for those who don't trust a folding knife

udtjim said:
Things like folding knives, folding car tops,folding folding bridges and folding airplanes wings will just never work.:D You guys win.
Click to expand...
Dekz said:
I find all the hostility towards this axe to be quite humorous when you consider that fact that every argument you make against it, would also apply when comparing a fixed blade to a folder.
Click to expand...

That's nonsense. You guys are comparing apples to oranges trying to justify a lemon.

james_terrio said:
I've had enough trouble with folding shovels, no folding axes for me :thumbdn:
I do have a cheap Coghlan's folding saw ($6) that has done very well for me, but of course I don't beat on things with it.
Click to expand...

See a pattern here? I own a couple nice folders but I don't use them for chopping. Sheesh.

Please note, I don't dislike any of you (yet :D) and I'll stay out of the personality conflicts, thank you very much. I believe my position is reasonable and I'm sticking to it.

Oh yeah, before anyone lumps me in the elitist category, I don't give hoot what you drive, wear or use for TP for that matter. What I was b!tching about earlier was behavior, not possessions. Sorry I wasn't clear on that.

Have a nice day gentlemen :)
 
Last edited:
Bushman5 said:
how is this folding ax a good idea, instead of a time proven simple design like a Gransfors, wetterings, Nielly, or any other of the small axes out there? Please explain how something with MULTIPLE moving parts, multiple pieces, multiple pop rivets and a poorly shaped ax head of unknown steel etc is better than a custom forged or production forged ax head and hickory haft?
Click to expand...

An axe is a machine, unknown steel or not. Unknown is just that - unknown. Every machine is a series of compromises. There's nothing magical, Harry Potter aside, about hickory handles. Wood handles are bulky and easily broken. Bigger heads might generally chop better but they weigh more too, and they don't fold. But let me ask you this. How do you know folding isn't better? I'm not saying it's better. I'm just going to try it out before I make up my mind. What's wrong with that? Answer: not a darn thing. In fact, I recommend everybody run their life that way as much as possible.

Life is compromise. Case in point, my sawvivor is a folding, multi-part aluminum and steel contraption. It works great. It doesn't work as well as a big old bow saw, but it works well enough. Guess what. I'm pretty sure it has some rivets in it too. As it turns out, rivets were an appropriate design choice in this particular case. Who knew?

I don't see why anyone would get so exercised over basically nothing. My thinking about buying a folding axe in no way affects anybody else, including traditionalist woodsmen. No one is forcing you traditional guys to give up anything. More power to you. That's not me. I'm a "make it work" kind of guy.
 
Mmmmm ... here's a job for my folding axe!
Lucky I brought it along!
<wilderness dude gets out his trusty folding axe>
<author drinks beer>
We will split this here wood for our fire.
<wilderness dude shakily unfolds axe with certain precision>
Watch me expertly guide this trusty tool into the spot on the top of this wood.
<wilderness dude raises his arm high in the air while his eye is fixed on a spot on the timber>
Ill have this fire going in no time.
<wilderness dude swings freshly lubricated folding axe downward with a mighty thrust while slightly twisting wrist to compensate for wind ghust>
Ahhhhhhhhhhh!
 
Dekz said:
I find all the hostility towards this axe to be quite humorous when you consider that fact that every argument you make against it, would also apply when comparing a fixed blade to a folder.
Click to expand...

I don't know what's humorous about it. I consider a folding knife to be a broken knife, worth using only if you absolutely, positively, definitely can't have a real knife with you, that is to say, a fixed blade. :p
 
A folding knife to be used for chopping, splitting, and generically rough shit is a stupid idea too.
 
LittleHairyApe said:
An axe is a machine, unknown steel or not. Unknown is just that - unknown. Every machine is a series of compromises. There's nothing magical, Harry Potter aside, about hickory handles. Wood handles are bulky and easily broken. Bigger heads might generally chop better but they weigh more too, and they don't fold. But let me ask you this. How do you know folding isn't better? I'm not saying it's better. I'm just going to try it out before I make up my mind. What's wrong with that? Answer: not a darn thing. In fact, I recommend everybody run their life that way as much as possible.

