GB Wildlife or CS Trail Master?

B

baxter_ny

Joined
Dec 24, 2008
Messages
4
(I posted this yesterday on the axe forum, and a helpful member suggested W & S instead...)

I'm new to this forum and am trying to decide between a GB Wildlife Hatchet and a CS Trail Master as a camping/survival tool. Camping and backpacking have become family activities for me, and I'm wondering about the way kids and other parents (not to mention my wife) would react if I pulled a 9.5 inch bowie like the Trail Master out of my pack to baton some wood. I can see a lot of people agreeing with Nessmuk that bowies are "murderous-looking" compared to a hatchet like the GB Wildlife, which is no less dangerous, really.

I've preferred axes since reading D. Cook's axe book years ago. Still, I can see the advantages of the large bowie + folding saw combination for cutting and batoning wood when weight is an issue. Am I crazy for thinking about a tool like the Trail Master around women and kids? On the other hand, if a large chef's knife is ok in the kitchen, why not a Trail Master at camp? Just wondering.
 
i see the risk for this turning into a politial debate, but i will try to keep my thoughts trained on your question...

if you have a knife that you like to use, and are comfortable using, i say use it, and use it happily. as long as you aren't breaking any rules or laws, there is no reason to worry about appearing scary to people. just don't make a big deal out of the knife, and stow it away safely out of sight when not actively being used (or put your shirt tail over it when wearing it on a belt).

that said, if you are looking for an axe, there are few that are highly recommended as the GB line, so i don't think you can go wrong with that. if you feel that this would be the most effective tool for your activities, i say go for it.

people always seem surprised when i pull a small axe out of my bag or when they see a sheath knife on my belt...but i calmly question their surprise, by pointing out that their common kitchen knife is twice as big as my belt knife, or that if my intention were to hurt someone, a blunt trauma weapon (such as the coffee mug in their hand) would work much better.

so, in summary, i say use the tool you feel best fits the task. use it safely, and keep it low key. don't break any laws or rules, and there should be no problems. if confronted, remain polite, innocent, and act as though using a big blade or axe is the most natural thing in the world, and that the other is peculiar for thinking any differently (but be careful not to come off as snobbish of crazy ;))
 
I agree with ^. Whatever would suit you better. Don't worry about what others think if it is legal.
 
You should never let what others might think be your deciding factor in anything. That said if it came down to a choice of which of those two axes to take I'd choose the GB wildlife hatchet hands down over the CS. There is honestly no comparison between the two in terms of quality and performance. The GB is far superior in every way.

Personally I have carried an M-43 Kukri from H.I. for several years for just that purpose and have never recieved even one negative comment.
 
The others who have responded are right---choose what suits you.

That being said, I can't say enough for the quality of Gransfors Bruks. My first was a Wildlife Hatchet, and I'm still astounded by the outright quality that it was constructed with it. These axes and hatchets are fantastic outdoor tools that will last forever and serve you dependably, if it's the tool that suits your needs.

Good luck. :)
 
I love Gransfors Bruks axes, I have a small forest and a mini belt hatchet.

IMGP0654.jpg


Although they are superb choppers (and will out chop a knife of the same weight) they aren't especially good at splitting. A large knife does have the advantage of being able to baton.

A kukhri would be a good compromise between chopping ability and being able to baton.
 
welcome to BF WS&S
the trail master is also being discontinued soon. the GBs will be there for a long time. siguy pretty much said what i would have. also, i'd like to send you an e-mail, can you post (or just send me) you e-mail address?

yorkshire boy, what leuku is that?
 
I am a fan of the big knife carry but I also have a GB SFA. I find there is an area of overlap of use between the two. So I just carry both. I was wandering with the dollar being so strong is it not a good time to being buying imported blades? Looks on eBay UK and see what your dollar will get you GB wise, you might be surprised.

If you choose to go with the CS then I know a few people who like that blade but you might be able to get a better blade for your buck. What's your budget for a big knife? You could find yourself saving money on the big blade and being able to afford a GB to.

Whatever your choice in the end just get out in the woods and enjoy. Half the people that question or doubt my blade/axe choice end up asking to have a go with mine.
 
well... if nessmuk is a deciding issue....


you should pick up one of Dan Koster's MONSTER NESSMUKS!

those things are beasts, and dont look "menacing" like a large bowie knife. also it chops quite well from what i've seen.

on a personal basis i use a brkt golok and a gransfor small forest axe.

both are superb tools but in terms of backpacking and general trips i prefer the golok over the axe. the axe is something nice to have at base camp for chopping larger trees but if i had to i'm sure the golok would chop the same tree.

