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Axes

G

g123

Joined
Oct 25, 2009
Messages
329
Hey Guys,

I have been doing a lot with my GB axe's and have spent a lot of time using my Small Forrest Axe making fires in my backyard fire pit.

The Small Forrest Axe did well on splitting dry wood that was 4" in diameter and less, but really has a hard time with larger seasoned wood.

So I did some research. I found a thread on another forum that pointed out that the profile on GB Axes is so thin it does not split wood as well as some other axes of its size, although it excels in cutting and woodcraft because of the thin edge. The author of the article was a seasoned woodsman and owns a store that sells GB axes and other axes. He said that a thicker profile behind the edge split wood much better, which does make sense. So I went to the GB website and it appears that he is right. GB sells splitting axes of all sizes. This led me to believe that GB axes are more specialty use and they expect you to use more than one axe for different types of work.

What is your experience with using your GB Axes? For wilderness survival, what do you want your axe to do? Do you know of any other axes that maybe better at all around general use that have the handle and blade quality that comes close to GB?

Thanks,

Geoff
 
The better at splitting the fatter the head and usually the thicker the edge so not so good at chopping.

Really comes down to what is your major use. For me lightness and chopping more than splitting.
 
If you get a fatter head it will add a significant amount of weight and bulk. Sure it will work better at splitting (look at a splitting maul--they work great even if dull but boy are they heavy!). it is a small forest axe. It is designed to be trekked around with. If you arent moving much, weight isnt a concern so a big axe would be better.

There is no perfect axe--just the perfect axe for each situation =) (same goes with knives)
 
If you spend more time splitting than chopping, check out this model.

picture.php


picture.php


It's the GB Small Splitting Hatchet. :thumbup:


Jeff
 
I (personally) could not justify carrying more than one hatchet or axe, so I carry one that best suits my needs. This usually a thin blade profile. There are some alternatives though. One is to go with a double such as the Reeves I have with the Sears method of one side thin and the other blunt. Another is to look at moving up to the size of a Hudson Bay. It is still reasonably sized to pack, and the increased leverage due to its length makes it a better splitter. I keep my splitting for firewood to a minumum. It burns a lot of calories. This is all in the context of living out of my backpack contents and in the woods.
 
I love my GB Scandinavian Forest Axe. I think it's the perfect survival axe. It's light enough to hump all over the place, and can definitely chop stuff up. It may not be the best at splitting, but are you really cutting down medium size trees and splitting for firewood, or just chopping small trees into firewood size?
 
i am a hawk man. - so i like the thin edge when you can have only one.


if i have to part a tree, i'll do it with fire and mud in the Old Way or the Native People, ...and save my back and knees from carrying a gargantuan heavy axe all around Creation.

board logs out with wood pegs.


the hawk and a machete do the rest for me, and are still lighter than a large axe, and with better balance on the path.


that said, there is nothing finer than a good maul or large axe, if you can get it there comfortably. the joy of using a fine double-bit is also hard to equal, to me.

axes are truly great to have around the homestead or main camp when you can drive up to it.

vec
 
The hatchet works fine for splitting, you just need to adjust your technique. Look for some vids of Swedes using a GB and get some more technical variety in your skillset.
 
g123 said:
Hey Guys,

I have been doing a lot with my GB axe's and have spent a lot of time using my Small Forrest Axe making fires in my backyard fire pit.

The Small Forrest Axe did well on splitting dry wood that was 4" in diameter and less, but really has a hard time with larger seasoned wood.

So I did some research. I found a thread on another forum that pointed out that the profile on GB Axes is so thin it does not split wood as well as some other axes of its size, although it excels in cutting and woodcraft because of the thin edge. The author of the article was a seasoned woodsman and owns a store that sells GB axes and other axes. He said that a thicker profile behind the edge split wood much better, which does make sense. So I went to the GB website and it appears that he is right. GB sells splitting axes of all sizes. This led me to believe that GB axes are more specialty use and they expect you to use more than one axe for different types of work.

What is your experience with using your GB Axes? For wilderness survival, what do you want your axe to do? Do you know of any other axes that maybe better at all around general use that have the handle and blade quality that comes close to GB?

Thanks,

Geoff
Click to expand...

thats right. GB's are not for chopping tree roots when trying to get a stump out of the ground. Use a beater ax for that. GB's are excellent for gathering wood for fires, skinning, making shavings, fine detail cutting, log carving etc etc.

