Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades Another ax thread

Something to use one handed, limbing, cutting saplings, splitting kindling, butchering, general purpose, carry on a pack or in the back of the truck.
Granfors bruks, hults bruk, others? Models?
Need help here, just haven't done the research to figure out what's available.

Axes was one topic i enjoyed Steelheads posts on.

Field grade knows some stuff on em also.

20" ish handle would be good I'm thinking. Something one hand-able but long enough to use two hands if needed.

Oh boy I love axe threads!!! Any good name in axes will probably work but I like the eastwing fire side companion. It's more like a small sledgehammer with the one end shaped like an axe. I haven't got one but think having one handy by the stove or fireplace makes sense. I think the heavy weight & steep angle would bust up kindling without having to swing a hatchet harder & may be some what safer in the house. But a hatchet is way more fun & definitely more useful. Maybe maybe not??? Bill out. 🐾👣🇨🇦

Got one. More of a mini splitting mail and excels as a 2lb hammer for driving stakes etc... Totally different purpose though.

I like this little dandy jack, think it’s the hand hatchet by GB... sharp little bugger, like skin a deer sharp.

Have you looked at the new Council Tool Sport Utility Flying Fox Woodsman Hatchet? I just played with one and plan on ordering one tomorrow. Maybe several for Christmas presents.

I have a Gransfors Wildlife Hatchet and a Small Forest Axe. Both are excellent tools.

Back lately as "Girlhunter"

An axe, I'd go a Council Sport Utility Hudson Bay,you can get them with 18" and 28" handles, or maybe a Husqvarna carpenter's axe.

I'm not a fan of short handled axes, but they do have the uses at times. That said, with what you want, I'd be looking at a Tomahawk.

Get a Cold Steel Frontier. They are a little rough to start with but CHEAP. Get a few handles, sharpen, removedthe set screw and reseat the head. Tomahawks are impressively useful. I've cut the [bleep] out saplings around the place up to 6" trees. You can also remove the head and just use it as a 'knife', skinning tool etc etc.

I've put together so damned many axes in the last year and have a basket full of heads and handles waiting. I'll snap you a few pics tomorrow to show you a few.

Like I said, don't underestimate the usefulness of a Hawk and if you are really out there and bust a handle, it's no trick to make a new one from a stick. No wedges needed.

I've also put some riggers/carpenter heads on longer handles that are quite useful. I also like putting hatchet sized heads (1 1/4 pound) on 24" handles. The swing past their weight class.

Aside from the Tomahawks, which have 22" handles, I generally don't use anything less than 24". The shorter they get, the more dangerous they become and less useful.

My Gransfors Bruk Small Forest Axe is one of my favorites. I have the Hults version also and that one has seen more use. Both are excellent light axes.

Guess I'm looking for a hatchet more than an axe. Post some pics if you could, I'd appreciate it.

That crkt burler is nice but their Freyr is real nice, bigger head, longer handle, more blade to it also. Kinda expensive but that's Canadian price. Cheaper for you guys, & not as expensive as the Graunsn, spell check we're are ya now ? I have a mini broad axe but I'm left handed, it's tr. I keep thinking I'll change it over to left but I don't use it much anymore, it's a keep sake from my uncle so I'll just leave it. Besides I can always buy a lefty. Bill out. 🐾👣🇨🇦

I'm also not a fan of the flat sided Swedish axes, I much prefer a convex head. I know 'everyone' thinks the Swedes are the axe gods, but truth is, American axe making in the late 1800's into the 1900's was the pinnacle of axe design.

Swedes dealt with lots of softwoods.

Hatchets tend to be neither fish nor fowl either, generally.

I'll get some pics up tomorrow of the different styles and show you also what you can do with a tomahawk. I haven't touched a hatchet in years, it's been tomahawks for the 'shorter' axes and mostly 28-36" for the bigger stuff, with a few 24" handles.

Tomahawks pack away easy, as it's just one rap on butt to remove the head. They are just held on by friction.

Damn, thanks. Look forward to seeing some pics.

If you get froggy before then, here:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1015404579?pid=924170


Set screw has to be removed, sanded above the head, because they press it on and it creates a ridge in the wood that needs to be sanded down. I also remove the epoxy, sand and coat the handle with BLO, and reprofile/sharpen the head.

They truly are impressive for $20.

I have a BMC 26" hudson bay I'd part with....I flamed and BLO'ed the handle, cold blued the head and oiled the sheath. Just can't find a use for it, if anyone is interested at $160 shipped....

https://www.bestmadeco.com/products/hudson-bay-axe?taxon_id=1570

Kellory’s gonna gush.

Cold Steel Frontier tomahawk compared to Gransfors Wildlife hatchet.







As you can see, easy to remove head, just give it a rap on the butt (reverse it to seat head, give it a rap on the head end of handle, I do this against a log etc)






No wedge as in a traditional axe (this is a riggers axe head I put on a different handle, discussed below).




I dropped this tree this morning, bucked it in half and limbed it with the tomahawk. Took all of a few minutes. Limbing was one handed. You can really generate some speed with the 22" handle.