Just for fits and giggles !

To those of you that chose an Axe--

Why???

Remember it's your ONLY edged tool.

You can't dig or pry with it--and skinning with a full size axe,,,???

If the Wooden handle breaks--then what>???

What can an Axe do that I'm missing????

Thanks for your input
 
William M, a fair question, but if this was your only edged tool why use it (your knife) for digging or prying? It would seem you could easily make a digging stick or pry bar with either a knife or an axe and not risk damaging the edge or blade.
 
WILLIAM.M said:
To those of you that chose an Axe--

Why???

Remember it's your ONLY edged tool.

You can't dig or pry with it--and skinning with a full size axe,,,???

If the Wooden handle breaks--then what>???

What can an Axe do that I'm missing????

Thanks for your input
Click to expand...


Well, admittedly I don't actually own a GB Scandi axe, though I do have a hardware store brand axe that's about the same size as one, so I can relate to the feel of it.


Not sure what I'd need to pry in the Alaskan wilderness. I don't think I've ever pried anything out in the bush, short of getting some fatwood off a stump, which could be done with an axe easy enough.

Digging, I could shape out a digging stick pretty easy.

Plus, this is my only edged tool, no one said I couldn't bring a shovel and a crobar:D

Skinning, well, there isn't a ton of knife use involved in skinng small game, and large game, well, you could do it, but it'd probably look like you did it with an axe:p.


Mid winter in the Alaskan wilderness, I imagine most of my time would be spent collecting and processing firewood, and building and improving my shelter, which an axe is ideal for. Small, bushcrafty tasks like trap making and such would be more difficult for sure, but could be done.

If the handle breaks? You could use the head to shape out a workable handle.
 
Alaska? Becker BK9. It was between the 9 and the 2, and the 2 almost won out, but I am going to have alot of heavy lifting, and the 9 beats the 2 in chopping. The 2 can do it, but, I would build a good sweat doin' it, and in Alaska, that ain't good. The 9 I can take my time, do it right with the least amount of effort. Making traps would be more difficult, as well as fine work, but I can manage just fine.

Good post, Pit. Its just fun to think about.

Moose
 
Wetterlings 19 incher ( almost the same as the small forest axe from transfers) I can do anything I might need to do with this axe... When I'm out I usually carry this and a small pukko and a leather man in the pack that rarely sees use.
 
I would love to have an axe in that situation but, I think I would have to go with my Chris Reeve Shadow 1.
Allan
 
gb hunters axe, good size and little more suited to processing game with the round face.
 
I am taking either the Busse B11 or a CS Gurkha Kukri.

Leaning toward the Khuk in case the Abominable Snowbeast decides to grace me with a silky white full length robe and muk luks.
 
6shooter said:
Well, admittedly I don't actually own a GB Scandi axe, though I do have a hardware store brand axe that's about the same size as one, so I can relate to the feel of it.


Not sure what I'd need to pry in the Alaskan wilderness. I don't think I've ever pried anything out in the bush, short of getting some fatwood off a stump, which could be done with an axe easy enough.

Digging, I could shape out a digging stick pretty easy.

Plus, this is my only edged tool, no one said I couldn't bring a shovel and a crobar:D

Skinning, well, there isn't a ton of knife use involved in skinng small game, and large game, well, you could do it, but it'd probably look like you did it with an axe:p.


Mid winter in the Alaskan wilderness, I imagine most of my time would be spent collecting and processing firewood, and building and improving my shelter, which an axe is ideal for. Small, bushcrafty tasks like trap making and such would be more difficult for sure, but could be done.

If the handle breaks? You could use the head to shape out a workable handle.
Click to expand...

I was under the impression that you do not have ANYTHING but one edged tool

You are DROPPED off--with that one tool--in the Mid Winter of Alaska

I could make an large blade do what an Axe would do--but it would take longer.

If you get injured-Then what,.??

I can use my knife left handled--and I do at times to see what I can and can not do.

I do not think any digging stick would work in that situation.(remember it's mid winter in Alaska)

An AXE would chop well--and that's all.

I could get a shelter put up faster with an Axe-then what??

