Compact hiking/camping axe or hatchet

Herlock

Herlock

Joined
May 13, 2015
Messages
841
Hello axes/hatchets People :)!

I’m posting this to possibly get some suggestions and help. First of all, consider I am no axes/hatchets expert at all (same goes for knives), just an hobbyist and a week-end hiker :). I’m looking for something to side my current hatchet, a quite beaten average Fiskars X5. It serves me still well but I’d like to get something “serious” now :D, with a good forged head and a good wooden handle, etc.

I use (and will use) the hatchet sporadically on hiking/camping trips, mainly to chop and split small to medium branches, limbing some trees, to prepare kindling and some firewood for our small camp fires. I normally hike and camp in quite strictly regulated areas so not really felling any standing tree :). More working on fell down trees or dead branches. I’d still like something compact in dimensions, not exceeding the 70 cm overall length and possibly around 800 - 1200 g weight. I’d set a budget around 200 EUR as my maximum. It’s meant to be a backpack item, accompanying me on some trails so it will see real use and the possibility of being damaged or lost in worst cases.

I have done some research and was preliminarily considering the following:

Wetterlings outdoor axe # 118
Wetterlings Les Stroud Bushman Axe # 178
Gränsfors Hunter´s Axe # 418
Toporsib Moose (Лось) axe

Do you think I am on the right track? Shall I consider something else? Have some of you had experiences with these models? What do you think can be the most appropriate for my type of use?

I’m not really in a hurry to buy something now but would really like to hear some suggestions from you. Thanks a lot for any help and suggestions!
 
Being from Italy, have you ever checked out a company called prandy ?
If you know who wranglerstar is on YouTube, he was sent a hunch of their axes for review and they seem like they might he really nice quality.
 
If you weren't in Italy I'd say you were a perfect candidate for standard American boy's axe. Council Tool's Velvicut "Bad Boy's Axe" comes to mind. Even their standard boy's axe would be a very good fit for you.
 
I have an GB outdoor axe. Its small but has a good splinting head, lightweight, I like it. Give it a look.
 
Dude--you're in Italy...Rinaldi all the way! :D I'd suggest looking into one of their Calabria patterns or their Milano model. They both have profiles that split pretty well.
 
Personally of the ones you mentioned I would go with either the hunters axe or the outdoor axe. This is simply because I've seen a good number of reports of folks having issues with the Bushman axe, and the other two will have a more solid connection between the head and handle.

I tend to go backpacking in the Appalachian mountains along the east coast of the USA. And at times I will have one of my sons along with me and so I end up carrying extra gear, food, and depending on the destination water. That said I tend to cut as much weight as I can. The largest axe I carry currently is a 1.25 lbs head on a 19" handle which probably works out to be close to 800 grams or a little more. The other one I carry is an 8 oz head on a 12" handle that totals out at close to 1 lbs. For what you describe I would say a smaller axe would work if you want to go lighter, just something to consider.
 
Hi there!

Thank-you All for suggestions so far!

I came to know an Italian company I have never heard about (Prandi) which happen to be also very close to where I live. I'll check this out. Thanks Hickory n steel!

@ Square_peg: Thanks! That's also a product for me to consider. Looks nice. Never heard Council either.

@ Moonpath: Thank-you, I am really considering the Gransfors. I like those!

@ FortyTwoBlades: Thanks! Yes, Rinaldi has some good stuff. Own a couple of roncolas from them :thumbup:. I'll check their new catalogue.

Thanks for the suggestion Hacked! I will consider also something still in the X5 dimensions... maybe a Karesuando :)
 
Herlock said:
@ Square_peg: Thanks! That's also a product for me to consider. Looks nice. Never heard Council either.
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You're welcome.

The Velvicut has better steel than Gransfors Bruk, 5160, vs. something akin to 1055. Tougher, better edge retention.
 
I am not associated in anyway to Robin Wood, beyond being a happy customer. I don't own one of these Axes, but if I were in the market for a new Pack-Axe, this would be on my short list. Robin has taken his excellent 'carving Axe' Head and mated it to a little longer handle and called it The 'New Bushcaft axe'. At 49.00 BPS it comes to $67.05 USD. Plus $22.00 for International Postage.

http://www.robin-wood.co.uk/shop/new-bushcaft-axe/

SJ
 
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Since you are in the Milano area, go with axes which would handle the type of harder woods prevalent in your area.