Life is compromise. Case in point, my sawvivor is a folding, multi-part aluminum and steel contraption. It works great. It doesn't work as well as a big old bow saw, but it works well enough. Guess what. I'm pretty sure it has some rivets in it too. As it turns out, rivets were an appropriate design choice in this particular case. Who knew?

I don't see why anyone would get so exercised over basically nothing. My thinking about buying a folding axe in no way affects anybody else, including traditionalist woodsmen. No one is forcing you traditional guys to give up anything. More power to you. That's not me. I'm a "make it work" kind of guy.
Click to expand...

an ax is not a machine. Machines are powered equipment. ;) No there is nothing magical about hickory, It can break yes, if swung wrong or poorly chosen when hafting the ax. However one can make a new haft in the filed if needed. Hickory is also warm in the hand, brutally strong and absorbs vibration. The wood becomes polished over use and time, allowing for a smooth hand transition down the haft during the swing. As for not knowing the steel, sure if you buy a Home Depot axe or similar, its gonna be unknown....buy a handmade axe by a well known axsmith, you can be guarenteed of getting very high qaulity steel, albiet at a higher $$$ premium. I have cheap axes for loaners that chip and are dull sounding when hitting the wood,and i have 100+ year old handed down axes that are chip free, with the original hickory haft, and that ring like church bells when making the cut.

A folding ax is COMPROMISE between using it as opposed to using a proper axe. Much like a Multitool is a compromise between using it and a real pair of pliers or side cutters or files or screwdrivers. The tool actually designed for that job will always win out over a compromise and gimmickry.

when swinging an axe when felling a tree, there is a LOT of force involved in the swing, and a lot of impact load. An axe, a proper axe,is designed to overcome those stresses, due to its simple 2 (3 if there is a wedge) piece design. A folding ax is simply not up to that task - at some point , quite early in its use, all those folding points will no longer be able to absorb any more stresses and will fail. ANYONE can see that.

Please do buy one of these and try it out and report back. Try it out in - 30 temps in frozen wood, try it out splitting up a cord or ten of small wood and get back to us. I for one can see the shortcomings of this COMPROMISE tool and will not waste money on it.

I will contionue to use my 100+ year old handed down thru the family hand forged double fit that has felled tens of thousands of trees since my Great granpas time. I will continue touse my german steel Iltis felling ax, and my GB forest ax, because they are solid, reliable simple design tools that well made and well thought out, and are time tested and proven.

Compromise tools are never well thought out, they are a compromise to using a real tool designed for the job.

your milage might vary. If you like compromises (ie: "make it work"), feel free to enjoy said compromises. A fool and his money are soon parted. :D

Bushman5,
Elitist :p


:cool::cool:
 
Last edited:
LOL!!!

LHA actually made me spit out a mouthful of lemon tea, not in the fake "you owe me a keyboard" sense but in the actual, real, I actually spit out a mouthful of tea sense!
 
A folding knife to be used for chopping, splitting, and generically rough shit is a stupid idea too. Quote.


Don't tell my old Buck 110 that crap, it's done it for 25 years or so. so far. OK I am stupid.:o:o:o:o. Funny that I am still alive.;)
 
udtjim said:
A folding knife to be used for chopping, splitting, and generically rough shit is a stupid idea too. Quote.

Don't tell my old Buck 110 that crap, it's done it for 25 years or so. so far. OK I am stupid.:o:o:o:o. Funny that I am still alive.;)
Click to expand...

You've done chopping and splitting with a Buck 110 for 25 years? :eek: Are you sure? :confused: What have you chopped with that knife? And above all, why? Anything that one could chop with a Buck 110 one could easily snap in two with bare hands...

