About a year or so ago I bought a Hudson Bay axe. It's one of the newer ones with the 1095 steel. It performs pretty well for what I use it for, and keeps a decent edge. I just ordered a greco companion to go along with me on some trips i'll be doing over the winter.
The axe as I had said has 1095 steel, and usually keeps an edge after semi-hard use on hardwood carving and splitting. It has around a 24 in. handle and the head weighs in around 2 pounds.
Overall I am very pleased with the axe head, but am unhappy with the handle. It seems fairly balanced, however it seems far too thick for my handling. Also I really don't like the finish that is on the handle, not sure what it is? probably just varnish. So i'm wondering if some of you take off the varnish when you get a new axe and oil it? And what types of oil you would use to do so? And my other question I have is regarding sharpenign of the axe. I just use a file and thats it, thats what most people use in my area. I haven't tried using a hone for it after using a file, i'm afraid it would get dull too quickly as it has in the past.
The axe didn't come with a sheath as I picked it up un-used at a yardsale. So I decided to try my luck at making one from materials I had at hand which included paracord, duct tape, cheap leather and a trash can polymer top. I attached a survival kit to the sheath as the axe and sheath are always on me. I usually have a setup looking somewhat like a ninja
but it works. I have a strap going diagonal from my shoulder crossing my chest, to my hip, which then has a fanny pack on it worn to the side. On the back side of the shoulder I put the sheath for the axe, and the when the axe is inside the sheath the head is around my shoulder blade, with the handle pointing down. This works very well for me when i'm traveling, and hiking, doing minimilist trips, and the axe feels like nothing since it is on your back. Then when you wanna take out the axe you just pull the strap from your chest vertically down so the axe head and sheath go over your shoulder, so you can then unsnap it, or untie the sheath and take out the axe. It fairly simple to use and seems to work good for me. Any suggestions on improving this I would appreciate, but I figured i'd share that as it works good for me atleast.
I was going to post some pictures of the sheath that I made with the kit, I recently acquired a digital camera , but am not sure how to put on an attachment. If anyone could lead me in the rigth direction i'd be more than glad to post the pics if you would like.
This seems like a really neat place to talk about the outdoors and survival. I've been going to alot of get togethers with others for survival, and I hope I can contribute to the group and ask a few questions as I did.
The axe as I had said has 1095 steel, and usually keeps an edge after semi-hard use on hardwood carving and splitting. It has around a 24 in. handle and the head weighs in around 2 pounds. Overall I am very pleased with the axe head, but am unhappy with the handle. It seems fairly balanced, however it seems far too thick for my handling. Also I really don't like the finish that is on the handle, not sure what it is? probably just varnish. So i'm wondering if some of you take off the varnish when you get a new axe and oil it? And what types of oil you would use to do so? And my other question I have is regarding sharpenign of the axe. I just use a file and thats it, thats what most people use in my area. I haven't tried using a hone for it after using a file, i'm afraid it would get dull too quickly as it has in the past.
The axe didn't come with a sheath as I picked it up un-used at a yardsale. So I decided to try my luck at making one from materials I had at hand which included paracord, duct tape, cheap leather and a trash can polymer top. I attached a survival kit to the sheath as the axe and sheath are always on me. I usually have a setup looking somewhat like a ninja
but it works. I have a strap going diagonal from my shoulder crossing my chest, to my hip, which then has a fanny pack on it worn to the side. On the back side of the shoulder I put the sheath for the axe, and the when the axe is inside the sheath the head is around my shoulder blade, with the handle pointing down. This works very well for me when i'm traveling, and hiking, doing minimilist trips, and the axe feels like nothing since it is on your back. Then when you wanna take out the axe you just pull the strap from your chest vertically down so the axe head and sheath go over your shoulder, so you can then unsnap it, or untie the sheath and take out the axe. It fairly simple to use and seems to work good for me. Any suggestions on improving this I would appreciate, but I figured i'd share that as it works good for me atleast. I was going to post some pictures of the sheath that I made with the kit, I recently acquired a digital camera
, but am not sure how to put on an attachment. If anyone could lead me in the rigth direction i'd be more than glad to post the pics if you would like. This seems like a really neat place to talk about the outdoors and survival. I've been going to alot of get togethers with others for survival, and I hope I can contribute to the group and ask a few questions as I did.
