Axe, Folding Saw, AND Big Knife?!?!

BP_

BP_

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Any reason for this? I mean as far as carrying, not owning. I know we all have an affection for pointy and sharp things, I'm just wondering if any of you do the "overkill" thing while camping/hiking/hunting.

I feel like if you have a good, solid "medium size" knife, a folding knife (SAK or similar "traditional"), then all you would need is just one of of the "big three" I'll call them. What are your thoughts and experiences?

I'm going through some changes, and trying to get my load out right where I need it to be for weight vs function. I feel like a person can justify all three tools, for all kinds of different purposes, and I have always been an "overkill" kinda guy. Not so much anymore, for obvious reasons. I understand it will all depend on what you'll be doing, so let's just say weekend warrior, not hardcore survivalist. Which is most practical for your "all around" use?
 
Stanley makes a solid axe multi-tool with a knife, saw and file.

I have a Garrity USA hammer like that I picked up for $5. It's also a solid piece with a pretty nice blade attached. Like an actual knife blade. Only like 6 extra tools but smart set.

Not sure I'd carry an axe/hammer around, but a great situational tool to have around.
 
It depends on what I am doing.

In an overnight campscenario, I will bring whatever I feel like. Not worrying the least bit about weight.

In a prolonged hikingscenario, I will bring my Bacho Laplander foldingsaw and a 5"-ish blade.
 
There's no need for the large fixed blade, an axe is meant to chop and no matter what anyone else says they'll always outperform a fixed blade of the same weight/ size.

Depending on what your doing, a small 1lb or 1/2lb hatchet along with a sub 9" fixed blade and a folding saw may be all you need.
If you go with a larger axe ( a 1-1/4 hatchet head on a 20" handle would be perfect) you can easily swap the saw out for a pocket knife.

Check out the Vaughan sub zero hatchet, it's a 1 day project but is well worth it.
It's the kind of axe you can take along when you don't need an axe ( you can always use an axe )

Does exactly what I said compared to a knife of the same size/ weight.
 
wensynch said:
Stanley makes a solid axe multi-tool with a knife, saw and file.

I have a Garrity USA hammer like that I picked up for $5. It's also a solid piece with a pretty nice blade attached. Like an actual knife blade. Only like 6 extra tools but smart set.

Not sure I'd carry an axe/hammer around, but a great situational tool to have around.
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You carry a file and hammer while camping? :confused: And a 5 dollar hammer that includes 6 extra tools? Those are each sub one dollar items! They can't be good.

As far as the OPs actual question, to me, using my tools is a big part of the recreation in outdoor recreation. If I can bring more toys, I'm going to, and I'll find an excuse to use them.

That said, a good folding saw, a 3-5 inch fixed blade, and a Vic Farmer is probably more than enough...one could probably do fine with two of those three quite easily.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Depending on what your doing, a small 1lb or 1/2lb hatchet along with a sub 9" fixed blade and a folding saw may be all you need.
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So the OP appears to be asking "Which of an axe, folding saw, and large knife do you find most efficient for someone who only wants to carry only one of those three?" , and your suggestion is "All three." Correct?
 
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Garrity went out of business which is reason it's tools can be had for cheap. Definitely not cheap tools. Solid USA made stuff. I think Stanley either bought em out or the designs, as now Stanley uses the design (for the multi-tool axe).

It's a carpenter hammer. Set made sense to me when I got it; didn't get it either at first. 2 saws and a ruler, puncher, file and a knife that can probably easily be batoned. It's a solid piece of steel.

It's more like one of those file knives more a tool but quite sharp.

The Stanley multi-tool axe has an axe, saw and file. Probably the other tools too. STANLEY 10 IN 1 AXE & MULTI TOOL STHT73845.

41mgHgjSBfL.jpg
 
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Folding saw I have is unused by me. Hatchet is great for delimbing branches splitting wood and chopping. Can carve with one too. Fixed blade around 6-7 inch blade is for just in case scenarios if something happens cuz folders are too slow. Great for more accurate delimbing but also is fun. Folding knife preferably a trapper for carving and food prep and anything that needs extreme precision. That being said for weekend warrior type stuff I love the hatchet I have already. 1.8 pound head on a 18 inch handle. Overkill yet it's not. Loads of fun I can get good one handed hits with it yet is still controllable two handed for ten year old brother.


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marcinek said:
So the OP appears to be asking "Which of an axe, folding saw, and large knife do you find most efficient for someone who only wants to carry only one of those three?" , and your suggestion is "All three." Correct?
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Yes because he doesn't realize that no one tool can do it all. But the large fixed blade is out ( a sub 9"pal belt knife is ideal )
the axe is definitely the most capable of the 3 though.

A very good option for an axe would be a riggers axe on a 20-22" curved handle as it has an actual hammer to be used instead of abusing and axe poll.
 
