Full axe cover

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walkingeagle74

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Jan 1, 2016
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Hello, I'm planning backpacking/travel trip across Canada. Rather than dropping a ton of money on hotel rooms I plan to do a lot of camping. And with lots of camping comes fire, fires need wood, wood needs splitting, splitting needs an axe (you get where I'm going) I have a Granfors Bruks Scandinavian Forest Axe. I'm a little worried about carrying it in town on my pack not because I don't want it stolen but I don't wanna attract attention to it and have the RCMP (police) detain me when I'm simply touring town. So my solution was to simply "cover it up" however I don't want to have the RCMP claim that I'm concealing a weapon. So I'm a bit stumped. I don't wanna go with a hatchet because I'll be spending a lot of time up in the woods and making lots of fires. And my GFB FA is the perfect all around size for me and does everything I need it to perfectly. I just don't wanna get in trouble when I decide to hit up Toronto or Montreal with my pack. Any ideas?
 
I am no expert but I think you will be fine if you keep your axe in your backpack.
So long as you are not engaged in threatening behavior the police will not hassle you.
Bear in mind police often judge people by the company they keep, so be careful.
Most of all relax and enjoy your trip.
 
That's a good axe for that role. I would just jam it head down in the pack with the handle sticking out when in town.
 
Out of sight and out of mind! A sheath on an axe is more for your protection (ruin everything in and around including the pack otherwise) than it is to appease law enforcement. Cultivate the mindset that you are not carrying a concealed weapon unless that is your specific intent. Folks generally leave you alone up here, unless you decide to open carry (even with sheath) on a Greyhound or city bus, or develop a hankering to tour the Parliament buildings, Montreal Stadium or Toronto City Hall. First off they don't even allow back packs anyway!
Get yourself a good folding saw (Silky brand is one that Square_Peg,and others speak highly of) or small Swede saw that fits in or on your pack. Beauty of an 'arborist' saw is they're light, waste nothing and they're fast, efficient ... and quiet. A short handled axe (or decent weight hatchet) won't get such a workout anymore after that except for pounding pegs and making kindling and splitting a little bit of oversized wood. If it's the hind leg and tenderloin of a road-schmucked deer you want to cash in on that's where a trout & bird knife comes in; saws and axes are messy for that.

Camping without paying (or without getting landowner permission) is not so easy anymore unless you have ways to get off the beaten track and avoid municipal/provincial/federal/private parks. Open fires are increasingly frowned upon in well travelled areas too.
 
Problem is that my pack isn't super huge (Condor 3-Day Assault pack) idk if I'd be able to jam it in there without it crushing something. I'll see when they arrive
 
My experience I honestly prefer an axe for everything. (Delimbing trees, firewood, process animals) I'm weird like. Folding saws a nice idea but ultimately I'm really wanting to avoid spending any more money on tools lol. I'll just carry the blade inside with a towel wrapped around it. and avoid government buildings
 
walkingeagle74 said:
Problem is that my pack isn't super huge (Condor 3-Day Assault pack) idk if I'd be able to jam it in there without it crushing something. I'll see when they arrive
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You put the axe in first with the handle sticking out and then pack around it! Forgo any crazy idea of being able to 'quick draw' the implement in case of threat or emergency.
 
walkingeagle74 said:
I'll just carry the blade inside with a towel wrapped around it, and avoid government buildings
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At very least fold over a piece of aluminum chimney flashing or an old license plate and secure everything with rubber bands or shoelaces. Sharp blades will work themselves through cardboard, fabric and towels in fairly short order.
 
You could also roll it up in a tarp or wool blanket, and lash it to the side or bottom of the pack.
 
walkingeagle74 said:
I'm a little worried about carrying it in town on my pack not because I don't want it stolen but I don't wanna attract attention to it and have the RCMP (police) detain me when I'm simply touring town. So my solution was to simply "cover it up" however I don't want to have the RCMP claim that I'm concealing a weapon. So I'm a bit stumped...... Any ideas?
Click to expand...

If you want to avoid notice by the RCMP then start by losing the camo'd assault pack and get yourself a good 4 liter backpackers pack. Choose a bright color and no one will look at you twice.

If you want firewood and you're on a budget then get a Tajima 240mm G-Saw. $25 bucks on Amazon and at local hardware stores. This thing really cuts wood fast. It's 98% of a Silky at half the price.

As for the splitting axe - I'm going to commit a sacrilege and suggest you but a cheap $15 Chinese import hatchet and an Estwing rock hammer/pick. This is a fantastic compact splitting pair. Splits wood up to 8" easily. Set the hatchet in the near side of the round and pound it through with the rock hammer. An Estwing rock hammer is narrow enough to follow the hatchet through the wood. You'll be shocked by what you're able to split with this small packable pair. It'll mushroom the poll but who cares?!? It's a gyppo Chinese hatchet - abuse the crap out of it.

All the wood in this camp was cut with a 10" Tajima saw and split with a Chinese hatchet and Estwing rock hammer. Through 3 days of rainy weather we kept a big roaring fire going.

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Box%20oven.jpg


BTW - that cardboard box lined with foil is our camp oven. We cooked huckleberry pies in it. Works just like the oven in your kitchen. I've done pizzas, too.
 
Pack is solid black, did that specifically to avoid drawing attention as this doubles as my BOB when I'm not hiking or backpacking, I'll look into that saw though sounds solid.
 
Square_peg said:
It's also tells the RCMP that you have something to hide.
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The main thing is to look 'outdoorsy' and not flaunt any 'urban guerilla' stuff. Leave the Camo at home. If you're still worried about the handle of an axe sticking up then strap a telescopic fishing rod and reel alongside.
 
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