Tips/suggestions for heavy use camp axe

J

JFD

Joined
Nov 12, 2006
Messages
55
Well I am looking for a real heavy duty camp axe. It needs to weather well, as it will be mounted to my 4x4 truck in nasty weather and terain. Knowing me I will end up using it in many innapropriate manners. In short I need a reasonably priced axe that I can beat to hell and back; and not cry about the price when I do eventually have to replace it.

I was attracted to the gerber line of axes but I'm not too sure on the glassfilled nylon composite handles. They look like a reasonable choice for weathering, mounting on my rig and priced well.

Thoughts?
suggestions ?
Thanks
Jed
 
i have a Collin's AXE at my Hunting Camp, wooden handle, with the blue axe head, razor sharp.............it's been a good one.:D
 
I know about the fiskars but the gerber are pretty much the same (actually they are marked "fiskars" on the handle) except maybe (not sure) Gerber are stainless while fiskars are carbon.

JFD said:
I was attracted to the gerber line of axes but I'm not too sure on the glassfilled nylon composite handles.
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The handle works as described. I'm not aware of anyone having unintentionnaly broken one of those, and only a few have managed to break it intentionnaly.

Utility is not the best but is quite good.
 
IMO, get yourself a garden variety hardware store axe with a fiberglass handle. They are tough if nothing else. Take the time to rework the edge into a more usable (i.e. thinner) profile and go. For the harsh use you describe, that's what I'd do. Save the quality axes for those circumstances where you can give them the care they deserve.
 
Blue Sky, that not only sounds cheap and practical, but fun as well. It sounds like a great first project to break in my belt sander
 
Get a Russian made camp axe from Bud K. Cheap...like $17.00. I collect axes and hatchets from all over the world. These are NOT pretty but get used in Siberia so they have to be tough. Reprofile and paint/varnish the head. Watch the wedges and ad at least one steel one if there is not one in yours.

They look like a battle axe but sound like just what you need....the handle will most likely be birch coming out of Russia. I like a birch handle but if you dont that is easy to remedy.

On fiberglass handles....my personal experience is they rarely fail BUT when they DO fail they explode. They dont crack like wood. But I live in Michigan so the cold is probably a factor in that. Best of luck
 
Sorry it looks like they are sold out....I know a guy on Ebay sells them......I just got a new one from my Godfather last month when he came back from Moscow....I wish I was more help. Russian knives I can help you no problem....but I dont have a direct personal source for the axes YET. I am Irish but have strong ties with the RUssian community here in good ol' USA so I am working on it because I would like to carry them for my students. I will post a picture of my personal one either later tonight or tomorrow.....it is a carpenter's axe but most all the axe heads have the same shape....in Russia it seems to be the handle that distinguishes the purpose.
 
I've just begun to look at the ranger knives entry hawk, and if you're willing to spend the $$, it'll take all the abuse you can throw at it. It also cuts through cinder block, and in another forum someone describes cutting through the c-pillar of a Peugot car with the thing, edge undamaged.
It is pricey, but near-indestructible, so you won't ever have to replace it. I am ordering one to go with my camping rig. I've read that it's designed more for urban rescue, but i don't see any reason why it wouldn't make an excellent multipurpose tool in the backcountry, or anywhere else for that matter.
 
Thanks for the advice guys :thumbup: :thumbup:

Lookie what I ended up getting :D http://www.fiskars.com/US/Garden/Product+Detail?contentId=85475

I picked it up locally for $29. Looks and feels like it will do the job quite nicely.

It has a very nice edge on it already but I don’t really know the best profile or procedure to make it any better.

Can someone point me in the right direction (online article perhaps?) for putting the finishing edge on a new axe for n00bs? :foot: I am not that knowledgeable when it comes to axes.
Thanks
Jed
 
JFD said:
Thanks for the advice guys :thumbup: :thumbup:

Lookie what I ended up getting :D http://www.fiskars.com/US/Garden/Product+Detail?contentId=85475

I picked it up locally for $29. Looks and feels like it will do the job quite nicely.

It has a very nice edge on it already but I don’t really know the best profile or procedure to make it any better.

Can someone point me in the right direction (online article perhaps?) for putting the finishing edge on a new axe for n00bs? :foot: I am not that knowledgeable when it comes to axes.
Thanks
Jed
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I have the 14inch Gerber and it's a good axe for the money. The way I sharpened mine was to use the sandpaper mouse pad trick. Lay the axe down so that the 1/2 inch blade bevel lays flat and slowly work it to a burr on both sides. Then I take my spydie sharpmaker and give it a 20 degree micro bevel. Slowly but surely it's taking on a convexed edge. I'm a noob to hand sharpening and yet I was able to get the sucker shave sharp on my first attempt with this method. Of course I don't know how easy this will be with an axe that size.:(
 
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