In any case, a folding knife is a very poor tool for chopping and splitting... It's not very hard to think of better tools for those jobs than a folder... And it just so happens that a folding anything, including an axe, isn't a particularly good tool for chopping, which is impact work... :D
 
It is always a good idea to base one's judgement on the available evidence and - if possible - personal experience.

That being said, reasonable people are able to assess ideas and concepts without having to rely exclusively on experience.

So, I can see where the 'wait and try it yourself' crowd is coming from. But I can also understand the 'on paper, this seems like a bad idea' crowd.

Personally, I have no interest in owning or trying a folding axe. I like wood handles on a knife or axe, partly for aesthetic reasons. I also like the simplicity of fixed blade axes and knives - no moving parts, just a meeting of metal and wood (and a bit of epoxy!).

An axe is an impact tool. It uses a cutting edge to transform force into cutting / splitting power. It is intended to strike something hard. As a matter of personal preference, if I am using such a tool, I want it to be nice and solid, without collapsable joints.

While I also prefer fixed blade knives, I don't buy the argument that scepticism directed towards folding axes implies scepticism towards folding knives. Folders are generally intended to be cutting / slicing tools, and these tasks don't involve repeated impacts. Sure, many folders can stay locked up in such situations, but most are not designed or marketed as chopping tools.

So, no folding axe for me. I can see how such an item might make a good addition to a BOB, given its compact nature. But I'll stick with a fixed head / handle axe for now, thank you.

All the best,

- Mike
 
I don't chop much with any knife but if you think your bare hands will chop green branches off better than the Buck 110 then you obviously havn't tried it. I carried only the Buck 110 for several years and did everything with it that I did with my fixed blades. Most of my chopping is while collecting walking sticks for my hobby and a medium folder makes short work of smallish green branches while being easy to carry and with little arm effort. If the 110 won't do it, it's hatchet time or small saw, Even better. BTW I have many hatchets and hawks, none of which fold up.

I would not buy the folding hatchet but if one were going around on a pass around or something, I am plenty open minded enough to try it before I review it. If that's dumb to some of you then I am dumb. However, I will admit it.:D
 
udtjim said:
I don't chop much with any knife but if you think your bare hands will chop green branches off better than the Buck 110 then you obviously havn't tried it.
Click to expand...

Well, I haven't chopped with my hands, no. But I have and continue to break branches with my hands. Twisting and ripping, not chopping. It breaks them just as broken as chopping. And it's a lot faster and easier than chopping the same branches with a Buck 110 like folding knife, unless it's an enormous folding knife or really small and really green branches perhaps - and I don't have any use for really small branches. I'm not particularly large or strong. Perhaps one of us is doing something wrong, either with the hands or with the folder. :D

I would not buy the folding hatchet but if one were going around on a pass around or something, I am plenty open minded enough to try it before I review it. If that's dumb to some of you then I am dumb. However, I will admit it.:D
Click to expand...

I generally don't like calling people dumb. I wouldn't call you dumb. Overly open-minded, perhaps. ;) That was a joke. :D
 
Elen said:
I don't know what's humorous about it. I consider a folding knife to be a broken knife, worth using only if you absolutely, positively, definitely can't have a real knife with you, that is to say, a fixed blade. :p
Click to expand...

And that is fine. But I'd wager that 99% of the people here bashing this axe, do not share your view of folding knives.

Wabajack said:
A folding knife to be used for chopping, splitting, and generically rough shit is a stupid idea too.
Click to expand...

But this axe is DESIGNED to be used for these things. You guys act like they made this axe on a whim and now are just realizing "wait a minute, people are going to use this to hit stuff!?!?!? " I can't believe how many people are just assuming right away that it sucks. That's pretty narrow minded :rolleyes:
 
Like I said I use them for chopping the small green branches off of my walking sticks then shave the bark off and get ready to sand them. The Buck 110 works great for that. However a old Ginsu chefs knife works even better. Super thin and super light. Shaves bark off like hair to a razor.

