Want a new midsize axe

SpookyPistolero

SpookyPistolero

Joined
Dec 13, 2005
Messages
6,105
Howdy folks-

I was wondering if I could get some axe advice. I'm hankering for a new chopper!

The two main ones that I use right now are my Fiskars hatchet (I like it for the weight) and my brian andrews mod'd S&N. The S&N has a good profile, but the head is something like 1.75lbs. It's effective but it's not something that I'm necessarily willing to haul into the woods.

I'm wanting something with a longer haft (maybe 24" or so?) and a lighter head (not sure on this, maybe 1.25lbs?).

Any thoughts are most welcome! Right now the two that come to mind are either the 1.3lb Oxhead with a new haft, or saving up and just getting a GB Small Forest Axe.

I'd also consider the Wetterlings, but I'm not really too interested in having to do much work to get the edge properly set (not good enough at axe maintenance for this frankly).

Any thoughts?
 
SpookyPistolero said:
Howdy folks-

I was wondering if I could get some axe advice. I'm hankering for a new chopper!

The two main ones that I use right now are my Fiskars hatchet (I like it for the weight) and my brian andrews mod'd S&N. The S&N has a good profile, but the head is something like 1.75lbs. It's effective but it's not something that I'm necessarily willing to haul into the woods.

I'm wanting something with a longer haft (maybe 24" or so?) and a lighter head (not sure on this, maybe 1.25lbs?).

Any thoughts are most welcome! Right now the two that come to mind are either the 1.3lb Oxhead with a new haft, or saving up and just getting a GB Small Forest Axe.

I'd also consider the Wetterlings, but I'm not really too interested in having to do much work to get the edge properly set (not good enough at axe maintenance for this frankly).

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

If you get the ox head do a review please i have been wanting to see a review for some time now
 
Well, the wetterlings would be my vote, what I can say is can you find one localy? I know when I got mine it was ok edge wise when I bought my new one, It didn't have to be modded, just sharpened.
 
i would go for the GB. i have one and i like it alot. but, i had sent it to siguy at one point for sharpening, and he did a little comparison between my GB and his wetterlings (which was the wetterligs version og my GB). he said the the main difference he noticed was in comfort during use. but he said that they chopped about the same. however, he had to work on his wetterlings to get it like that, and the wettterlings is a tad bulkier. so, maybe simon will pipe in with a little more info on the comparison.
 
as far as i know, the GB small forest axe is also a 1.75# head, but i could be wrong.

as far as what B said, it is true. counting stokes and bite depth, etc, both axes worked the same. they felt different, because of the slight difference in handle thickness and shape, but if you have a large grip you might prefer the beefier handle of the wetterling.

i have seen a couple of wetterlings now, and none of them have been that terrible. they are pretty hard though, so it would be difficult to file one down if there were any issues with them.

it's hard to suggest something between those two that you mentioned, as i find the 19" wetterlings (with a 1.75# head) to be the perfect compromise between chopping power and portability...

you might do well to buy something like a traditional hatchet (snow and nealley looks good) and put a longer handle on it. this would increase your leverage signifigantly while keeping the weight down.
 
spooky, if you do look into the wetterlings, there is a knife shop in northern kentucky that carries them so you could feel a few and get one with a better grind. if i am remembering right you are in louisville, so it might be a bit of a drive. but if you are interested, just let me know.
 
Thanks guys for the thoughts! Siguy, looks like that SFA has a 1.5lb head. Still a little more than desired but not as bad.

BarberFobic1992 said:
spooky, if you do look into the wetterlings, there is a knife shop in northern kentucky that carries them so you could feel a few and get one with a better grind. if i am remembering right you are in louisville, so it might be a bit of a drive. but if you are interested, just let me know.
Click to expand...

What/where is the shop? I'm in Lexington.
 
SpookyPistolero said:
Thanks guys for the thoughts! Siguy, looks like that SFA has a 1.5lb head. Still a little more than desired but not as bad.



What/where is the shop? I'm in Lexington.
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its up in newport (next to bellevue and fort thomas, my old stomping grounds) and, if you happen to be familiar with newport, its on monmouth street. even if you dont end up going for the wetterlings, i recomend stopping by, they have so many knives and other out door gear.
 
spooky, I have one of the 1.3 lb oxhead that I hung on a 28" boys ax handle, and it finished out at about 26" over all. I have thinned the handle a bit and put some time in to sharpening it, and it preforms very well. It is a different type of tool than my wetterlings 19" skinning ax, but I have found it to work well on dead soft woods, and also green wood. The draw backs are that the oxhead has a much smaller eye than the wetterlings, and I am not sure how it will handle the extra impact that it takes from being on such a long handle over time. And because of its small eye, if you are not experienced at hanging ax heads you may have a problem removing all the extra wood from a longer handle and getting things straight and tight. good luck! joe
 
Thanks Joe, that's very helpful. Sounds like something I might need to play with before committing to. And I've not got any experience re-hafting an axe, just tools.

May have to give the wetterlings a try...
 
PS- I'm having trouble seeing the difference between the Wetterlings hunting axe and skinning axe, both are 19" and appear to have similar axe heads. Anyone know?
 
SpookyPistolero said:
PS- I'm having trouble seeing the difference between the Wetterlings hunting axe and skinning axe, both are 19" and appear to have similar axe heads. Anyone know?
Click to expand...

i think that the skinner has a rounded poll(hammer side) to use during skinning. the hunter just has a traditional poll, much better for tent pegs and such.
 
I have 3 Wetterlings and like them all! Their version of the small forest axe is my favorite, but I like my carpenters axe and hatchet as well.
The new cold steel axe isn't bad either, if ya like the broader edge profile.
It's probably made in the same chinese factory the new Marbles axes are.
The marbles aren't bad either, if ya discount the politics...
Ted
 
Thanks Ted, that's encouraging!

By the way, did you ever get ahold of il bruche re: the lemon? Can't stop thinking about that mess.
 
A local power tool dealer has a few Huskavarna axes. They look like Wetterlings to me. Everything looked very good to me other than the edge looked like it needed considerable work. All the heads are straight and the grain was correct.

I have one of the larger OXHead axe heads from Bens Backwoods. It is not perfect but it is pretty good. The grind back in the cheek area is uneven. I just picked up a 28 inch boys axe handle for it but I have not mounted it yet. Just a fyi Ace Hardware carries O.P. Link handles. I would not mail order one but they seem to be a much better quality than the True Temper handles most places sell.
 
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