An icon of hard-working independence that comes from the expert team at Hardcore. They're ex-carpenters who know a thing or two about tools, and who build all their products here in the US. Each one of these is handmade, with handles forged from American Hickory with a natural wood grain. That means no two are exactly alike, with a range of unique shades to reflect the weathered wood that was used. The 22 oz head, forged from high-carbon 1080 steel, is mounted onto an 18" haft, and the clever design packs three tools into one: a blade with a 3.5" bit, a hammer, and a notch for removing nails or tent poles.

It comes with a "courtesy edge" – not dull, but not dangerously sharp – that's ready to go for splitting small pieces of firewood, cutting small limbs, and the like. If you want it sharp enough to shave with, you'll need a touch up. Clamp your hatchet in place somewhere, then run a metal file along the blade with hard, even strokes at a consistent angle on either side. Or just take it to a hardware store and they can do it for you no problem.

To protect the hatchet's blade, snap on this tough sheath. It's stitched from rich, durable suede – the same kind the military uses for boots – so it protects your blade, and everything around it, while adding a head-turning style factor. The leather is waterproof and stain-resistant, with an especially fine nap and a grain that's buffed for extra softness. It fastens snugly around the blade thanks to a brass rivet, and leaves the hammer free for use when you don’t need the cutting edge.

Clean and rust-proof your investment – or any other metal tool that sees its fair share of use – with this stuff. Remington's unique formula easily cleans off grime, removes deep-down moisture from metal pores, and layers on a protective film that smooths the metal surface.