Backpacking "survival" axe

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BrandonEDC

Joined
Aug 12, 2014
Messages
190
Hello. I have a 6 inch knife and am looking to add an Axe to the equation for my 3 day adventures. The purpose will be to make firewood and shelters. Also if a large knife would be better I have friends telling me to use a large knife but I fell having a medium knife and an small Axe will be a better pare. Any advise. I also cary a small folding hand saw. Just feeling a new team mate.
 
I like Hawks with wooden handles! Why? Break the handle on the trail just make a new 1 right there in the field.
 
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Go into the field. Bring 1) a cheapy axe and 2)a cheapy machete. Listen. Try to hear which one speaks to you. And bring a tarp too. And some bourbon.
 
That you are packing a wood saw with you is a smart move. Then you can actually get by with something small for limbing and splitting etc.
 
pjackst said:
Go into the field. Bring 1) a cheapy axe and 2)a cheapy machete. Listen. Try to hear which one speaks to you. And bring a tarp too. And some bourbon.
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I guess that biting insects aren't a problem where you are. Noobies quickly abandon the concept of roughing it up this way (and especially so further north) once they've spent a day and night being tortured by the clouds of ever-present blackflies and mosquitoes.
 
Haha yea man! My record this summer was 44 in a 6" square. Frustrating to say the least.

I like a big knife and axes, but I don't carry both. If money is no matter check out gransfor bruk/ wetterlings / hultafors. If it is an deciding factor check out estwing/huskavarna.
 
I like a boys axe- Plumb or Kelly are both good. Easy to learn to replace a worn ahndle to save some $$

I currently have a Felco folding saw but will buy Silky when the chance comes. A collapsible buck saw is also a good option- you can just buy a couple blades and make your own frame. Shop carefully and do a little work, you could have both for 50.00

Bill
 
300Six said:
I guess that biting insects aren't a problem where you are. Noobies quickly abandon the concept of roughing it up this way (and especially so further north) once they've spent a day and night being tortured by the clouds of ever-present blackflies and mosquitoes.
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You guessed correct. Not one single soul was ever tormented by even one single biting insect here. Ever. This is a quite reasonable conclusion to draw. All one needs is literally the tarp and the bourbon- just throw the cutters into the lake. ;)
 
You don't need an axe for backpacking. At the very most, I would bring a handsaw and a small, tough fixed blade. You can make fire with it, shelter, as well as makeshift litters and splints in an emergency... An axe is too much weight to carry backpacking in my opinion.. Plus, please only make shelters if its an emergency..
 
Hi

Check out Marble's Camp Axe-$19.99 +approx $8.50 shipping from Smoky Mountain Knife works in Sevierville, Tn. They are all sold out but are expecting 370 axes in any day and they can't keep the axes in stock for very long as the axe head is excellent steel and well shaped. Resembles famous a swedish axe . 1045 Steel properly hardned and tempered. This business also sell all of the famous swedish bushcraft axes.

Ripshin Lumberjack
 
BrandonEDC said:
;) get the answers I'm looking for. Or a mil pancho
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I see now. Yes, you need an axe, place your order immediately. "Large" knives are for girls, you need a man's tool. A man's tool "survival axe" has a head of no less than 2 and a quarter pounds. They called them boy's axes in the old days because boys at that time were just short men.
 
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Axe for backpacking.

Are you trying to travel light or do you want the most function? For light weight one of the Fiskars hatchets fits the bill pretty well. Make pegs, drive pegs, make kindling. It does all these things well.
The next step up for me is a vintage claw hatchet. Handing little axe - good for carving/bushcrafting. Splits small wood pretty well. Hardened poll for hammering and real nail puller (I sometimes bring a few nails to hang things on or to secure a line to).

For long backpacking trips I forgo the hatchet - too much weight.

I cut a nail puller into my Fiskars.

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It doesn't get much love but my Schrade SCAXE-2L has served me very well. 3CR steel isn't the best by a long shot but the edge can be made wicked with about 5 swipes on a Blade Medic. It's one of those tools that honestly feels just right in the hand.
 
Alocksly said:
My backpacking hatchet; light, inexpensive, durable.

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Ya, why not. I have the fancy shmancy Swedish axes etc. And that little Fiskars X7 was a feather weight tool for me on my last two Boreal trips. They work, and I like them.
 
Fiskars axes are the Moras of the axe world. Inexpensive, plastic handle, lightweight, solid performance.
 
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