In Australia, where I am, camping axes need to be used on mainly dead, sometimes hard wood such as Red Gum (a Eucalypt). I'm keen to get a small axe for branches and dare I say it 'occasional' banging. I'm keen on quality and don't want a procession of duds (poor performers). Buy quality once is what I try to do. The local choices in the area seem to be the Grunsfors Bruks Wildlife hatchet, the Fiskars (Gerber) hatchet or Estwing Sportsmans Axe. I get the strong impression the Grunsfors Bruks are superior in many ways but am I asking for dissapointment with tough woods? The Fiskars seem quite good but can they hold a sharp edge? With the Estwing, well I've had their hammers and they are great, otherwise I don't know. There is quite a range in the prices so any clues? Thanks, Tim P.
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Hard Wood Small Axe Advice Needed
- Thread starter Tim P
- Start date
Cliff Stamp
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- Oct 5, 1998
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The Wildlife hatchet will not function well on very hard woods, especially knots and small dead branches. If you want to use it for this though all you have to do it apply a small more obtuse bevel on top of the existing one. A 20 degree one about a half a mm wide would do.
-Cliff
-Cliff
The soviet/siberian axes that Coupchoux first noted in his post seem to be what you are looking for. The smaller 1.75 pound head is the perfect weight for less than full length axe. Mine has a 2 ft. 8 inch Osage handle and is polished and blued. I have not used it yet but will this weekend. If it is as advertised then it will be a fine small working axe.
Tim P
For that sort of use I'd get a half axe. It looks more like a small axe than a tomahawk. I've brought them at flea markets or second hand tool dealers. If you need to cut something a half axe will do it well and its not much heavier than a hatchet.
Regards
Pinpoint
For that sort of use I'd get a half axe. It looks more like a small axe than a tomahawk. I've brought them at flea markets or second hand tool dealers. If you need to cut something a half axe will do it well and its not much heavier than a hatchet.
Regards
Pinpoint
half axe= "boys axe"?
I have a Boys axe (was my grandfather's) about midway in size between a hatchet and an axe and slightly larger than the GB small forest axe or similarly sized Hunter's axe.
I have both the GB Wildlife hatchet and the Hunter's axe. The wildlife hatchet weighs only 8 oz less than the hunter (1.5 vs 2.0 pounds) but I can do much more chopping with the hunters 19 inch length and 8 ounces. Wildlife is 14" IIRC. I tested both on 6" diameter balck walnut and cut thru in half the time and half the strokes with the hunter. you won't want the hunters axe because of the rounded flay poll (IMO worthless for its intended purpose of flaying hide) but I still prefer the handle on the Hunter. Someday I'm just going to order a SFA bit with a Hunter handle.
You might consider the Small Forest Axe, still pretty compact in size and yet just long enough for use with 2 hands.
I have a Boys axe (was my grandfather's) about midway in size between a hatchet and an axe and slightly larger than the GB small forest axe or similarly sized Hunter's axe.
I have both the GB Wildlife hatchet and the Hunter's axe. The wildlife hatchet weighs only 8 oz less than the hunter (1.5 vs 2.0 pounds) but I can do much more chopping with the hunters 19 inch length and 8 ounces. Wildlife is 14" IIRC. I tested both on 6" diameter balck walnut and cut thru in half the time and half the strokes with the hunter. you won't want the hunters axe because of the rounded flay poll (IMO worthless for its intended purpose of flaying hide) but I still prefer the handle on the Hunter. Someday I'm just going to order a SFA bit with a Hunter handle.
You might consider the Small Forest Axe, still pretty compact in size and yet just long enough for use with 2 hands.