"Best" General Purpose Budget Axe?

afishhunter

afishhunter

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In your educated opinion, what is the "best" general purpose budget camping/hiking axe or hatchet available on the market today?

I won't be tossing it at a Rendezvous, or anything like that.

In going on 12 years in this area, I've yet to see an axe or vintage/antique axe head at a yard sale or flea market. I don't do eBay or Craig's List -- period, so getting a vintage/antique axe or axe head and rehafting it is not a viable option.

By "Budget" I'd like to keep it at or below $50 (with a preference of "below") if at all possible. Funds are low; it is going to take at least 6 or 7 months to save up that much.
(I'm on a low fixed monthly income)

Would a bearded axe have any advantages for general use?

If there isn't a general purpose axe or hatchet worth having in the $50 and under price point, please let me know, and I'll forget about getting an axe/hatchet.

Thank you in advance.
 
Only 2 companies come to mind to fit your criteria if youre trying to buy new. I'd look into Council Tool and Estwing. Both made in America, both have options at or under $50. If weight is a factor, the Estwing will be heavier, for obvious reasons. The Estwings do come with a tough nylon/canvas sheath which is a nice bonus. 3 different size/lengths available at most sporting goods/Farm and Fleet type stores. The Council's have a good reputation, I have yet to pick one up myself but plan to. You'll have to find a distributor to buy a Council though, as they do not sell directly off their website.
 
I also suggest a Council Tool axe.
For strictly hiking a hatchet could be more than sufficient, but for camping i would go with at least a boy's axe. It is still not too heavy to carry while hiking.
If your axe use will be mostly while camping, I would go with an even larger axe: 32", 3-3 1/2 lb head.
 
G gben that was really awesome. Helping out a brother in need like that? Cheers. I’m glad I came across this.

For other folks that happen across this thread, I like my Council flying fox and the boys axe- both stellar performers for ~50 bucks shipped with Baryonyx’s phenomenal edge treatment.
 
In my experience, any of the common hardware store hatchets such as True Temper can be made into a fantastic lightweight camping tool. It requires thinning the bit quite a bit with a file or belt grinder, especially at the heel, but well worth the effort. This being for backpacking where downfall will be plentiful.

For heavier work where more weight in the tool is a good thing, the Rinaldi American Boy's axe is a great tool.

With my 14" Tram bolo, I try to stick to limbs up to about 4". With a good hatchet I'll go after limbs 6-8", with the Rinaldi, logs up 10" are on the menu. If canoeing or weight is otherwise not a problem, Council Tool Boy's Axe is a good start. Fiskars X15 would also be a possibility.
 
I’m a big fan of the Cold Steel Trail Boss, same size and weight as common boys axe, but for around $20, it comes with a nicely finished handle, and it’s much thinner behind the edge than most.

Mine came with a sharp edge out of the box, a quick touch up and it’s my favored axe to grab when kicking about in the woods.
It falls trees respectably, and I split quite a lot of wood with it. It’s holding up very well and the steel is pretty hard, a bit softer than my old plumb DB, but harder than any other bit in this price range I have put a file to.

For splitting forearm sized branches for firewood, I use it like a hatchet with one hand comfortably, and it has held up to splitting many large ash rounds, even some really knotted seasoned wood without handle damage or even loosening one bit.

I am quite impressed for the price payed, it has replaced an old plumb hatchet, a Fiskars hatchet, and a nice old Estwing hatchet for me, with enough length and power to stand in for a full size axe when the need arises.

I suspect a Hudson Bay or GB Forest axe would be a noticeable improvement, but for a lot more money.
At the Trail Boss price point, I don’t feel bad tossing it in the bed of my truck or trailer with other tools, or letting my son use it, he is just really starting to use an axe properly and still misses often enough to rack up the overstrikes and hit stones in the dirt.
 
BJE said:
I’m a big fan of the Cold Steel Trail Boss, same size and weight as common boys axe, but for around $20, it comes with a nicely finished handle, and it’s much thinner behind the edge than most.

Mine came with a sharp edge out of the box, a quick touch up and it’s my favored axe to grab when kicking about in the woods.
It falls trees respectably, and I split quite a lot of wood with it. It’s holding up very well and the steel is pretty hard, a bit softer than my old plumb DB, but harder than any other bit in this price range I have put a file to.

For splitting forearm sized branches for firewood, I use it like a hatchet with one hand comfortably, and it has held up to splitting many large ash rounds, even some really knotted seasoned wood without handle damage or even loosening one bit.

I am quite impressed for the price payed, it has replaced an old plumb hatchet, a Fiskars hatchet, and a nice old Estwing hatchet for me, with enough length and power to stand in for a full size axe when the need arises.

I suspect a Hudson Bay or GB Forest axe would be a noticeable improvement, but for a lot more money.
At the Trail Boss price point, I don’t feel bad tossing it in the bed of my truck or trailer with other tools, or letting my son use it, he is just really starting to use an axe properly and still misses often enough to rack up the overstrikes and hit stones in the dirt.
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This is good info. I've stayed away from them due to a lot of complaints about the handles, nice to know they are a good value.
 
gben said:
I have a nice old house-axe head, about 2.5 pounds mounted on an NOS 60s house-style handle that you can have for free. Just PM me your shipping address and I will get it over to you and your troubles will be over.
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Very generous!


On a side note, I never understood the tiny Nessmuk hatchet myself. I'm sure he carried a lot of stuff and weight was important, and I'm sure he was very clever. But, I'd call this an upgrade!
 
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