sn or wetterlings

Bige610

Bige610

Joined
Jan 26, 2009
Messages
472
Im on the fence about getting a decent axe. my fiskars 14in just doesnt cut it when im in the woods up north and there is a lot of hardwood. Im thinking about getting a snow and nealley or a wetterlings. I would love a gb but they cost a little to much. Which ones would you recomend for camping. i like the 24in but dont know if that would be too big. I cant seem to find a place around here that sells any decent axes so im going to have to order online. and is gransfur burks really worth the extra 50 buks. thanks

erik
 
I also had Brian Andrews of Off the Map Outfitters reprofile my S&N 24 inch axe. I love that axe. It can out chop my cheap stock axe (full size) from the local hardware store.
 
thats the one i had my eye on but wasnt sure on the size either the 18 or the 24. im not sure which to choose
 
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i dont know its a toss up between the snow and nealley and the small forest axe
 
the 20 inch large hunters axe by wetterlings is great and only 60$canadian so you will get it cheaper. If your packing it's all the axe you will need with a folding saw. Gransfors are great but can't justify the price when you try wetterlings, fit and finish is a little rougher but you are going to use it so who cares.
 
I've been eyeing the S&N 24" Hudson Bay Camper for awhile, and have handled one at my favorite local outfitter store. It seems a good size; more length than a hatchet, but not by much.
 
Bige610 said:
i dont know its a toss up between the snow and nealley and the small forest axe
Click to expand...

I have all of them, so I will give you my opinion, and you can do what you want with it :D

Pen Bay versus Hudson Bay. They are the same head (size, shape and weight). The 24" handle gives you an amazing amount more power over the 18" Pen Bay or even the 19" SFA. So, as far as what the axe CAN do, the bigger one is better.

However, you have to pair that with "will I have it with me?" If the axe is too big for you to take where you are going and stays home, than it is pretty useless.

One nice thing about the Pen Bay is that it will fit inside a normal day pack. That can be a big plus in certain situations. And don't get me wrong, it is plenty axe to do a lot of work with. But, the bigger one makes some things easier.

Now, S&N versus GB...... You are comparing apples to oranges. They feel completely different. The GB comes screaming sharp, and setup with good forward edge cutting geometry. But, that is it. It ends there. But, obviously that is enough to make them extremely popular with folks, probably because they have not used a properly setup axe before. The rest of the GB head shape is not that great for making it a good "all around axe." I know people are going to claim they do this and that with it, but it is very poor for splitting and batoning. Yet, you still can do it. Because of the lighter, and more nimble head, the GB is also more suited towards lighter "limbing" duties.

But, for me, I want want my all around axe to chop, split, cut and limb, in that order. I feel that a properly setup S&N does that better than the GB. I mean, I have dozens of axes laying around here and I know which ones go into the woods with me, and which ones stay home.

I also feel that the wetterlings face the same head geometry drawbacks as the GB. They will also require setting up the cutting edge. GB is the only axe I know of that takes care of that for you.

Now, 95% of getting the best performance out of an axe is to setup the forward cutting edge. You can do that yourself to just about any axe, and you might want to play with doing it to cheapies and an experiment.

Also, realize my priorities might be different than yours, and could lead you to the GB. That is just my take on all of them.

B
 
alirght ill try a snow and nealley. Maybe ill get the gb wildlife hatchet for limbing and smaller task. this fiskars just upsets me to no end though. the edge retention on it is horrible.
 
Brian is right about the GB and Wetterlings. I have them, and I think they're specialized limbing axes. Which is alright because that's usually what I'm doing with them.

But I've ordered a modified, double-bit S&N and am really looking forward to taking it out for a spin.
 
Brian Andrews said:
I feel that a properly setup S&N does that better than the GB.
Click to expand...

Just to be clear, are you referring to the S&N Hudson Bay-style axe head or the S&N "Our Best"-style axe head?

How does the S&N Penobscot/Hudson Bay axe head (I think they're the same head) work for splitting? It would seem that the handle near the head - would get in the way.
 
Brian,

What is is about the Wetterlings and GBs that leave them lacking?

What deficiencies were you alluding to, in your post?

