Maple hatchet

[Raldo]

Maple hatchets have never existed; hatchets are always named after the metal/decoration/whatever that makes up the hatchet head.

You're likely referring to Maple hatchet hafts. Maple hatchet hafts are an old recipe and are no longer used. They are being deprecated, along with many many other dated recipes because of the exact reasons you mentioned (requiring varying ingredients from multiple crafts at various levels).

Maple hatchet hafts are used in the dated recipe for Dated Bronze Hatchet.