How many of you guys carry axes

B

benchmadebob

Joined
May 12, 2008
Messages
756
Im just wondering because i will be soon getting a 23.5 inch fiskars and im wondering if there worth there weight hiking and backpacking?
 
I carry an ax (ILTIS OX-HEAD)if i'm trucking down the old decommisioned logging roads to go bush camping. Hiking, i tend to carry a Khukuri or other large chopper.
 
I carry an axe when I'm car-camping. Backpacking? No, too much weight. I've used a Fiskars and didn't really like it--the geometry seems wrong. I like an old fashioned felling axe. Check out Granfors Bruks axes--very nice and sharpen to a razor edge. Pricey though. Sometimes when backpacking in cold weather I'll carry a small folding saw.

Having said that, I once saw a film about an Ojibway elder who used an axe as his sole survival tool up in Canada. This guy made fire, shelter, traps, and a canoe using just an axe. Unreal. So maybe an axe isn't such a bad idea....
 
Rotte is right about Gransfors Bruks, great quality axes. They are pricey, but depending on the model don't weigh too much. It depends on your needs, they are useful tools for more than just chopping. If you are going to need a good versitile chopping tool, then yeah I would say it is worth the weight. If you are not sure if you would need one, take it on a day hike and see if it gets in the way. Used to be able to find them pretty cheap on ebay, but that was a few years ago. I keep two of them in my truck toolbox. They come in handy.
 
the Gransfors small forest axe is one of my most trusted tools. the weight isnt too bad, but i wouldnt bring it on a short hike because i just wouldnt need to. but for camping and bushcraft, it is great. i

i suspect that the fiskars you are getting is probably about the same weight as my gransfors, since the fiskars have that hollow handle portion.
 
I carry a Estwing full size ax while boat or truck Camping. When I could walk better I carried a lite weight hatchet that I think was made by Schrade many years ago. I believe it was from Sears. It was just over 1/4 inch thick and under a pound. I sometimes carry the CS Riflemans Hawk as well. I prefer a hatchet to a knife for chopping.
 
Nope. Too heavy and don't need it.

A critical tool for cabin living, useless for backpacking.
 
Car camping: Yes. Day Hike: Yes. Backpacking:Yes. Open Canoe Camping:Yes. Hunting: Yes.

I can always stick one in my daypack, and even take one backpacking. Why? Because I am not into "backpacking" like what you see in Backpacker Magazine. Worrying about how much distance to cover per day, using lightweight stoves and water filters just ruins it all for me. Doing that just seems like nature avoidance to me, and I am into for a different reason.

B
 
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I would think think its only a little more weight than a 18" wetterlings, and I don"t mind taking that thing everywhere with me. I like a light pack, 18 lbs max. thats including axe, knife and everything else.

But everyone likes to switch things up a bit. When I'm on my own property, I take a day kit and tuck my axe in my belt. Going to the park, I don't know if I would, but by my self, or with family on either crown land, or my own I don't see why not.
 
briangandrews said:
Car camping: Yes. Day Hike: Yes. Backpacking:Yes. Open Canoe Camping:Yes. Hunting: Yes.

I can always stick one in my daypack, and even take one backpacking. Why? Because I am not into "backpacking" like what you see in Backpacker Magazine. Worrying about how much distance to cover per day, using lightweight stoves and water filters just ruins it all for me. Doing that just seems like nature avoidance to me, and I am into for a different reason.

B
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This kind of made me think of something: Do you mean "axe" or are you also considering a hatchet an axe?

Since the OP mentioned a 23.5" axe, I figured he meant 3/4 or full sized axes.

If we're including hatchets, then I used to always carry one, even on dayhikes. But now I carry a kukri, which is longer, heavier and outchops my Pen Bay hatchet. :D
 
briangandrews said:
Car camping: Yes. Day Hike: Yes. Backpacking:Yes. Open Canoe Camping:Yes. Hunting: Yes.

I can always stick one in my daypack, and even take one backpacking. Why? Because I am not into "backpacking" like what you see in Backpacker Magazine. Worrying about how much distance to cover per day, using lightweight stoves and water filters just ruins it all for me. Doing that just seems like nature avoidance to me, and I am into for a different reason.
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Great post, and fully agreed. :thumbup: :thumbup:

For me, I might carry a hatchet, or a large axe. Sometimes I'll carry a large knife. Anything goes - I don't go out there to nitpick about grams and file toothbrushes so they lose 1 nanogram of their weight. :D
 
Yeah, but what really separates the men from the boys is the guy that carries a cast iron skillet and a dutch oven with him. ;)
 
I think I buy a fresh $7.00 Canadian Tire cheapo hatchet every time I hit the mountains. Why? Well, mostly because I lost the previous one the last time up, heheh. A full blown axe I have never taken on an expedition, but almost always do I bring a hatchet, and a bow saw to round the combo off. Cheap hatchets are ideal because if you lose it in the drink, in the grass, if it falls down an impassable slope, or if you simply forget it at basecamp (guilty) you don't lose a whole lot of money. And let's face it, we've all lost a hatchet at some point right? Anyone who hasn't... well, you will soon enough. ;)

An actual axe though, seems a bit too cumbersome to tote around and not a likely candidate for my rucksack addons. I suppose there was a time when I could have carted around an axe, but my old bones wouldn't take it nowadays, that is for sure. I'd rather reserve the weight allowance for a few cans of beer and a box of cigars these days, lol.
 
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During Hiking?

Until recently? Yes

Now? No.

