Good all round axe. Help please

Stevie

Backpacker
Hi all,

Looking at buying an axe for camping. Looking to spend circa £50 with a length around 50cm or so.
Can anyone suggest a good all rounder please? I've looked at several online but without being able to try them it's hard to make up my mind. Suggestions welcome please.

Many thanks,
Stevie
 

Mole

Thru Hiker
It does mean that Ed.

I don't know what sort of camping Stevie does - I guess it's on private woodland, bushy style camping if an axe is used.

That Hultafors looks pretty reasonable.

I like GB axes but find the handles a bit fat to grip - and I have fairly large hands.
 

Stevie

Backpacker
For the best all round pocket rocket its hard to beat the GB outdoor axe

http://www.gransforsbruk.com/en/product/gransfors-outdoor-axe-2/

Thanks fella,

Had a look at the Hultafors range and quite like the look of the carpenters axe in the youtube reviews.
Would love a GB but a bit rich for me.

Do you know anything about the Hultafors Carpenters axe?
I appreciate its designed for dry wood tasks but seems rather capable.

Many thanks,
Stevie
 

Mole

Thru Hiker
A carpenters axe will not be an all rounder?
Not great for felling and very poor for splitting anything 'loggy'

Blade will be thin and edge end squarer
 

Stevie

Backpacker
Totally confused guys. Perhaps its me, I'm visual, not one for reading between blurred lines. Can you shed any light on the above two comments please Ross and edh?
 

Mole

Thru Hiker
I'm not a bushy, but have used axes for work for years,*and was taught by older men who worked with axes for years.
Bushcraft is a new thing really.

If it wasn't for treework, hedgelaying it was green woodworkers who mostly used sharp axes.

Most UK Bushcrafters appear to look to modern Scandinavian designs, despite the UK having had a mass of good axe producers in the past - and plenty still available secondhand.

* have the scars to show for it!
 

EM - Ross

Thru Hiker
Er...... Trek-lite.com :o o:

Ti anyone.... :D

Thinly disguised haunt of UK bushcrafters with secondary strings to their bow-drill

Totally confused guys. Perhaps its me, I'm visual, not one for reading between blurred lines. Can you shed any light on the above two comments please Ross and edh?

I know I'm a lightweight but that is going too far :D

I was alluding to lightweight backpacking and the carrying of an axe; mutually exclusive?

@Stevie - In response to Edh's comment - Despite the title & tagline of this site there's a lot of bushcrafters here. If my perception is correct they include the founder & a lot of early members so I'd expect you'd get a response - as you have.
 

Scotty Von Porkchop

Ultralighter
I actually like a 1.25-1.5lb kentish style axe for a lightweight carver and general purpose camp axe.
The modern style Scandinavian style ones are much better for splitting though BUT you can pick up a vintage British made kentish style on a boot sale for a few quid.

I could be entirely wrong though as my axe was 50p and has 'chip chop no 1' stamped on it. Its like a one eyed ugly dog, I love it in spite of itself?
 

Tartanferret

Thru Hiker
I rate the GB wildlife hatchet but has been said it's a "Bushcraft" thing.

A Laplander saw goes through green wood like butter but so does the sawblade on my SAF (Swiss Army Knife). I don't carry either for lightweight backpacking.

Meths cooking, "leave no trace" ;):):):)
 

Sunndog

Backpacker
cheap range of Hultafors?.....lot of axe for the money, good steel and haft wood but be prepared to re-profile the edge. I had to on the two i'v got

Wetterlings?......little bit rough around the edges compared to gransfors. I broke two bits on two consecutive axes so lost faith in the brand

Gransfors?......don't worry be happy

Fiskars?.....perfectly fine axes if you don't mind polymer hafts. but cracking value
 

EM - Ross

Thru Hiker
...BUT you can pick up a vintage British made kentish style on a boot sale for a few quid.

I could be entirely wrong though as my axe was 50p and has 'chip chop no 1' stamped on it. Its like a one eyed ugly dog, I love it in spite of itself?

Love it! The best kind! I know nowt about axes but have a vintage hammer I got from a car-boot I use daily & just seems perfect balance, weight & right in the hand for what I use it for. Your post made me look it up as I also know knowt about hammers & as I appreciate the tool so much I ought to know what it is. A hand drilling hammer.


A Laplander saw goes through green wood like butter but so does the sawblade on my SAF (Swiss Army Knife). I don't carry either for lightweight backpacking.

SAK saws are under-rated IMO. As a young 20 year old house owner (them were the days) I used one to cut pine tongue & grove for a sauna look bathroom! (it was the early 80's)
 
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