Outdoors

Zippo's hatchet-saw-mallet – the multitool for axe men

Zippo's hatchet-saw-mallet – the multitool for axe men
The saw is good for logs up to four inches (10.1 cm) thick
The saw is good for logs up to four inches (10.1 cm) thick
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The blade is held in place by a locking cam and tension compensator
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The blade is held in place by a locking cam and tension compensator
The saw handle stores the hatchet blade, and the hatchet handle stores the saw blade
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The saw handle stores the hatchet blade, and the hatchet handle stores the saw blade
Four handy functions for camping and rustic living
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Four handy functions for camping and rustic living
A mallet knocks in tent stakes
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A mallet knocks in tent stakes
The saw is good for logs up to four inches (10.1 cm) thick
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The saw is good for logs up to four inches (10.1 cm) thick
The stake puller removes stubborn stakes
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The stake puller removes stubborn stakes
The hatchet has a five-inch (12.7-cm) blade
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The hatchet has a five-inch (12.7-cm) blade
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The 4-in-1 Woodsman is like a Swiss Army knife for the bushy-bearded, flannel-clad set. Instead of the usual set of blades and implements, the Woodsman gives you a bigger set of tools that can turn a tree into kindling and a barren piece of woods into a campsite.

In 2009, Zippo spun an outdoor line off its more traditional lighter line. It played pretty close to its comfort zone, filling the outdoor line with small, butane-powered accessories and other fire-starting gear. This year, Zippo is branching out with a more diverse set of outdoor items. The 4-in-1 Woodsman is one such product.

The device is a wood saw with a 15-inch (38.1-cm) steel blade. Zippo says that it makes easy work of sticks and logs up to four inches (10.1 cm) thick. It's positioned at campers that need to cut up firewood, and the saw's handle has a little secret that will help: it's a sheath for a hatchet underneath. Take off the sheath to reveal the five-inch (12.7-cm) blade; store the saw blade in the hatchet handle, and sawing lends way to chopping and splitting.

The hatchet has a five-inch (12.7-cm) blade
The hatchet has a five-inch (12.7-cm) blade

On the flip side of the hatchet blade is a mallet designed to hammer tent stakes into the ground. When it comes time to pack up and pull the stakes out, a stake puller on the end of the hatchet handle provides some assistance. The puller is a closed loop, so it appears that it will only work with stakes that have some type of a grab point – Zippo shows it pictured pulling out a hooked plastic stake.

The 4-in-1 Woodsman will hit the market in time for the northern spring of 2013. It will retail for US$79.95. Replacement saw blades will run $12.95.

In addition to the Woodsman, Zippo's outdoor gear offerings will include a portable tailgating/camping grill; a windproof, dual-burner camping stove; a lantern; and a log-carrying sack.

Source: Zippo

View gallery - 7 images
5 comments
5 comments
Allen Lumley
- depending on where you grew up there was a class of ax called a 'boys ax' or 'trappers ax' usually 26 '' , + or - this slightly longer ax would be a much better ' frame ' for a slightly larger saw blade and would allow for the better bio-mechanics that you can get from a larger ' buck saw ' . . Big Al .
Allen Lumley
- this 'saw' stops cutting exactly where you have reached the branch size/diameter where you now have to have a saw to cut up 'fire wood' ! - bellow its limiting size you can wedge your branch between the trunks of two close set trees and snap off handy chunks ready for the fire ! . . Big Al .
lady mondegreen
The fact that this thing comes from ZIPPO makes its quality highly suspect. Would you have to send it back every few months to get the top put back on? Is it such an obviously inferior design that it is guaranteed to tear up or break with normal use? Of course, anything made by ZIPPO would have to have a lifetime warranty, or there would be no justifiable incentive to purchase.
Ben Mendis
This seems like a very sensible combination of tools. When I was a boy scout I remember that we always brought both a hatchet and a saw with us for prepping firewood and doing other woodworking. I can see how combining these two together would make a lot of sense.
I'm surprised at the negativity towards Zippo. My classic-style Zippo lighter is 9 years old and still working just fine. Granted I'm not a smoker so I don't use it every day, but I use it regularly to light my barbecue, light my stoves, start campfires, and melt the ends of nylon cords. It's a pretty handy and seems sturdy enough. I haven't tried any of their "outdoors" products yet.
Cara Cobb
They give away a lot of cool stuff