Marion
 
Brian Andrews said:
I have all of them, so I will give you my opinion, and you can do what you want with it :D

Pen Bay versus Hudson Bay. They are the same head (size, shape and weight). The 24" handle gives you an amazing amount more power over the 18" Pen Bay or even the 19" SFA. So, as far as what the axe CAN do, the bigger one is better.

However, you have to pair that with "will I have it with me?" If the axe is too big for you to take where you are going and stays home, than it is pretty useless.

One nice thing about the Pen Bay is that it will fit inside a normal day pack. That can be a big plus in certain situations. And don't get me wrong, it is plenty axe to do a lot of work with. But, the bigger one makes some things easier.

Now, S&N versus GB...... You are comparing apples to oranges. They feel completely different. The GB comes screaming sharp, and setup with good forward edge cutting geometry. But, that is it. It ends there. But, obviously that is enough to make them extremely popular with folks, probably because they have not used a properly setup axe before. The rest of the GB head shape is not that great for making it a good "all around axe." I know people are going to claim they do this and that with it, but it is very poor for splitting and batoning. Yet, you still can do it. Because of the lighter, and more nimble head, the GB is also more suited towards lighter "limbing" duties.

But, for me, I want want my all around axe to chop, split, cut and limb, in that order. I feel that a properly setup S&N does that better than the GB. I mean, I have dozens of axes laying around here and I know which ones go into the woods with me, and which ones stay home.

I also feel that the wetterlings face the same head geometry drawbacks as the GB. They will also require setting up the cutting edge. GB is the only axe I know of that takes care of that for you.

Now, 95% of getting the best performance out of an axe is to setup the forward cutting edge. You can do that yourself to just about any axe, and you might want to play with doing it to cheapies and an experiment.

Also, realize my priorities might be different than yours, and could lead you to the GB. That is just my take on all of them.

B
Click to expand...

Brian got to it before me, but I share the same feeling.

If your looking for a Hardwood axe, the GB isn't for you, so don't worry about it. Its head is too thin, and just over all the axe is not designed for it, it however excels with soft woods, and liming.

The wetterlings would be my choice, and it is my choice for about two years now, its my go to axe, at 19" (LHA model) its perfect for lashing to a pack, or what ever you feel like doing with it, but the head is where its at on the sucker.
Its thicker head really gives it that little more umph in hardwoods and serious wood working, not this into to say that GB wont work for you, because it will, but Personally the wetterlings has just done everything I've ever needed.

Some photos for ya.
P3230006.jpg

P3230004.jpg

P3230003.jpg
 
I was on the fence trying to decide just like you. I still haven't made my purchase but I have made my decision. I am going with the SN. The final deciding factor for me was that it is US made. Hope that helps.
 
Bige610 said:
alirght ill try a snow and nealley. Maybe ill get the gb wildlife hatchet for limbing and smaller task. this fiskars just upsets me to no end though. the edge retention on it is horrible.
Click to expand...

For a good time, ask Brian about his feelings on Fiskars axes. :D:D
 
I don't have a Wetterling ax but do have serveral GB's and S&N's. I find the GB Wildlife and Small Forest Ax are very sharp so you can do feather sticks and notching, as well as splitting small wood. I only have limbs to maybe 2" in diameter plus oak firewood. They work fine on small stuff but they cannot split the big pieces of oak.

I have a Pen Bay and Hudson Bay S&N ax. They do just fine on the oak. Not easy but they do get the job done. They are not as sharp, but have the heft to split.

I am told the Pen Bay and the Hudson Bay share the same head. From the pictures you can see they are very similar but not the same. The shorter Pen Bay is on the right. Interestingly the Pen Bay weighs 40 ozs and the Hudson Bay weighs 41 ozs. The GB SF weighs 34 ozs.

I bought the Pen Bay first and Brian did a polish finish on it. The Hudson Bay came with a satin finish. If you are buying a S&N be sure to get the modified one from Brian. If I were to keep only one of the S&N's, I would keep the Hudson Bay as it is easier for me to use and weighs virtually the same.

IMG_0342.jpg


IMG_0344.jpg
 
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