Me Needs A New Axe...Suggestions?

[Enluzenment]

What is everybody using these days for a camp axe/hatchet/hawk/whatever? Im in the market for something preferably <$50. I think we need to see a BK&T camp axe In all seriousness that seems like a logical move for the Becker line to me. I'd be excited to see/purchase that... oh well, one can dream...

 

[DJG097]

I've had the best luck with old axe heads that I've found or bought. Most of them still have plenty of life in them after they get cleaned up and re hung and sharpened.

 

[tobiism]

I am not joking when I say that I think the BK9 actually fills that role pretty well! Having said that I agree with the above poster that old axes make great tools. I have an old Collins European Felling axe that is 2 3/4lbs on a 28 inch handle. That thing CHOPS! I love it. The Fiskars axes are also bombproof, within your budget, comfortable and chop very, very well.

 

[xrangerx]

I agree, check locally at garage sales and whatnot and buy an old one (or just the head), put in a little elbow grease and get 'er back chopping! As for newer, I'd look at condor or estwing for under $50

 

[Padre Thomaso]

Take a look at Fiskars axes. I have been using one hard and it has never let me down.

 

[Galeocerdoshark]

It's called the BK9

 

[Chris Larrikin]

I bought a Husqvarna hatchet here for $50 so it should be cheaper over there. I have no complaints about it at all. I did manage to get a notch in the blade at one point on some dry eucalyptus (from memory) but I think that's also partly because I accidentally thinned the metal behind the edge just a bit too much in sharpening. I've fixed that little issue and it cuts beautifully. I'm sure there are better things out there, but as far as value for money goes I'm very happy with it.

 

[trailbum]

Council tool boys axe, fiskars, Husqvarna.

 

[Irishgrouch]

I have had good luck with Council Tools. They aint fancy, but they are meant to be tools. US made too!

 

[LostViking]

Another vote for the Husqvarna Forest Axe. Probably over the $50.00 limit, but not by much.

 

[bsmith_shoot]

Flea markets and yard sales are great. You can get a good axe head for less than 10 bucks, and a new handle for around 15. Leaves you 25 to play around with.

 

[Chameleonbear]

I use a TMHawk

 

[tradewater]

Another vote for the Husqvarna Forest Axe. Probably over the $50.00 limit, but not by much.

And another vote for the Husky if you're buying new. A fine axe indeed. Like others have mentioned though, I'd check the yard sales, junk shops etc.
I found this Master Mechanic for $7 at a yard sale. USA made too.

 

[ironborn]

Personally, I've had bad luck with Fiskars products. The steel of the blade had a tendency to fold over (prob. poor heat treatment). However, there is something really gratifying to finding an old American made Axe head at a garage sale/flea market/farm sale/etc., cleaning it off, sharpening it, re-hanging it, and putting it back into use. Takes a little work, but you can have an Axe the quality of which will rival a new Granfors Bruks. Also, "Wranglerstar" a homesteader up in the Washington State Cascades, makes some great web videos on all sorts of subjects, Axes included.

 

[AddictedToGear]

If you can spend the money then I always recommend a Grands Forest Brux. Very quality axes and hatchets. For a less expensive route the Estwing is a decent hatchet and I would recommend it for the price.

 

[ironborn]

Forgot to mention a few names to keep an eye out for if you go looking for older American made Axes. Collins has already been mentioned, and Kelley True Temper made some excellent Axes. Here's my Collins 2 1/2 lb Axe:

 

[300Six]

If you have no experience with axes it's best to start by borrowing other people's or checking out yard sales. All you get with a expensive Yuppie new axe (see G-B) is 'greenhorn' stares from by-standers and a very high chance of theft if untended. I notice there are lots of Garant and Collins and off-shore cheapies out there these days. For $20-30 you can experiment with sharpening, weights and lengths and then put the losers out at yard sales once you get a better handle on what it is you really want or need.
Just my 0.02 worth of advice. I have dozens of different axes and have noticed over the years I only really use a pulp (often called a chainsaw axe) axe for cutting and a heavy head long handled one for splitting. Seems to me the comfort of the handles is what has mostly determined this. All the rest are gathering dust.

 

[upnorth]

The Fiskars axes are also bombproof, within your budget, comfortable and chop very, very well.

I have seen many fellows with the same view. I have hawks and keep a modded Cold Steel Rifleman in the car trunk, along with a cheap old beater axe. My better axes are put away unless I have a planned reason to use them. And you know, the stuff in my trunk works perfectly well for camp fires. The beater axe goes butter knife dull pretty fast though. I just keep a file in the back with them.

 

[Theknife]

I have a fiskars x15 (15x??) And it works great for everything I need. Well within your price range too.

 

[forester226]

I use a Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe or a GB Wildlife Hatchet, but these are a bit more expensive. Also have an Estwing Sportsmans Axe that is great and under $50. It pairs really well with a smaller knife like an F1 or Idun.