I too would suggest a Council tool axe. The Council 2.5lb Velvicut Premium Bad Axe Boys Axe is a nice axe and with the shipping charges from the US its price will be closer to the high end of your planned budget.
I think the Council Tool Forest Service FSS Axe would be an excellent choice. It is made according to the (older) specification of the US Forest Service, so it is intended as a hard-use everyday tool. It is not produced any more, but is still available from a US vendor, for less than half of the price of the Velvicut Premium axe. You can request a hand-picked extra nice handle appearance for a li
It is a great all-around small axe, ideal for limbing, chopping and splitting even harder wood. The handle length is 27 inch, about 69 cm and the head weight is 2.25 puns or around 1020 gram. The total weight is 3.25 lb or 1474 g, or about 20% heavier than your stated preference. It is a well balanced axe though, a lighter head will not be so efficient.
This axe looks a little bit “bland”, but it does everything the “sexier” looking axes do and some more. It will be also more efficient at chopping and splitting than the bearded Scandinavian style axes.

Here is an enthusiastic review of the Council Tool FSS Axe:

http://outdoorenvy.blogspot.com/2013/03/comparison-council-tool-fss-boys-axe.html
 
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Hi! Thanks for suggestions :). Keep them coming!

@ ScooterJammer: Thanks for the tip. Didn't know about this brand also. It looks a good product. I will research this further.

@ Littleknife: Thank-you! it's two for the Council now... it should mean something :). Size and weight it's fine for me. Agree on the design, it's straight and simple, not super eye-catching but it's a tool for the wood, I don't have to have it run a beauty contest :D. Will search further into this.
 
I seem to have inadvertently taken on the mantle of recommending the Skrama. I'm a big fan since finding it. I have nothing to do with the company. My review is in the Knife Review and Testing section. There are times for an axe and times for a bushwhacker. I'm of the school of thought that the smaller axes are too specialised and not the best choice often. I struggle with many big bladed knives too especially if they are for chopping. Efficient wood chopping requires a full sized chopping tool.

Anyhow give the Skrama a look.

And yes excellent axes are made in Italy too. In fact Italy is making a whole lot of good blades... and guns. The wine's not bad too ;)
 
GREENJACKET said:
I seem to have inadvertently taken on the mantle of recommending the Skrama. I'm a big fan since finding it. I have nothing to do with the company. My review is in the Knife Review and Testing section. There are times for an axe and times for a bushwhacker. I'm of the school of thought that the smaller axes are too specialised and not the best choice often. I struggle with many big bladed knives too especially if they are for chopping. Efficient wood chopping requires a full sized chopping tool.

Anyhow give the Skrama a look.

And yes excellent axes are made in Italy too. In fact Italy is making a whole lot of good blades... and guns. The wine's not bad too ;)
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Hi! Yes, I have read and enjoyed your review on the Skarma :thumbup:. It's not actually exactly what I was looking for. As a curiosity, we have a dedicated bush-whacker: the roncola :)

35askg2.jpg


I use this mainly for gardening activities :). The axe/hatchet is different for me, it's more a hiking/camping dedicated tool. The roncola (and I imagine the Skarma too) can be used effectively for light camp chores but can't replace the axe I am looking for :).
 
Hi!

@ Able_walker: Thanks for this suggestion. Another brand I didn't know. Yes, it's really a very nice axe. Will look into this further.

@ REVD: Yes! I am currently looking in to Gransfors product deeply. It's one of the candidates. Thanks.
 
Herlock said:
Hi!

@ Able_walker: Thanks for this suggestion. Another brand I didn't know. Yes, it's really a very nice axe. Will look into this further.

@ REVD: Yes! I am currently looking in to Gransfors product deeply. It's one of the candidates. Thanks.
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Did you ever look into the prank axe's ?
I just looked on their website and that have a German style boys axe ( 2-1/4 lb - 1000gr and 23"-60c )model 3.011.c for 32.70 that might be a good option.
They also have some tomahawk style hatchets that may be nice.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Did you ever look into the prank axe's ?
I just looked on their website and that have a German style boys axe ( 2-1/4 lb - 1000gr and 23"-60c )model 3.011.c for 32.70 that might be a good option.
They also have some tomahawk style hatchets that may be nice.
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Hi Hickory n steel! Maybe it's me today who's bit slow (Friday :) ) but don't manage to find this that you are mentioning. Prank axe model 3.011? Is this a joke I don't get, or? :D Thanks!
 
Herlock, if you are looking into Swedish axes, I would suggest the Gransfors Scandinavian Forest axe or the equivalents from Wetterlings or Hults Bruk.
The shorter axes (like the Small Forest Axe) are more like big hatchets. For limbing and splitting the longer handle comes really handy.
I still think that for your purposes an American Michigan pattern 3/4 (or boy’s) axe would be the best, e.g. the Council Tool Boy’s axe, like the Forest Service Spec. axe.
 
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