Backpacking "survival" axe

FortyTwoBlades said:
Fiskars axes are the Moras of the axe world. Inexpensive, plastic handle, lightweight, solid performance.
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Very well said, I couldn't agree more !

I have other axes that I love and enjoy using more but the Fiskars always finds it's way into the field. It's nice having something that just works, is light weight, and that to some degree you really don't care about or have to worry about treating a bit rough.
 
I would recommend a sven saw and or a Hudson bay type axe. I have both. The saw is lighter and easier to fit in your backpack, The axe I bought is from a company in Maine called Snow and Nealley. Hope that helps
 
I just got my condor scout hatchet the other day, its like $50 with a nice leather sheath, I pair it with a Mora companion mg and a silky pocketboy 130

 
dizrack420 said:
I just got my condor scout hatchet the other day, its like $50 with a nice leather sheath, I pair it with a Mora companion mg and a silky pocketboy 130
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That's a pretty good kit. Major bang for the buck and no hesitation about using/abusing your tools as the situation requires. I might substitute a longer Silky or Tajima saw - maybe a 10".
 
Wetterlings Forresters Fine axe. I love this thing to no end.
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pjackst said:
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. ;)
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I just pack a coffee stirrer so I can sip the bourbon through my head net.
 
Liberatus1 said:
I thought Mora was the Mora of the axe world. Kidding, just saw a review on this the other day and it was pretty much a draw between the two. I wonder if Mora has the lifetime warranty though?
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The Mora hatchet is a cool little tool, but definitely in its own sub-class. Not nearly as prolific as the Fiskars, which is another reason for the Fiskars being the Mora of axes. Confused yet? :D :D :D
 
Careful with those Fiskars, they're cheap for a reason. I had one handle break on me in the middle of a 3 week canoe trip. Would have been pretty terrible if I was relying on it as a main tool. In my opinion, the G&B Wildlife Hatchet can't be beat, and it's not even that expensive for such a quality tool.
 
I mentioned earlier that Schrade doesn't get a lot of love from those who prefer vintage (and with mostly good reason). Now that said, I have found nothing to complain about with the combination shown below...they each accomplish most tasks found around the campsite easily. The ESEE is 1095 and the Schrade is 8CR so both of them will take a wicked edge very quickly with nothing but Lansky Blade Medic. Btw, that Lansky is the least expensive piece of a solid all metal sharpening "quick" solution I have ever found. I used the plastic Smith's version for quite awhile and it's decent but it's really no comparison considering they are the same price.

One last thing... The firesteel upper right is a full 1/2" x 5". What a difference in the amount of spark using the Schrade axe. I cleaned off all that ridiculous black coating, squared the spine and you will literally get a river of sparks off this thing.


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I would say, just spend the money, and buy you a well made tomahawk. I carry a winkler combat axe on my hunts, and when im out in the mountains. It will process wood as well as any other axe, yet its dam near unbreakable. Better steel, and awesome heat treat. To me its about the ultimate survival tool. I even down graded the size of knife I carry now. The other one I carry a lot, especially when im on my horse, because of the weight is my rmj jenny wren, it chops dam well for its size, good enough for general camp chores. Oh, and never use a fiskars to chop an elk leg, it'll chip the hell out of the blade, to soft of steel. I got some slight edge damage on both the rmj and winkler from some elk legs, but not bad. No chips, or tear outs, just some rolls, and dents. Awesome tools.
 
rodriguez7 said:
I would say, just spend the money, and buy you a well made tomahawk. I carry a winkler combat axe on my hunts, and when im out in the mountains. It will process wood as well as any other axe, yet its dam near unbreakable. Better steel, and awesome heat treat. To me its about the ultimate survival tool. I even down graded the size of knife I carry now. The other one I carry a lot, especially when im on my horse, because of the weight is my rmj jenny wren, it chops dam well for its size, good enough for general camp chores. Oh, and never use a fiskars to chop an elk leg, it'll chip the hell out of the blade, to soft of steel. I got some slight edge damage on both the rmj and winkler from some elk legs, but not bad. No chips, or tear outs, just some rolls, and dents. Awesome tools.
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A quick check on Blade Gallery for the Winkler II Combat Axe shows an average of $600 before shipping. I wish you well with that...
 
mako20ft said:
A quick check on Blade Gallery for the Winkler II Combat Axe shows an average of $600 before shipping. I wish you well with that...
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Thanks, it works very well. and holds up to hell and back. Just buy yourself a cold steel then.
 
rodriguez7 said:
Oh, and never use a fiskars to chop an elk leg, it'll chip the hell out of the blade, to soft of steel.
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Chipping results from the steel being too hard to handle the impact. Dents and rolls come from softer steel, chips from harder steel.
 
I guess I should have worded it differently. The edge is to malleable, it tore out big pieces, and just mangled the hell out of the edge.
 
rodriguez7 said:
I guess I should have worded it differently. The edge is to malleable, it tore out big pieces, and just mangled the hell out of the edge.
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Fiskars are known for coming a little overly thin in the edge for their heat treatment and benefit from sharpening at a broader angle to stabilize the edge.

However, if chopping large animal bones is a regular chore for you you might want to invest in an actual industrial cleaver as they're actually made for the task. Bone-chopping edges are shaped differently from wood-chopping ones.
 
rodriguez7 said:
Thanks, it works very well. and holds up to hell and back. Just buy yourself a cold steel then.
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I've no doubt you love the tool and congratulations for finding it and being able to put it to the test. My comment was only about the price...that is literally 2 months of groceries in my house so until the last one graduates college, and doubtful even then, I can only admire. As far as Cold Steel...your tongue in cheek wasn't lost on me. Thanks to this forum and my thread asking advice about Plumb in general I have gotten myself 3 examples that have me well covered with vintage, outstanding steel. A 2-1/4lb Boy's Axe, 2-1/2lb Double Bit and a 3-1/2lb Double Bit. I don't think any have birthdays after WWII. Thanks to House Handle and then a new set of vintage unused files...I'm out a total of $112.35 and a lot of elbow grease.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Chipping results from the steel being too hard to handle the impact. Dents and rolls come from softer steel, chips from harder steel.
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I wanted to mention I followed the link in your signature. Nice stuff, solid prices and the option to have blade edges attended to for short money prior to being shipped is brilliant. I've quietly been a fan of Condor Knives for a very long time and outside of the factory edges, have no complaints. The idea that can been made right before I even see the knife... Let's just say Baryonyx made my short list of favorites in the old drop down menu
 
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