The Axe/Hatchet as a Bush Tool

River Bear said:
A great tool of course but I think keeping it on you is the issue. Poo hits the fan and you have your knife on your belt. You don't have that with an axe.
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Sorry for posting another pic and cluttering up the thread, but like they say, a picture is worth a thousand words...

axepc.jpg


My axe doesn't leave my belt in the woods. I think this picture is the definition of SHTF, as well. I am incapable of making fire or shelter with a belt knife in this weather. Axe? It's doable.
 
Wow this got a little out of hand!

Everyone, this thread is an attempt to persuade the uninformed on the versatility of the axe, and to be an argument as to why I would love to see ESEE make an axe.

The axe is not the end all be all, but I think all of us that like to spend time in the bush should be skilled in one, and if you are, then you know how valuable a tool it is.

My hatchet rides on my belt. It comes with me backpacking, dayhiking, etc. It is more capable than any knife I own. I'd leave my ESEE-4 at home before I left my hatchet at home.

Those pictures op there are no joke. Even the small axes and hatchets are better at chopping than my Junglas, and better at carving than a small knife. Amazing tools in the right hands.

Sometimes it's all about fun though, which is why I take my Junglas out just as much. When it comes to utility in my environment, the hatchet or axe is the best, hands down. No argument.

JGON
 
I've got a Gransfors Bruks mini, and I love it. Definitely agree that hatchets are an essential outdoors tool. I don't think it's really necessary for ESEE to make a hatchet, though. There are a lot of other great companies out there that fill that niche. In my opinion, ESEE should stick to what it kicks ass at - making great knives.
 
TheLastDaze said:
I completely disagree...I will agree in 'some' conditions an axe prevails but to make a blanket statement claiming it is 'NOT' possible is ludicrous..
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I don't wish to get my flame on but... Within context he just said chopping down a medium to large size tree is the domain of an axe... I have to say he's pretty well right. The only other tool would be a good size saw.

God bless,
Adam
 
I've gotta echo some of the others in here. ESEE seems to like to fill holes either no one else is filling, or where they can make a better product than what's already out there at that price point.

Wetterlings, Bruks, and snow and neely have got axes basically nailed. I can't imagine a design that isnt covered that would be survival useful, or see some hole in head style offerings. And it's not like the lite machete, where there is some lack of well- handled axes.
 
NothingCoherent said:
My axe doesn't leave my belt in the woods. I think this picture is the definition of SHTF, as well. I am incapable of making fire or shelter with a belt knife in this weather. Axe? It's doable.
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You need a bigger belt knife :)

I like axes.... a lot. But anyone who's taken apart a tree knows there's a thousand ways to do it.


And a saw and anyway to split is going to be the best way to get to dry wood. Axe, knife, machete.... anything to pull the sides off a sawed piece.
 
Mannlicher said:
I'm sorry, and I don't want to sound disrespectful, but your calling a GB ax 'high priced ($100+), in a forum where the knives we buy and discuss are all at that price point or "+", struck me as funny.
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see my post, #36. basically, if i end up using it a lot then $120 is dirt cheap. but if it's stuck in the garage for the rest of my life after 20-30 swings...then that's throwing money away. tell you what, if i buy one, use it once or twice in a hike and i end up not liking it, will you buy it from me at 80% + s&h? :D


JGON said:
Wow this got a little out of hand!

Everyone, this thread is an attempt to persuade the uninformed on the versatility of the axe, and to be an argument as to why I would love to see ESEE make an axe.

The axe is not the end all be all, but I think all of us that like to spend time in the bush should be skilled in one, and if you are, then you know how valuable a tool it is.

My hatchet rides on my belt. It comes with me backpacking, dayhiking, etc. It is more capable than any knife I own. I'd leave my ESEE-4 at home before I left my hatchet at home.

Those pictures op there are no joke. Even the small axes and hatchets are better at chopping than my Junglas, and better at carving than a small knife. Amazing tools in the right hands.

Sometimes it's all about fun though, which is why I take my Junglas out just as much. When it comes to utility in my environment, the hatchet or axe is the best, hands down. No argument.

JGON
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jumpmonkey said:
+1 This has turned into a Grade-A thread highjacking.

God bless,
Adam
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nah. so far no one has crossed the line yet and started insults. if everyone keeps it up and stays within the line i think it's still a useful thread.


Dizwolf said:
And it's not like the lite machete, where there is some lack of well- handled axes.
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mmm...orange g10 handled axes :D
 
JV3 said:
nah. so far no one has crossed the line yet and started insults. if everyone keeps it up and stays within the line i think it's still a useful thread.
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I don't think we need to cross the line to insults in order to highjack a thread. The thread was started with a given intent and purpose. That purpose has been perverted into something quite different.

God bless,
Adam
 
I ordered a husquarna mini hatchet for about 35$, still not arrived. I think some folks prefer hatchets more than other tools for processing wood, and i think they needs could be filled with an ESEE axe or hatchet.Not beause ESEE could produce better hatchet than for example gransfors, just because they could figure out a package with a lot of innovations, for example a good belt sheath which i never saw for a hatchet, or a mini camp\survival\ kit for it. I may wrong, but i think people would pay 100$ on a hatchet rahter than for example 60$ on a matchete for woodland enviroment.

