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Bushcraft Axe?

I.N.F.K

I.N.F.K

Joined
Jul 7, 2012
Messages
1,896
Latley I realized that I don't have any large blades for chopping, I think I only have a Ka-Bar Heavy bowie which I bent, a Ka-Bar ZK War Sword which I hate, and a Bear and Sons Gold Rush Bowie which is okay. But I have noticed that my CS Norse Hawk Mod out does most of them. So I was thinking that an nice decent quality and size axe would be a nice one up. I do have a couple old axes but they are all full size and I don't want to haul them up mountain sides. I tried to find smaller heads at my local "good" antique stores and flea markets but with no luck. Anyways I know Wetterling is supposedly on of the top picks, but there has to be more. I have always wondered about Condor and Council, so what say you?


P.S.
I'm trying to keep it under $120
 
Well, they're pricey, but they're worth it: The Gransfors Bruks Axes, either the small forest axe or Scandinavian forest axe. If you're gonna use it a lot, there are fewer axes out there for bushcrafting that are better.
 
I don't think I'll be out enough for me to get my money's worth out of a Gransfors Bruks
 
Love my Wetterlings I have the Large Hunter's model its under your price point if that's too big there is always the small model.
 
"Bushcraft" usually indicates thin cheeks and very sharp edge.

GB, Wetterlings and Husqvarna for new. Maybe an old Plumb Carpenters hatchet for used. I think COuncil is going to give you more of the convex cheeks for felling and throwing chips. You can still thin the edge out a bit though. The Council Boys Axe gets great reviews.

On a budget, I think you could do well with the old carpenters hatchet and cut down a used midsized axe handle to the length you want.

I cannot speak for Condor or Council personally though... yet.

Bill
 
Gerber makes a good and light axe for a good price. Contrary to what a lot of bushcrafters say, you don't need a fancy axe to do work. GB's are great but it's like a Busse. Yeah, Busse's are pretty cool but they don't do anything a 50 dollar Condor couldn't do.
 
If GB is too steep, Wetterlings might be what you're looking for. Their quality is downright surprising these days, and they're practically run by Gransfors co-owners. I'm backing Legion's suggestion.
 
Shotgun said:
Gerber makes a good and light axe for a good price. Contrary to what a lot of bushcrafters say, you don't need a fancy axe to do work. GB's are great but it's like a Busse. Yeah, Busse's are pretty cool but they don't do anything a 50 dollar Condor couldn't do.
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Interesting, I've always shyed away from Gerber due to their mysterious steels, and the general opinion of them.
 
Husqvarna is cheaper than the Wetterlings, and much cheaper than the GB. I have their Small Forest Axe, and have been quite happy with it.
 
If you are looking for a light camp or boy's axe, then the local pickings get slim. Estwing is one, Vermont was around, Plumb in the better stores. I see a lot of Collins displays, and then there is whatever the local BigMart might have in stock. In the short run, the inexpensive axes will get plenty of work done. As an occasional tool on weekend use, they have the best return on the dollar.

Professional grade cutting tools imported from high exchange rate countries are nice, you get what you pay for after the surcharge of importing and the money rate change. Unfortunately, it's doesn't mean a $120 ax will chop and cut 2X better than a $60 ax, and there would be some $25 ones to give both a run for the money. What we see a lot of times in a recommendation is something completely unrelated to how effective the tool might be - it's a Brand thing, and that is a whole different discussion of social interaction. Not technical excellence.
 
I prefer my GB's. My small forest axe is my go to axe for backpacking and bushcrating,but as previously stated,it's like preferring a Busse over a Becker.I must say,I do have a Cold Steel trail boss that has turned out to be a great little axe for $35. I've also had good experiences with Wetterlings and just bought a Husqvarna that will see some woods time soon. Then again,I'm kind of an axe freak. You can never have too many! But for what it's worth,the CS is a great little axe for the money,at least mine is.Yes,I've read the lemon reviews and everybody dogs CS,but I was impressed with their tomahawks after I modded them and decided to try their axe,and it's worked great so far. I will say this,expect to sharpen it out of the box and buy or make a good leather mask for the head.. The main thing with axes is learning proper use,care and sharpening to keep it in tip top condition and ready to cut when you need it too. In the end they are all just chunks of steel on a stick.
 
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Shotgun said:
Gerber makes a good and light axe for a good price. Contrary to what a lot of bushcrafters say, you don't need a fancy axe to do work. GB's are great but it's like a Busse. Yeah, Busse's are pretty cool but they don't do anything a 50 dollar Condor couldn't do.
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Good point. Analogous to the Moras, and we still get blow back on that.
 
The fiskars hatchets are solid in my experience. Don't get the splitting variants unless you are splitting.
 
LL Bean has the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe on sale @ $96 plus free shipping and a $10 gift card with purchase.

You really can't go wrong with that!
 
gruntmedik said:
Husqvarna is cheaper than the Wetterlings, and much cheaper than the GB. I have their Small Forest Axe, and have been quite happy with it.
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Same here. Best bang for the buck and it's about the perfect size for a do it all axe. I've read that in the past some of them were made by Wetterlings. Mine is only a year or two old and its made by Hults Bruks.
 
+1 for Gransfors Bruks. Small Forsest Axe or Wildlife Hatchet are my favourites. Also for a cheaper choice, but probably too small for what you want, the Estwing Sportsmans Hatchet is good value IMO.
 
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