Axe?

A

awad

Joined
Oct 16, 2009
Messages
306
I'm still pretty new to the whole camping and hiking scene. Most of what I do is car camping or a day hike here and there. All the times i've been camping, i've ended up purchasing bundles of firewood and then just batoning them into smaller pieces. I currently live in the city, so pre-sold bundles of firewood are pretty much my only option.

I'm planning to take what i've learned and go further with this during the spring and summer and spend a lot of time outdoors. Currently I have an RC-6, RC-3, and an izula. I was planning to purchase an RC-5 in the rat pack kit and dropping the RC-6 in there as my main outdoors knife solution. But what i've been wondering is, and i'll hope those of you who are seasoned will help me out, Do you think an axe would be a better choice for me rather than another knife?

For the price of the Rat Pack RC-5, i could get a Gransfors Bruks small forest axe as well as some other goodies.

But then comes the problem with how addicting ESEE knives are, I need the RC-5. I just don't know if i'll actually have a use for it.
 
I think it's a matter of preference. I've been camping quite a bit, even in 6 inches of snow in West Virginia and never needed an axe or large knife to gather enough firewood.
 
Why do you feel the need to make them into smaller pieces? Because you don't want to get an axe and take away your batoning fun. If you are buying it pre-cut, you should really only need to baton just one into smaller pieces to put on after the tinder is going to have a good flame to throw the logs on. Unless your town is crazy and sells them in awkward sizes that don't fit in a fireplace/firepit. If you want a small axe get a small fiskars hatchet or something, good price/quality.
 
I'd say get an Axe just for the fun of it skip the GB and grab a inexpensive cousin Wetterling axe and give it a whirl and still have cash left over for other goodies.... with the ESEE knives you own now you have all the bases cover and you can score a ESEE5 down the road if you still have a hankering :D
 
I am not too sure I understand why you recommend against the GB axe guys. Is it because the price for those is quite high in the US? They are excellent products and deliver great value for money. Havng said that, get an ESEE 5 too because it can do a lot of fun stuff as well ;)
 
only for cost.... not the axe itself....here stateside they are pretty costly and the wetterlings are alot cheaper . only trying to get more bang for the buck per say
 
This axe is indestructible and makes a great car camper's axe:http://www.estwing.com/product.php?product_id=1200

The estwing will save tons of time splitting wood. They make a nice smaller version too, but for a car axe the larger one is great to have. You might be able to find them at your local hardware store or home depot.

For car camping Estwing is the way to go IMHO. You would still have enough money left over to buy a Wetterlings if you wanted a lighter weight hiker's hatchet. Your RC-6, 3, and/or Izula will work great for hiking trips.
 
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Get you a nice tomahawk to keep it in your buggy. They make quick work out of wrist size camp fire and are fun to throw at trees. I have a Ft. Turner and love it.

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I like to take a hachet when i go "off the street camping". It will split those cut pieces in half in one swing. I also like to use it as a can opener for fun. My preference is one fixed knife and one hachet.
 
I carry a HB tomahawk (40 dollars) AND an RC5 usually, just because I love throwing the damn thing, and whenever the need arises for heavier duty chopping I bust it out. Collins makes a decent camp axe for 12 dollars that you can buy at any true value, just spend 10 minutes with a bastard file and arkansas stone putting a decent edge on it. I bought one two weeks ago and it's held up great.
 
I have a 15 inch wetterlings that I love. I mean love. I wasnt too into hatchets before I got it. I imagine a Gransford is nice, but at three times the cost, I cant justify them.
 
Get a 19" Wetterlings (equivalent size of a Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe).

They are a GREAT axe for the money!

I was using mine this last weekend to get pitch wood and dry wood to build a fire up in the mountains. It was very wet out, sprinkling on and off with a little snow still left on the ground in areas. Built a nice fire using and axe, knife, a fire steel and the pitchwood I found.

Out here in the Northwest, the axe is king.
 
Not to get off topic, but lets say I wanted a Gransfors Bruks, where would be the cheapest place to find one online?
 
If funds permit I plan on picking up a Condor axe this summer (to fuel my perpetual Condor fetish :o) so I'll be sure to report back on it if I do. :)
 
Dude just get out into the timber and hike till your tired, then set up camp. I usually pick a route or trail and at the halfway point I go off to the left or right and by sundown the mountains are mine. lol Enjoy Get a small hatchet.

Rack Pack 512
 
The word "cheapest" and "bruks". Ends with "get a wetterlings" ;)

I've got a 19 inch wetterlings and I love it. It was about $55. The bruks are nicer, but you've got to find out if axes work for you before sinking that kind of money into one.

One thing I'm shocked hasn't come up, machetes are light, cheap, pack much easier, and work well anywhere. I recommend the condor Viking and el Salvador models.

Good luck picking, and Take time to enjoy the air
 
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