Hatchet

The Hatchet is the tool used in Woodcutting to chop trees. (Prior to 1 April 2009, a hatchet was called an 'Axe' or 'Woodcutting axe'. All woodcutting axes were then renamed as hatchets to clear up ambiguity between the woodcutting tool and more powerful 'axe" weapons.)

A hatchet is a melee weapon, available in all varieties of metal except white, although its power and speed are less favourable than many other weapons. Hatchets can be used to slash webs. A bronze hatchet spawns on the wood stump at the chicken farm in the north east section of Lumbridge. Most hatchets, except for the Dragon hatchet, the Black hatchet, the Inferno Adze, and the Sacred clay hatchet, can be smithed using the Smithing skill.

The level required to wield a hatchet is different that the level required to use a hatchet to chop trees. Wielding is governed by attack level while chopping trees is governed by woodcutting level. Therefore a level 3 combat player can use a Dragon hatchet but not wield it if their attack level is not high enough.

Trivia

 * When the woodcutting animation was changed, only the Sacred clay hatchet retained the old woodcutting animation.
 * Axes were renamed as Hatchets on April 1, 2009 to avoid confusion, but this temporarily caused some scams as people said that a hatchet was a rare item.
 * Some players were confused when Jagex changed the name of axes,because they will no longer list on the Grand Exchange,so players couldn't find a 'hatchet' to buy.