Ever broke a fiskars or seen one break?

baldtaco-II said:
Elen, hey

“I do so wonder, though, where anyone got the idea Fiskars hatchets are stainless. As far as I know, they are carbon steel.”

This one needs more research. That was news to me too, but when I had a sniff around after hearing it I found a few vendors describing them as stainless. At the moment I'm thinking that could either be a] True as of... b] vendor ignorance, or c] a woolliness at a clear definition of stainless when applied to axes, and a hovering around the % of chrome. Mmm
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Yeah, it does need more research. According to Fiskars themselves, their axes and hatchets are carbon steel with PTFE coatings, and fiberglass-reinforced polyamid handles. In my experience, they also rust like carbon steel - either that, or maybe they're ZDP-189. :D Personally, my guess is option b), vendor ignorance.
 
Yes I have broken Gerbers and now a Fiskar or 2 as well. In my estimation, they aren't made for hard, everyday use. No camera failure here. I just don't feel the need to prove to someone else that I have done what I said with supposed photographic evidence when I'm not asking for replacement or filing some kind of claim. That, and I don't generally have a camera pointed at me and my tools while working, let alone have one in my kit.

All that being said, I think the Fiskars and Gerbers are great pack or camp tools. I keep a Gerber hatchet, shovel and saw in our families disaster kits.
 
I have busted 'indestructable' fiberglass handles on mauls before. Yep, it occurred on a miss, and I'm man enough to admit that sometimes I miss. Because of that I take care in my swing so it doesn't bite me in the shin when I do.

My fiskers does show some catches (bits of peeled up plastic) in the plastic edge where it wraps around the axe head. I don't like those little catches very much but they don't seem to be getting larger either. If fiskar's are made of stainless, they must be the world's least stain resistant stainless - my vote is vendor ignorance.

I also agree with others that wood handles are not as robust. Nothing worse on earth than a loose axe head when somebody hands you an old one that has never seen a bucket of linseed oil. Personally I do like the feel and grip of a wood handle better, but they require more maintenance.

Finally, fiskars are very high volume production items. There are bound to be failures and more reports of those failures because so many people use them. Also, we tend to report failures on the forums - because that is news; something worth posting. So somebody does research on axe failures on the net and they will probably pull up a bunch of individual reports and draw conclusions without a proper frame of reference in terms of frequency of use and population of tools that are out there.

On a side note. I happen to be one of those fellas who likes posting pictures and viewing pictures on the forums. Its part of what makes this place interesting, apart from all of our bad grammar and spelling mistakes. One time somebody took one of my posted photos and pulled out all the electronic info imprinted on it and posted it. That kind of bothered me.
 
Elen said:
Yeah, it does need more research. According to Fiskars themselves, their axes and hatchets are carbon steel with PTFE coatings, and fiberglass-reinforced polyamid handles. In my experience, they also rust like carbon steel - either that, or maybe they're ZDP-189. :D Personally, my guess is option b), vendor ignorance.
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I'll take no issue with that. I did a sniff around to see what I could get on Fiskars / Gerber / Wilkinson Sword and the best I could come up with was “forged steel”. While that doesn't preclude it from being stainless I think a good working guess is it does at that price point. Your testimony to them rusting in that manner adds to that. I suspect you are right about option b], well that and a bit of marketing faery dust that is interpreting the coating to reduce friction and protect it in a manner that some of us would not. Still kind of curious as the the exact formulation just for the hell of learning, but I'm too idle to pursue it further for the moment. :-)
 
"Finally, fiskars are very high volume production items. There are bound to be failures and more reports of those failures because so many people use them. Also, we tend to report failures on the forums - because that is news; something worth posting. So somebody does research on axe failures on the net and they will probably pull up a bunch of individual reports and draw conclusions without a proper frame of reference in terms of frequency of use and population of tools that are out there."

Agreed. I successfully navigated through a log on my lawn today with a Fiskars is pretty certain to meet with so f'ing what.
 
...And after this thread I still haven't seen a broken Fiskars...

I got several broken wooden handle axes in my shed and have seen numerous wooden broken by others. Taking into account the shear number of these Fiskars plastic axes in use it seems like a pretty solid low priced axe, with usable head geometry. That's not something that can be said about all axes.
 
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http://www.gerbergear.com/product.php?model=9470
This is the one my buddy had that broke on our trip. No where can I find they are carbon steel. I think this is the same one Morablades had. It may be something to do with how the handle is made on this model. BTW no mention of carbon or stainless, either.

I don't understand the hostility from this thread. Remarks of folks being idiots and such . I came here and stayed because folks seemed to get along here a lot better than on the other forums. A question was asked, some folks don't like the answer and don't believe the answer...What gives?

