Axe preferences among Becker fans?

G

gobblegobble

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Jan 4, 2013
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So I'm curious: among the Becker fans, is there a brand of axes that is most popular? Except for my SOG fasthawk, all of mine are the Gerber/Fiskars models, but lately I've become interested again in the Estwing line--kinda seem like the Beckers of the ax world. So, what do y'all think?
 
I love my Council Tool hudson bay and my gransfors hatchet.

i had a lot of fun with my CS trailhawk the other day too.
 
I can't say preference because it would imply that I've had others, but my Council tools Hudson Bay impresses me. It's pricey though. Tradewater, among being Master of the Universe, dabbles in axes.

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I have an old craftsman hatchet (made in US) that was given to me by my father years ago. I also have a Cold Steel Trailhawk that I recently acquired. I am loving it!
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I have really like my Fiskars, to be honest. I'm in the process of hanging a Kelly double, if I can ever find time to finish sizing the haft. I imagine it will be my new favorite when it's done.
 
I don't know much about axes but I do like my gerber, I think they called it a back paxe or something. I also like the CS trail hawk, I think I'm going to try one with a larger bit.
 
I like my Snow and nealy huson bay axe and I have one of their polaskys.i have a small norlund hatchet I rehandled with a house scout hatchet handle that's a wicked chopper and pretty darn good looking too. And of course a CS Trialhawk and united cutlery that are fun to play with. I hope the photos work
I'm on my phone:)
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Estwing is my camping axe"great wood spliter", kinda too light for an all day chopping spree but tough. I also have a cs trail hawk which I haven't really chopped with. I found a plumb boys scout axe head which I shinned up, handled it up and gave to my son. My next axe is going to be a full size axe, lumber jack size.
 
Flea market finds from the golden age of US axe manufacturing. Got 8 or so, like 'em all:
Atco
Kelly/true temper
Mann
Warren
Hultafors Bruks
Old US marked mil hatchet
Hudson forge
Plumb

That's what I can think of offhand.
 
I think the best buy on a new axe right now is the Husqvarna. It's a tad softer than a Wetterlings, does a great job on hardwood and I'm really liking mine.

My first choice would be to look around the junk/flea market/antique shops and pick up a good "vintage" axe head for a few bucks, clean it up and rehang it.

I found this little plumb hatchet for a few bucks and it's one of my favorites.

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I have both styles of Craftsman (wood handle and all steel) and I had a wood furnace for years, long story short is that I can vouch for the beating they can take
 
One of the reasons I have no been posting much here is because I have gone a bit axe crazy over the past year.

Just what do you want for an axe? What's the price range you are looking at? Do you plan on pairing it up with a Becker? Small to medium axe, plus a folding saw, and a Becker is a great combo!

Something like a Wetterlings, Laplander saw, and a BK16, BK15 is a good combo.

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(not pictured is my Chopper1)
 
Some Kelly Works, True Tempers, a Plumb Boy Scout hatchet, a Hults Bruks hatchet and a Stanley Cruiser double bit that promises to become a favorite as soon as I re-haft it. $20 is the most I've paid, most being flea market saves.
 
tradewater said:
I think the best buy on a new axe right now is the Husqvarna. It's a tad softer than a Wetterlings, does a great job on hardwood and I'm really liking mine.
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The husqvarna hatchet is a hults bruk re-branded as a husqvarna. Im not sure if this is the same on their full-size axes. @ 50$ this is probably the best deal going for a wood-handled hatchey. If you can find a husqy hatchet a couple years old or older they were produced by wetterlings.

I recently found an older collins 3.5lb axe head in the old shed at my folks house. I re-hafted with a 28" straight handle from house handles. I specifically requested no laqcuer, octagonal, and for the grain not to be more than 15 degree out of allignment. They delivered perfectly in less than 3weeks. I love my axe. Te straight handle is super accurate. This is a user axe...it is pictured on a dinng room table i just finished/sold.
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Widerstand said:
One of the reasons I have no been posting much here is because I have gone a bit axe crazy over the past year.
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you poor bastid. I feel your storage problems.
Took me about 3mo to get through the phase - still have several edge covers to make.
 
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