Basque splitting axes?

S

Sid Post

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Oct 14, 1998
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I was on Lamnia dot com, looking at splitting axes, and saw several Basque models. I was thinking more along the lines of a German/Austrian 'spaltax' with the little 'wings' that run up the side of the face for less drag and more splitting action ...

How do these Basque splitting axes work compared to a Spaltax, or more traditional options like a Gransfor, or Hultafor with the Swedish pseudo-wedge head shape?

I overland from my Tacoma pickup, so I'm not looking for a large heavy splitter for my home and really large 'rounds', more along the lines of splitting for a campfire to cook or simply to warm up or for ambiance ... always in appropriate areas with safety in mind for the area around me and those that call it 'home'.

TIA,
Sid
 
It should work well enough but is a shorter handle than most, so needs to be kept in mind. That's not necessarily a problem--my own Forte axe is an excellent splitter for smaller stuff while being short in the handle, somewhat light, and slip-fit. But that's going to be a very different combination than a lot of the splitting axes out there. Much will depend on what you want both functionally and aesthetically. When it comes to a splitter I'd personally be more prone to go for a Nordic style "diamond bit" splitter because that geometry approach best matches what I like for my needs, but the Basque axes have a very pronounced convex cheek for a similar high centerline from a practical sense. In any splitter I like for the leading edge that enters the wood to be thin enough to bite and penetrate well before encountering those thickened cheeks. I find an axe that isn't sticky *enough* in the first ~1/2" of the bit can actually be a little frustrating to work with, but the geometry behind that should be spreading enough to then free the sticking portion. One nice thing about the slip fit eye is that it does mean you can make or purchase extra handles of different lengths and swap them as circumstances dictate.
 
Last edited:
flexo2 said:
i did't know they make splitting axes. or are we speaking about regular basque axes used to split wood?
Click to expand...
Lamnia describes them as splitting axes and they're in heavier weights than the felling axes with a slightly rougher finish to them, looks like, though that may just be the photography.
 
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