Jungle is of course different but i dont havea jungl e in my 2000 mile neighborhood.
 
jumpmonkey said:
I don't think we need to cross the line to insults in order to highjack a thread. The thread was started with a given intent and purpose. That purpose has been perverted into something quite different.

God bless,
Adam
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see a quote from jgon below. the reason/s why esee isn't going to make their own axe in the near future has already been answered...we're now discussing the versatility of an axe, part 1 of 2 why jgon started this thread.

on a side note, as of now there's no knives out there that i want so i might very well pick up an axe in the coming weeks just to see for myself first hand. from my point of view, jgon's thread is working on me at least.

JGON said:
Everyone, this thread is an attempt to persuade the uninformed on the versatility of the axe, and to be an argument as to why I would love to see ESEE make an axe.
JGON
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JV3,

FWIW I'd suggest a wetterlings. Good quality, good price. Figure out which one you want and check Smokey Mountain Knife Works and see if they have it (They only really list handle sizes though...:rolleyes:) They seem to have the cheapest prices.

God bless,
Adam
 
ESEE- PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make a hatchet!

Then ALL of my outdoor fun money will go to you guys and I would MUCH prefer that.
 
NothingCoherent said:
axepc.jpg
I am incapable of making fire or shelter with a belt knife in this weather. Axe? It's doable.
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Please do not take this as an insult:

We could show you how. As I would be open to learning how to do it with an axe.

But as to the original purpose of this thread, yeah ESEE would make an amazing product. As a plea to ESEE, we ask enough and they listen. This is not some boot lickin fan boy tripe. They do. So let'em recover from all the shots at SHOT and then let them build the Omnipotent multi-tool-axe-kahnife. ; )
 
jgon- your saying that a hatchet is better at carving than a small knife? dude i agree with nearly everything youve said so far about axes, but that one doesnt sound right to me
 
Okay I'm starting to get curious, I've had nothing but cheap hatchets in the past.. I have little experience with them over the years, and in that time have realized 'axes' can be extremely dangerous.. hatchets not as much, I chopped down a 6" diameter oak about a month ago, was comparing it to a 14" bolo, the axe digs deeper but on the same token takes more effort to do so.. While cutting this down my head came off.. (dangerous) Question for those who have much experience with the hatchet, what do you do if the head comes loose in the bush or at the worst time..?? We know the obvious, better question is what can be done to prevent it?

I must admit this has my juices going;

Hand forged from Swedish quality steel alloyed from iron, carbon, silicon, manganese and vanadium. Hand forging uses presses that deliver many blows, making the axe edges stronger than if they were drop forged. The special axe steel alloy makes high quality hardening possible. After grinding, hardening and tempering, the Wetterling axes keep a Rockwell hardness of 57-58. These are the main reasons the Wetterling axes hold a keen edge with good "sting" longer than most axes. The handles are lathed from American hickory. The best stress capacity and resistance to blows make hickory the wood of choice for good axe handles. 12 1/2" overall. 5 1/4" axe head with 2 3/4" cutting edge. Weighs 1.2 Pound Head. Made in Sweden.
 
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I'd say carve a wooden wedge (or 2) and hammer them in at the head. Just my guess though.
 
While were grinding axes, my dad has an old Snow and Neally Hudson Bay axe head. If handled properly how would think compare to say a wetterlings or the like?

Thanks
 
nutnfancyfan said:
jgon- your saying that a hatchet is better at carving than a small knife? dude i agree with nearly everything youve said so far about axes, but that one doesnt sound right to me
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For rough carving, an axe with the right technique can whittle and carve much faster than a knife due to the concentration of weight at the head of the axe or hatchet. The picture below shows how I hold the axe when carving, which puts my hand directly behind the weight of the head and directly above my work, making carving effortless. Obviously, smaller axes or hatchets are idea for this type of work. For fine carving or whittling, a knife is still boss.

CIMG0125.jpg


I thought this was incredibly odd too, nutnfancyfan, when I first heard somebody say this on this video below, but after I tried it I realized that shaping wood with an axe takes literally 1/3rd of the time and energy. Again, these are amazing tools that we should all get to know better.

[youtube]dFpZJ2ICR5M[/youtube]

Okay I'm starting to get curious, I've had nothing but cheap hatchets in the past.. I have little experience with them over the years, and in that time have realized 'axes' can be extremely dangerous
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Your experiences with axes and hatches are just like many individuals' out there... a cheap axe or hatchet is worse than a cheap knife. They are tools that require a well thought out design in many ways to function well. My Gransfors Bruks has a 25 year warranty, one of the best in the business... A good axe or hatchet and you won't have to worry about the head coming off.

Also, a properly used axe is used on appropriately sized timber, and used with the weight of the head as an advantage. All that is needed is the inertia of the head to cut. It's more about rhythm than the strength of the swing.

I'm thoroughly convinced on the axe and hatchet as a wilderness tool when the environments and needs of the user are appropriate.

There are a ton of vids out there as well on axe carving, axe use, etc.

JGON
 
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