decent axe recommendation + sharpening tool

jp_over · Feb 28, 2015

Gentlemen,

I'd like to buy a nice backpacking axe to replace my Fiskars hatchet and would like to solicit your input. Contenders are Gransfors Bruks, Wetterlings, and... _____ ? I plan on getting a fine file for sharpening but am open to suggestions as well. A slight emphasis on performance for dollars spent value would be helpful.

A big plus would be for companies that offer active duty military discounts (like Benchmade & Spyderco).

Thanks!

Joe

collim1 · Feb 28, 2015

I have a Gransfors Bruk Wildlife hatchet. Its a great little axe, and about the biggest I would want to go for backpacking. Honestly I would take a Bahco Laplander in place of a hatchet.

I have only touched up mine on a leather strop loaded with compound and it has stayed sharp through the chopping. A Lanky puck will keep an axe sharp, but it won't maintain the fine edge that it comes with. Mine was shaving sharp out of the box.

jp_over · Feb 28, 2015

Thanks for the info - the Lansky puck and strop from knivesplus are just what I was thinking.

jblyttle · Feb 28, 2015

What would be the largest size that you would consider? I would personally say 18-22" and maybe 2-2.5lb total weight. Best performance per dollar would be a vintage American axe, you can get good contenders on eBay regularly for under $30.

Assuming that you want a new one, and are drawn towards the imports, I have heard great things about the Husqvarna products. They are of equal quality and materials as the much more expensive Swedish models, but are not as finely finished. Fine by me, as they are half price, and the little details that you may want to take care of require skills that you should have anyway as an axe user. For woods/bushcraft use you may consider the Carpenter axe, for general camping look at the 15" hatchet.

Not to be forgotten, there are several great German options that are excellently priced, the right size and have great steel. Look at Stihl, Google German hatchets for others. Many under $50 shipped.

For portable sharpening, the puck is hard to beat. You may also want to look at the lansky scythe stone.

jp_over · Feb 28, 2015

jblyttle - I appreciate the input. I'm thinking 18"-22" as you suggested would be good. It's funny, I've always used and thought of axes as a full length tool that you use standing up. Only recently have I considered the shorter types (after thinking about packing one about and doing some reading on how in the world you use a 22" axe / picturing in my mind using this thing standing up!).

After a brief E-bay check I think I'd prefer a new axe to avoid having to replace the handle anytime in the near future.

Also, I'm ok with "unfinished" as I'll be sharpening it as required anyway. No real preference on origin.

jblyttle · Feb 28, 2015

jp_over said:
jblyttle - I appreciate the input. I'm thinking 18"-22" as you suggested would be good. It's funny, I've always used and thought of axes as a full length tool that you use standing up. Only recently have I considered the shorter types (after thinking about packing one about and doing some reading on how in the world you use a 22" axe / picturing in my mind using this thing standing up!).

After a brief E-bay check I think I'd prefer a new axe to avoid having to replace the handle anytime in the near future.

Also, I'm ok with "unfinished" as I'll be sharpening it as required anyway. No real preference on origin.

Look at Helko North America. The Standard Hatchet and the Standard Universal Axe both look great and seem to be nicely shaped for some carving too. Let us know what you get and what you think!

Curt Hal · Feb 28, 2015

jblyttle said:
Look at Helko North America. The Standard Hatchet and the Standard Universal Axe both look great and seem to be nicely shaped for some carving too. Let us know what you get and what you think!

FWIW, my favorite packing axe right now is a Hults Bruks. I found it on Kajiji and had the owner send it COD. Its a 1 3/4 pound head. Beautiful steel. I replaced the handle, which I modified to suit my needs. Total cost was $50 and a couple of evenings worth of entertainment. I now have exactly what I wanted.

jp_over · Mar 1, 2015

Well, I've gone back on my specifications/requirements a bit. Further, I decided to go with something that's a different tool altogether from my Fiskars hatchet:

Council Tool Velvicut 2.25 Lb. Premium Bad Boys Axe
http://omahaknife.com/index.php?id_product=42&controller=product

A factor in deciding was this thread: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1152684-The-drawback-in-the-Hudson-Bay-pattern
Plus, I gave some weight to US made, fit, finish, and heavier use capability.

