Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Power Equipment & RV => Topic started by: engelwood on March 03, 2011, 07:29:20 PM

Title: Which Axe? Suggestions?
Post by: engelwood on March 03, 2011, 07:29:20 PM: I'm looking for a cheaper but quality axe to take on a wilderness trip. I'm debating between the Kershaw Camp Axe and the Gerber Camp Axe. Kershaw is 11" and the Gerber is 15". Gerber is approx. $45 and Kershaw is approx. $35. Anyone have either of these? Only other thing I need to make sure of other than the fact that I need it not to break is that I need to be able to drive nails with the backside of it.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Which Axe? Suggestions?
Post by: Wazukie on March 03, 2011, 07:37:31 PM: I have the Gerber that has the saw inside the handle. Its a great little axe for its intended purpose. The saw, well its pretty much worthless. Its made well and has held up very well. I suppose you could drive nails with it if one needed to.
Title: Re: Which Axe? Suggestions?
Post by: Sumpnneedskillin on March 03, 2011, 07:38:40 PM: Fiskars. I don't have the X5 or the X7 which are shorter and designed for backpacking but I have one that is about cruiser axe size. I've used it several times on oak trees when I was stationed in San Diego. It went through them like a hot knife in butter. According to the Fiskars website the X5 and X7 run about $30.
Title: Re: Which Axe? Suggestions?
Post by: huntandjeep on March 03, 2011, 07:54:42 PM: Ive got 2 Gerber axes and there great.
Title: Re: Which Axe? Suggestions?
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on March 03, 2011, 08:04:34 PM: Check out the Natchez Shooter's Supply site. I got one of the Gerber backpack axes a while back for under $30. It's the 9" OAL model, with a knife in the handle, nylon belt sheath. Haven't used it yet, but it's in my truck all the time. Could be used for driving nails, but a longer model might be better for that. Mine's so cute, I couldn't pass it up.
Title: Re: Which Axe? Suggestions?
Post by: flinger on March 03, 2011, 08:21:16 PM: Fiskars. I don't have the X5 or the X7 which are shorter and designed for backpacking but I have one that is about cruiser axe size. I've used it several times on oak trees when I was stationed in San Diego. It went through them like a hot knife in butter. According to the Fiskars website the X5 and X7 run about $30
X2 :yeah:
Title: Re: Which Axe? Suggestions?
Post by: Buckmark on March 03, 2011, 08:49:19 PM: Some of the best if not the best,
http://www.gransfors.com/htm_eng/index.html (http://www.gransfors.com/htm_eng/index.html)
http://www.gransfors.us/axes.html (http://www.gransfors.us/axes.html)
Title: Re: Which Axe? Suggestions?
Post by: engelwood on March 03, 2011, 08:57:28 PM: Quote from: Buckmark on March 03, 2011, 08:49:19 PM
Some of the best if not the best,
http://www.gransfors.com/htm_eng/index.html (http://www.gransfors.com/htm_eng/index.html)
http://www.gransfors.us/axes.html (http://www.gransfors.us/axes.html)

:o :o I sure hope they are the best at $115!!!! LOL. A little out of my range for this one... Thanks for the idea though!
Title: Re: Which Axe? Suggestions?
Post by: timber tiger on March 03, 2011, 09:16:07 PM: Fiskars x3 they are durable light and cheep they also hold a better edge than most for the same price
Title: Re: Which Axe? Suggestions?
Post by: Buckmark on March 03, 2011, 09:33:03 PM: http://www.gransfors.com/htm_eng/index.html (http://www.gransfors.com/htm_eng/index.html)
http://www.gransfors.us/axes.html (http://www.gransfors.us/axes.html)
[/quote]

:o :o I sure hope they are the best at $115!!!! LOL. A little out of my range for this one... Thanks for the idea though!
[/quote]
Cheap tools are cheap tools... ;)
The gerber or fiskar can do the job....
Title: Re: Which Axe? Suggestions?
Post by: engelwood on March 03, 2011, 09:42:50 PM: Yeah, it's not like I mind spending money on the things that count, but bottom line is that I can do without the axe if I had to on this trip. Thanks again.
Title: Re: Which Axe? Suggestions?
Post by: woodswalker on March 03, 2011, 09:50:07 PM: Get the Fiskars that is the size you want, I have several and love them...and the X27 splitter is the BOMB. I tend to like longer handles... the discontinued @7858 is the one that i like the best.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fiskars-7858-Pro-Chopping-Axe-/260741451335?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cb566ce47#ht_1418wt_1081 (http://cgi.ebay.com/Fiskars-7858-Pro-Chopping-Axe-/260741451335?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cb566ce47#ht_1418wt_1081)
:twocents:

The current line: http://www2.fiskars.com/Products/Yard-and-Garden/Axes-and-Striking (http://www2.fiskars.com/Products/Yard-and-Garden/Axes-and-Striking)
Title: Re: Which Axe? Suggestions?
Post by: ICEMAN on March 04, 2011, 05:23:12 AM: Why do you need it to drive nails on a wilderness trip?
Title: Re: Which Axe? Suggestions?
Post by: Skyvalhunter on March 04, 2011, 05:46:15 AM: Of coarse you wouldn't be building anything in a wilderness area though correct?
Title: Re: Which Axe? Suggestions?
Post by: KillBilly on March 04, 2011, 05:52:50 AM: I have 3 different sized Gerber Axes and I highly recommend them.
Title: Re: Which Axe? Suggestions?
Post by: Rgrady35 on March 04, 2011, 07:27:21 AM: Try Ragnars forge, they got some really cool stuff there at a reasonable price. I got a axe from them a few years ago. It's been a great camp axe,the one I have was made in Switzerland. http://www.ragweedforge.com/ThrowingCatalog.html#cs-hawk (http://www.ragweedforge.com/ThrowingCatalog.html#cs-hawk) Their selection has gotten smaller, but still a few there.
Title: Re: Which Axe? Suggestions?
Post by: Black Plague on March 07, 2011, 08:55:44 PM: I have found that a nice sized rock will pound a nail as good as anything....are you planning on building a cabin out in the woods...or are you pounding big o fatty nails into trees for climbing up'm? I guess I am just curious because a have never thought to bring nails with me when camping... now, I have used the backside of my gerber to pound in some tent stakes before and that worked fine...but then again in a pinch I always revert back to mother natures hammer....the rock. :twocents:
Title: Re: Which Axe? Suggestions?
Post by: HoofsandWings on March 07, 2011, 09:34:29 PM: I have found the longer the handle, the better the chop.
The axe that you can sharpen to a cutting edge that cuts paper. My camp axe is shorter, but I shave with it.
But all is naught if you don't know how to swing it.
Learning how to cut wood is what takes the longest. It does take practice. My father gave me an axe and a machette and pointed to 5 acres when I was 12. You learn alot spending your summers falling trees.