Axe?

[Dizwolf]

The 19 wetterlings is a good pack axe. It's long enough to use a modified two hand chop, and short enough to one hand. I'd recommend using it from a kneeling position, both knees down. For standing chopping I use 30-35 inchers.

As for machetes, the lite chete is the obvious choice, but the Viking is another to consider. It's not as easy to Sheath as the el Salvador, but the thing is a monster chopper. Machetes are absolutely win over hachets.

 

[adaman04]

Kind of my thoughts Diz. Leaning toward 15 or 19 more and more all the time.

At this point the main machetes I'm looking at are the Lite Machete and the Imacasa Colin 18".

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

The Colin is a great latin-patterned machete--it even has a tapered blade! :thumbup:

 

[adaman04]

The Colin is a great latin-patterned machete--it even has a tapered blade! :thumbup:

I emailed Cam at Machete Specialist a while back and asked if I could pick up orders from them to save on shipping. He said yes and even went so far as to say if I’d let him know what models I was interested in, he’d let me handle them before buying. Seem like a good group of folks.

And Diz, I think you've convinced me to go with the 19" Wetterlings.

 

[Dizwolf]

It's a great size. Ive been carrying a full size axe while backpacking. Looking to do some lighter faster trips this summer with my girlfriend. Looking to keep it under 25 pounds for a couple days. This axe should be perfect for that. I love how deep it bites, even into hard woods. The edge is a bit (har har) more fragile than other axes I've had, but I now see they were just thin hammers now.

Thinking about a larger wetterlings or bruks felling axe, or large Scandinavian axe. Not sure yet

 

[SuicideFO]

I carry a 14" Fiskars. I love it and cheap. Also like the Wetterlings.

 

[Moengo]

It's a great size. Ive been carrying a full size axe while backpacking. Looking to do some lighter faster trips this summer with my girlfriend. Looking to keep it under 25 pounds for a couple days. This axe should be perfect for that. I love how deep it bites, even into hard woods. The edge is a bit (har har) more fragile than other axes I've had, but I now see they were just thin hammers now.

Thinking about a larger wetterlings or bruks felling axe, or large Scandinavian axe. Not sure yet

G Bruks American Felling axe is the best axe I've ever used. I love to swing an axe and the GB is just a pleasure to use. You will not be sorry if you get one. The little GB Hunters axe is also an awesome hatchet; I pretty much skinned an entire moose and caribou with this hatchet in Yellowknife, NWT.

 

[jnanson]

Any of the good axes will perform well. Just sharpen and keep sharpen and as Moengon said "I love to swing an axe and the GB is just a pleasure to use". Buy once / cry once and move on with a great product that you will soon love to use.

 

[awad]

just got my 19 inch wetterling in the mail. seems really solidly built, can't wait to go out and try it out. thanks guys!

 

[Medic241]

I have a few of the Fiskars axes and am very happy with them.

 

[shotgunner11]

I've done axes, hatchets, large knives and machetes and I have to say that right now, I prefer a short machete.

I had a GB, sold it when I got a Wetterlings as they were so similar and the GB was over twice the price.

Traded off the Wetterlings when I picked up an RTAK II. Used that for one trip and didn't care for the handle, pawned that off on Drew1095hc and got a Gerber hatchet.

Used that for 2 trips and gave it to Tony's son Trebber.

Now I use a Tramontina 14" bolo machete for most of my chopping and splitting. I don't really find it much slower than a hatchet for splitting and faster for chopping. It works for me. YMMV.

Now keep in mind that here in Texas, wood is either soft and easily choppable, splitable of it's so freaking hard that you can't split it with a powered splitter let alone a hatchet. Same went for the wood in Jersey when I was there. I spent most of my time in the pine barrens so it was all soft woods.

Had I been hanging in a hardwood forest, I might want a hatchet.

Now, with all that said, I can't wait for the Junglas. It's the RTAK II perfected. My biggest gripe with the RTAK was the handle. Alot of hot spots and far too wide for extended use. The Junglas is so comfortable in the hand and so well balanced, well, I can't wait. Pretty sure it'll be replacing my machetes.

 

[Dizwolf]

I like to have between 2 to 3 methods of getting through wood on me. Usually it's been axe/saw. Adding machetes and big knives to the mix has been great. I'm at the point now it really just depends on my mood.

 

[britchcock]

for me, it was a toss up between the GB small forest axe and the Wetterlings large hunting axe (comparable in size). This review helped a lot...
http://www.oldjimbo.com/Outdoors-Magazine/Wetterling-long-hunting-axe-VS.pdf

I decided on the Wetterlings (cost also helped in making that decision). Between the axe and the Junglas for batoning, I think I'll have my bases covered when it comes to processing firewood.

 

[Jim malone]

Gransfors Bruks Small Forest axe! :thumbup::thumbup:

 

[blade888]

Firestone sport axe - solid, good value.

 

[EricV]

I love my fiskars, its taken a beating, but the stock edge needs some work if you plan to use it for felling small trees (or large ones in a pinch )

Just picked up a tomahawk at cabela's for pretty cheap, other than needing a different (read: correctly) sized handle, its pretty fun, will pick up a nice hawk in the future. Way for fun to use than the fiskars, with similar weight but I think the fiskars does a better job splitting.

Saved this old collins from my sister's basement, the original handle was perfectly shaped but beyond repair even with epoxies. Put a link handle on it, its the best axe I've ever used, like it more than the big wetterlings I've borrowed. Its on a 30" handle, but if I can find a nice smaller handle I'll put one on. I'd highly recommend one of these! (they're from CT how bad can they be )

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