axe comparison question

J.
As you know I use a 19" wet in the spring summer and fall. But in really wet conditions down in the river bottoms no what time of year it is it's better to have the 26". No doubt at all. And in winter the 26" will be a blessing.
I've got a large axe I use in the wet river bottoms and in winter.
So I guess I'm saying, if you plan on winter camping much and you'd like to keep warm in a lean-to then the bigger axe is the way to go. Hardwoods demand a big axe unless you just love beating your brains out all night trying to get that thigh sized dead osage down.:eek:
Iz
 
Mines shaving sharp as well, they only had one so I settled, but the grain on the handle is dead on.
 
I have had a fiskars hatchet for years. I heat my home almost exclusively with a wood stove, so it has gotten a lot of use. I have beat on it. I think it is a great tool for the money. I couldn't imagine how any axe could be that much better. Until someone gave me one. A friend gave me a GB Carpenters axe. Its an amazing axe that is worth every penny. Now if you want to fall trees there are better axes. Just about any axe can split up kindling. If you want to craft things in the woods I dont think it can be beat. I would now buy one without any hesitation. I think it is a way better value than most knives in that price range and I dont think it is an unreasonable price for a knife. Especially one that was hand forged on the other side of the world. It is one of my favorite pieces of wood gear and I cut trees for a living so that is really saying something.
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I know it wasnt on your list but I thought I would offer it up since you dont hear much about them.

Matt
 
Oakietree said this, "I think it is a way better value than most knives in that price range and I dont think it is an unreasonable price for a knife. Especially one that was hand forged on the other side of the world".

I agree with you 100%.

GB axes are relatively cheap in the UK, not much more than a Wetterlings or a Fiskars/Gerber, so I don't see why we would choose anything else.

I know there's a price hike in the US for GB products but I never understand why people would buy a 5 inch knife for $100+ and then think an axe of the same price is too much!
 
Nice Axe Oakietree. From what I gather the Carpenters axe (both GB and Wet) has a straighter and longer bit, but what is the differance in the head besides that? Is the head a bit heavier? I was looking at the carpenters, but you are correct, you dont hear much about them.
 
YB, I also agree with you 100%. Some would scoff at spending even what Wetterlings charges for an axe, when in all reality I dont find it super high dollar for a quality tool. Ive had sub 4in blades that cost more then that and wont see as much use in the bush potentially.

My reasoning for wetterlings is I am very new to axes in general. I dont wanna pop for a GB untill I get my technique down with a cheaper axe. The Wetterlings isnt cheap, but its a big step up from my Fiskars IMO. Id hate to go out and jack up a GB cause of something I did wrong.

I ordered me a 19in Wetterlings last night, and am gonna get a larger axe as well. Either the Wet, a GB, or im gonna search around for an old head to restore.
 
bindlestitch said:
J.
As you know I use a 19" wet in the spring summer and fall. But in really wet conditions down in the river bottoms no what time of year it is it's better to have the 26". No doubt at all. And in winter the 26" will be a blessing.
I've got a large axe I use in the wet river bottoms and in winter.
So I guess I'm saying, if you plan on winter camping much and you'd like to keep warm in a lean-to then the bigger axe is the way to go. Hardwoods demand a big axe unless you just love beating your brains out all night trying to get that thigh sized dead osage down.:eek:
Iz
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Thanks Iz....:thumbup:
 
You should also consider some of Condor's offerings, J. I have the C&S Cruiser Axe. Awesome tool. A little pricier than the Wetterlings, but not as much as the GB. Comes with a really nice sheath.
 
j williams said:
Ya know Ive wondered about Condors axes.....Thanks CRR, and nice to see ya back posting.
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They're stainless (420 iirc), which turns off some purists, including me at first, but once I got over that I fell in love. Condor's heat treat is top notch. And thank ye, sir. It's good to be back.
 
j williams said:
Nice Axe Oakietree. From what I gather the Carpenters axe (both GB and Wet) has a straighter and longer bit, but what is the differance in the head besides that? Is the head a bit heavier? I was looking at the carpenters, but you are correct, you dont hear much about them.
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A Good carpenter's axe will be relieved behind the head (like the one shown) so you can choke up behind the bit somewhat for better control when hewing or cutting. Also, a carpenter's axe's poll is usually ground flat, and at least semi hard, and is intended to be used like a hammer.

IMO, for hiking and camping, an 18-19" axe is really the most versatile.

If you were going to liv e in the woods fo 1-6 months, a Trapper's axe, (24-26") would be better, and for living in the woods longer, or doing a lot of work, a full sized axe is in order.

For your purposes, the 19" Wet should do fine.
 
Thanks CP. :thumbup:

I think the 19 I ordered will serve me well, and Im gonna look into a full sized axe next for the winter months, and harder work.
 
I think someone needs to do a review...GB - Wetterlings - Fiskers.

I would be really interested in the outcome.
 
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My preferences are the 24-26" size. Really, the 3/4 axe still isn't big enough for my tastes when it comes to winter but it is fine for summer/fall.

As for lighter weight of 19" vs 26", I don't understand this because most of the weight is in the head not the handle (wooden axes). Oh, I know, there is a finite difference in weight, but it really comes down to pretty trivial difference in terms of effort of carrying a 19" verses a 26" axe which usually have the same sized head. The one thing that does make a difference is the ability to fit into a pack. If you are using something like the maxpedition falcon II, the bigger size won't fully fit in a small pack like that.

I also don't understand the concept of choking up being any different in a 19" versus a 26" axe. Since they have the same size head, the grip of the handle at the head is the same. The real difference that extra 7" of handle gives you is a huge momentum difference through on the swing and also greater safety on splitting. Splitting will be much easier as will be felling which are the basic reasons why I like an axe better then using a chopper sized knife. Now a 3/4 axe suffers IMO when it comes to splitting. I know it ain't supposed to be a splitting maul, but it still suffers compared to a 31" sized axe with a step-up sized head. The next axe I buy will be a feller's for winter hauling.
 
KGD: It depends.

It's true that Snow & Neally have their Pen Bay and Hudson Bay with the same head.

But places like Gransfors have a 1.5# head on their small forest axe, and a 2# head on their Scandinavian Forest axe. So it's nbot always just a few more inches on the haft that separates the models.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
KGD: It depends.

It's true that Snow & Neally have their Pen Bay and Hudson Bay with the same head.

But places like Gransfors have a 1.5# head on their small forest axe, and a 2# head on their Scandinavian Forest axe. So it's nbot always just a few more inches on the haft that separates the models.
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Thanks for the clarification! Yep, then if you are switching size of the head then you are changing up a lot there. I guess it also means you are changing a lot of possible function too.

So like any damn knife comparison thread - which jobs you gonna do make all the difference in the world. Personally, I like to go bigger between the two head sizes.
 
quietmike said:
Which feller? do I know him?
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That little ditty designed by Geoffrey Burke.....The most expensive commercial axe you can buy right now...I want that puppy in a really bad way. A.K.A GB American Felling axe...Its expensive and sexy as hell!
 
kgd said:
Thanks for the clarification! Yep, then if you are switching size of the head then you are changing up a lot there. I guess it also means you are changing a lot of possible function too.

So like any damn knife comparison thread - which jobs you gonna do make all the difference in the world. Personally, I like to go bigger between the two head sizes.
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What I'd like to see is a 2 pound Scandinavian Forest Axe head on a 30-32" haft. It'd be a good full size axe that wouldn't weigh too much when you have to hoof it in.
 
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