in hand and in use is where people will "get it" on the axe....many will pick it up, handle it, and then pass on it...we knew this going in....Honestly, when I saw it the first time I did not "get it"....then after a weekend of use in a bushcraft class I had to have one.... I was fortunate enough to have James forge one for me....after using both I can't tell one from another....the production model is identical (except the convex grind....for now) to my original... It excels around camp and carving is where it really shines....I would take this axe into the woods on our SAR missions/training specifically to knock out quick gin poles, carve notches...etc....
Holding it in your hand won't tell you much. Until you start using it you won't really get a feel for how good it really is. Just pull the trigger and get one, then take it out and use it. If you're not happy with it for some reason, I'm sure you can get most of the price back in resale, but i'm pretty sure you'll like it.
Don't get me wrong guys. I like it. After using it some more last night I amd happy I got the two of them One will be set aside specifically in the hiking and camping stuff. Even after seeing the specs before I bought it and all the photos It still seemed really small in hand. Please consider making a larger one. I'd be all over it.
Truthfully, If I have the chance to get a used one, I would try it, but I don’t see how this would be any more efficient or useable than my H&B GOShawk. If anything I’d think it would be less capable than my GOShawk. If ESEE made a tomahawk like or similar to the GOShawk, it would have my undivided attention. I can’t really pass judgment because on the ESEE Gibson axe as I have not tried it, but it seems like it’s primarily a camp/crafting tool. I know a lot of effort was put into its design.
I found the GOS to be a bit heavy in the head for me. Very capable for an axe but if i try and do finer out of character tasks it just seems heavy. To each his own. I do love the combat applications of that axe for sure but being realistic im no viking. As far as the Gibson axe, i need more time on the handle and those out of character roles to be able to comment more than its a handy dandy carving axe.
I’ll have to take some photos. It’s light in the hand but it’s a worker. I finally got one back in May. Been crazy busy and strapped for cash half the time so took way longer than planned to get one.
I haven’t taken any action shots but we’ve been cleaning up pasture. It’s been riding on my hip with my silky pocket boy in the center line systems folding saw pouch. I use a modified version of his belt keeper to have it as a “dangler”. Works great in my mind. I’m not a fan of the mask per say. The quality is fantastic but it’s kinda bulky. I would like to see kydex with shock cord for a very minimal mask. The stock one is so nice I haven’t worried about it. The other thing I don’t get is why people wrap the upper hand hold with paracord...