carbon steel axe head?+

    Wipe the head dry after use and apply a light coat of oil to prevent rust, since carbon steel is more reactive to moisture than stainless steel. Store it in a dry sheath or cover when not in use, and touch up the edge with a file or sharpening stone as needed.

    CRKT, Cold Steel & TOPS Authorized Dealer · Camp, Hunting & Tactical Axes

    Find the Right Axe or Tomahawk for the Job

    Every axe and tomahawk here ships same or next business day from Columbia, Louisiana, backed by full manufacturer warranty support. Call 888-225-9775 — our team can help you choose between camp, hunting, throwing, and tactical options.

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