In effect, I've decided upon a hatchet and an axe - I'll simply pack in whichever best fits the camping trip. For now, though I've got to do some maintenance on my current el-cheapo axe & hatchet. For bad dings, will the Lansky Puck be enough to fix them or should I look into a file? If so, any particular file?

Thanks again!

tueller · Mar 1, 2015

I love my council tools boys axe. Made in the USA. 30 bux. No brainer.

jblyttle · Mar 1, 2015

jp_over said:
Well, I've gone back on my specifications/requirements a bit. Further, I decided to go with something that's a different tool altogether from my Fiskars hatchet:

Council Tool Velvicut 2.25 Lb. Premium Bad Boys Axe
http://omahaknife.com/index.php?id_product=42&controller=product

A factor in deciding was this thread: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1152684-The-drawback-in-the-Hudson-Bay-pattern
Plus, I gave some weight to US made, fit, finish, and heavier use capability.

In effect, I've decided upon a hatchet and an axe - I'll simply pack in whichever best fits the camping trip. For now, though I've got to do some maintenance on my current el-cheapo axe & hatchet. For bad dings, will the Lansky Puck be enough to fix them or should I look into a file? If so, any particular file?

Thanks again!

You can pick up a cheapo file for $3 and it will work fine, it just won't last very long. Amazon has a Nicholson axe sharpening file for $8 I think, and they also have the Lansky puck. Pick out a file card to round out the purchase and get free shipping.

Aznareps · Mar 1, 2015

Axes are long handled and hatchets are short handled to simplify it.

Vintage hatchets are awesome but heavier than their modern brothers if weight is not a issue check your local flea market or Fleabay If weight is a concern, then like stated earlier Benchmade makes some beauties. Price is also a big factor you can get a older hatchet for a fraction of a new BM or the like

jp_over · Mar 3, 2015

jblyttle said:
You can pick up a cheapo file for $3 and it will work fine, it just won't last very long. Amazon has a Nicholson axe sharpening file for $8 I think, and they also have the Lansky puck. Pick out a file card to round out the purchase and get free shipping.

Good info; one's in route!

jp_over · Mar 3, 2015

Aznareps said:
Axes are long handled and hatchets are short handled to simplify it.

Vintage hatchets are awesome but heavier than their modern brothers if weight is not a issue check your local flea market or Fleabay If weight is a concern, then like stated earlier Benchmade makes some beauties. Price is also a big factor you can get a older hatchet for a fraction of a new BM or the like

I didn't think Benchmade produced axes/hatchets - but I was wrong...
http://www.benchmade.com/products/14001

I'm sure this is a solid product for some applications, but I'm pretty settled on the boy's axe configuration for camp duty.

chuxwan · Mar 3, 2015

For car camping / being lazy due to friends/family, I use my GB scandinavian forest axe. For real backpacking, I carry a 15" knife that weighs about a pound, the best chopping implement at that weight, especially since I don't need to split much wood when backpacking (who does?) or "drive stakes" (also - who does?).

Ripshin Lumberjack · Mar 11, 2015

I believe that a vintage American made axe is the way to go for the following reasons.
(1)$$$=COST, COST, COST! YOU WILL SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BE ABLE TO OUTFIT YOURSELF WITH OTHER MUCH NEEDED EQUIPMENT. (2) Quality! A good PLUMB 2 1/4 lb axe will give you a razor sharp axe that will last for generations and shave the hair off the arms of each generation of your family. PLUS, they'll cut down a lot of trees along the way. (3) NOW.........Take your substantial savings from your wise purchase of the older axe and buy other equipment...= (A)-belt sander from Harbor Freight using 1"x 30" belts & (B) modest priced oil stones (C) leather strop (D) Axe maintenance supplies (E) Scabbard.

Belt sander-$39-$45. I put a razor sharp edge QUICKLY, QUICKLY, QUICKLY on all of my few axes with my cheap Harbor Freight Belt sander. The oil honing stones help
to do a lot of honing after my first grind. The leather strop is what really puts a finished edge on my axe. Oils and a scabbard finish out my list.

The scabbards are made from auto inner tubes for almost no cost. The leather strops are made from an old pair of boots and a big piece of leather a friend gave me .
I made him a strop and this paid for the leather. Other friends purchased some of the leather strops and this helped to offset my modest investment.

One High Priced Swedish axe and you spent all of your money. You needed all that $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to buy all the other stuff to make life very nice.

My suggestion is just a suggestion! What matters is what you really want

Ripshin