Hey hey...Looking for some suggestions on a good camp axe. I've been doing a little research and I think a 20" handle would work for me. Not gonna be chopping logs, just splitting some small firewood and clearing some limbs around camp. I want something that's quality and gonna last. Swedish? Thanks in advance
H and B. Gransfor. Those two are the ones ive used in that length and ive been happy with them. Id like to try an estwing someday but with 5 axes the desire is very low.
I've had a Husqvarna 'Multi-Purpose' axe for years and been very happy with it. It was actually made by the Swedish axe maker "Hultafors" and they are quite good quality for the price. 26" handle. Great for felling/limbing/moderate axe work.
I'm really wanting a similarly sized ax too. I have a CRKT Chogan Hawk with a 19" handle that I love and a few 28" boys axes from estate sales. For me Im thinking a 22" would be perfect. It seems that 22" is kind of a bastard size. Most come in 19" or 24". I did find a Council Tools Velvicut Hudson Bay with 22" on bcusa for $115. That's a good price and still for sale. I wanted it BAD but no funds. Hes interested in trades too. I can pass on contact info if interested. I dont think swedish vs American really matters as long as it's not Chinese lol and you find the right length and weight for you...
My local TSC is carrying Husqvarna axes now, I have wanted that 26" for a couple years but they want more than I am willing to pay at TSC.
we have a similar use case and i actually find that i like my fiskars x15 chopping axe more than my gransfors bruks scandinavian axe because i mostly split logs at camp more than anything else. the head shape is better suited for splitting but it's still narrow enough to chop decently...and for under $50 shipped i have it stashed in my camp that i frequent the most. in the unlikely event someone finds it and steals it it's not that expensive to replace immediately.
Yeah, seems like prices have gone up on them. I think I payed around $50 for mine at the time, which was great price for the quality.
The local hardware store sells Collins brand and id imagine it could be found all over. If your willing to do some edge work with a file they have a boys axe thats pretty close to what youre looking for.
I know this maybe blasphemy but I have been using the crap out of a Cold Steel Trail Boss for years, I have beaten the crap out of this thing and its still going. Don’t get me wrong I love my Swedish and Italian Axes and a huge Collins fan.
I didn't realize that fiskars has a axe in that size. Fiskars will definitely get the job done. They don't have the best feel to me but they work. I find that a 18" or so machete does a better job at clearing limbs for me than an axe or hatchet i don't know what size firewood you are splitting but a hatchet and machete combo may be better for what you want to do.
I’ve had the Gerber version of that size for over 10 years and love it. Might not be as pretty as the Swedish options, but it totally gets the jobs done. I eventually picked up their splitting ax 2 for busting up larger whole rounds and the Fiskars 22” machete for clearing limbs mainly because I was impressed with the two axes and the machete’s handle was uniquely more comfortable that others I’ve used.
After reading reviews, went with a 20" Wetterlings Outdoor Axe 118. Large enough for 2 hands, but small enough to strap to a pack. Similar to the Gränsfors Bruk Small Forest Axe. Since 1880 they were hand forged in Sweden by a shop that employed 9 people. Gränsfors Bruk bought the company in 2017, discontinued the brand, and now the forge produces only GB axes. Shame to see a small business disappear. These are hard to find, but some are out there.
My GB Wildlife Hatchet. And information on it. https://www.gransforsbruk.com/en/product/gransfors-wildlife-hatchet/ It's small enough to fit completely inside my bag, but big enough to be useful.
my plain jane collins HB (not velvicut) cost less than $40 and works great as a limbing axe 1 handed and will chop pretty decent 2 handed. yes, it needs a little attention when it first comes home, but so do most others. Condor Greenland is another one that works well once the cheeks are thinned.
I'll admit, my GB hatchet was more like $140., but sometimes you just have to splurge when you want the best in a particular item. This one ticked all the boxes for me, starting with a Rockwell hardness of 57, which is basically non existent in most other hatchets, as far as I know. I did an awful lot of research before buying.
I don't think $140 is that crazy, the GB Wildlife Hatchet is awesome! That's what the ESEE Cleaver costs.