Axe help

S

ShadowBlade

Joined
Nov 24, 2006
Messages
25
I see alot of you guys carry an axe into the woods. I am thinking of getting one. What is a good general purpose axe?
 
The two above are excellent from all accounts that I've ever read. I've only had the opportunity to use a GB once, and it struck very well.

The Wetterlings are another good brand worth looking at, and a good bit cheaper than the GB.

Are you looking for a full sized axe or something smaller? I have found the weight to be a bit much for most trips, compared to the amount of 'all-out' chopping that I would do. A good sized hatchet has filled this role perfectly, so that I can section already downed trees or more efficiently clean limbs, make stakes, etc.. I don't have the need to fell live trees, however.

My Fiskars hatchet has excelled in all the previously mentioned roles and I'd certainly recommend it at a mere $20.
P8030041.jpg
 
I would say that if price is not an issue, go with the Gransfors. If you're on a tighter budget, go with the Fiskars. Gerber has a few that are the same type of handle as the Fiskars, one of which is pretty much the exact same hatchet, but even the smaller ones cost a good bit more than the Fiskars. Some of the Gerbers have knives or saws that store inside the hatchet handle which can be handy, but I've heard that some folks have had problems with the knife falling out of the handle.
 
I own a Gransfors Small Forest axe and am quite pleased with it's performance. However it edge chips frequently,although I am starting to think that this may be a faulty heat treatment. The Iltis oxhead's are expensive but still cheaper than Gransfors (at least up here) but they really are excellent axes. Just remember to check for vertical grain on your handle and make sure the head is properly aligned (as you look down at the head the blade should perfectly "bisect" the end knob). I recommend looking at Old Jimbo's site before you make a decision www.oldjimbo.com/survival and I also advise picking up a book which shows you proper axe technique, such as Mors Kochanski's Bushcraft.
 
If by "general purpose" you include splitting, please look at the thrid picture in this thread (post No. 9):
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=490698

For splitting with a light axe, you want a top profile like the axe shown - a fairly acute wedge with no shoulder at the cheek/blade junction. A drastic shoulder, as shown by the hawk in that picture, makes it harder to split the hardwood that is common in the eastern U.S. If you will be primarily using softwood, then the top profile is less important. In a big, whopper of a dedicated splitting axe, a less acute wedge is acceptable.

By this standard, many fine cutting axes are not suitable for "general purpose" work with hardwoods. For example, my Marbles No. 9 splits hardwoods significantly better than my GB Small Forest Axe if held with the same length of handle (apx. same force). The GB is doubtless just the thing for the softwood forests of Sweden.
 
I've picked up a number of old hatchet heads from yard sales etc and I've made handles to fit them. Any hatchet is better than no hatchet, and it is pleasing to turn a rusty old axe head into a nice sharp cutting tool. In the picture below is a hatchet which started with me as an old head that I reshaped and sharpened. A very handy item.
HandyBlades.jpg
 
I'd recomend the Fiskars/Gerber. Can't be beat for the money but if you want to spend more go for it. Does anyone know how the full size Fiskars are? I've only used the hatchet and my buddy wants an axe for his truck.
 
an axe will last a long time if you take care of it, so ya might as well buy quality, i reckon, brother!

another vote for the Wetterlings or Gransfors Bruks, if you choose not to get a tomahawk.

i really like brother coote's solution.

vec
 
I find the Wetterlings to be a better general purpose shape than the GB, which is too thin for my liking for anything except limbing. But to each his own, many people like them a lot.
 
Wetterlings, best bang for the buck. If you go hawk, the CS Rifleman actually cuts really well after some light sharpening...great little axe in its own right, but I have the wetterling on my pack.
 
I second the Gerber/Fiskars. I carry a Gator in my pack with the redundant in handle knife. There's really no task I can think of save building a full on log house I can't use it for.

P7180033.jpg
 
I'm going to have to give one of those Fiskars a try.

You can't go wrong with Granfors Bruks SFA for a general purpose axe. I also like the looks of the Scandanavian axe (little bigger) but don't have one yet.

And you can't beat Wetterlings for the price/quality combo.
 
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