[Closed] Recommend me an axe

Following, I've been looking at them on Heinnie Hayes, but can't decide

DrJ - thought you posted on the divorce thread that you'd moved on...

Fiskars X5. I've got a couple of the bigger hatchets. Quality tools.

Gransfors Bruks small hatchet, or perhaps the wildlife hatchet. I duno they're all gorgeous

I foresee this quickly becoming an exercise in STW axe-****ery, so before it does, ask yourself if you want an axe you'll use for years and years in a variety of situations, possibly where your life may depend upon it, or you're just a bit bored and you fancy an axe that'll get used very occasionally for chopping bits of wood.

If it's the latter (and let's be honest, it's very, very probably the latter), just get something like this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/1005109763?iid=371601167381

If it’s the latter (and let’s be honest, it’s very, very probably the latter)

Of course it is, but I like ****ery too 🙂

Yep. Screwfix/B&Q.

I've got one for smashing up pallets and splitting bits of wood. Not very Artisan, but it's great for smashing up pallets and splitting bits of wood.

Cost less than the price of two fancy beers.

I bought a Husqvarna hatchet from local garden centre. Much more useful than a big axe, I am not cutting trees down, I am trimming and splitting.

It keeps a nice edge and sharpens up nicely. Nicely balanced.

Not as nice as posh things - but very functional/.

Seen this guy's stuff recommended on bushcraft/knife-making type forums

https://wood-tools.co.uk/tools/the-robin-wood-axe/

Not stupidly priced either IMO.

Otherwise I'd probably get a Fiskars. I have a Gransfors axe which is lovely but it would be hard for me to justify the price these days.

I've got a couple of non-****ery screwfix somethings. Cheap and sharpen well enough. Ideal for regular splitting small logs, kindling etc.

Have a look at Niwaki for Japanese stuff, including axes and hatchets.

Army surplus.Good as anything. Ask a mate in the countryside and they'll have a pile of heads awaiting new shafts. But a fancy nordic thing if you want to be Ray Mears of course.

IHN
Full Member

an axe you’ll use for years and years in a variety of situations, possibly where your life may depend upon it

Struggling a bit to think of any life threatening situations where an axe would be the tool of choice. Or indeed, any help whatsoever. Maybe a zombie apocalypse?

I certainly don't want to see anyone's 'chopper'  😯

Army surplus.Good as anything

I recently picked up an Elwell ex military axe head. Cost a tenner and that make is apparently very good quality.

A tenner! Gold plated was it? Guess we all have different lives of course. I cut up a couple of ex WD heads for wedges to fit other heads.
Reshafting is good fun though. Find some ash as thats easy to work and good enough and do it all with a pocket knife and the shaftless head.

Having had a look at the Fiskars - the X7 looks like it will do a job. Not too pricey and certainly not in the ****ery section of the axe shopping market

TAFKASTR - not sure the man with about 25 leathermans is really one to talk about expensive man toys being ****y. 😉

I recently picked up an Elwell ex military axe head.

Made in the west midlands I think but equivalent to Sheffield steel - good stuff.

Having had a look at the Fiskars – the X7 looks like it will do a job.

Mate has the x5 for hiking/camping in Scotland and it's really handy. Surprisingly capable for splitting kindling.

TAFKASTR – not sure the man with about 25 leathermans is really one to talk about expensive man toys being ****. 😉

🤣🤣 I was talking in the context of further up this thread

And the fact that I probably wouldn't use an axe that much

I have a Gransfors axe which is lovely but it would be hard for me to justify the price these days.

same, itss genuinely a good axe, I carve with a wildlife hatche on occasion and it goes where you want it in a nice straight line and it is comfortable and a bit lighter than the various other axes i have used. couldn't be arsed dragging it into the countryside for camping though thats a bottle of wine i can't pack. I actually think the small hatchet looks ace and its bloody tiny, not the daft short handled thing, the one that looks like you can swing it but it is micro.

But there is no chance on the planet i'm spending 150quid on a bloody axe! I wouldn't touch a fiskars though, the handles are minging for long periods of time compared to a wooden handle, also sticking a new wooden handle on is very satisfying.

Given the axe I occasionally use for work gets sharpened with a grinder I would go for something cheap with plenty of steel.

@Alpin

Belt sanders are good for sharpening/reworking axes. Certainly takes the hard work out the job.

I normally cook on gas or the trangia when camping, but its invaluable for thinning down short logs for the traditional campfire.

Small, for carrying on backpacking trips and used for general bushcraft stuff –

Don't think the weight of an axe would be that helpful backpacking, unless you're felling big trees and waiting around for them to dry out, or camping next to a log supplier.

If you're talking gathering firewood for small fires etc then maybe a good folding saw and a solid knife would be more useful.

You can cut fairly decent sized stuff with a folding saw without it bouncing back and trying to kill you, and you can split stuff with the knife and a boot/log.

A tenner! Gold plated was it?

Golden axe available for under a tenner.
Ebay wonders ...

I used to do a fair bit of wild camping back in the UK and treated myself to a Hultafors "Hatchet" (I think it was). Heinnie have one listed that is the more expensive version (I think mine was something like half that) and it was really good quality.

It now sits next to our karkelugn and it used daily for splitting logs and making kindling. We have other hatchets, some cheap (think Halfords/silverline), some old (and very good quality), but this is a really good balance between size, weight and quality of steel.

Just found it, the 600g version of this: https://www.hultafors.se/products/axes/H0261-friluftsyxa/79480

Another shout for Gransfors Bruks. They're just lovely things to use. I have the small woodland axe which fits in my old MULE with a bit of handle poking out.