Why? Since I now carry a Bahco Lapplander with me. This is a very lightweight saw,(only 175 gram/6 ounce) but it works very very good. This combined with a good fulltang knife which is able to split wood makes the extra weight of an axe not worth taking it with me anymore.

sawlarge.jpg
 
Currently playing with a 1.5 lb head Faithful, smaller version of this. I grabbed it just for a fun thin it down and blu it project about a month ago. So far it's working very well and delivers a very satisfying smack. I may well end up keeping this.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
This kind of made me think of something: Do you mean "axe" or are you also considering a hatchet an axe?
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What is a "hatchet?" They are all axes. It is just a matter of what size axe :D

Cpl Punishment said:
But now I carry a kukri, which is longer, heavier and outchops my Pen Bay hatchet. :D
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Now you are trying to get me going, aren't you? :D

My first Pen Bey, I rounded and convexed the edge nicely and I was not happy at all with the chopping peformance.

I made a jig from and ground it to that, and it is easily 3x better. I would have taken someone with files and stones a LONG time to do what I did.

What size is your kuk, and which brand is it? Just want to make sure that you are talking about some 10' monster before I make my claim :D Which is: and I am being serious, and I am not trying to be an ass; but if we ever get a chance to meet up and a kuk out-chops my axe, you can glad have any piece of gear from my store that you want. I am not talking about someone else's axe that is the same model as mine and all that. I am talking about MINE :D

Seriously though, if your kuk is heavier and longer then the Pen bay, then we need to compare it to a heavier and long axe. I have a 24" handled one that I would be the WHOLE store on :D

Still want to see pics of that beast.


Fjell said:
During Hiking?

Until recently? Yes

Now? No.

Why? Since I now carry a Bahco Lapplander with me.
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If you have to ask, then you already don't know. Which is cool, because it meets your needs for the outdoors. But, you asked, so I will tell you why for me.

- They can break. (I have broken 2 blades)
- Teeth can become damaged.
- Non-field repairable.
- You can carve shapes out of wood with it.
- You can't split wood with it.
- You can't hammer wooden stuff into the ground.
- You can't square logs with it.

Even if you do something you are not supposed to and ding an axe edge, it can either be smoothed out and still used until you return home, or it can be completely repaired in the field if you want to spend the time.

IMO, saws are back-ups, or to be carried as a secondary, not a primary. That is not just me speaking either, that is straight out of "Bushcraft" by Mors.

I like to do a lot of "outdoor" projects when I am in the woods. I realize that most are going to look at that list, and say "I don't need to do any of that." And that is more than cool. Just giving my reasoning.

B
 
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briangandrews said:
What is a "hatchet?" They are all axes. It is just a matter of what size axe :D
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An axe that is primarily used one-handed. Yes, it's my definition. ;)


briangandrews said:
Now you are trying to get me going, aren't you? :D
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Not at all.
I'm sure you've seen my posts in the Axes and Tomahawks forum. I almost always recommend the Pen Bay or Hudson Bay when people ask about what axe to get. IMO they are the best that can be had in or considerably above their price range. I've always been a huge fan of the S&Ns. I don't know if it was on this forum or the other, but I was a posting naysayer about kukris, not seeing how they could perform as well as my beloved hatchets. It took buying one and learning to use it right to convince me.

briangandrews said:
My first Pen Bey, I rounded and convexed the edge nicely and I was not happy at all with the chopping peformance.

I made a jig from and ground it to that, and it is easily 3x better. I would have taken someone with files and stones a LONG time to do what I did.
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You may well have come up with a better geometry than I did. In fact, I've been strongly considering buying a Hudson Bay from you when you get them in and do the treatment to them.

briangandrews said:
What size is your kuk, and which brand is it? Just want to make sure that you are talking about some 10' monster before I make my claim :D
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Well, I'll come clean, it IS a monster, although not 10'. It's a Himalayan Imports 20" Chiruwa Ang Khola. It was my first one,a nd I special ordered it from HI asking that it be made on the heavy side for even that model. Now most people on the HI forum decry such a beast as too heavy to carry with you, and event he HI store says "The King of the Choppers. 20 inches overall, about 9/16" thick at the spine and 3 or 4 pounds depending on the kamis who made the knife. Unless you are physically fit and have serious chopping to get done, opt for something smaller." http://yhst-7333098713883.stores.yahoo.net/20inchangkhola.html I also confess that I did reprofile the blade a bit, so it isn't a stock beast, either.

briangandrews said:
Seriously though, if your kuk is heavier and longer then the Pen bay, then we need to compare it to a heavier and long axe. I have a 24" handled one that I would be the WHOLE store on :D
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It chops as well as my Hudson Bay axe. Now let's be clear here, my standard is based on number of chops to get through a certain thickness. By outperforming my Pen Bay, I mean it takes two strikes to get through a 2.5" oak branch and 1 with the CAK. The CAK has taken as few as 1 strike to go through a 3.5" pind branch, and usually takes two with the Pen Bay. So it's not chopping circles around it by any means, but it does outdo it.

Here's a stock photo of it:
Kukzilla25inch58oz.jpg


Of course I also have a 25" CAK. . .:eek:

Now, my 36" Jersey pattern Collins that I have blows them both out of the water (and should).

Now, there are certain things the Ang Khola just isn't as good at.
Although you can choke up on the blade and cut fuzz sticks, it's far easier with the Pen Bay.
Likewise, it's far easier to butcher game or clean fish with the Pen Bay.
Hammering tent stakes with the kukri? You can, but you hammer with the spine, meaning swinging the very long business end up towards your face -- not gonna do it. With the Pen Bay, I can hammer with the bit cover attached.

So yes, I'l maintain my contention that as a chopper, it outperforms the Pen Bay. As a general woods tool, the Pen Bay is more versatile. Of course, that may be because I grew up with hatchets and axes and know them better.
 
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