ax question

SpartanSaint

SpartanSaint

Joined
Jun 17, 2010
Messages
970
alright folks, i'm looking at getting a camping combo from brkt. i'm fairly set on a number of knife options

but i'm fairly perplexed as to which of their ax options i want. at first i liked the look of their camp ax but the more i look at it, idk which to get

they have their scagel style camp ax, its 22oz, 13" over all, with a bit length of 3.5" inches. the steel is 1080 w/ added chromium at 54hrc, and from what i've seen available, a wide variety of wooden handles, burl and other wise

their glen eagle can be found for roughly $40 cheaper, with g10 micarta or wooden handles. its 12" long with a bit length of 5". i saw it listed in 1095 @ 57hrc, but i'm also seeing it listed as a2 without a hardness from a different dealer. weight is 16oz

and then there's their wetterlings ax, unlisted steel, i'm looking at the 18" version. it weighs in at 32.4oz with a bit length of 3.5" and a listed ax head length of 5.875"

thoughts guys?
 
You obviously like a good knife, so your axe should be quality too.

Edit - The Wetterling is a fine axe too.
 
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I don't have any experience with full tang one-piece axes like the first two you listed, so I can't comment on those. Regarding their "custom" Wetterlings axe, $180 for that axe is ridiculous IMO. They cost less than half that new. You can get a great wood-handled hatchet for wayyy less than that. YMMV
 
i've done enough reading and buying that i understand what i like in a knife but this ax game is new to me. pardon my vanity but i was hoping to match the two for my camping combo

and yet you throw another option in the mix haha, and under what i was expecting to pay

i just don't know what makes that a quality ax? i figured with bark river's reputation their axes must be top notch as well, and they're certainly aesthetically appealing
 
i haven't looked at estwing's stuff. i know i've used their hatchets but i was aiming for slightly higher end?

thanks for the input guys, keep it coming!

and edwood, thats a shame. i was kinda hoping you'd have an opinion on this one seeing your affinity towards custom hawks
 
SpartanSaint said:
i haven't looked at estwing's stuff. i know i've used their hatchets but i was aiming for slightly higher end?

thanks for the input guys, keep it coming!

and edwood, thats a shame. i was kinda hoping you'd have an opinion on this one seeing your affinity towards custom hawks
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high end? it's a camping ax, it's primary function is for heavy chopping/chopping wood.

if you want higher end, bark river makes camping axes.
 
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Primary concern should be function. I have found a lack of power in a short, light hatchet. Quality, regardless of size, is important, edge retention and ergonomics are key.
I have used several axes and hatchets, most were inexpensive. I found none of them kept an edge very well.
My 5160 12" long chopper, in comparison hasn't lost any of it's edge in several hours of hard chopping.

You just have to decide on the weight and length of axe/hatchet that you need. Then find what's out there and pick.
To me, hawks are a different animal, there is some cross over, but one is more a weapon, the other a wood cutting tool.
The Estwing that's got a 19" handle is $40. I've owned that one, it's a good/inexpensive foot in the door.
I left it with a friend, but that length of a handle increases the speed of the head, and will bite deep without too much weight in the head.
The Bark Rivers look nice, but they are small hatchets, which have packability, and can cut smaller pieces of wood. You'll be chopping all day on thick logs just to get them cut in half.
 
Tedsauce said:
Do you apply that logic to knives as well? I guess a sharp piece of metal is a sharp piece of metal, i mean after all it is just cutting. :confused:
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no. my point was that a camping ax is a specific tool used for heavy chopping (primarily wood). there is no functional need to spend large sums of money on a tool that will not perform much better. would it be reasonable to buy a $100 hammer to drive nails? i personally don't think so (but to each their own). for example: estwing makes a one-piece, forged high carbon steel ax that's quality built and under $50. spending 2-3 times more on a camping ax isn't going to really chop wood much better. pretty much all good camping axes will be made out of high carbon steel and hardened in the mid 50 HRC range.
 
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keep in mind, i'm not looking for a big ax. i'm thinking the wetterlings is almost too large for what i'm looking for. not that it'd be bad to have around, just for my current purposes i think the other two would be more appropriate to my uses

and your argument about high end axes applies equally to sebenza owners. moot in this thread.

i'm buying a very nice game/camp knife and i'm looking for a matching hatchet/camp ax to accompany it for short weekend forays in the woods.
 
The Glen Eagle is a hunting/camp axe. It's 1095, and harder, I'd say for edge retention, so you can field dress game.
The scagel style seems to be for wood cutting. It's a thick little hatchet, which adds some weight. It's flat stock, in contrast to the Estwing(and others) that are wedge shaped heads.
Bark River's 1080C is good stuff, the Golok is a great tool, and made from the same steel.

