I received a Fast Axe II, from Equinox Coronado, in Sept of this year. I have been dying to get it into the field and try it out, but due to a rather busy work schedule I missed deer hunting in the two local zones completely and I haven't had a chance to go chase any bears yet either.
When I first held the Fast Axe II, I loved it instantly. It is a great design that offers so much versatility and function in a compact package. A stout, little chopper that is can be used for food prep and as you will see is great at cleaning big game.
A couple nights ago my neighbor called me up and asked me to help him get a pig out of the back of his truck. A buddy of his had shot four pigs that day and had given one to him. After seeing the size of the hog I ran home and grabbed some rigging so we could hoist it in his garage. It was huge. They figured about 300lbs.
My neighbor's friend asked my neighbor for some sharp knives and after going through 3 or 4 of the ones he was given, he repeated "I said a sharp knife." Cleaning pigs is hard on knives and these weren't even sharp enough to start. One more time I run home. I came back with an almost new Fast Axe II. I gave it to the guy to try and told him that I wanted his take on it. He had told me that he had cleaned over 400 wild hogs in his life and over 50 bear. Not to mention deer and elk.
He started off and quickly remarked at how sharp it was. He started dressing out the hind legs and it breezed through the boars thick hide.
He masterfully cut the hide away leaving stubble marks on the the inside of the skin. He loved the FAII. He kept remarking about the whole time. "I cant believe this thing is still sharp." "It works like one of those Alaskan knives (ulu)." "Where can I get one of these things." "This thing is amazing." It wasn't even slowed by the thick plates on the back and shoulders.
I took a few turns myself. It is great. You can choke up on it for detail and use the tip like a scalpel. The long continuous radius of the blade made nice, long slices, easily separating the skin from the fat body. The amount of useable curved cutting edge makes this tool perform better then anything I have ever used.
The Fast Axe II is a great design. It packs a huge amount of blade in a small package. A great pocket chopper with a wide range of usefulness. It will definitely be accompanying me on a kayak/bear hunting trip that I hope to squeeze in this week. In the mean time, its already earned me a nice share of pork sausage. I think I will be helping my new friend acquire one for himself and maybe get myself in on some pig hunting. It pays to be prepared.
Thanks TOPS, Allen Jensen, and Vector001 for getting this product out on the market.
Matt
When I first held the Fast Axe II, I loved it instantly. It is a great design that offers so much versatility and function in a compact package. A stout, little chopper that is can be used for food prep and as you will see is great at cleaning big game.
A couple nights ago my neighbor called me up and asked me to help him get a pig out of the back of his truck. A buddy of his had shot four pigs that day and had given one to him. After seeing the size of the hog I ran home and grabbed some rigging so we could hoist it in his garage. It was huge. They figured about 300lbs.
My neighbor's friend asked my neighbor for some sharp knives and after going through 3 or 4 of the ones he was given, he repeated "I said a sharp knife." Cleaning pigs is hard on knives and these weren't even sharp enough to start. One more time I run home. I came back with an almost new Fast Axe II. I gave it to the guy to try and told him that I wanted his take on it. He had told me that he had cleaned over 400 wild hogs in his life and over 50 bear. Not to mention deer and elk.
He started off and quickly remarked at how sharp it was. He started dressing out the hind legs and it breezed through the boars thick hide.
He masterfully cut the hide away leaving stubble marks on the the inside of the skin. He loved the FAII. He kept remarking about the whole time. "I cant believe this thing is still sharp." "It works like one of those Alaskan knives (ulu)." "Where can I get one of these things." "This thing is amazing." It wasn't even slowed by the thick plates on the back and shoulders.
I took a few turns myself. It is great. You can choke up on it for detail and use the tip like a scalpel. The long continuous radius of the blade made nice, long slices, easily separating the skin from the fat body. The amount of useable curved cutting edge makes this tool perform better then anything I have ever used.
The Fast Axe II is a great design. It packs a huge amount of blade in a small package. A great pocket chopper with a wide range of usefulness. It will definitely be accompanying me on a kayak/bear hunting trip that I hope to squeeze in this week. In the mean time, its already earned me a nice share of pork sausage. I think I will be helping my new friend acquire one for himself and maybe get myself in on some pig hunting. It pays to be prepared.
Thanks TOPS, Allen Jensen, and Vector001 for getting this product out on the market.
Matt
