Ax & Axes

what do you want to use it for?

I assume you are canoeing if you want to carry an ax (or doing trail work). I remembered that Piragis has a selection of very nice looking axes, including this tiny one:

http://www.boundarywaterscatalog.com/browse.cfm/4,1277.html

I didn't remember though that it was $143. There are cheaper, lightish axes out there. Cabela's offers the gerber's Back Pax for $35 for example.

The best:

http://www.gransfors.us/axes.html

The Gransförs look seriously hardcore, but also heavy.

I'm looking for a small ax that'll help with chopping up small pieces of dry, dead wood for firebuilding. Preferably something light.

T.

My bad, Michael B. Didn't fully read what you had to say.

Thanks for your post. Yep, that mini belt-axe looks like it'll do the trick.

This is what you need unless you just like chopping. This is probably the sharpest lightest saw I have ever used.

I used a couple of months ago around my parents house to trim oak tree branches, cut down small trees some up to 3" green wood and it flys through. Dont really think I could have done any better with a large saw.

Weighs 3.2 oz if I remember right.

http://www.knivesplus.com/GB-46048-Gerber.HTML

Look at the Gransfors Bruks wildlife hatchet or mini. They're small and light.

If you get a rinky dink el cheapo axe, you'll probably live to regret it. Probably. Minus a finger or knee-cap or something.

If you're going to carry an axe or hatchet, you're going to have to resign yourself to carrying the weight. Cheap, light axes are unsafe.

If you want a saw, check out the Laplander Bahco.

http://www.tools-plus.com/sandvik-bahco-396-lap.html?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=froogle&utm_term=SND396-LAP

I'm definitely a bit slow on the up-take as I never considered a saw. But, for what I'm looking for, it would suit my purposes better than an axe. (Been reading too much Mors Kochanski!)

Thanks Troy and Dave.

Tim.

I used to carry a high end (back in the 80's) large swedish take down/folding saw. Not too bad at about 8-12 oz and big. Nice saw, long blade and easy to cut wood.

That linked saw will do everything my old larger saw will do for camping/hiking, except maybe cut wood for a log cabin.

Before that back in the 70's I usually broke limbs over a tree trunk, then I fianlly got my first swiss army knife with a saw.

You would be amazed at what that little saw will do.

I still carry a swiss army knife with a saw to this day. I think I am on about my 4th or 5th one.

The Gransfors Bruks Mini is amazing for the amount of work it will do.

I also use the Gransfors Bruks hatchet and love the quality. They come razor sharp and hold the edge every well.

Gransfors Bruks are sweet but you can get a Wetterlings for half the price….

We use a saw purchased from Campmor a number of years ago — Trailblazer Sawvivor — weighs 9.5 oz with the blade. We use it to cut up everything from dead standing spruce to beach logs. It folds to nothing. There are some beaches in southeast Alaska where a saw isn't needed — littered with small pieces of drift wood above tide line — but most of the time the saw is put to good use.

I don't like an ax or hatchet not only because of weight, but the whole gaping wound thing puts me off.

Tim,

You might want to check out the Buck Folding Saw.

It was briefly noted in an issue of backpacker magazine.

Like you, I wanted something to cut firewood.

Recently took it on a trip with the family and I was able to get small firewood that I otherwise could not have gotten.

Hard to beat at less than $20 and 4.3 oz or so.

Here is a link that I found online….might find it for cheaper.

http://www.fernknives.com/buck/folding-saw/1534/

Hope that this helps.

-Tony

IMHO, small axes are worthless for real wood cutting. Most small axes were designed with splitting stove fuel, limbing downed timber, or wood working. I think they are heavy considering the cutting power they have and are dangerous in untrained and/or tired hands. A slip with a sharp axe can leave you bleeding and crippled too far up a trail. A small short axe (I call them hatchets) are not the tool that a good long handled felling axe is. It is like comparing a tack hammer with a framing hammer– similar tools designed with different purposes in mind. Many hunters carry small axes, not for cutting wood, but for butchering big game.

The Gerber Sportsman's Saw is 3+ ounces and will cut tent poles and cooking fuel. The Bahco Laplander folding saw (sold in the US as a Kershaw saw) is about 6 ounces and as stout as you need for cutting wood. Either will cut faster, more accurately and safer than the best small axe at considerably less weight and cost.

All are questionable in terms the principles of Leave No Trace. I have owned all the above and have kept the Gerber saw for emergency/survival use.

If you must have an axe, the Wetterlings and Gransfors are quality tools. The Fiskars 14" axe is cheap and available at local hardware stores and cuts well after a good working over with some sharpening tools. It makes a good vehicle kit addition and car camping tool.

Another alternative is to use the Victorinox Trekker as your pocket knife, giving you a short and very useful saw as a bonus. Many of the other Victorinox knives have a saw blade. All are adequate for cutting tent poles, stakes and emergency shelter work.