Axes and Saws

M

Merost

Joined
May 16, 2009
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160
I'm seeking opinions on axes and saws. I normally don't carry an axe with me, but I have a Fiskers that I keep in my vehicle for car camping, etc.

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I do normally carry a saw...a Corona pruning saw, which seems to work well, although it maybe a little longer than a Laplander saw.

CORONA-Folding-Razor-Tooth-BEN_i_VS_172627.jpg


My question is, would a Wetterlings or Gransfors axe be better than the Fiskers? I have a hard time trusting wood handles, especially in the really dry climate that I live in, which is really hard on wood.

What about saws?
 
IMO if that fiskars is working for you why change? I mean G+B and Wetterlings are both nice, but it looks like you are GTG
 
In my experience with all the brands you mentioned, the Fiskars has best grind for splitting. If you need to chop live wood down then GB and Wetterlings work better with their thinner grinds.

If you want to, you could convex your Fiskars and be a happy camper.
 
unless you are going to be using an axe a lot it isnt really worth it to get something else

that said i have an sfa and couldnt be happier but i use it often and always bring it backpacking

and as far as wood handles i also live in a super super dry climate and have had no problems with the handles, they are far stronger then you would think
 
My experience with the fiskars axes is the steel is pretty brittle... the first time I used one the top quarter inch of the blade chipped off while splitting cold oak. I have personal experience with the Cold Steel Trailmaster, it's a pretty darned good field axe for the money. Another good budget choice is the Collins Boy's Axe which you can find at almost any true value store. They're made in mexico but the high carbon is strong and holds an edge well (I put my own V grind on it because the blunt edge it came with sucked). I don't have the bones for a wetterlings or a norlund or GB or anything like that so... For saws, look no farther than the Fiskars Woodzig (BY FAR the best folding saw out there) or the Wyoming Saw, a collapseable bow saw that fits in a very small, nice leather sheath. You can carry multiple blades for sawing bones, wood, metal, etc. It's a great survival tool and fits into a pouch the size of a leatherman sheath. As far as dry wood, I live in an arid climate and rub everything down with a thin coat of Birchwood Casey gunstock wax, which is a very nice combination of carnuba and beeswax that conditions the wood and doesn't rub off like oil.
 
From what I have heard the cold steel is not worth the $25-$30. I have 5 fiskars, and use the hell out of them for all of my splitting every time I go out. I have had them 4 years now and have never seen any damage to them. I split mostly Fir, oak, pine and juniper. Fiskars is hard to beat. I do have a Gransfors SFA that I hike with, it is a beaut...
payette, you may have had one with pour tempering or some defect, Fiskars will back their product so I would take it back and get a new one. They are unbreakable- Except yours...:-)
 
Oregon Knife Guy said:
From what I have heard the cold steel is not worth the $25-$30. I have 5 fiskars, and use the hell out of them for all of my splitting every time I go out. I have had them 4 years now and have never seen any damage to them. I split mostly Fir, oak, pine and juniper. Fiskars is hard to beat. I do have a Gransfors SFA that I hike with, it is a beaut...
payette, you may have had one with pour tempering or some defect, Fiskars will back their product so I would take it back and get a new one. They are unbreakable- Except yours...:-)
Click to expand...

The cold steel trailboss I'd say is probably the best field axe in that pricerange... I used it extensively for about 6 months for just about everything. drop forged 1055 high carbon steel, with a little modification with a bastard file the head is a great shape.
 
Spend $60 buxs and get a Wetterlings. I love mine, their so sharp, and the leather guard is thick leather and very nice. Great quality for small price considering I would willingly spend 3 times that on a belt knife. I can provide pictures later of the 13", 19" and 27", I just stained and sealed the handles and waxed the guards. My axes are so sharp that I grazed the edge w/ my knuckle and made a clean slice under the skin, it took me a few seconds to even find the cut because it folded over like a flap.
 
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nothing wrong with wood in hot dry climates, you just need to increase number of times you lightly sand the handle and soak in turp or kerosene, then apply linseed oil. I do this monthly to my axes, twice monthly if used in dry climates.
 
I just looked up that Fiskars Woodzig folding saw, and it's almost EXACTLY what I've been looking for to add to my backpacking gear. Anyone know where I can purchase one in Canada? I mainly like it for the handle material; I can't stand all that bright orange safety coloured gear you often see. This would match my axe and bushcraft knife quite nicely.

woodzigrfoldingprunings.jpg
 
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