Small all-purpose axe for firewood and kindling

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With a length of just under 25 cm and a weight of just over half a kilogram, the small all-purpose hatchet will find many uses in the home, garden and campsite, from making stakes to splitting firewood. It is not designed for felling trees or splitting large logs, but with its protective leather sheath, it is ideal for camping equipment.

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The comfortably ergonomic Japanese white oak handle invites you to hold the axe lower for controlled chopping tasks like chopping a conifer, or higher, just below the head, for smaller, controlled chopping and planing tasks.

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Care and use instructions:

Most Niwaki tools are made of carbon steel - this means that with regular use they will stain (and eventually rust) and gradually lose their sharpness. Caring for them involves three things.

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1. proper use:

• Japanese steel is hard and sharp and can be more brittle than some people are used to - it will break if overused
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• Do not cut wire, metal, stone, plastic or any other hard material (even bamboo fibres and some very hard woods, especially knots and burrs, can damage steel edges)
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• Do not twist or apply uneven pressure
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• Cut diagonally across the branches (not straight) so that you cut along the fibres
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• Watch the maximum cutting dimensions and don't overdo it (shears are not loppers)
• Use the base of the blades, not the tips, for heavier cuts
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2. Keep clean:

• Remove leaf resin, rust and dirt with a Crean Mate and water
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• Dry, wipe with Camellia Oil and store in a dry place
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3. Keep sharp:

Even new tools need sharpening after a certain time. For best results, use a grinding stones of 1000 grit, for general sharpening.

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