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Because it really sounded to me like he was asking which tool could do all the work, which is why he only wants to carry one tool.
I really think he should consider carrying at the very least an axe a belt knife and pocket knife.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Because it really sounded to me like he was asking which tool could do all the work, which is why he only wants to carry one tool.
I really think he should consider carrying at the very least an axe a belt knife and pocket knife.
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That is exactly what he is considering

bloody_pawprint said:
I feel like if you have a good, solid "medium size" knife, a folding knife (SAK or similar "traditional"), then all you would need is just one of of the "big three" I'll call them. What are your thoughts and experiences?
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He is asking for opinions on which of "axe, saw, large knife" would one carry in addition to a medium sized belt knife and a folder.

No where does he say he wants to carry only one tool, or that he thinks one tool can do it all.
 
all interesting responses. basically what I'm saying, or asking rather, is which you prefer and why. I guess I just have a hard time deciding sometimes, yes, but I was also wondering if some of you share the same "struggle" I do. I think all three could be argued for different reasons, but when it comes down to it, yes it's personal preference. I really like an axe in the 22"-26" range, but I also like the idea of a solid folding saw. why carry both? a chopper is just, well, bad ass, and a quality one can also do work (not that of a saw or axe, but could definitely take care of most camp chores and smaller limbs). why carry all three? one could argue, "because I want to," sure, but really, is there a reason other than desire? I'm somewhat of a toy junkie myself, in that I like to utilize all the tools I own. that's why I own them. but, it doesn't seem practical to carry all, I wouldn't think, on any kind of trip where weight or size would be an issue. maybe I'm wrong, maybe some people can put them all to use for different purposes. this is a good thread. [emoji3]
 
bloody_pawprint said:
Any reason for this? I mean as far as carrying, not owning. I know we all have an affection for pointy and sharp things, I'm just wondering if any of you do the "overkill" thing while camping/hiking/hunting.

I feel like if you have a good, solid "medium size" knife, a folding knife (SAK or similar "traditional"), then all you would need is just one of of the "big three" I'll call them. What are your thoughts and experiences?

..... I understand it will all depend on what you'll be doing, so let's just say weekend warrior, not hardcore survivalist. Which is most practical for your "all around" use?
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I most often carry a large 111mm Vic SAK similar to a Tinker and it does most of the cutting. But I often carry a Silky Pocketboy, and a medium fixed blade. The most often carried fixed blade is a Kabar Becker BK-15. But I switch out on the fixed blade. Car camping, I bring an axe, larger saw, machete, and big knife in addition to the above mentioned. There is no limit to the toys car camping. Been known to bring along electric lights to hang in a tree and use inside a tent car camping if there is electricity.
 
I have never been in a situation where I needed an axe. Heavy and single purpose. Now, if you are building a cabin, then yes. But just bumming in the woods, no.

The folding saw is the fastest, but the large knife is more versatile and fun.

I like the way people talk about an axe then immediately switch to a hatchet. Very different tools, but the OP specifically stated an axe.
 
I think it really depends on conditions, what sort of timber you are in, and what you are likely to actually NEED, as in, survival situation rather than recreation.

For me, I'm not processing firewood, I'm not using timber for shelters, so I have no need for a chopper, or saw most times. But I do like having a small saw like a Vic farmer for the odd chance I need to some small work. For example if I needed to do a tarp ridge pole or similar. In some locations I would need a machete for clearing lighter brush, but thats a task that an ax or saw are not near as ideal at, and one that would be known before-hand.

In an area where I was processing firewood, then I'd choose either an ax or saw, depending on skill level, I feel that for the same weight they are about even in processing power, and either would do the job, as long as the operator did his. It would all depend on the right saw or right ax for those conditions, wood types.

In general though I'd rather carry 50 grams of saw which can do a lot of work, even if slowly, than 500 grams of chopper which is of limited utility for me most of the time.
 
Now that I'm more clear on the question, I have to say that you need a hatchet or hatchet head hung as a mini axe .
A large knife may do more, but an axe does what it does do better. What are the advantages of the large knife other than brush clearing ?
Another thing to consider is the fact that a good large knife is gonna cost a lot more than it does to buy and restore a vintage hatchet head ( commonly under 20$ all said and done )
 
I'd pass on a big knife and a saw. There is something bad ass about a large knife and yes you can chop a tree down, but it's not the best. I tend to go for fixed blades in the 4-5 inch range...seems the most useful to me for outdoor camping/hiking/hunting ect.
 
I have a CRKT tomahawk with the hammer head which I find useful. It is more than a hatchet, but less than an axe. I don't really like to carry axes into the woods. Car camping or a base camp a short distance from the vehicle, yes; I'll have an axe. But it is presonal preference and as mentioned above, choices relate to the kinds of timber you camp in. A folding saw is pretty efficient on larger wood, but I certainly wouldn't want to depend on one for a large week long base camp unless we took turns cutting the bigger stuff. It is a question of needed volume and I never really like to chop away at dead wood with an axe. I would rather have a regular machete with me than a hatchet, but they have limited batoning capabilities unless you go with the short heavy ones like the Condor Pack Golok or Village Parang. I like of those.

Overall, my need for large wood is limited when I camp so the folding saws work for me.
 
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