Axes and Hatchets - beyond Home Depot and Walmart

S

Sid Post

Joined
Oct 14, 1998
Messages
4,675
As cold weather sets in and thoughts of firewood return, I have started ponder axes and hatchets again. I have run through the normal stuff and here are my general thoughts. The Gerber is a good hatchet if you want to split wood but, is too thick for general utility type hatchet work. The Eastwing is sort of a sleeper: its thinner profile works well at cutting into wood but, won't split like the thick Gerber. My experiences with axes are bad. Usually the axe is too lightweight and is already dull or dulls quickly.

Now on to the meat of the matter:
What would you look for in a hatchet that was built for performance that cost less then $300. Who would you recommend to make it?

The same goes for the axe. I am not looking for a splitting maul or a $600 axe head for the STIHL Timber Sports series. A real working axe of superior quality that has good edge holding and will cut a tree down and de-limb with reasonable effort.

Thanks and Stay Sharp!
Sid
 
I have an old TruTest 'Boys axe'
It doesn't weigh any more than most hatchets but the longer handle gives more leverage. I like it for camping and such. If I wanted smaller, I would probably get a Marbles' belt axe.
 
I don't know about the axe, but woodcraft has a really high quality hatchet for $84.99. Its a Pfiel carving hatchet. The cutting edge is five inches, it is made of swedish steel hardened to Rc56-58.It has a solid ash handle and an overall length of 18". I looked at it last time I was there and it feels great. The handle is bigger around than on most hatchets and it has a really solid feel.I use Pfiel carving tools and the quality is excellent.
Their website is www.woodcraft.com . I don't know if its on the site though you may need to ordr a catalog. (they're free)
Good luck, I don't now why its so hard to find a good axe anymore. Chainsaws can't do it all.

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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
 
Steve Piragis, out of Ely Minnesota, sells Gransfors Bruks axes. They're advertised as being hand forged "high carbon swedish steel" and handles of "American Prima Hickory". Anyone know about these axes?
 
HJK....In the G.B. line.. I have the Carpenter's axe and the hunters axe and they are the best i've found..I especially like the flay on the hunters axe , for skinning large game , such as moose. Their sheaths leave a little to be desired but you can always have a good rugged one made.

[This message has been edited by budman (edited 05 December 1999).]
 
Thanks, Budman!
I'd like a new ax for splitting wood and downing small trees, but this line has a different ax for each job. Any idea which one would be the better compromise for doing both jobs, or whether there's another ax out there, even custom, that's better?
 
Splitting and felling are basically incompatible tasks; no one tool can do them both really well. If you're traveling and don't want to carry two tools, choose a felling ax; it'll split wood, too, but not very well.... Don't try to use a splitting maul for felling; it won't work much better for that than a sharp rock ... even a dull rock.

Take some wedges with you if possible and use them to do the splitting -- wedges don't do the job as quickly or as easily as a splitting maul, but they're lighter to carry. You can hardly have too many wedges, though ... I remember burying one wedge after another in a knotty log before it finally split.

-Cougar Allen :{)
 
Hey, who sells those Gransfors Bruks on the net??
That hunter's axe looks great.
What price range??
Thanks
 
Saw this belt axe from Marble Knives. Discountknives has it for $50.

Mad Dog makes axes for like $600. What's the difference between fancy axes and an okay axe?

<img src = "http://www.marblearms.com/gifs/axe.jpg">

http://www.marblearms.com/axe.html



[This message has been edited by tallwingedgoat (edited 10 December 1999).]
 
I have one that I have used for years. They are wonderful for general brush chopping, but I wouldn't use it in lieu of an axe.

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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
Arlington, Virginia

 
TWG, I really like the look of that Marble's axe, I'd like to get one. Do you know if it come with a sheath of any kind?

I have a Marble's 7" Stag Trailmaker, that is a great knife, and at $125, it can't be beat. I think Marble's is one of the most underrated companies out there.


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LD
"Every Dog Has His Day"
BFC Member Since October 2, 1998

 
LD,

Sorry I don't know about the sheath. But there's a link to Marble's axe site under the picture I posted. You might find what you want there.
 
I found a bunch of Vaughn axes and hatchets at a nicely stocked hardware store and ended up buying a 3 1/2 lb single bit 'Sub-Zero' model, the last one that they had on hand. It's fully finished like their building hatchets, has a decent edge that one could just stone before using, a nice quality hickory handle, a light hollow grind behind the bevel, and is advertised as being suitable for use in cold weather although I'm not sure what that means. It's the nicest full sized ax that I've run across and was only a bit over $30.
 
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