Hatchet

I bought my hatchet in Jackson, Mississippi, while visiting friends and getting a good dose of the South. I needed something that would enable me to get into tight places but still apply a lot of force. A cleaver has three times the amount of blade surface, so you can’t really get it into tight spots. Also, when you’re in tight spots, you usually can’t come down with a lot of force. The hatchet has a lot of weight, so I don’t have to really whack it hard. I just tap, and it goes through a lot of the softer bones beautifully. I wouldn’t use it to go through harder bones like shanks or legs, though. It’s perfect for separating the bottom of ribs, and the soft metal is easy to sharpen. Safety tip: Hold your other hand behind your back before you come down with the hatchet to go through a bone or a joint.