les stroud ax

kalama

kalama

Joined
Feb 27, 2008
Messages
1,228
i just got it today,its my first quality hatchet/ax i ever bought.my first impressions great quality tool,hand forged,a bit heavy,but well balanced,i like it,has a rustic look to it,feels great in the hand,would i pay $160 for another,yes i would.now i got to find the time to test this bad boy..
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Nice looking axe. I thought the new Fine Foresters Axe and the Les Stroud Axe were the same but obviously they aren't. I picked up a couple of the Fine Forest versions and while very similar in the bit the poll on your axe has a more pronounced "hammer" than the Fine forest version. The handle on the Fine Forest version is also slimmer with a more pronounced fawns foot and no lanyard hole.

I've always found the handle on the Wetterlings Axes too "fat" and usually spend some time at the shave horse slimming them down but the Fine Forest version is just about right as it come from the factory. If you don't mind sharing some info where did you purchase your axe and did the seller list it as the Les Stroud Axe??

Steve
 
Did the sheath on yours come snug or loose?

Mine kept falling off before I put a couple heavy stitches through the strap.
 
the ax came from les strouds online store in canada,,my cover is good has a little play but cant come off.
 
I am pretty torn between this and the Council Velvicut HB. They arent drastically different in price, or size for the most part.
I am trying to pay heed to Mors Kochanski's advice about length and weight for a all round axe.
The HB comes in a bit heavy but that allows deep penetration, the GB is lighter but also still has great geometry.
Both are just about the right length to be less dangerous and to fall at least close to the whole hand to armpit idea of haft length.

Anyone have any thoughts, or advice? I know I have asked about a few axes before, but at this point unless something very similar from a respected maker is coming out this year, these are my pool I am choosing from.
 
Silverthorn said:
I am pretty torn between this and the Council Velvicut HB. They arent drastically different in price, or size for the most part.
I am trying to pay heed to Mors Kochanski's advice about length and weight for a all round axe.
The HB comes in a bit heavy but that allows deep penetration, the GB is lighter but also still has great geometry.
Both are just about the right length to be less dangerous and to fall at least close to the whole hand to armpit idea of haft length.

Anyone have any thoughts, or advice? I know I have asked about a few axes before, but at this point unless something very similar from a respected maker is coming out this year, these are my pool I am choosing from.
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I have several of the Swedish Axe including the Forest Axe and the Fine Forest which is almost identical to the Les Stroud axe and they are great for bushcraft/camping if that is your intended use.

The Velvicut HB also allows you to "choke up" on the handle for finer tasks as do the Swedish Axes but the Velvicut HB is a much better chopper. For serious chopping the bit geometry on most of the Swedish Axes is to flat for my taste. They are fine for bushcraft and limbing but their flat bit gets stuck to easily in larger trees (especially softwood). If there is much chopping involved I would lean towards the Velvicut HB if you're buying new or a quality boys axe if buying used, i.e. something with a more convex bit geometry.

Steve
 
no contest Velvicut wins puting a known name to an axe =more cost
kalama im glad ya happy with what ya have but 160 for another :eek:
 
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