Anyone know about the Cold Steel Axe Gang?

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Sanderguy777

Joined
Apr 28, 2020
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23
I'm in the market for a cheap kindling (maybe delimbing) hatchet. I can only spend like $30 (maybe 40 if it is granforce bruks. Yes, wrong spelling, sorry)

Looking at the axe gang or maybe a tomahawk, but the tomahawk sounds like the wrong tool.

I dont want fiberglass or hollow fiskars handle as it will get abused and the handle will probably die the death.
 
The other thing I saw is the swiss military surplus hatchet on sportsman's guide. It's like $25 or a longer axe is $35. Are those any good? Or should I stick with new?
 
Sanderguy777 said:
Are those any good?
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Of COURSE those are good...for what you probably want them for,anyway.

You can't imagine that one of the world's most organised and well-funded army would use crap?C'mon,man...

I may be a p..ck,and hold a grudge,and been told off for it multiple times,but still say CS sucks.
In Every respect.
Nastily made cheap Chinese crap,imitating what things kinda/sorta ought to look like,and not doing even that too well.Lousy joint:)
 
jake pogg said:
Of COURSE those are good...for what you probably want them for,anyway.

You can't imagine that one of the world's most organised and well-funded army would use crap?C'mon,man...

I may be a p..ck,and hold a grudge,and been told off for it multiple times,but still say CS sucks.
In Every respect.
Nastily made cheap Chinese crap,imitating what things kinda/sorta ought to look like,and not doing even that too well.Lousy joint:)
Click to expand...

I had one of their folders, i think it was the Spartan, that I batonned and it survived at least a year of that abuse before the narrow part of the blade or the pivoting part of the blade snapped. And the handle (which was some "cheap" chinesium plastic) got a scratch or something and when I tried to sand it off, it took 10 minutes to remove a tiny surface scratch in the handle! I mean that plastic was TOUGH!
But I understand your point, many of their knives are less than quality and disappointing considering their design origins.

As for the "world's most organised and well-funded army would use crap"... I mean, there was the english L85 a1, the US m1 carbine and m16...

I'm just pulling your leg, I get what you mean, and I think that I will pick one up. And i just saw a video on the correct way to split wood with a knife.... make a hardwood wedge! I dont think I've ever heard anyone say that. Normally they just go off on the "knives aren't hatchets" rant. (No they're not, but unless they SHATTER and stab you, they ARE safer for small kindling tasks).

Ok, so I'll order the swiss hatchet and then play around with the wedge idea too. Thanks!
 
The issue with the Axe Gang, IMHO, is that the amount wood in the eye is pretty thin. Im sure it would hold up to chopping well enough, but I have heard of them cracking at the shift when thrown a lot. Not that you are planning to do that, but I'd second the estwing from a hardware store.

I have an Axe Gang, and its pretty cool, bit it strikes me more as a weapon than a wood working tool. Maybe check out their Trail Boss.
 
Sanderguy777 said:
The other thing I saw is the swiss military surplus hatchet on sportsman's guide. It's like $25 or a longer axe is $35. Are those any good? Or should I stick with new?
Click to expand...

yes they are very good for the price. I like them a lot for throwing and beating one stuff. I Havent found a better deal, I think I got mine for like 20$ shipped.
 
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I have a Trail Boss that will probably never see the trail. I use it for miscellaneous things around the yard and woodworking because it hits a sweet spot for me of easy to carry and wield yet big enough to work. Their are times I need a bigger axe or blade shape, but for limbing and kindling-size stuff, I would go with it over the Axe Gang. It's light enough to use with one hand if you want, and it's about $30.
 
Ok, so I ended up buying a surplus Swiss military hatchet. I'll post some photos if I remember, but I just felt that they probably got a better hatchet than I could for $20.
The estwing wasnt an option because i couldn't find any for less than $38 and it was of questionable parentage (probably some Harbor Freight knock off). Also, metal handles, while durable are HORRIBLE on joints and I cant rehandle it if I need to or dont like the feel.

