First Axe Purchase?

GearBarrel.com

GearBarrel.com

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Jan 20, 2012
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I am a TOTAL NEWBIE to the Axe game. Now that I moved from inner city Chicago (2 months ago) to beautiful Florida I am looking for an axe that I can grow into. Here is list of chopping I am wanting to do with it:

1-small bushcraft projects/chores (I am newbie here but wanting to learn)
2- small camping chores–like splitting small logs (noting more than 5-6 inches in diameter)

Budget it between $50-150

Would this Bushman Axe 2nd Generation be a good choice or is there better out there I am not aware of.

I would like something that possible handed down to my sons.

thanks for the suggestions
 
Person choices for an axe can vary greatly. If you want one to hand down to a future generation...I suggest you look for a USA made vintage axe. Many of these have already been handed down at least one generation and with a little care will last your lifetime+.

Just my random thoughts, Tom
 
Double Ott said:
Person choices for an axe can vary greatly. If you want one to hand down to a future generation...I suggest you look for a USA made vintage axe. Many of these have already been handed down at least one generation and with a little care will last your lifetime+.

Just my random thoughts, Tom
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This here. Or I would also throw in a Council Boys axe is a cant miss in my book - made in USA, priced ok(omahaknife.com and others), simple yet gets the job done.
 
It may sound goofy, but I suggest that you buy two. Spend some quality time doing research on this forum, obviously.

First, buy a beautiful wooden-handled one in a size that you like. There are fine ones from Sweden (Gransfors Bruks, Wetterling) and the U.S. (Council, unpainted BestMade) but try to purchase it in person so you can confirm that the grain in the handle is optimum.

Then, for just about $40, buy a Fiskars X15. It's a high-tech and very effective bit of Made-in-Finland wizardry that can do amazing things ... and comes with a no-questions-asked lifetime warranty. Perfectly-sized (as per your specs) and available everywhere and a huge value. I own two.

I don't claim to be an expert, but I've been doing a fair amount of reading/researching lately.
 
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If you want a hit the ground running axe you would be proud to hand down and intend to use for stated purposes. I would go for Velvicut Boys Axe(though I have not owned one- their feedback is very good) or a model of Gransfors- I have the Scandinavian and intend to add a Wildlife.

I ALSO love vintage axes and have collected a few recently for the purpose of refurbishing them. I have Norlund, Collins, Plumb, Kelly, Walters, Warren, Craftsman and few with no stamps. I really enjoy fixing them up and treasure the finished project. If you are patient and willing to learn, you can end up with a fantastic axe for under 30.00 that you did yourself.

Bill
 
Since you are totally new to this, I would personally recommend that you don't make a big financial investment into your first axe. Get an economical choice that you can learn to use and maintain without any worry. Once you get a feel for using and maintaining it, you'll also start learning about your own preferences in subtle nuances like bit geometry, head weight, handle length etc. Once you are ready, you'll make a much better decision on which axe to throw some money at that will be a good fit for YOU. Plus, you'll know how to take care of it from the get go and keep it nice to pass down.

Specifically, I would look at the standard Council boy's axe. If you want to go Swedish, start with the Husqvarna Forest Axe. If you want to go smaller, maybe go Condor Woodworker. Of course, you really can't beat the performance or the price of a well picked vintage axe! :thumbup:
 
All good advice. Since no one's mentioned it yet, you can get some good stuff @ yard sales.....
 
My first axe was a 3 lb. single bit TBA triple diamond from an antique store, it only cost me eight or nine bucks, and it's done anything from splitting to chopping semi large hardwoods.
 
Flea markets, garage sales and want ads! It's difficult to choose an axe on-line simply because you can't fondle or ceremonially swing it to see if the weight and shape are suitable for your needs. I have about a dozen different axes (collected over the years) with similar size/weight heads and yet there's only one that I prefer due to the shape, feel and length of the handle.
 
Wetterlings Bushman axe would be a great choice. I have used my for chopping and splitting does great for its size.
 
Pick up True Temper True American axe and hatchet. These are functional working axes. The only cons I have seen are; finish (they ain't pretty) and you need to check the handle for grain orientation and trueness. Collins makes a slightly nicer ax at about the same price point but the ones I have seen are made in Mexico. After you beat these half to death, clean them up, put a new handles on them and decide if you want a fancier axe.
 
