Amarok Endurer Hatchet

Written by: Ripshot

When it comes to tools, few of 'em have the same claim to seniority as the axe. Whether it's a knapped piece of flint tied to an antler or a sleek modern tomahawk made from polyalloys, the only thing that comes close as far as versatility goes is the equally old knife, with one or the other always taking the number-one spot in any bug-out bag or survivalist's kit. Amarok Pro-Hunting have always had some kind of outdoorsman's hatchet in their inventory since at least the 60's, almost always sold as a bundle with one of their sick looking survival knives. But earlier this year, the company released their newest take on the concept, intended as the 'new standard' for sixth-world outdoorsmanship, the Endurer. And I gotta say, it ain't half-bad!
The axe is a classy high-carbon steel affair that's surprisingly long as far as survivalist tools go, at twenty inches from end to end. The hooked head's thick 'n heavy, with Amarok's patented grind giving it a sharp but sturdy edge and enough space beneath the blade for a troll's fingers, for times when you need that blade close to your hand. There's an analogue compass on the side, the back end's got a big old forked spike for puncturing and prying, and the top's got a thick flat striking surface for hammering in tent-pegs and skulls.

Unfortunately, the axe head itself is pretty mediocre for woodcutting and the actual ergonomics suffered a bunch to make room for the interior-space, damn thing vibrates all the way up your arms when you try to cut good wood...

— Saint-Ain't

There's trees in the barrens, now?

— Anonymous Poster

A truck full of antique furniture got jacked and looted. I grabbed an oak table and matching chairs, hoping to spruce my bolthole up a little, but it was cold and the vanity-table didn't match my interior decor. Sooooooo...

— Saint-Ain't

The real dealmaker for this piece of kit though, is the handle: Folks at Amarok spent a lot of time and money in making a hollow handle sturdy enough to endure their hilariously overkill stress-tests, and they actually managed it. A few inches down, the solid metal splits into a fancy hollow latticework that rejoins into a ring with a screwcap at the bottom, with a long-ass length of paracord wrapped around the knurled hanle. The space inside is big enough for an airtight container big enough to hold a compact but pretty comprehensive survivalist's kit, which according to the ad includes:

• x1 flint striker

• x1 pack of twenty water-purifying tablets

• x1 box of twenty weatherproof matches

• x1 sewing-kit

• x1 string-fishing kit

• x1 collapseable wire-saw

• x1 mini-multitool

• x5 mini glo-sticks

• x1 Rating-1 Medkit

• x1 'Lifeline' disposable commlink/GPS in a waterproof bag

• x3 Daily-Carb ginger candies, each one containing about 1,100(!) calories and good for thirty years on the shelf(!!!)

• And a whole-ass survival-knife!

So yeah, this thing is pretty comprehensive as far as survival tools go. you can even take the compass out and use the thing to fry food, if you want. I'd give it a 10/10, except the only bottle-opener's on the little multitool and I was hoping to crack open a cold one with this thing, so a solid 9.

Word to the wise: The screw-cap on the bottom of the axe and the survival-kit's outer container both have an RFID chip on the inside. their officially stated function is to aid the user in finding his shit in an emergency, but it also tells anyone if the survival-kit's been opened and if the kit was the one bought with the axe, just in case you're thinking about smuggling anything inside.

— Cr4nk

Really? And here I was, thinking I'd be able to walk through an airport with my steel axe in hand without getting hassled by security, if it weren't for that darn survival kit...

— Nocte

Item type

Weapon, Melee

Manufacturer

Amarok Pro-Hunting

Rarity

5

Weight

2.2 KG

Dimensions

20"

Base Price

900¥

Type

Blade

Accuracy

3

Reach

2

Damage

S+2P

AP

-1

The knife included in the axe's survival-kit has the same stats and features as the Surival Knife (SR5, pg422).