The axe gang ended up costing about the same or a few bucks more than this Swiss hatchet did, so I felt I'd take the chance on getting a cool piece of history (even if it DID just sit out whatever wars in a warehouse LOL).

Maybe I should start another thread, but any idea what kind of goo they put on the handle? It smells horrible and I've heard the "preservatives" they used in the day can be corrosive... which sounds like a great product for a metal and wood tool :rolleyes:
 
What makes you think a wooden handle is stronger than a Fiskars handle? If you break a Fiskars handle, something went horribly wrong!
 
jdk1 said:
What makes you think a wooden handle is stronger than a Fiskars handle? If you break a Fiskars handle, something went horribly wrong!
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I don't think I said that one was stronger than the other. (And I apologize if I did)
What I think is that any handle can break so I wanted an axe that was able to be fixed when or if I break the handle. Also, as I said in the last post, if I dont like the feel, I can change it. I cant do that with a hollow plastic Fiskars or rubber Estwing handle. They may never break, and they probably wont for an experienced woodsman, but I know that all the hatchets I've used ended up with REALLY beat and scratched up handles just below the head from me over swinging.
 
Ok, so here are the photos.
This first set is before I sanded and oiled the handle and then sharpened the blade. In case anyone is wondering, a gun stock carving vise is the tool for holding an axe handle!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/99374417@N04/49869318677/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/99374417@N04/49869011066/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/99374417@N04/49869011201/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/99374417@N04/49869010076/in/dateposted-public/
 
jdk1 said:
That looks really nice!
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Thanks! I actually meant to post some of the axe after I fixed the "edge" (it was literally a 1/16" thick cutting edge!) and put BLO on the handle.

I'm still not 100% sure about the steel as it seemed really soft (I WAS using a new Nicholson file), but it holds a good edge even after some splitting.
 
Great hatchet . According to cold steel it is 1055 differentially hardened . Which the differentially hardened was a pleasant surprise at 31 bucks . I have one myself . I'm not a huge fan of the straight face . I suppose its good for processing game . But I wouldnt chop anything larger than the cutting face with it due to the flat bite . I find it is EXCELLENT for anything with a smaller OD than the cutting face though . You have to sharpen it often but thats ok . I also bought the Trail boss axe too . Another hit rather than miss for 33 bucks . It performs great as well for felling small to medium trees .

I just emailed Hoffman and theyre about to update their website for pre orders on the Farm Axe . I was going to go with a neeman but I hear great things about Hoffman too . So for smaller tasks the Cold Steel are best bang for the buck imho . I'm really impressed with their performance at the damn near free price tag .

For heavier stuff though I think I'm going to order a hoffman . Although . I did take atleast one large tree down with the cold steel trail boss . It took a bit longer than a heavier felling head . That being said again for 33 bucks man did that 1 1/2lb head bite deep . It was chunking that maple out . I did upon arrival take a file to it and take off the varnish on the cutting face and put a longer bevel on it and a standard sharpening stone but man I swear that Trail Boss is enough . I am only getting a felling axe for cut time . Not really ability .

I figured the Cold Steel would be a meme axe . Ya know something Lynn Thompson could make some crazy signature youtube video with but I swear for 33 dollars it is a working axe . I feel the very same about the Axe gang hatchet .

I just wish Cold steel made a working variant of the axe gang with a shorter curved handle . Thats my only gripe . But for 31 bucks do NOT take that as a complaint .
 
Thats
crbnSteeladdict said:
Have you considered Council's Flying Fox?
https://www.baryonyxknife.com/cotoha.html
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a nice looking hatchet . The thin cheeks till you get to the eye look like it would be a good small feller . And a 16" handle at not much more money than the cold steel .

I dunno the handle isnt really enough of an issue to make me want a different hatchet . As I said at 31 bucks it isnt a complaint . That actual hatchet head I think performs well for a straight face . I was thinking about just cutting off a few inches and perhaps dremmeling in some finger choils . That council does look like a great little hatchet though . I guess I should have looked around more. But I am happy with the cold steel . After I work the handle a bit I think it'll be fine .

I'm even getting decent throwing it . I got it to stick into a palm tree 3 times in a row :D
 
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