Axe ... best one ?
- Thread starter gettn2
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Mark W
Yep, I really don't really care that much I guess.
It's an ax. Just grab whatever is in the barrel at the local farm/hardware store.
Mark...
Mark...
Collins make a 3lb pole axe as well as a 6lb axe. Very good value.
STIHL makes a PA100 that for a 3.5lb axe has a very good feel to it and it is 27.5" long.
The Fiskar and Gerber are all plastic and have no weight to them.
STIHL makes a PA100 that for a 3.5lb axe has a very good feel to it and it is 27.5" long.
The Fiskar and Gerber are all plastic and have no weight to them.
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I just bought a forest axe from this company:
www.wetterlings.com
It's hand forged, very well made, and well balanced. It comes with a leather cover for the bit which wraps around the shoulder of the axe. Gransfors Bruks also make a fine axe, but they are twice the price of Wetterlings. Both brands make axes using old world techniques, so in a way they are also works of art.
Other than those, I hear Gerber makes a decent axe.
Scoot
www.wetterlings.com
It's hand forged, very well made, and well balanced. It comes with a leather cover for the bit which wraps around the shoulder of the axe. Gransfors Bruks also make a fine axe, but they are twice the price of Wetterlings. Both brands make axes using old world techniques, so in a way they are also works of art.
Other than those, I hear Gerber makes a decent axe.
Scoot
www.snowandnealley.com
These folks also have some good axes, made in the U.S. Some local hardware stores still carry them.
These folks also have some good axes, made in the U.S. Some local hardware stores still carry them.
I carry an old wood pile axe (medium length) in my gun rack next to my lever action 45/70 when I travel into the woods/on expedition. I have a gerber hatchet in my emergency gear at all times.
If I'm out to do some serious wood chopping/forming, I bring a double bit along with but where the double bit goes so does a maul and two wedges
If I'm out to do some serious wood chopping/forming, I bring a double bit along with but where the double bit goes so does a maul and two wedges
I've been running a Fiskar Pro splitter 28" for some time now and have cut a lot of wood with it. It's been an great trail axe as you don't have to worry about damaging it or about the handle weathering. Plus the head will never get loose.
As for the weight it is definitely light but the weight is in the right place. The head and not the handle. Compared to my friends 3.5lb splitting axe it splits about as good but for a lot less fatigue.
As for durability. I don't think it can be beat. I've duffed the handle so many times I don't want to think about it. Other then some polishing of the plastic there is no damage.
Marc
x2 I tend to leave stuff behind during recoveries
A good axe would be one by the American company that makes those blue and chrome hammers ,Estwing?
It really depends what you are going to do with it, the Estwing isn't a bad light axe. If you are just doing some mild splitting and limb chopping they are great.
If you are going to have to do some real cutting then a good felling axe is hard to beat- unless you carry a chainsaw.
Gransfors Bruks are really nice(I love mine) but you could find an equally good axe at an antique shop or flea market.
If you are going to have to do some real cutting then a good felling axe is hard to beat- unless you carry a chainsaw.
Gransfors Bruks are really nice(I love mine) but you could find an equally good axe at an antique shop or flea market.
We used to sell 3 sizes of the Fiskars with our name on them. That is until they started selling them through the mass merchants.
They are razor sharp when new.
We used to carry chainsaws in every crewcab planting on the west coast of Vancouver Island until I tried a Fiskar, it will easy cut through a 20inch blow down.
Chain saws are great, but they need gas, oil, tools,some more oil, etc and they have to be sharp and people steal them.
A Fiskar behind the seat is cheap and ready to use.
Chain saws are great, but they need gas, oil, tools,some more oil, etc and they have to be sharp and people steal them.
A Fiskar behind the seat is cheap and ready to use.
Doesn't anyone carry Dynamite for tree clearing these days?
Doesn't anyone carry Dynamite for tree clearing these days?
You would be considered a terrorist over here for doing that.
Whatever you get, be sure and get one with a wood handle. They absorb so much more shock then plastic, metal, or fiberglass handles. I own and have used them, they just don't compare with a good old wooden handle.
Absolutely, snow and nealley makes great axes, probably the best as far as American axes go. I have the 3.5 lb 30" handle one. It's great!
You can buy gransfors axes here
couple more expensive european axes......
http://www.bisonbushcraft.co.uk/page7/page7.html
http://www.samstagsales.com/ox-head.htm
there is another company called widderkopf that makes some quality axes, but I couldn't find a site for them. I have a European forestry catalog called GRUBE that has them in it.
Absolutely, snow and nealley makes great axes, probably the best as far as American axes go. I have the 3.5 lb 30" handle one. It's great!
You can buy gransfors axes here
couple more expensive european axes......
http://www.bisonbushcraft.co.uk/page7/page7.html
http://www.samstagsales.com/ox-head.htm
there is another company called widderkopf that makes some quality axes, but I couldn't find a site for them. I have a European forestry catalog called GRUBE that has them in it.
Like it....
He He He... that works.
I've got an Estwing long handle hatchet and a Fiskars 11" hatchet. The Estwing is great for small trees and limbing. The Fiskars I use for campfire stuff and limbing. It's amazing, sharp and light, but the teflon coated head takes some getting used to. It slides through stuff rather than sticking in it, cutting takes a lot less effort. For bigger stuff, I use a 24" bow saw that I modified to take up next to no space in the vehicle. If I'm expecting alot of windfalls etc. I'll take my chainsaw, but the bowsaw works almost as fast and is alot more reliable.
Doesn't anyone carry Dynamite for tree clearing these days?
He He He... that works.
I've got an Estwing long handle hatchet and a Fiskars 11" hatchet. The Estwing is great for small trees and limbing. The Fiskars I use for campfire stuff and limbing. It's amazing, sharp and light, but the teflon coated head takes some getting used to. It slides through stuff rather than sticking in it, cutting takes a lot less effort. For bigger stuff, I use a 24" bow saw that I modified to take up next to no space in the vehicle. If I'm expecting alot of windfalls etc. I'll take my chainsaw, but the bowsaw works almost as fast and is alot more reliable.
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Im happy with our Fiskar, thing is sharp as hell.
rusty_tlc
Dain Bramaged Member
In my experience multi tools to most things poorly and nothing well. Is this an exception?
I also doubt that most would know how to use a Polasky or a McCloud.
Exactly. Not only would folks not know how to use it but you almost never need them. A lot can be accomplished with just a shovel and an axe. It would take up too much space.