looking to pick up a pack axe, trying to decide between

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rxavage

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Aug 16, 2014
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looking to pick up a pack axe, trying to decide between the council tool woodcraft or the velvicut hudson. also, which length is more versatile, the 19" or 24"? I don't have much experience with an axe, except for splitting campfire wood on occasion, i have much more with a chainsaw but that isn't as practical in this circumstance. thanks.
 
I'll go along with Lieblad's opinion. Nice to see someone choose 'made in America' and glad you decided to go with an axe and not a honking big knife or a hatchet. Ability for two handed use does make a difference.
 
pack axe is a pretty open for interpretation term, esp on this forum. Pack axe to someone who knows vs someone who doesn't will result in 2 totally different set of opinions. You don't give any insight as to what you will be doing with it, spending range, or quality measures, so that hurts for a proper recommendation perspective.

Possibilities are endless. Perhaps a Wetterlings Hudson Bay, that doesn't meet the typical American Hudson Bay could work. Or a Council boys axe could possibly work, but would be above the 24" length you mention, if that is an absolute for you. Or a Ebay/flea market find could work, they are all the rage by the "restorers" at this time.

Let us know.
 
I plan on use it for fire wood and other things an axe would perform better at than a knife while camping. I don't plan on using it to process fire wood to heat a home or anything. I would like it to be packable but still capable of felling a tree if necessary.
 
I carry a 3 lb Kelly Flint Edge Connecticut pattern. Most wont carry that.

I would probably go with the Wetterlings Hudson Bay - I havent found anything yet to beat it. I reviewed it a few months ago - you can check that out. Again, the possibilities are endless really.
 
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I used this on my last camping trip. 1.25 lbs head on a 19" handle. More than capable for real world camp chores. It was able to fit inside my 50L pack along with all of my other gear and performed well including chopping through an 8" section of seasoned oak. Have a couple more of these heads with plans to try out some longer handles, 22-24" but the 19" handle worked fairly well to be honest.
 
rxavage said:
I plan on use it for fire wood and other things an axe would perform better at than a knife while camping. I don't plan on using it to process fire wood to heat a home or anything. I would like it to be packable but still capable of felling a tree if necessary.
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That's good information. For that I'd choose the Velvicut Hudson. If I were hiking far and trying to shed weight I would consider either a claw hatchet (most useful) or a Fiskars hatchet (lightest). It also depends on how many people you're hiking with and can distribute the weight among.
 
My larger pack axe is a 3 lb Maine pattern, the other is an old socketed Urafors Bruks 900 g head on a 21" birch handle. All depends on what I want to do when I'm out. The bigger axe is great for doing...well...axe things. Felling, bucking, splitting, etc. whereas the Urafors is a great little trail-clearing/canoe axe.
 
thanks gents. I went with the velvicut Hudson Bay 19", which I think will be sufficient.
 
rxavage said:
thanks gents. I went with the velvicut Hudson Bay 19", which I think will be sufficient.
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19" is a good length, so is 23-24". 19 is a little more "packable", but the 24" will get you more swinging power.

@hacked, thats a great looking handle, did you make that?
 
Grimalkin said:
@hacked, thats a great looking handle, did you make that?
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Thanks but I didn't make it. It's a House Handle 19" House Axe handle. I reshaped it and cut down the tongue to fit a hatchet eye. I do have some maple ready to go so I can make one the next go around though.
 
My main axe is the Wetterlings Bushman (shown on top) and it's 21 inches long. Feels great but I think a 19 inch handle would feel just as good.

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so the axe I ordered just arrived and there is some splitting on the top that I'm not sure about.
vZflUpt.jpg



what's yall opinion on this? also I could've went with the 24" comfortably.
 
This is what happens just about every time you use a secondary metal wedge. It's also one of the reasons most of us don't use them. That said it shouldn't hurt anything, especially in the near future.
 
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