# Part Hatchet, Part Machete, All-Purpose Camp Tool: Silky Saws NATA Outback Edition Review
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**Two years ago, I created content for Silky Saws, and after that, I reached out to the brand to test a product that caught my attention**: the NATA Double-Edge Hatchet 240mm. It was an unusual and intriguing tool to look at. I wasn’t sure how I would use it, but I knew I would discover multiple ways to apply it.
Japan has highly skilled arborists who consider the act of tree trimming an art form. They put a lot of thought into selecting what to prune or remove. The same attention to detail goes into crafting and maintaining the tools they use.
In the U.S., however, our perception of a hatchet is quite different. Normally, I wouldn’t consider something with a 9.5-inch blade a traditional “hatchet.” I would call it a machete or a chopper. However, looking at the NATA, it’s shaped more like a [Kukri](https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=999&u=1907177&m=39329&afftrack=gjpr&urllink=www.bladehq.com%2Fitem–Cold-Steel-Magnum-Kukri-Machete–10148). So, I decided to get my hands on one to figure it out.
Over the last two years, I have used the NATA to clear trails, tidy up my yard, and prepare firewood for the fire pit. It swings like a hatchet but with the added advantage of having a much longer blade edge. It will be a staple tool in my collection for the upcoming spring cleanup.
So, when Silky asked me to test its *new* NATA – the NATA Hatchet Outback Edition, I was thrilled. I won’t give away all the details just yet, but I can say that, based on my experience with Silky’s other Outback-edition tools, I anticipated an amazing experience.
In summary, the Silky Saws NATA Outback is [an exceptional tool](https://www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=cl&mi=10248&pw=7185&ctc=gjpr&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rei.com%2Fproduct%2F229358%2Fsilky-nata-double-edge-hatchetmachete) for outdoor living. It possesses the features of a hatchet with three times the blade length. It chops, hacks, and trims, and it’s easy to control and maneuver. The NATA Outback can handle wood and brush with ease, providing more material for the fire, a clear hiking trail, a tidy backyard, and plenty of energy left to enjoy outdoor activities.
## Silky NATA Hatchet Outback Edition
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**Product Specifications:**
– **OAL:** 16.5”
– **Blade length:** 9.5”
– **Blade steel:** Black oxide-coated SKS-51 JIS tool steel
– **Grind:** Flat
– **Hardness:** 58-60 HRC
– **Handle material:** Rubber
– **Carry:** Ambidextrous belt sheath
– **Weight:** 1 lb., 9 oz. (2 lbs., 2 oz. w/sheath)
– **Price:** $110
**Pros:**
1. It’s a hatchet with a 9.5” bit
2. Extra grippy rubber handle
3. Ambidextrous sheath
**Cons:**
1. It’s extremely sharp. It’s advisable to wear Kevlar gloves when using it.
2. You won’t want to put it down.
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## Silky NATA Hatchet Outback Edition: Review
Silky’s initial array of Outback tools included the [Pocketboy](https://www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=cl&mi=10248&pw=7185&ctc=gjpr&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rei.com%2Fproduct%2F197890%2Fsilky-pocketboy-outback-170-mm-saw), [Gomboy](https://www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=cl&mi=10248&pw=7185&ctc=gjpr&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rei.com%2Fproduct%2F197889%2Fsilky-gomboy-curve-outback-240-mm-saw), and [Bigboy](https://www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=cl&mi=10248&pw=7185&ctc=gjpr&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rei.com%2Fproduct%2F197888%2Fsilky-bigboy-2000-outback-folding-saw) folding saws. All three had nickel/tin-plated blades with composite handles for improved grip.
The introduction of the Outback lineup also enabled Silky to broaden the uses of these saws to include bone processing.
### SKS-51 JIS Tool Steel
The Silky Saws NATA Outback’s SKS-51 JIS tool steel is commonly used in industrial circular saws and bandsaws. It’s extremely tough, maintains a good edge, and is resistant to blunt-force trauma.
Silky sharpened both sides of the blade using traditional Japanese sword-sharpening techniques—the same process handed down over centuries.
The NATA Outback’s blade is coated with black oxide, enhancing its corrosion and abrasion resistance. This coating also reduces friction, allowing the blade to slide in and out of wet and sappy material with ease and making it easier to clean before storing it in its sheath.
Unlike the other products in the Outback lineup, which have an arbor composite handle, the NATA Outback retains the original NATA’s shock-absorbing rubber handle. Both the handle and full-tang blade of the NATA Outback are replaceable.
The ambidextrous belt sheath provided with the NATA Outback is made from impact-resistant ABS plastic with black metal trim. It offers ample protection and easy removal from the belt, leaving the belt loop in place.
### First Impressions
I have used [the original](https://www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=cl&mi=10248&pw=7185&ctc=gjpr&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rei.com%2Fproduct%2F229358%2Fsilky-nata-double-edge-hatchetmachete) non-coated NATA for various tasks over the last few years, such as clearing brush, limbing trees, and splitting wood. My only complaint about the original was how much debris sticks to the blade. Living in New England, tree sap is abundant and adheres to uncoated metal remarkably. The only way I have managed to remove sap from the original NATA blade is by cutting more limbs and clearing more brush.
So, I was very excited to see how effective the black oxide coating is in eliminating the strong bond between the blade and sap.
Beyond that, all the other aspects from the original NATA carried over to the [Outback version](https://silkysaws.com/nata-professional-240mm-outback-edition/?ctc=gjpr). And I couldn’t be happier about that.
Grip is a major factor in using a tool like this. Initially, the rubber handle is very grippy. Overly grippy, in fact. Yet, you can replace both the handle and the blade, ensuring its use for generations to come.
I also appreciate the continuity of the original NATA sheath. It is impact-resistant ABS, features ample drainage, and connects with a side-release buckle, making it ambidextrous.
### In the Field
The NATA Outback exceeded expectations in the wild. The black oxide coating made the blade smoother and easier to clean. Its length and curve, combined with a 9.5-inch blade, ensured accurate and effective swings.
I made significant progress in clearing a path through my yard to a stream, which is mostly swamp land with thick brush and prickers. Even with my experience with the original NATA, I was impressed with the NATA Outback’s efficiency.
There was a massive spalted ash limb in my backyard that I had been avoiding. The NATA Outback enabled me to clear it in less than 10 minutes, empowering me to tackle more challenging tasks.
Beyond cutting, chopping, chipping, and slicing, the NATA Outback is also great for digging and prying. Its length and thickness provide considerable leverage, allowing you to move rocks and tree stumps with minimal effort.
The black oxide coating came in handy, enabling the NATA Outback to cut through everything before me and remain ready for more with just a quick wipedown.
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The [Silky Saws NATA Outback Edition](https://silkysaws.com/nata-professional-240mm-outback-edition/?ctc=gjpr) is at least four efficiency tools in one: a hatchet, a machete, a pry bar, and a trowel. While it is a cutting tool by design, its form, black oxide coating, and extra-grippy rubber handle make it an exceptional camp and yard tool. The NATA Outback delivers superior performance and is likely to replace a brush cutter and chainsaw in your collection.
The black oxide coating allows the Outback version to flow into wet and dry wood without getting hung up or stuck, offering efficient and effective results. However, the NATA Outback is finely tuned to let the tool do the work, leveraging heft, leverage, ergonomics, and centuries-old sharpening methods employed by Silky.
It’s highly recommended to have a NATA Outback in your sheds, garages, backpacks, trucks, or favorite family cabin. Whether you go berserk or take a more controlled approach, the NATA Outback promises outstanding results and a seamless cutting experience.
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*(The images and captions shown in this article are extracted from the original source.)*
