I'm overwhelmed! What do I need? Forum's expertise would be great.

R

Rip Discovers

Joined
Jun 29, 2007
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4
Thanks for taking a look.

I have been looking through this forum for the past few days and through many axe sites and my head has been spinning a little bit from it all. I was hoping some here could give me references. I'm going backpacking for several days with some friends in a few weeks.

I am looking for good tools that will last me the rest of my life. For now, I need some things that will fell, limb, split firewood and skin/fillet. At the moment I'm looking at axes so I'm coming here. I want all of these from a variety of axes, but not to the point where it's cumbersome to bring them all. I'm so overwhelmed because there's such a wide range and variety.

I am biased against faux communist and slave labor countries, so I'd prefer my pieces to not be made in Asia (Any Asian countries with fair labor practices are fine). This does not strip me from a good number of choices.

The brands I'm mostly aware of are Iltis Oxhead, Gransfors Bruks, Snow & Neally, Estwing, American Tomahawk (I don't know if they're American made, so I'd ask first, but I'd hope so), and I think there may be another company or two I'm forgetting - I'll put them up later if I am. I'm sure there are even more I'm unaware of.

I was curious about things like if splitting mauls are unwieldy compared to splitting hatchets. Things like the difference between a tomahawk and an axe in usefulness and if things like a pulaski axe with a digging mattock are exceptionally useful.

Right now I'm looking the most at Gransfors Bruks pieces. Thanks.
 
The only hatchet I have on your list is the Estwing. It is a great indestructable seeming hatchet with a rubber coated steel handle. I have an American Tomahawk VTAC and it is light and strong but I would not take it as a woods hatchet but more as a search and rescue/combat sort of thing.

Gransfors Bruks are spoken of very highly here and are on my list to get eventually. Especially the Mini which might suit you best as a backpacker.

Hatchets I have and prefer right now Gerber and Wetterlings. Both are values for the money. Gerber handle is hollow super plastic and feels lighter to me.

Some advantage of Hawk over hatchet-usually lighter in weight with a narrower blade that slices into wood better and the ability to field improvise a handle if it breaks.

Handle feels too small for prolonged chopping on a hawk to me though and I prefer a hatchet.

Good luck
 
People seem to go gaga over Gransfors-Brüks, but i can't give any first hand experience. I have a Coleman hatchet that you can get for about $5 at Wal-Mart that I use for yard work and tinkering purposes and it holds up pretty good. I also have an axe (I believe the label says 'Lehrman') that I got at the Home Depot a few years back. Weighs a metric ton, but it's almost unstoppable.
 
i know your asking about axe's, but a good kukri will do just about everyhting but fillet. also a good one will last a lifetime.
 
The Fiskar/Gerber "camp axe" (17 inch handle) is highly efficient thanks to knife blade grind and head speed possible with the lightweight head. I find it performs as well as a full sized axe for most chores. At about $34 it's a bargain. Last a lifetime? No axe is going to last you a lifetime ... unless you plan on dyin' young! You could buy three of these for the price of some of those brands you listed. (But they do have esthetic and historical value.)
For fun, try a Fiskar/Gerber "sport axe" (14 inch) handle very lightweight head (23 oz?). I was amazed what this inexpensive carry tool could do first time I used it. Had brought a big bow saw and a rechargeable circular saw to a neighbor's house to cut/bundle a 6" by 30 foot tree limb with lot'sa smaller limbs and foliage. (soft wood tree) Was in a hurry. Ended up doing whole job with the brand new, sharp little hatchet. Small and medium chips a'flying. A swift, "karate" chop at an angle went clean through smaller limbs up to 1 1/2 inch. Fun meter was pegged! Now, if Fiskar ever married the lightweight "sport" head to the longer, 17-inch "camp axe" handle, believe they'd have a great "tomahawk."
 
Try Wetterlings from a place with good customer service. Since Wetterlings axes are very variable, it is essential to have them handpicked by a knowledgeable seller.

I had very good experience regarding Wetterlings axes with both Ragnar at Ragweed Forge and with the folks at Wisemen Trading.

http://ragweedforge.com/ThrowingCatalog.html

http://www.wisementrading.com/knifeandsaw/camp_axes.htm
http://www.wisementrading.com/woodworking/gransfors_axe.htm

Ragnar's prices are higher but his customer service is second to none.
Wisemen have very nice prices on Gransfors Bruks too!
E-mail them and tell them your preferences, I am sure they can help you.
 
Hi, My son and I make small axes and hawks for a living. We both carry a shortened machete (that we made). These weigh less than a pound and are capable of doing just about everything on your list.

Weight is what it is all about in backpacking so properly designed, the machete will chop, slice scrape, fillet, etc. Even if you buy a cheapie it can be functional but you might need to carry a small file to keep it sharp.

Just a thought.
Jack
 
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