Different people chop different things for what most of you use the big honking knives for, I prefer a hatchet by far. Why? because I grew up chopping wood with a ax. For me, chopping wood with a knife is like picking a chicken with a tweezers. It works but I can do it ten times faster with my ax or hatchet. I can split a chunk of firewood with my ax while I hit my knife once with something to drive it through the wood. I guess besides being overly open minded, (brain fell out as they say) I am also just much better with a ax when it comes to bigger chunks of wood and a small to medium knife for small green stuff. I use the Buck 110 in place of say a three and one half to four inch woodcraft knife., Can't really see any difference. But thats just me.
 
Dekz said:
But this axe is DESIGNED to be used for these things. You guys act like they made this axe on a whim and now are just realizing "wait a minute, people are going to use this to hit stuff!?!?!? " I can't believe how many people are just assuming right away that it sucks. That's pretty narrow minded :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

No. It clearly isn't. Otherwise it wouldn't have such a delicate design. Even their website states "Light-duty, compact size great for chopping limbs up to 2.5" in diameter".

It isn't close mindedness, it is a provisional opinion, show me the evidence and it will change. As it stands however, something that can tackle 6"+ trees easily and used for "heavy-duty" can be attained for the same weight.

It's a gimmick.
 
udtjim said:
Like I said I use them for chopping the small green branches off of my walking sticks then shave the bark off and get ready to sand them. The Buck 110 works great for that. However a old Ginsu chefs knife works even better. Super thin and super light. Shaves bark off like hair to a razor.

Different people chop different things for what most of you use the big honking knives for, I prefer a hatchet by far. Why? because I grew up chopping wood with a ax. For me, chopping wood with a knife is like picking a chicken with a tweezers. It works but I can do it ten times faster with my ax or hatchet. I can split a chunk of firewood with my ax while I hit my knife once with something to drive it through the wood. I guess besides being overly open minded, (brain fell out as they say) I am also just much better with a ax when it comes to bigger chunks of wood and a small to medium knife for small green stuff. I use the Buck 110 in place of say a three and one half to four inch woodcraft knife., Can't really see any difference. But thats just me.
Click to expand...

Oh, stuff like that. Sure, now I get it. Any sharp knife would work for that. Personally, I prefer to chop things with an axe (a hatchet will do, but I prefer to carry a large axe when I can for more power). But being that I am a knife enthusiast also, a big chopping knife is certainly on the list of interesting things to own and use. They have some benefits compared to an axe (like longer blades which make limbing and chopping relatively small branches somewhat more practical, and smaller overall length) and some downsides (much less power, and a lot more work to sharpen than an axe). A folding axe I wouldn't trust for same reasons I wouldn't trust a folding knife, except it's times million. While a folding knife can be just as sharp as a fixed blade, it's vastly more complicated and weaker in construction, by design. Same goes for folding axes. I don't want any extra moving parts around when I'm swinging something sharp with all my power into something relatively hard. Folding knives (and axes) are less durable, much harder to clean and much quicker to need a cleaning, slower to deploy and generally nowhere near as comfortable ergonomically, since that darn blade needs to go into the handle for storage and this compromises the handle. Honestly, I can't fathom how someone might not see any difference in use between a folder and a fixed blade bushcraft knife. But if I ever saw someone claim that they couldn't see any difference in use between a folding axe and a traditional one, I'd probably call them a liar right then and there.

But anyways, I'll try not to off-topic this into a folding knives versus fixed blades discussion, which I somehow seem prone to doing. :o The folding axe idea is still silly and frankly dangerous, in spite of new technology. It's nothing to do with a folding saw or similar tools that are not intended (and indeed cannot easily be used) for impact work like chopping, which is exactly what the axe is for. Chopping and splitting large pieces of wood put a lot of stress on a blade, and if there's a folding component there, it's only a question of when it's going to fail instead of whether it's going to fail.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top