Axe/hatchet for a Forestry student?

FoxholeAtheist

FoxholeAtheist

Joined
Apr 7, 2003
Messages
2,315
Hi all,

A young man I know (son of friends) is graduating from high school soon and is planning on majoring in forestry. He's been very outdoorsy, does some blacksmithing (smaller stuff) and leather work... generally a handy kid. I'd like to buy him an axe or a hatchet for his upcoming 18th birthday. I'm familiar with quality brands, but not familiar with what someone going into forestry might find handy. Does anyone have any insight on whether modern foresters use axes much, and if so, what might be useful for a student?

I'm going to be getting him an axe/hatchet even if it's not a super useful item in modern forestry, because I know he'll use it camping or goofing around on his parent's woodlot. If nobody has a really strong opinion on a forestry-focused axe, I'm leaning towards a GB Small Forest Axe.

Any ideas?

Thanks!
 
This wood be nice.

48U0706-hultafors-hunting-axe-f-0028.jpg

Hultafors Hunting Axe
 
I use a Husqvarna forest axe and LOVE it. I used something similar to it for all my forestry/rec man classes in college, as well as for bushcrafting, hunting and camping today. It is a bit smaller than a boys axe, but it is great for felling medium-sized trees. The leather collar is new.

c8XUZ6L.jpeg
 
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FoxholeAtheist said:
GB Small Forest Axe
Click to expand...

A GB surely makes a splashy gift---no snark or judgement! it's obviously a beautiful object, and I'm sure most of us would happily buy one with someone else's money :) But the Small Forest Axe is, in my opinion, an awkward size that ends up sacrificing a lot of utility. If you really want to gift a GB, the Scandinavian Forest Axe is a lot more utility for not much more weight or difficulty packing. (Reasonable people can disagree, of course!)

But the Council FSS (or a lovingly restored vintage axe, if that's an activity you're into) would definitely be my pick. It's more axe, the link to forestry school is unmistakable---and it shows impeccable taste 😁

(The Velvicut is a fantastic axe, too, but in my opinion the FSS is at least as good an axe and a better gift in this situation.)
 
yep that council tool fss remake is perfect for this gift. seems like it a single dealer limited deal though from a quick google search.
 
I'd be remiss to not mention Council Tool's Flying Fox.
Get FortyTwoBlades FortyTwoBlades special edge treatment on his website and maybe the sheath he makes for it.
(though it's a great opportunity for him to make his own out of leather, as I did for mine).
I've gotten a surprising amount of use out of the hardened hammer pole, which is a feature you don't find on Gransfors axes.
I've used mine for everything, including carving. It's my camping "go to".
I've purchased 3 of them for the same amount one would spend on a Gransfors Wildlife Hatchet, and I'd stack any of them against the Wildlife.
Mine is rehafted on a House handle company "house axe" 19" haft, which makes it essentially similar in spec to a Gransfors Small Forest Axe.
(they also come with the year of make stamped into them, which maybe you could get one with a "21" or "22" on it!)

If you wanted to try something a little different that might make a more meaningful, unforgettable present, look into the Woox Forte axe- a very cool and different take on an axe.
It's in the ball park of the higher end axes, but it's unique with very favorable features and reviews. (slip fit haft and a hardened pole just to name a few).
FortyTwoBlades FortyTwoBlades designed it himself, so if you ever have a question about it you can always just ask the designer!
There's a lot of axes out there, but I've never seen one like the Forte.
 
Ohhh, I see now. I had thought that Council sold the FSS pattern as part of their normal line, with the Velvicut being an upgrade. Now I see that the FSS one is sold through "Whiskey River" and is another variant.

Seems to me that the main functional difference between them is that the FSS model is 1080 and the Velvicut is 5160. Is there much of a functional difference there? The FSS does look nice.
 
FoxholeAtheist said:
Ohhh, I see now. I had thought that Council sold the FSS pattern as part of their normal line, with the Velvicut being an upgrade. Now I see that the FSS one is sold through "Whiskey River" and is another variant.

