ive been looking for a decent axe at a fair price

woody d

woody d

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so i ordered a double bit Barco Kelley Michigan Axe last night. ive read feedback on their products, some good, some bad, so figured id ask the fellas here with the knowledge what yall thought about this axe? what i was looking for was something to clear some crap trees around my tree stand for this years deer season.
of course i got a chainsaw, but im really lacking when it comes to experience in doing it the old school way, and i would love to become a bit more self reliant.

this might sound silly to you guys lol, but i definitely consider myself an outdoorsman (long time hunter, fisherman, hiker and camping fanatic), and theres always more to learn...so here i am. ready to learn
 
it takes several lifetimes to wear out an axe nowadays.

nothing wrong with self reliance.

a hatchet would be handy.

all good

buzz
 
I've never handled a Barco, but I bet it'll be a fine axe after a little edge work. If I were going to get one axe for this type of purpose I would probably have gone a little smaller. For instance, the Council boy's axe as mentioned above. Personally, I'd pick a vintage double bit cruiser on a 28-30" handle. That being said, a full size axe is a useful tool if you are careful to put accuracy before power.

I only hunt mule deer and never from a tree stand, so this may not apply...in the woods I hunt in, I would really hurt my chances of getting a deer into a specific area if I went in and rooted around chopping stuff up within a close time frame to my hunt. Like I said, our deer hunting is much different out here so take that for whatever it might be worth.

Take care,

Matt
 
The Barco is a good axe for the money - you did not make a bad decision. What size are the trees you are intending to fell? Large trees take experience and can be very dangerous to the uninitiated. Small trees would be more easily negotiated with a smaller tool...like the Council Tool boy's axe as posted already.
 
No offence intended but............ I find it funny that guys think nothing of dropping $130.00-$150.00 on a Spyderco folder, yet balk at the same for a very high quality axe.
 
upnorth said:
No offence intended but............ I find it funny that guys think nothing of dropping $130.00-$150.00 on a Spyderco folder, yet balk at the same for a very high quality axe.
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Just depends on what guys your talking about, I guess. This guy wouldn't be caught dead with a spyderco.
 
upnorth said:
No offence intended but............ I find it funny that guys think nothing of dropping $130.00-$150.00 on a Spyderco folder, yet balk at the same for a very high quality axe.
Click to expand...

im sure i will find things i do and dont like about the axe, just like any tool. if it take more $$$ to get what i want, then i will spend the extra cash and it wont bother me a bit.
afterall, i didnt start with $150-$200 knives, but i worked my way up to them.

as for what im gonna be clearing, it will be trees varying in diameter from 6" to maybe 10". did i buy too much axe for the job? lol
 
Thats a fairly substantial tool for 6" trees :) Don't sweat the money comment. No one is trying to be mean, it is true that guys will go out and drop $200 on a folder, but want a "good" axe for $35. Kinda silly, but I think part of that is because the folder is something that is carried everyday and most aren't fortunate enough to carry an axe every day. For your purposes, the axe you purchased is fine. As you become acquainted with it and its uses, limitations, etc you will elvolve and so will your tool preferences. Before long, you won't think a thing about dropping $200 on a quality tool. By the way, my most common EDC is a Spyderco Gayle Bradley...and i love it.
 
Acetylene said:
Before long, you won't think a thing about dropping $200 on a quality tool.
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I don't have any issue with spending $200 on a quality tool. But I would never spend that much on an axe when an axe just as good or better can be had for $20 or $30 (including the cost of a new handle) and an hour of my time. If my time was worth $175/hour then I might feel differently about it.
 
Acetylene said:
Don't sweat the money comment. No one is trying to be mean, it is true that guys will go out and drop $200 on a folder, but want a "good" axe for $35. Kinda silly, but I think part of that is because the folder is something that is carried everyday and most aren't fortunate enough to carry an axe every day. QUOTE]

No, I wasn't trying to be mean, thanks. My point was just a personal observation more than anything. This summer I was choking at paying $130.00 for a G. B. small forest. Then I realised that I have payed more for a folding knife so why the hesitation ? I do believe that my point is food for thought though fellas. This is the stye called my car trunk, in need of its third cleaning this year. As you can see the last axe that I owned was a big generic thing that I grabbed on sale at some hardware store years ago. I also can't toss it because it is still quite usefull for splitting.
IMG_5105.jpg
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I agree with both of you. A choice find at a yard sale, a grinding wheel/flapper, a belt sander and some elbow grease can yield a very nice quality tool for just a few dollars and I have done this many times. I am bidding on a vintage hewing axe on the bay right now. I also agree, however, that an appreciation for fine tools is justification enough to spend the money on one - assuming you have it, of course. It just seems to be a natural progression of ones hobbies. I caught many fish with a "fishing pole" from Walmart when I was a kid. Now I have a Sterling flats boat with all the accessories, I use G Loomis rods and Shimano Stradic reels and guess what? I don't catch that many more fish, but I enjoy the heck out of my hobby and the sweeter gear makes it more enjoyable for me at least.
 
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