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Brian Andrews I have a S&N Question for you

M

mrappraisit

Joined
Oct 25, 2007
Messages
524
Hello Brian - This is an axe question, but I put in WSS because I know you frequent this part of BF. I was wondering if you have performed your axe mod's on one of the S&N 31/2 pound axe's?

I ask because I bought a GB American Felling Axe and have discovered that a big axe works beautifully for the way I like to generate firewood for a 2-4 day camp trip.

I wouldn't be able to get one until spring probably, but am thinking about this as a possible comparison test and would love to know how that axe performs compared to the GB since they seem somewhat similar.
Thanks for the feedback.
 
I can't speak for Brian, but I own the 3 1/2 pound S&N, and it is a great axe. I thinned out and polished up the edge, and it really cuts great!

Good luck!
 
mrappraisit said:
Hello Brian - This is an axe question, but I put in WSS because I know you frequent this part of BF.
Click to expand...

You are right. I pretty much only hang out here :D

mrappraisit said:
I was wondering if you have performed your axe mod's on one of the S&N 31/2 pound axe's?
Click to expand...

No, I have not. Only the double bit referenced later on.

I hope I can explain this well. But, the mods I do on the smaller axes, are more critical on the smaller axes. Why? This is the way that I see it.

If you have the opportunity to have all the tools you want, you would probably have a full size axe for felling, possibly another for limbing, and definitely another one for splitting (like a maul). However, when you are talking about the portable tools we take in the woods, you want a smaller lighter tool to do all those things, and do them well. Sounds kind of silly when you put it that way :D

So, my modifications to the smaller axes were all about making it the best "all around" tool possible. It is going to be asked to cut, chop, limb and split.

If you are able to have full size axes, more than likely having multiple is not a big deal. What I am saying is that making the head ramps even and smooth on a full size felling axe, so that it can split better might not be very necessary if you are going to have a dedicated splitting axe right with you.

For a full size felling axe, the most important thing (in my mind) is to make sure the cutting edge is thinned out to the appropriate geometry and kept sharp.

Does that make any sense?

mrappraisit said:
I wouldn't be able to get one until spring probably, but am thinking about this as a possible comparison test and would love to know how that axe performs compared to the GB since they seem somewhat similar.
Thanks for the feedback.
Click to expand...

The S&N Single Bit looks like a fine design, and based on my experience with their other axes, I think it would serve well, especially for the price.

I have not used the GB American Felling axe. So, I can only go by what I can discern in pictures. By the pictures, I like it! The one thing I really like (at least I think) is that it looks like it has a shorter distance between the cutting face and the center line of the handle. That would make accuracy better than an axe with increased distance between those two points. GB also has great steel.

Either way, keep us posted.

B
 
Hello Brian,
I appreciate the response. I totally understand what you are saying about optimizing the performance of the smaller axes so that they “do it all well”. My wife and I car camp, so I have the luxury of taking pretty much whatever I want with me when I camp. What I am after is a larger axe that can do it all. Like most people I would still need something smaller to take on hikes (generally under 8 miles), but for camp work I like the idea of a larger axe that can perform multiple functions well.

This quest was inspired at least partly by the book Backcountry Camping by Bill Riviere. Mr. Riviere spent (at that point) 30+ years working as a wilderness guide in Maine and was a big fan of using one large axe (a 3.5lb S&N) and a fixed blade knife for his entire edged tool needs. While I don’t have anything like his experience or knowledge this approach really appeals to me.

So far the GB AFA works really well for splitting and excels at felling, although all I have felled are two 8”-10” diameter dead standing oaks and a 14” diameter dead standing pine. This “one big axe” approach is something I will continue to explore as time permits, and hopefully can attempt with a modified 3.5lb S&N sometime next year.

If I get one of these from you I will definitely post a comparison between the GB and the S&N, I think it would be interesting to see.
Thanks for the time and answers Brian!
 
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