Seems to me that the main functional difference between them is that the FSS model is 1080 and the Velvicut is 5160. Is there much of a functional difference there? The FSS does look nice.
Click to expand...
They also use some kind of plastic wedge or something in the FSS. I guess the idea is it requires less care.
 
FoxholeAtheist said:
Hi all,

A young man I know (son of friends) is graduating from high school soon and is planning on majoring in forestry. He's been very outdoorsy, does some blacksmithing (smaller stuff) and leather work... generally a handy kid. I'd like to buy him an axe or a hatchet for his upcoming 18th birthday. I'm familiar with quality brands, but not familiar with what someone going into forestry might find handy. Does anyone have any insight on whether modern foresters use axes much, and if so, what might be useful for a student?

I'm going to be getting him an axe/hatchet even if it's not a super useful item in modern forestry, because I know he'll use it camping or goofing around on his parent's woodlot. If nobody has a really strong opinion on a forestry-focused axe, I'm leaning towards a GB Small Forest Axe.

Any ideas?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
As to whether modern foresters use axe much I would kind of have to give a mixed answer. On wild fires yes but those tend to be pretty much throw away tools if the situation calls for it. On the job during normal times, maybe to clear a log out of the road once in a while if there isn't a chainsaw handy. I also worked on a research project where we limbed a lot of young trees while monitoring their growth but that was a rare assignment. And we used the company issue axe (one of those cool Swedish brands) as we were breaking them on knots way too often. My thought is let him actually get on the job and he can decide what he needs.
 
kwantam said:
A GB surely makes a splashy gift---no snark or judgement! it's obviously a beautiful object, and I'm sure most of us would happily buy one with someone else's money :) But the Small Forest Axe is, in my opinion, an awkward size that ends up sacrificing a lot of utility. If you really want to gift a GB, the Scandinavian Forest Axe is a lot more utility for not much more weight or difficulty packing. (Reasonable people can disagree, of course!)

But the Council FSS (or a lovingly restored vintage axe, if that's an activity you're into) would definitely be my pick. It's more axe, the link to forestry school is unmistakable---and it shows impeccable taste 😁

(The Velvicut is a fantastic axe, too, but in my opinion the FSS is at least as good an axe and a better gift in this situation.)
Click to expand...
I love my GB small forest axe. Find it more useful for my needs than a longer boys axe. But as you say - and you are right - reasonable people can disagree.

What I like about it:
More chopping ability than any hatchet for very little weight difference.
Usable and useful one handed or two.
Fits in even a small back pack.
That head design just works.
The quality cannot be beat.
It coordinates well with other nice hand tools for the outdoorsman's uses.

I get that we're talking a HS graduate. But I think it's a great time to start him down the road of having, using and keeping best quality goods. That's why
I gifted that same axe to two of my grandsons who also majored in related fields and are now both full time employed in the same.

Gransfors head.jpg

hand tools.jpg
 
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Boattale said:
I love my GB small forest axe. Find it more useful for my needs than a longer boys axe. But as you say - and you are right - reasonable people can disagree.

What I like about it:
More chopping ability than any hatchet for very little weight difference.
Usable and useful one handed or two.
Fits in even a small back pack.
That head design just works.
The quality cannot be beat.
It coordinates well with other nice hand tools for the outdoorsman's uses.

I get that we're talking a HS graduate. But I think it's a great time to start him down the road of having, using and keeping best quality goods. That's why
I gifted that same axe to two of my grandsons who also majored in related fields and are now both full time employed in the same.

View attachment 1673758

View attachment 1673763
Click to expand...
Very nice. I also have an SFA, and like it a lot. He already has good taste in tools, but has yet to own a good quality axe. His belt knife is a BRKT Canadian Special LT in 3V, and his folder is a ZT that I sold him out of my collection at a steep discount. Like I mentioned, even if he doesn't use an axe much in his school/work, I know he'll use one in just general woods-goofing, and that he'll take care of it. I'll keep an eye on this thread, but I'm strongly leaning towards the Council FSS variant.

Thanks, all!
 
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