Two years in the past, after making some web site content material for Silky Saws, I requested if the model would let me check out a product that piqued my curiosity: the NATA Double-Edge Hatchet 240mm. It was a weird and engaging instrument to take a look at. I wasn’t sure how I’d use it. However I knew I’d discover loads of methods to use it.
See, Japan has some wonderful arborists. The act of trimming bushes is an artwork kind in Japanese tradition. Cautious thought goes into selecting what to prune or take away. An equal quantity of care goes into crafting and sustaining the instruments they use.
Within the States, against this, we stock a really totally different mindset of what a hatchet is. Usually, I wouldn’t contemplate one thing with a 9.5-inch blade a traditional “hatchet.” I’d name it a machete or a chopper. However, trying on the NATA, it’s canted extra like a Kukri. So the one means I may determine it out was to get my arms on one.
Two years later, I’ve used the NATA to clear trails, tidy up my yard, and prep firewood for the hearth pit. It swings like a hatchet with the additional benefit of getting a for much longer blade edge. It is going to be a staple instrument in my arsenal for the upcoming spring cleanup.
So think about my pleasure when Silky reached out to see if I wished to check out its new NATA: the NATA Hatchet Outback Version. I gained’t spill the tea on what it had in retailer simply but (you’ll should learn on for that). However I can inform you, having prior expertise with Silky’s different Outback-edition instruments, I knew my expertise was going to be epic.
Briefly: The Silky Saws NATA Outback is a wonderful instrument for a life within the open air. It carries the geometry and heft of a hatchet however with 3 times the blade size. It chops, hacks, and trims, and it’s straightforward to regulate and maneuver. The NATA Outback can get you thru wooden and brush with ease. This implies extra materials for the hearth, a transparent path for mountaineering, a cleaner yard, and loads of power left over to take pleasure in your self.
-
OAL
16.5” -
Blade size
9.5” -
Blade metal
Black oxide-coated SKS-51 JIS instrument metal -
Grind
Flat -
Hardness
58-60 HRC -
Deal with materials
Rubber -
Carry
Ambidextrous belt sheath -
Weight
1 lb., 9 oz. (2 lbs., 2 oz. w/sheath) -
Worth
$110
-
It’s a hatchet with a 9.5” bit -
Additional grippy rubber deal with -
Ambidextrous sheath
-
It is scary sharp. Like, “put on Kevlar gloves if you use it” sharp. -
You’re not going to wish to put it down.
Silky NATA Hatchet Outback Version: Overview
Design and Options
Silky’s preliminary lineup of Outback instruments consisted of the Pocketboy, Gomboy, and Bigboy folding saws. All three featured blades are nickel/tin-plated with composite handles for improved grip. The introduction of the Outback lineup was additionally a chance for Silky to broaden the makes use of of those saws to incorporate processing bone.
SKS-51 JIS Device Metal
The Silky Saws NATA Outback’s SKS-51 JIS instrument metal is widespread in industrial round saws and bandsaws. It’s depraved robust, retains a great edge, and is proof against blunt-force trauma.
All that makes it the proper instrument to slam into hardwood again and again. What’s extra, Silky sharpened either side of the blade utilizing conventional Japanese sword-sharpening methods — the identical course of handed down over centuries.
As with its different Outback instruments, Silky coated the NATA Outback’s SKS-51 JIS instrument metal with black oxide. That tremendously will increase the NATA’s corrosion and abrasion resistance. It additionally reduces friction, permitting the blade to slip out and in of moist and sappy materials higher. It additionally makes it simpler to scrub the blade earlier than you set it again in its sheath.
However not like the opposite merchandise within the Outback lineup, which have an arbor composite deal with, Silky carried over the unique NATA’s shock-absorbing rubber deal with. You may also take away and exchange each the deal with and full-tang blade of the NATA Outback.
NATA made the ambidextrous belt sheath that comes with the NATA Outback from impact-resistant ABS plastic with black metallic trim. It’s the identical materials on bumpers in trendy passenger autos. That protects the sheath’s outer edges from getting banged up. You may also take away the sheath simply out of your belt whereas leaving the belt loop in place.
First Impressions
I used the unique, non-coated NATA for the final couple of years for quite a lot of duties. I used it to clear brush, limb bushes, and cut up wooden. And my solely grievance with the unique was how a lot crud sticks to the blade. Residing in New England, tree sap is prevalent and sticks to uncoated metallic uncannily. The one means I’ve been in a position to get sap off the unique NATA blade is by slicing extra limbs and clearing extra brush.