IMHO an axe by iteslf is too much of trade off
 
WILLIAM.M said:
To those of you that chose an Axe--

Why???

Remember it's your ONLY edged tool.

You can't dig or pry with it--and skinning with a full size axe,,,???

If the Wooden handle breaks--then what>???

What can an Axe do that I'm missing????

Thanks for your input
Click to expand...

I have no answer but thats a question I have been asking myself everytime an Axe v Choppa thread comes up.
 
An Axe would be a choice if I was practiced and proficient with it. My dad can do everything with one, but he has 30 years of experience with it. I do not, I have more experience with a big knife. (And I prefer a big knife anyway, as they are more fun)
 
i'll take any one of my 4" knives...i watched all the episodes of man vs. wild so i'm definitely a survival expert :eek::p

in all seriousness, if i was proficient with an axe i'll probably pick that one but since i'm not i'll take my junglas (or any 10" or bigger chopper with me). it takes a lot of effort to chop down enough wood for heat. skinning meat and filleting fish? forget that! i'll just hack off chunks of meat with fur and all and toss it into the fire and singe the fur off. i'm not finessing something if i'm barely able to survive...i'm going into caveman mode.
 
WILLIAM.M said:
I was under the impression that you do not have ANYTHING but one edged tool

You are DROPPED off--with that one tool--in the Mid Winter of Alaska

I could make an large blade do what an Axe would do--but it would take longer.

If you get injured-Then what,.??

I can use my knife left handled--and I do at times to see what I can and can not do.

I do not think any digging stick would work in that situation.(remember it's mid winter in Alaska)

An AXE would chop well--and that's all.

I could get a shelter put up faster with an Axe-then what??

IMHO an axe by iteslf is too much of trade off
Click to expand...

That's correct buddy. My original premise is that the knife/axe/saw is your ONLY tool. Sure you'd have the regular kit of clothing, PSK, Cooking pot/canteen and maybe even a tarp but definitely no Prybars,shovels, hammers, splitting wedges etc !:thumbup:
 
Big knife.. probably a busse, just because it is my one tool. If it breaks... I'm dead. Maybe a B11? Definitely I want a Res-C handle because of the cold and I would be doing a lot of chopping.

About Axe vs. Big Knife I find I have trouble splitting with an axe, especially down into kindling size. I don't have trouble with the medium sizes, but the really large long pieces, I get about 1/4-1/3 of the way through then the axe sticks... I can't really push it further except to baton the handle which is a bad idea. Also to william.m if the handle breaks on an axe you could feasibly use the bare head and/or the handle stub still attached to fashion a crude axe handle. Not ideal, but feasible. Just MHO though...
 
Well as for digging, it's the middle of winter your digging snow. You can use the axe to make a snow shovel. Prying, you have a 24-36 inch lever with an axe. Shelter and fire are your main objectives and that's faster with an axe. As for the little things like skinning and whittling, have you tried it with an axe? It's actually not that hard and you can get the job done well enough.
 
Shotgun said:
Well as for digging, it's the middle of winter your digging snow. You can use the axe to make a snow shovel. Prying, you have a 24-36 inch lever with an axe. Shelter and fire are your main objectives and that's faster with an axe. As for the little things like skinning and whittling, have you tried it with an axe? It's actually not that hard and you can get the job done well enough.
Click to expand...

We need to TEST this somehow.

I agree an Axe would be faster--but only at shelter construction.

Everything else-the knife would excel

IMHO...:D

and I would like to see someone skin a small game animal with an axe.

are there books showing this???
 
I would choose my Ontario sp-8. It chops well and is for me at least is reasonably handy for general cutting duties.
sharpthings.jpg
 
WILLIAM.M said:
We need to TEST this somehow.

I agree an Axe would be faster--but only at shelter construction.

Everything else-the knife would excel

IMHO...:D

and I would like to see someone skin a small game animal with an axe.

are there books showing this???
Click to expand...
Admittedly I'm not a hunter but by watching others process small game, there doesn't seem to be a lot of knife work. You basically make a slit and rip the skin off. I'm not saying you're going to prepare a gourmet meal, I'm saying you'll be able to use the axe to feed yourself. I would think if you're hungry enough, your teeth could do the job. :D
 
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