CRKT Chogan Hatchet - Outdoor Camping Axe with Hammer Poll, Forged Carbon Steel Head 2727 Review (2026)

What it is

The CRKT Chogan Hatchet 2727 is a full tang camp hatchet designed by Ryan Johnson of RMJ Tactical, based on the shape of an 1804 rifleman's tomahawk. The head is hot forged from a single piece of 1055 carbon steel with a manganese phosphate coating, giving it a 3.16 inch cutting edge and a flat hammer poll on the opposite side. The handle is glass reinforced nylon molded around the tang, which keeps the tool light for its size while staying rigid enough for chopping. Overall length runs about 13.19 inches and the hatchet weighs roughly 1.5 pounds, putting it in the same size class as other mid-size camp hatchets rather than the smaller hand axes some campers carry for kindling only.

Fit for the job

This is a two-job tool built for a car camping kit: splitting kindling and small firewood down to burnable sizes, and driving tent stakes or splitting stubborn stakes free from hard ground with the hammer poll. The forged head holds an edge through a weekend of use and the poll takes repeated hammer strikes without mushrooming the way softer stamped steel can. It is not designed as a precision carving hatchet or a bushcraft knife substitute, and its weight and handle length make it better suited to camp chores done standing or kneeling at a fire ring than fine woodworking tasks done in the hand.

Build and materials

Carbon steel is the headline material choice here, and it is a tradeoff. 1055 carbon steel forges and sharpens easily and resists chipping better than many stamped or cast hatchet heads, which is why it shows up on hard-use tools. The cost is maintenance: unlike stainless blades, this head will develop surface rust if it sits wet or humid without a wipe of oil, especially around the edge and any spots where the phosphate coating has worn through from use. The glass reinforced nylon handle does not need the same care and resists the humidity and temperature swings a wood handle would react to, which is part of why CRKT paired it with a forged carbon head instead of a hickory handle.

Value and what is missing

At its price point the Chogan competes with hatchets that use stamped rather than forged heads, and the forging is the main thing buyers are paying for since a forged head is generally tougher under repeated impact than a stamped one. Some retailers note the hatchet ships without a sheath, hung on packaging only, so budget for a separate sheath or blade guard if you plan to toss it loose into a camping bin with other gear. Buyers who want a lighter hatchet for backpacking or a hatchet with a leather sheath and more traditional hickory handle out of the box may prefer a smaller, lighter alternative instead, since this one leans toward camp use over trail carry.

Bottom line

The CRKT Chogan Hatchet 2727 suits campers who want a single hard-use hatchet for kindling, small firewood, and stake driving without paying for a boutique forged tomahawk. The forged carbon steel head and integrated hammer poll are the standout features, and the glass reinforced nylon handle keeps the tool durable in wet conditions. Plan on wiping the head down after use in humid weather and picking up a sheath separately if the retailer does not include one, and consider a lighter model if the primary use case is backpacking rather than car camping.

Frequently asked questions