So, I used to be very excited to see how efficient the black oxide coating is in eliminating the passionate bond between blade and sap.
Past that, the entire different elements from the unique NATA carried over to the Outback model. And I couldn’t be happier about that.
As you may think about, grip is a significant factor in utilizing a instrument like this. Out of the field, the rubber deal with may be very grippy. Overly grippy, truly. Like lint may keep on with it (nevertheless it doesn’t) grippy. Silky made this deal with detachable. That means you may exchange it or the blade and proceed utilizing it for generations but to come back.
I additionally recognize the carrying over of the unique NATA sheath. It’s impact-resistant ABS, options ample drainage, and the belt loop connects with a side-release buckle. This lets you take away the NATA with the push of a button with out eradicating your belt. It additionally makes it ambidextrous.
General, I anticipated the identical degree of efficiency with the NATA Outback that I skilled with the unique NATA — hopefully, even higher.
Within the Subject
Out within the wild, the NATA Outback overperformed. Proper off the bat, I may inform the black oxide coating makes an enormous distinction. Not solely is the situation of the blade higher if you’re performed, however the NATA Outback additionally passes way more easily by moist and dry wooden. Nothing sticks to it that I can’t simply wipe off.
Having the size and curve of a hatchet, however with a 9.5-inch blade as an alternative of a 3- to 4-inch blade, implies that your entire swings land good and true. In clearing a path by my yard to our stream, I used to be switching between clearing brush and taking down 1- to 2-inch thick limbs and saplings. The realm I discovered myself working in is generally swamp land, so the comb grows thick and is filled with prickers.
Even so, I used to be in a position to make some critical headway in minimal time. I used to be impressed with how a lot I did in such a short while — even with my prior expertise with the unique NATA.
I’ve been avoiding a large spalted ash limb that dropped in my yard over the summer time. Coming off of one of many largest bushes on the property, it’s simply 20 ft lengthy and eight inches thick. Suffice it to say, when this sucker got here down, we all heard it. Actually, it shook the home. I’d have continued avoiding all of it winter, nevertheless it was blocking a stream I’ve been working to get clear a path to.
I reasoned, what higher time than the current to handle it with the NATA Outback?
A Close to-Excellent Camp Device
There was particles I deliberate to course of with a chainsaw within the spring. However with the NATA Outback, I cleared it in lower than 10 minutes. It was unbelievable. It was empowering. I believe I even despatched out a battle cry.
That stated, past slicing, chopping, chipping, and slicing, the NATA Outback is a good instrument for digging and prying. At 16.5 inches lengthy and almost 0.25 inches thick, the quantity of leverage you will get out of this instrument is fairly unimaginable. I wouldn’t plan on digging up boulders with it, however you may completely get some rocks and cussed tree stumps up and out of your means with minimal effort.
Now, right here’s the place the black oxide coating actually proves its value in spades. It went by the whole lot in entrance of me and was prepared for extra. All of the NATA Outback wanted was a wipedown with a moist rag and it was again in its sheath trying top-notch, hanging within the shed, subsequent to the unique NATA.
Silky NATA Hatchet Outback Version: In Conclusion
The Silky Saws NATA Outback Version is, at minimal, 4 effectivity instruments in a single: hatchet, machete, prybar, and trowel. It’s designed to be a slicing instrument. However primarily based on its kind, the black oxide coating, and the extra-grippy rubber deal with, you may relaxation assured that it’s going to be the most effective camp and yard instruments in your assortment. You may end up leaving the comb cutter and chainsaw behind.
I picked up a pleasant little arm exercise on a couple of events with each NATAs. However that black oxide coating permits the Outback model to circulation into moist and dry wooden with out getting hung up or caught.
General, I can attest which you can completely go berserk with this factor and have large outcomes to point out for it ultimately. Nevertheless, the NATA Outback is so fine-tuned that it’s good to let the instrument do the work. You might have heft, leverage, and ergonomics in your aspect. There’s additionally the centuries-old sharpening methodology that Silky employs.
It’s a no brainer for me to advocate {that a} NATA Outback must be hanging in your entire sheds or garages. You may additionally strap it to your pack, depart it in your truck, or stick with it at your favourite household cabin. I promise you, identical to the unique NATA was a recreation changer, the NATA Outback could have you trying round for extra supplies to course of.
