Nema,
Thanks for the link - interesting site. I spend a lot of time on BushcraftUSA.com these days - they love hatchets there. My only axe is a double sided and several times rehandled Plumb. I still have my Plumb Camp Hatchet, a goodie my Mom got me in the early sixties with Green Stamps! It, my Dad's old KaBar, and my BS knife were my camping buddies. More on your Bruks when you get it, please.
Ordering all of this Christmas stuff off the net for my wife and grandkids was an evil influence - I ordered myself a new knife - a Condor 'Bushlore'. Heck, the leather sheath was worth the $28 shipped price! Decent scandi edge - needs a little help to shave armhairs reliably, however. A user out of the box, a little TLC should make it look/function a bit better. My wife wrapped it and put it under the tree.
I also got a new Mel Pardue custom made Tanto folding knife - Damascus blade & bolster and mammoth ivory scales - from Mel, himself, in trade for a LN Kimber benchrest .22. Unreal knife... I am certainly 'not worthy' of such a fine knife. If I am afraid to damage my ESEE-4, what chance does a $1k+ knife have to see use? Nice fellow, Mel, I enjoyed meeting him and talking with him several times at a local sporting goods store that sells his custom knives. He is a real artisan - and Benchmade's senior knife designer, and he is especially proud of his Griptillian design.
So, Santa doesn't have me an ESEE-3... but I do have a new contender for my 'ultimate bushcraft knife'! So, I can still possibly do some self-inflicted non-paper cut blood letting Christmas AM!
Merry Christmas everyone!
John (aka 'Stainz')