All I know is this stuff is from Gerber/Fiskars right, now most folks here wouldn't carry a newer Gerber knife, but they'll defend their axes to the end it seems. The older Gerber stuff was awesome, before the buy out or what ever it was. My point is, since their qc is slipping pretty good on the blades, wouldn't it be safe to assume it is on other stuff as well? For me I won't touch their stuff, any of it. For survival gear and woods gear that my life my depend on, my life is worth more to me. If you want to try it and use it, fine , everybody can have there opinion. Just let me have the same opportunity to have my own opinion. I'm not trying to start a fuss, but some of the remarks here and there in this thread just ain't to nice. Keep it friendly, no matter who's opinion it is, or if you agree or disagree. Thanks,Steve
 
The head of a Fiskars does get dents in use but it's also extremely easy to sharpen. Mine is so fked up it's beyond reason. I still use it though. And they're maintenance free in comparison with classic wooden axes. I think they fit the definition of a beater perfectly. I like 'em. Any axe that looses the head while chopping is not much fun.
 
bladefrienzy said:
All I know is this stuff is from Gerber/Fiskars right, now most folks here wouldn't carry a newer Gerber knife, but they'll defend their axes to the end it seems. The older Gerber stuff was awesome, before the buy out or what ever it was. My point is, since their qc is slipping pretty good on the blades, wouldn't it be safe to assume it is on other stuff as well? For me I won't touch their stuff, any of it. For survival gear and woods gear that my life my depend on, my life is worth more to me. If you want to try it and use it, fine , everybody can have there opinion. Just let me have the same opportunity to have my own opinion. I'm not trying to start a fuss, but some of the remarks here and there in this thread just ain't to nice. Keep it friendly, no matter who's opinion it is, or if you agree or disagree.
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Steve, comparing Gerber knives to Fiskars axes is hardly fair or accurate. Gerber knives seem to be made in who-knows-where, while Fiskars has always made quality axes in Finland. They're not the same. Now, Gerber may be selling, in the USA, Fiskars axes rebranded as Gerbers - I honestly don't know as I don't live over there - but they should still be made in Finland. Perhaps they're not. In any case, Fiskars is not the same as Gerber. One owns the other, but Fiskars has been around a hell of a lot longer than Gerber - don't get them mixed up. :thumbup: So, if Gerber knives have poor quality control, what does that have to do with Fiskars axes that are made very far away from where Gerber knives are made?

I've used Fiskars axes all my life, along with many other axes. Not once have those Fiskars axes failed me.
 
All the Gerber axes i've seen are really Fiskars and have "Fiskars" and "Made in Finland" markings on them.
 
It's been mentioned in this thread once . Gerber and Fiskars is the same company. I'm not confusing anything here. Most , notice I said most of there stuff is China made. Hope that answers your question. I believe it was back in the mid 80's that the buy out or merger happened. In fact, Gerbers web site used to be on Fiskars main site. When you called their toll free number it welcomed you to the Gerber/fiskers hotline and asked if you needed info/service on a Gerber product or a Fiskars product.

Folks can we not let this drop??? I made a post saying everyone has their opinions and to let me have mine!!! I am no freakin newbie in the woods or at the bushcraft/survival scene . I have my own opinion from MY experience, if you have had good service from them use the hell out of them. I won't , that's why there are so many companies that make everything. So we all can make a personal choice. You guys won't change my mind. I am not gonna argue about this any more .

Joe asked a question. That allows me to post my response , right? I did that, I stand by that. It's how I feel. Would it make sense if I liked a certain knife and you didn't because you had a bad experience with for me to keep posting fussing at you about it? No. Let it be.
 
Bladefrienzy, I'm not following what you're so riled up about but this thread is one day old so people in my opinion can continue posting opinions if they feel like it. It certainly isn't all dealt with and beaten to death in this thread here. I think you may have confused some of the answers as direct replies to your own replies.
 
tholiver said:
All the Gerber axes i've seen are really Fiskars and have "Fiskars" and "Made in Finland" markings on them.
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Good to know. I haven't used any Gerber branded axes, so I can't tell. As far as Fiskars axes are concerned, though, those I trust, and if Gerber axes are made by Fiskars in Finland, I could trust those, too.
 
here's something I found while looking for info on China produced Fiskars products:

"Gerber, although technically owned by Fiskars, ********. They knocked off the Fiskars axes in China to boost profit margins. So the Gerber axes look the same, but are made in a totally different plant on the other side of the world. Also, they have softer steel, which will dull faster, but may not chip in impact. No guarantees about the fiberglass either."

it's no proof but it did come from someone saying they're a Fiskars employee. Bear in mind it's in(ternet)fo...
 
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Beat one a full sized axe and hatchet from them for a while now and haven't had any problems except the hatchet likes to come out of it's sheath sometimes.
 
Nothing was directed at you PatriotDan. But I read a few posts with such as "idiots can break anything" and thoughts of it being a lie that some have broken. I took some of those personal because it made me feel like more than one was saying it was a lie. I saw smug posts "Still no pics". Sorry , didn't ever think I was gonna be tried over it. Didn't know I should have evidence to prove. If I took something personal that wasn't meant to be I apologize.

To be sure, I was not trying to stop the thread, just trying stop some of the attitude. I could have misjudged.
 
We're cool. :thumbup:

bladefrienzy said:
Nothing was directed at you PatriotDan. But I read a few posts with such as "idiots can break anything" and thoughts of it being a lie that some have broken. I took some of those personal because it made me feel like more than one was saying it was a lie. I saw smug posts "Still no pics". Sorry , didn't ever think I was gonna be tried over it. Didn't know I should have evidence to prove. If I took something personal that wasn't meant to be I apologize.

To be sure, I was not trying to stop the thread, just trying stop some of the attitude. I could have misjudged.
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Never considered that they might be SS. Mine is still a virgin. Not sure I want to TRY to get it to rust. I emailed Fiskars, but surely some fan of the brand would know if they rust?
 
Just as a reminder, stainless will rust. High carbon stainless esp. Put even a lightly brushed or especially bead blasted finish one a AUS 8 CRKT knife and carry it here in Ms. for a day or two. I polished mine a bit to help out, seemed to do the trick. But it will rust.
 
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