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You might want to take a look at Husqvarna. Husqvarna axes are very high quality hand-forged Swedish axes and are also a very good deal. They are made by Wetterlings, but sell for far less than a Wetterlings branded axe. I have a Husqvarna Forest Axe, and it's a good tool. My personal favorite axe, however, is the Granfors Bruks Small Forest Axe. It's one of the best bushcrafting axes available anywhere and is great for taking with you into the bush on trips where you'll need an axe, although at 19" it's a bit too small to be ideal for felling larger trees. The Husqvarna Forest Axe at 26" is more of an all around axe, and at a much lower price as well, but it's going to be more difficult to take it with you on your bushcrafting trips just due to its length.

When I was looking for my first axe back when I first started getting into bushcrafting myself I simply followed the advice of Ray Mears, one of the world's best and most well known bushcrafters, and got the Granfors Bruks Small Forest Axe. I had to save up a bit to get it, but I've never once regretted the purchase. As I've already mentioned I also have the Husqvarna Forest Axe, and although it's a great ax, especially for the money, if I had to choose just one axe I'd reach for my GB Small Forest Axe without hesitation. If you ask me Ray Mears was right about that one!

One axe that I don't have any personal experience with but have really been interested in trying out is the Husqvarna Carpenter's Axe. It's almost the same size as the GB Small Forest Axe, just very slightly larger at 21", and it looks like it would serve very well as a bushcrafting axe. Better yet it only costs about half of what a GB Small Forest Axe does despite also being a hand-forged Swedish axe. (Huskies have to be the best deal in the axe world!) As I said, I don't yet have any personal experience with this particular axe, so take this for what it's worth.
 
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Umm, I'm pretty sure Husqvarna axes are currently made by Hults Bruks (still plenty good though).

Jeremy L said:
You might want to take a look at Husqvarna. Husqvarna axes are very high quality hand-forged Swedish axes and are also a very good deal. They are made by Wetterlings, but sell for far less than a Wetterlings branded axe. I have a Husqvarna Forest Axe, and it's a good tool. My personal favorite axe, however, is the Granfors Bruks Small Forest Axe. It's one of the best bushcrafting axes available anywhere and is great for taking with you into the bush on trips where you'll need an axe, although at 19" it's a bit too small to be ideal for felling larger trees. The Husqvarna Forest Axe at 26" is more of an all around axe, and at a much lower price as well, but it's going to be more difficult to take it with you on your bushcrafting trips just due to its length.

When I was looking for my first axe back when I first started getting into bushcrafting myself I simply followed the advice of Ray Mears, one of the world's best and most well known bushcrafters, and got the Granfors Bruks Small Forest Axe. I had to save up a bit to get it, but I've never once regretted the purchase. As I've already mentioned I also have the Husqvarna Forest Axe, and although it's a great ax, especially for the money, if I had to choose just one axe I'd reach for my GB Small Forest Axe without hesitation. If you ask me Ray Mears was right about that one!

One axe that I don't have any personal experience with but have really been interested in trying out is the Husqvarna Carpenter's Axe. It's almost the same size as the GB Small Forest Axe, just very slightly larger at 21", and it looks like it would serve very well as a bushcrafting axe. Better yet it only costs about half of what a GB Small Forest Axe does despite also being a hand-forged Swedish axe. (Huskies have to be the best deal in the axe world!) As I said, I don't yet have any personal experience with this particular axe, so take this for what it's worth.
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Bo T said:
Pick up True Temper True American axe and hatchet. These are functional working axes. The only cons I have seen are; finish (they ain't pretty) and you need to check the handle for grain orientation and trueness. Council Tools makes a slightly nicer ax at about the same price point but the ones I have seen are made in Mexico. After you beat these half to death, clean them up, put a new handles on them and decide if you want a fancier axe.
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Council axes have never been made in Mexico. They are made in the USA. In fact, the Council family still owns and operates the company. Maybe you are thinking of Collins.
 
M3mphis said:
Council axes have never been made in Mexico. They are made in the USA. In fact, the Council family still owns and operates the company. Maybe you are thinking of Collins.
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Thanks for the correction.
 
deffently buy a sa wetterling or a gransfors bruks...i got a wetterlings and i love it...gransfors and wetterlings are owned by the same people and theyre forges are strait across the street from each other so basicly you cant go wrong with either
 
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