best axe for building a campfire and keeping it burning?

redsquid2

redsquid2

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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I guess my subject line says it.

I can't see myself spending more than $50 for something to split kindling or maybe occasional carpentry.

I have not used axes since probably 30 years ago when I was in Montana, so my memory is a little foggy about what would be a good choice. My wife wants to spend more time gazing into a campfire and I think that would be nice too.

I saw something called a CRKT Birler, and watched the promotional video. Looks pretty good.

Thank you in advance for feedback on this or any other prospects.

Andy
 
As a camp axe, I have never needed more than a hatchet. For $50 or even less you can get a Plumb Boys Axe (hatchet). It’s all I have ever needed camping along with a bow saw.

I have a Fiskers full size axe at home but I can’t think of a time I used it as if the job is big enough for the axe I use the chainsaw or splitting maul.
 
I'd suggest a torch attachment for a 5 gallon propane can, a good supply of fatwood, and a hatchet or house axe. The little guy in the pic is a 1-1.25lb hatchet and the big guy is the house axe that gets called out for the bigger knots.
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I keep recommending the new council tools flying fox. A weird name I grant you. But it's a nice little hatchet with a hardened poll.
This is after thinning the haft and lightly filing and honing the edge to my liking;
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For under 50 bucks it's hard to beat. I would always recommend having a larger axe as well but for light camp duty it's a good choice.
 
Three votes! My brother's vintage TT hatchet is a remarkably good splitter. He found it on the 'bay for $35. 2 1/2 pounds on an 18" haft. It has that high centerline that you just don't find on new axes. This is his hatchet (left) and my HB .6kg (1.25lb) hatchet (right). We split that pile of wood with his hatchet from previously split rounds.
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Fmont said:
The only thing about the Flying Fox is it's not a great splitter, which for regular fire duty might not be ideal.
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You are totally right about that. I just reread his question and he didn't even mention a hatchet in the title. He asked about a camp axe. Not sure how I got that confused. I think it was his reference to making kindling and his mention of the CRKT birler.

I definitely agree with a house axe or boys axe of some sort if you only want to bring one. I have a 2-3/4lb Emerson Stevens that would be ideal for a camp axe.
 
I don't prefer hatchets and would step it up to something with a longer handle if you can stand to carry the extra length. I think somewhere around 18" handle is as short as I like. I'll do a haw for something more compact, and carry the handle out of the head to save a little space. I like the cold steel hawks for the money, but they'll need some work right out of the box usually. Hudson bay axes are nice too.
 
OP says it's for splitting kindling and maybe carpentry. I'd get a thinner axe/hatchet for the carpentry (if I had the eye and the hand for it) and a thicker one for splitting. I think it's fair to say that a better chopper is a poorer splitter.
 
Mostly to split. Probably not for carpentry or chopping. I get firewood bundles at the hardware store and I'll bring along whatever lumber scraps I can find. I just need something to split the wood for kindling.
 
The Fiskars X7 is hard to beat for $21. It's a very capable "beater."
 
Since putting together some Faller's axes they would be my pick for a campfire axe--full-size head for serious cutting or splitting on a 24-28" straight handle. It's a boy's axe that grew up.
 
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Before I learned about vintage axes I bought a Task 2.5lb boys axe. It works really well for splitting big pieces of wood down to small enough pieces to start a fire. Not saying you should buy a Task, but more thinking that a nice 2.5lb is about right.
 
To explain my thoughts a bit more ... the advantages I see for a 24-28" Faller's axe in this usage are:
1. since it is not intended as a pack or trail axe the head can be fullsize with a two-handed usage for more efficient cutting and splitting of larger diameter logs into usable lengths to drag into camp. This makes a better fire for cooking and heat than the smaller brush fires.
2. I have tried all types of kindling axes at home and definitely have a preference for a fullsize head which is not so apt to stray out the sides of the piece on its way down through
3. The larger head with a longer angle slope which makes it easier to shave off small kindling pieces
4. The larger head has a wider poll to open up the split
5. The heavier weight allows for a more controlled/accurate gentle swing which lets the head weight do the work
6. The heavier head allows for the wood to be held upright with the bit placed on top of it ... and the split can be facilitated by dropping the wood and the axe together onto a block. This is a safe way to break down small kindling
7. The handle is long enough for two-handed swings and short enough for choking up and using a one handed swing
8. The straight handle keeps a uniform hand geometry relationship to the bit for the varying hand positions
 
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