If i'm splitting wood i use a heavy splitting maul and or a sledge and splitting wedge. If i'm cutting dirty (sandy , soil) wood i use my Estwing. If i'm hiking and need kindling for a fire and small firewood, i use my GB SFA. If i'm helping my buddy portion meat i use the GB SFA.

you get the idea :cool::thumbup:
 
Hey jds1,

For an extended stay in the woods, would the GB Small Splitting Axe do well for building a shelter or taking down 8" trees or is it the opposite of the GB SFA and only useful for splitting?

Thanks,

G
 
g123 said:
Hey jds1,

For an extended stay in the woods, would the GB Small Splitting Axe do well for building a shelter or taking down 8" trees or is it the opposite of the GB SFA and only useful for splitting?

Thanks,

G
Click to expand...

i owned both of those GBs and loved them.

you could do all those tasks with both of them.

i do those with a 2 1/2" hawk bit on the end of one of our composite Gen 1 Mk V handles when i need to.

there is no perfect chopper, only perfect dirt time.

vec
 
wulfshrunting said:
I love my GB Scandinavian Forest Axe. I think it's the perfect survival axe. It's light enough to hump all over the place, and can definitely chop stuff up. It may not be the best at splitting, but are you really cutting down medium size trees and splitting for firewood, or just chopping small trees into firewood size?
Click to expand...

I am so totally behind this. my ScFA (which is not the SmFA) is fantastic. Next choice for utility is a tie between a KR Johnson french pattern hawk and a CS trail hawk.

The KR johnson is a more useful tool for cutting and scraping with the right edge, and has a very broad and somewhat bearded blade. as a hatchet type tool, it beats anything in hawk size that I can afford.

The CS trail hawk is my go to camping tool. I use it as a pot lifter, tent stake hammer, nail hammer, and firewood splitter. (yeah, I also throw them often enough that I own 5 and try to keep 6 spare handles on hand at all times) - I do love it for family camping, car camping, scout camping.

If I was going walkabout up north or in the Sierra, ScFA all the way- summer time trail walking and hiking, KR Johnson, and for 'supported' camping, the CS trail hawk.

If any of you don't own a trail hawk or a Johnson french pattern, go GET ONE!!! the CS is under $30 and KRJ has seriously reasonable prices on his stuff, If I recall correctly, about $50.


Environment, as was touched on in another thread- is a huge deal. I'd be a fool, IMO, to leave the ScFA behind hiking the Sierra Nevada or northern tier of the US in winter. Possibly a dead fool.
 
g123 said:
Hey jds1,

For an extended stay in the woods, would the GB Small Splitting Axe do well for building a shelter or taking down 8" trees or is it the opposite of the GB SFA and only useful for splitting?

Thanks,

G
Click to expand...

It's really made for splitting. The SFA would be a much better choice for extended woods travel or as a shelter building tool.

Jeff
 
I'm curious what people consider an acceptable weight?

I'm reading this thread and people are talking about pretty good sized axes.

I have a GB Hunters axe and if I'm not mistaken it would be the same size at the SFA? I would consider the Hunters axe way too big and heavy to carry in a pack unless I was only hiking 2 or 3 miles a day.

I also have a GB Wildlife hatchet and really wouldn't consider carrying it in a pack unless it was maybe the dead of winter but maybe not even then.

I tend to like something less than a foot long and something right around a pound plus or minus an ounce or two.

Nessmuk who traveled a lot on foot his hatchet was 11 7/8" OAL and I think 18 oz. That seems close to about right for me.

My 3 favorite hatchets for wilderness treks are my Reeves which is 12" OAL and around 19 oz, The GB mini which is I think 10" long and 12 oz? And an old Marbles #5 which is 10 1/2" and 15oz.


So how far are you guys carrying these larger axes?
 
Personally, I rarely carry ANY kind of axe on a multi-day hiking trip. I'll put a SFA or Mini in my pack if I'm on day trip where my goal is to find a cool spot for a fire and hang out. The rest of my choppers and splitters are for home use or car camping when it's OK to bring the kitchen sink.

Jeff
 
Here is a link to a fascinating discussion on axes, I found more info in the first 4 pages than I've ever known:

http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/825519/tp/1/



I use a GB when carving more, as the wood handle is warmer and no hot spots. The narrower edge geometry is more for European softwoods. The Beard on the GB allows for more choke, ulu-type control.

I use a Bark River Scagel custom when chopping more. Center balanced means less fatigue, all steel including shaft, and built for american hardwoods and softwoods alike.
 
jds1 said:
Personally, I rarely carry ANY kind of axe on a multi-day hiking trip. I'll put a SFA or Mini in my pack if I'm on day trip where my goal is to find a cool spot for a fire and hang out. The rest of my choppers and splitters are for home use or car camping when it's OK to bring the kitchen sink.

Jeff
Click to expand...


Got ya!:thumbup: Makes sense!
 
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