Are you still wanting the thinner Bravo 1, in CPMS35VN? If you could see the cross-section, you might change your mind. It has a great grind, thins out very well, it's a very good cutter, and the thicker spine adds strenght and supports the blade for hard use.
 
foxx said:
The Glen Eagle is a hunting/camp axe. It's 1095, and harder, I'd say for edge retention, so you can field dress game.
The scagel style seems to be for wood cutting. It's a thick little hatchet, which adds some weight. It's flat stock, in contrast to the Estwing(and others) that are wedge shaped heads.
Bark River's 1080C is good stuff, the Golok is a great tool, and made from the same steel.

Are you still wanting the thinner Bravo 1, in CPMS35VN? If you could see the cross-section, you might change your mind. It has a great grind, thins out very well, it's a very good cutter, and the thicker spine adds strenght and supports the blade for hard use.
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yeah i'm kinda leaning towards the glen eagle and picking up a wetterlings or similar if i intend to do any heavy chopping

as for the bravo1, yes i'm still wanting it. as well as a gunny. haha. but for this purchase and combo i'm thinking the manitou is a better fit
 
jimnolimit said:
no. my point was that a camping ax is a specific tool used for heavy chopping (primarily wood). there is no functional need to spend large sums of money on a tool that will not perform much better. would it be reasonable to buy a $100 hammer to drive nails? i personally don't think so (but to each their own). for example: estwing makes a one-piece, forged high carbon steel ax that's quality built and under $50. spending 2-3 times more on a camping ax isn't going to really chop wood much better. pretty much all good camping axes will be made out of high carbon steel and hardened in the mid 50 HRC range.
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If you where a professional axeman you would understand.


Like a race gun in a speed shooting match, or a tuner car on track;

...a highly polished speed grind on will change the nature of how the tool bites the wood.


The preformance of the Bark River modded axes is a huge improvement over what is a good ax to begin with.


Considering what many axeman pay custom makers the Bark River axes are a bargin.



That said, this is not a starter ax; the OP could save some cash with a standard ax.



Just one ax users opinion.




Big Mike
 
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SpartanSaint said:
yeah i'm kinda leaning towards the glen eagle and picking up a wetterlings or similar if i intend to do any heavy chopping

as for the bravo1, yes i'm still wanting it. as well as a gunny. haha. but for this purchase and combo i'm thinking the manitou is a better fit
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Yo Saint, the Glenn Eagle is a very cool tool, :cool:

...but as a hunting ax they are optimized for cutting flesh and spliting joints.



A few have been modified to a wood chopping grind, but those are few and far between.











Big Mike
 
Big Mike said:
If you where a professional axeman you would understand.


Like a race gun in a speed shooting match, or a tuner car on track;

...a highly polished speed grind on will change the nature of how the tool bites the wood.


The preformance of the Bark River modded axes is a huge improvement over what is a good ax to begin with.


Considering what many axeman pay custom makers the Bark River axes are a bargin.


Just one ax users opinion.




Big Mike
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i am far from an expert in axes and i don't use one professionally. i made the comment "there is no functional need to spend large sums of money on a tool that will not perform much better" based on the OP looking for a camping ax, for camping. if the OP is going to use this ax to compete or process large amounts of wood, by all means he should go for the finest ax he can afford to give him an edge over the competition. i do think it's overkill to buy a competition level ax to chop some firewood around a camp site. i will bow out of this conversation (but still follow this thread) because of my limited experience with axes.
 
A lot of guys like the one piece axes.

I don't. They have poorer balance than a wood haft one, and their weight is distributed more down the handle, which means the same length and weight axe won't chop as well as one with most of the weight concentrated in the head.

The Wetterling rework is a smoking crack price.

If you are willing to pay for an axe that is ready to go right from the box, look at a Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe (the same size as the Wetterlings you're looking at). At full price, they're about 2/3 the cost of the one BRKT sells. Sometimes they can be had for less. They also come with a 25 year warranty.

You can also get a Wetterlings, for about 1/3 the price of the one you are looking at, but you'll have to do some work on the edge yourself.
 


I have been looking at this one as more of a bush craft tool axe. I think you will love it.

Winkler Camp axe by Winkler Knives.
 
Big Mike said:
Yo Saint, the Glenn Eagle is a very cool tool, :cool:

...but as a hunting ax they are optimized for cutting flesh and spliting joints.



A few have been modified to a wood chopping grind, but those are few and far between.











Big Mike
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Mike, pardon my ignorance, but can you explain to me what makes it good for chopping? It will be a small hatchet for camp/fishing/hunting. I'm gonna assume the ax on the right is standard from bark river, and the one on the left was ground to be optimal at chopping

I just don't understand axes as well. Nor do I intend to get seriously into axes, I'm just in the market and I appreciate quality. So if you could help me to understand I'd appreciate it
 
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