Review request- TOPS axe

fandorin · Mar 20, 2003

Can anyone provide a review or an opinion on these
http://www.topsknives.com/products_pages/productdetail/broadaxe.htm
I am considering purchasing the axe for summer camping

Cliff Stamp · Mar 20, 2003

Buy a Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet for less than a third the price and many times the performance in regards to chopping ability, cutting ability and overall versatility. A wide flat edge like on the TOPS axe both limits cutting ability (no belly), lower the raw penetration on chopping (and overall lower cutting ability) and raises shock transfer. The very low shallow grind and then full stock thickness both raises shock and induces binding. That hole also looks very uncomfortable for anything but the lightest cutting, regardless of how much radius work has been done you are still gripping around quarter inch steel of a small diamater.

-Cliff

jeyr · Mar 20, 2003

I agree the gransfors is a much better functioning axe, and at the price much easier to afford, it is also very comfortable belt carry tool

RL · Mar 20, 2003

Originally posted by Cliff Stamp
Buy a Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet for less than a third the price and many times the performance in regards to chopping ability, cutting ability and overall versatility. A wide flat edge like on the TOPS axe both limits cutting ability (no belly), lower the raw penetration on chopping (and overall lower cutting ability) and raises shock transfer. The very low shallow grind and then full stock thickness both raises shock and induces binding. That hole also looks very uncomfortable for anything but the lightest cutting, regardless of how much radius work has been done you are still gripping around quarter inch steel of a small diamater.

-Cliff

Buy this Lightfoot, it looks cooler

You can check mine out at the Canadian Knifemaker's Guild show (or the pre-show) here in Toronto next month

RL

fandorin · Mar 23, 2003

Robert, that Lightfoot looks very cool. However it seems more like a fighting hatchet than a chopping tool. I also would expect a high price from Lightfoot. How much is it? What is the steel?

RL · Mar 23, 2003

Hi fandorin,

I tried sending you an email but it bounced...could you drop me a line at rlaufer@sympatico.ca ??

Thanks,
RL

fandorin · Mar 29, 2003

Cliff,
How would you compare Gransfors Brooks Hatchet to khukuri as a camping tool in terms of chopping ability and versatility?

Cliff Stamp · Mar 31, 2003

fandorin :

How would you compare Gransfors Brooks Hatchet to khukuri as a camping tool in terms of chopping ability and versatility?

There is an extended commentary on that issue towards the end of the following review :

http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sstamp/knives/18_ang_khola.html

-Cliff