But figured I should buy a nice single bit axe.
In case we purchase some land down the road.

Haven't run an axe since a kid.

Remember a F&S article about Brant and Cochran "Allagash Cruiser".

Anybody running one?

I don't think you "run" an axe. On the other hand, I have used a couple.

I try not to put myself in the position of having to swing an axe.

I swing an 8lb maul a lot.

I have a couple of axes, but they don't get much use. One sometimes rides in the truck to act as a "manual chain saw" in the eventuality of a log across a road.

Geno

I bought a Fisharks (SP?) single bit ax to keep in my truck.

They make several sizes. The one I got has about a 3' handle, and fits under the back seat of my truck, just right.

I believe these are Swedish made, and are good quality, with a synthetic handle, that won't break as easily as wood.

Virgil B.

Have used chainsaws a bunch.
Hunting bud just got a new one.
But neither he nor I have a good axe.

The ol lady said her grandpa had top end stuff but a family member pawned damn near everything many moons ago.
So there is no family item to continue using.

Figured buy a good one and let somebody else have it when I'm gone.
Future son in law proly worthy.

Fiskers is what I think Hook meant...Made by Gerber - Very soft blade, chips easily, but sharpens quick.

Personally, Gransfor Bruk is the tool. They’re spendy but a really nice ax to get work done.

😎

Nice to have....
Good excuse to buy an American Made steel product...
And ash or hickory.

Maybe questionable to buy a cheap one after being locked up at home for a month...
Certainly not a good idea to buy plastic sheeting at the same time...

I'm looking to buy a good one.
Not trying to go cheap, but don't need restored classic for $700.
Figure $300 my limit.

https://www.bnctools.com/

Double sided ax only way to go.

$300 will put one in your hands. 😎

https://www.amazon.com/Gransfors-Bruks-Small-Forest-Inch/dp/B000WIROX6

American made a plus

A bit more money than the revered Gransfors & Hultafors(Hults) Bruks. Sweden

And double the money of the pretty well thought of Husqvarna made by Wetterlings. Sweden

Council tool has a US made model for about the same $ as a Husqvarna.

i love using an ax

couple weeks ago out at the club they couldn't get the ole splitter started, worked on it for over an hour...good thing i brought an ax and a couple of mauls

You axed?

Nice pics!

If your gonna be driving stakes get a poll axe, if your gonna be gtubbing brush and roots get a Polaski

Ax me no question-------.

double bit ax .dummy.

The Husqvarna is a nice light and very sharp rig. I think I paid $65 for mine and it chops above its pay grade. My old Norlund is another nice one. I do believe the Gransfors is the top of the heap though.

I bought one on here that's sweet as heck. Guy reworks them, one side razor sharp and one side for pounding tent stakes. Perfect. Maybe someone can pull up his ad.

Double bit axe is nice, but I think you could find the use of a mattock and brush hook useful as well.

What the heck, you may want a couple of scythes to go along with the brush hook for tall grass and weeds.

If you are interested in passing tools to your kids, you might think about Ebay and look at an old Kelly or True Temper Kelly Works "flint edge" and put a good ash or hickory handle on it. You can get a pretty nice one for about 30 bucks I think. There will never be anything built like that again. I have a Collins Puget Sound pattern, they are asking 300 bucks plus on Ebay now. Four generations of loggers in the family, going on five, I'd never sell it, part of our heritage.

https://www.estwing.com/products/campers-axe-long-handle
It's not something you want for cutting timber, but is an excellent all purpose tool that will chop a tree down. And it's made in the US of A.

What ever you decide on, take a torch and spot up the handle then wipe it down with used motor oil. Then the neighbors will be impressed and start calling you Grizzly....

My granddad was a lumberman/woodcutter most of his life.
I have a few of his tools, his single bit axes were Snow and Neally
out of Maine . I can't tell the brand on the double bit, but I
believe it was made in Michigan. Also have his 8' crosscut saw.
When he started working in the woods in the winter of 1919,
he had lost 2 sisters and a brother to the Spanish Flu. Guess
what goes around comes around, eh?
When he and Gram turned 64 yrs they bot a fifty cow dairy,
so as to keep busy after they retired. He died in 2004 just
a month shy of 100. Never had bank acct after 1930. Said they
got him once in a bank failure, never again. Kept their cash
in milk cans in pantry. Lived a good life and loved every minute
of it. Never borrowed and drove a new Chevy truck every 4yrs.
Oldcuss

Made in the USA....bang for buck....Council Tool.

Council Tool - Zoro

A little rough....but good steel, reasonably priced.

When I first started wolf hunting in the Stanley area of Idaho the beetle kill was bad and I quickly learned to carry an axe, a saw and a tow strap any time I left the pavement. I have found several orphaned axes in junk shops in former logging areas that I have enjoyed resuscitating. I am the opposite of a 'tool guy' but an axe is a tool that I can enjoy using, for recreational pursuits.


mike r

Great story. Thanks.

Gransfors.

Buy once, cry once.

I received mine as a gift from my BIL and at the time, didn't appreciate what I'd received.

I now give him an update every Thanksgiving or Christmas on how I put it to use. Which is frequently when I am in the hills.

I have 2 Emerson Stevens axes one a double and one a single. Great axes I use on my trapline. Handed down from my grandfather who acquired them pre 1900.

Osky

I'm of the opinion that a chainsaw is safer to use than an axe, but everyone should still have a decent one. The cheap ones are junk and most people will never be able to appreciate an expensive peice. Your best bet is find that sweet spot between affordability and quality.

For a basic axe I hear good things about Cold Steel.

I have a few axes and a couple of chainsaws...my vote goes to the chainsaws.

I have a Gransfors Bruks, a Wetterlings and an Estwing. The Gransfors is the best, Wetterlings next and the Estwing brings up the rear. The Estwing isn't even in the same ball park with the other two as far as steel quality/edge holding ability. The Gransfors and Wetterlings are close in steel/ability to hold an edge but the Gransfors is considerably ahead in grind and cuts like a demon. You want the best get a Gransfors.

I seen a Stihl axe and it looks pretty good.

I spent 3 days attached to my old Collins felling axe after a hurricane tore up a bunch of live oak trees in my yard. I had a chainsaw that quit on me after about an hour. I was amazed at how quickly the axe went through the oak, as well as how long the edge held up. What I was cutting was limbs and tree trunks from 4 to 12 inches in diameter.

I just got a True Temper Kelly Perfect felling axe that I think is going to cut better than my Collins. I got both the axes well used, but not abused. I had to replace the handles and sharpen them but they looked good after a little cleaning up. I'm not sure you can find a better axe than some of the old used axes without spending a lot of money.

If I was looking to buy another good axe, I'd take a look at some pawn shops or antique stores.

At least not in the same place of business.. When you buy the sheeting, buy some paint as well. That will throw them off, and it may be useful anyway.

Bleach is for drinking.

LMAO!

Neither is the right answer.

There is reasonably priced, decent quality USA stuff out there.

Council Tool vs Gransfors