Spend my money on bushcraft items!

Parke1

Parke1

Joined
Feb 11, 2003
Messages
1,862
Hey all,

The wife and I just got our tax return, so now we have to celebrate. The majority of the return is going into savings, but we have decided to spend $150 each on "fun" stuff. I already popped $50 of it upgrading to a platinum subscription to BF, but now I'm not sure what to buy with the rest...

I already have two good 4" bushcraft blades, those being my modded RAT-3 and a Fallkniven F1. What I don't have is a good hatchet or camp saw... I have an old boy scout hatchet that was my Dad's that basically serves my needs, or so I think. Any recommendations on a saw or hatchet that might make my wildest dreams come true? If I don't find a saw or hatchet that I need, I'm thinking I might just blow all of the cash at countycomm on a bunch of paracord or something...

Thanks!
-Parke1
 
Hmm...

Very nice axes, but a bit more than I'm looking to spend. Perhaps I might get one eventually, but I'm thinking it might be a bit more prudent to get a Gerber/Fiskars hatchet and some sort of folding saw?

Thoughts?
-Parke1
 
My wife and I ususally do the same thing with our tax return, save most, spend some on something cool :D
If you go with a Fiskars saw and hatchet, you'll still have about $70 to spend on other stuff.
 
Some Suggestions-
Fiskars 14 inch hatchet and a Fiskars saw.
Or Wetterlings hatchet and a Opinel folding saw.
Actually i saw a lightweight fire-piston on ebay last night that looks cool. 40$ U.S.
You could always buy a new SAK/Multitool or a lock blade.
In the 100-150$ range you could buy a custom 110 from Buck.
Or you could also buy a bunch of the Ron Hood Woodswalker dvds!
Or a pile of Moras!
 
Well, I recently got a little Wetterlings hatchet, which is now my pride and joy (at least for a while anyway). This is my first decent quality axe. I was originally thinking of going with a Fiskars, but they just don't have much soul to them - about as much as a Stanley screwdriver I'd say. The Wett is perfectly balanced and just feels "right" in the hand - hard to describe but you know it when you feel it.
 
edc.com has neat stuff as well.
Those little keychain peanut lighters are great.
Also they have small compasses, miniflashlights, those waterproof keychain aluminum cylinders, Douk-Douks etc.
Bensbackwoods at Ebay has the Mors Kochanski Book and Wetterlings and Gransfors axes as well as moras.
 
Oooh, fun- spending someone else's money!

First off, the Fiskars hatchet is a great performer and very impressive value at around $20. I love mine and have to come up with reasons not to bring it along. It's very light, has good balance, and is absurdly durable. The steel takes a great edge.
P8030041.jpg


So...

Fiskars hatchet: $20
Extra paracord: $10
Firesteel: $15
GI canteen/
cup/pouch: $10
Mora 510: $10
Vic Farmer: $20
Belt/shoulder
pouch: $15 (http://cheaperthandirt.com/MOLLE302-19881-1964.html)

Wow, I've made a great list :D But with the RAT and F1 you could forgo the Mora, and get a different ruck instead of the shoulder/belt bag. (ex. http://cheaperthandirt.com/TRW138-961-514.html )
 
OOooohhhh, I really like the Wetterlings hatchets on Ben's Backwoods!

Is the 15 or 19 inch length recommended?

Thanks!
-Parke1
 
SpookyPistolero said:
Oooh, fun- spending someone else's money!

First off, the Fiskars hatchet is a great performer and very impressive value at around $20. I love mine and have to come up with reasons not to bring it along. It's very light, has good balance, and is absurdly durable. The steel takes a great edge.
P8030041.jpg


So...

Fiskars hatchet: $20
Extra paracord: $10
Firesteel: $15
GI canteen/
cup/pouch: $10
Mora 510: $10
Vic Farmer: $20
Belt/shoulder
pouch: $15 (http://cheaperthandirt.com/MOLLE302-19881-1964.html)

Wow, I've made a great list :D But with the RAT and F1 you could forgo the Mora, and get a different ruck instead of the shoulder/belt bag. (ex. http://cheaperthandirt.com/TRW138-961-514.html )
Click to expand...

Hey Spooky? Is that Cedar?
 
Parke1 said:
Hey all,

. What I don't have is a good hatchet or camp saw... I have an old boy scout hatchet that was my Dad's that basically serves my needs, or so I think. -Parke1
Click to expand...

If your "old boy scout" hatchet is a "Plumb" brand, you already have one helluva good hatchet. I've been using my Plumb Boy Scout hatchet for more than 50 years, and it just keeps on chopping and doing the chores I demand of it. After about 35 years, I had to put a new hickory handle on it... but that is okay, too. (And yes, I've owned and used others... but that old "Plumb" just keeps on ending up in my day pack.) :thumbup:

FWIW.

L.W.
 
Parke1 said:
OOooohhhh, I really like the Wetterlings hatchets on Ben's Backwoods!

Is the 15 or 19 inch length recommended?

Thanks!
-Parke1
Click to expand...
Both the 15 and 19 inchers have heads that are same weight and size.
A longer handle should be more comfortable to use for chopping but is not necessarily better for Bushcrafty things.
It boils down to which use has the higher priority for you.
Ray Mears and a lot of the Brit bushcrafters seem to recommend an axe/hatchet that is as long as the distance from your fingertips to the inside crook/bend of your arm.
For me that works out to 13-15 inches.
Also an axe/hatchet over 15 inches won't fit in a lot of small daypacks/backpacks.
My 12.5 inch Wetterlings and my 14 inch Fiskars fit in my small backpack, a 19 incher will not.

If i am using a big pack/going on a long trip i'd use my 24", or 26" inch Estwing Camp axe or 28" Fiskars.

For me the 24 incher seems about as short as i would want a full sized axe to be.

Ragnar at Ragweed Forge also sells Wetterlings.
He recommends the 19 incher over the 15, but i think his first choice is the 12.5 inch small hunter.
Its really a personal thing depending on what you will mostly use it for and your own size, arm length and how it "feels" to you etc etc.
 
Wabajack said:
You should look into the Kershaw folding saw :

http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=7421&strVarSel=&strCompare=

It's the same as the Bahco Laplander but with a different colour scheme and is more available in N. America. It's a great saw.
Click to expand...
Looks neat!
Hmmm have you looked at their shipping charges for Canada?
35$ minimum then 4$ for every additional pound!
And thats U.S.P.S standard "slow and cheap".
:eek:
Oh yeah you have to buy a minimum 100$ of merchandise per order, that does not include shipping cost.

Methinks i'll try to find an ebay seller instead.
Bensbackwoods shipped me an Wetterlings axe for only 9$, so i'm not paying 35$ to ship an 8 ounce saw.
 
Buy an Estwing hatchet and the Gerber extendable brush saw. If you still have money buy a Zebra pot or cook set. How about a nice ferro rod?
 
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