MonsterNessie1231-01.jpg


happy huntin :)

JC
 
BarberFobic1992 said:
welcome to BF WS&S
the trail master is also being discontinued soon. the GBs will be there for a long time. siguy pretty much said what i would have. also, i'd like to send you an e-mail, can you post (or just send me) you e-mail address?

yorkshire boy, what leuku is that?
Click to expand...

Hand made in Finland by a guy called Ahntii (can't remember how to spell his name). It's a heck of a knife, 9 inches long and 6mm thick but the handle is far too big for my medium hands. I just can't get a solid enough grip on it, so I gave it to my brother in-law.

Here it is with my GB mini axe.

IMGP0656.jpg
 
There are a lot of saw enthusiasts here. I expect you'll also get some recommendations to go with a "bushcraft" knife and a saw. The questions of whether to use a large chopping knife over an axe and whether to baton a knife usually bring a number of divergent opinions. Those opinions are generally very well explained so I've read the discussions with a lot of interest.

DancesWithKnives
 
You've got a pretty good answer here already; whichever you like better. For me, I have jumped back and forth a number of times. I started off convinced that a large knife was best. Then I decided a hatchet was best. Now I'm just not sure :)
 
I believe he intends to pack in at least a mile or two from his vehicle, so weight may often be an issue.

DancesWithKnives
 
Maybe I don't understand your question, are you talking about one or the other and no other knife at all? If so I would have to go with the knife. If not, I would carry a smaller knife and some type of ax or hatchet , I have never seen a lot of difference between good brands of axes, it's mostly all in the skill of the user. IMO
 
I have recently been carrying a Becker BK9 and something from Gransfors Bruks as my kit, even when hiking far from the care.

I don't know about your physical conditioning, or if you prefer ultralight hiking, but I'm a very fit (or so I think :D) 17 year old and have no problem slugging the extra weight---the b******s on my Philmont trek weighed me down like a pack mule because I was a hybrid mid-distance runner/offensive lineman who could handle it---my pack usually weighed between seventy and ninety pounds with food, water for dry camps, etc.

I think that this combination would be manageable. My personal pack usually weighs around twenty to thirty pounds with all of my essentials, including a Spyderco Military folder, SAK Hiker, etc.

I like the setup. :thumbup:
 
Why not get the GB & a Mora :D You would be able to do what ever . Or get yourself the GB & a nice custom from one of the Fellow W&SS guys here.
 
Thanks for great information, advice, and pics. That monster Nessmuk is impressive and different, and I had never considered an exotic blade like the golok. As for caring about what others think... not sure how to respond to that. I make my own decisions, but I do care about the opinions of people I like and respect, even if those opinions are uninformed at times.

I see knives, axes, and hatchets as familiar tools, but some people don't. The biggest non-kitchen knife I have is a Buck 119, and even that has raised some eyebrows. Hatchets just seem a little easier for people to accept around here. Don't know why. (Hatchet = boy scout; bowie = Rambo, maybe?) Just curious if these factors had influenced anyone else.

As for use, I would always carry a smaller knife (my SAK or Leatherman Charge) along with the axe or bowie. I use a GB SFA for clearing blow downs on trails - it's great for that. I keep a GB double-bitted axe at camp, which is deep in the woods, for falling trees and fiskars axes for limbing, bucking (along with a crosscut saw - I sold the chain saw, happily), and splitting firewood. Weight is always an issue to varying degrees depending on whether I'm hiking, paddling, or both.

The GB Wildlife was a natural choice for me when the larger axes are too much. Then I saw Nutnfancy's video on the Trail Master and started to wonder if that was a better, more versatile choice. Otherwise, I just wouldn't have thought about batoning a bowie when I could have used a small axe or hatchet.

Sorry for long reply, but I appreciate the time you all took to respond and wanted to give a little more info.
 
Well I certainly understand appearances and public. This is partly driven by the norms in your area. Then again, if you are outdoors and there to enjoy the wilderness with your family, part of that activity involves teaching your kids about the types and uses of outdoor tools like knives and axes. Personally, I think a knife is far safer than an axe and you can teach a kid to baton (with supervision of course) much easier than teaching them to swing an axe. You might not want to let them handle an axe until they are pretty mature, and when they are old enough you want to start them off with a bigger axe where a miss leads to the axe hitting the dirt in front of them, not their shin.

All that said, the GB is considered the absolute best in axes and it is pretty nice to have the best tool money can buy for only $100. The trailmaster isn't the best tool money can buy for its class (edit but it is still a pretty good knife).
 
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