it depends

by brionic , Wednesday, August 20, 2014, 02:37 (3754 days ago) @ stonewalrus
edited by brionic, Wednesday, August 20, 2014, 02:44

on what you want to use it for.

Rough use/messing around/hiking/packing - the Cold Steel tomahawk is hard to beat. Friend Terry Barney made a really neat video showing multiple uses.

For splitting, a proper hatchet is better than a hawk, but technique is important. One is FAR more likely to injure himself with a hatchet than with a longer-helved axe if tired or using poor form. Safest use involves placing the head directly atop what you want to split and then driving the bit directly into the wood using a solid blow from a baton.

My favorite axes tend to be the "boys axe" which is usually about a 2 lb head on a 27" helve. Very useful and flexible.

I like the older axes better than most new ones, but most of the newer Swedish axes are well made. The GB mentioned above tend to be pretty good, but the are VERY expensive and are designed for use in softer woods. Still, they are sharp and ready to go, neither of which applies to any other new production axe.

Have a look at Council Tool boys axe - about $30 on Amazon... needs a bit of sharpening, as they all do, but it's the best bang for the buck.

Also, I really like the Hults and Husqvarna-branded Hults hatchets. They are burley and well made in Sweden, although the complainers bemoan the final finish on recent production runs.

I'm not too crazy about the hardware store-type axes, most of which are now made in China; Trouper is what remains of the old Collins and Mann Edge Co... they are made in Mexico. The polymer handled Gerbers are soft but work well if you don't roll the edge.

Way I look at it is, it's an axe, learn to maintain the edge and smash stuff into little bits with it, use it to hammer stakes, maybe flip burgers if you're out camping, etc, all of which can/will alter the finish, so either adjust it yourself or learn to live with it.

Remember that proper axe work is all in the technique - safety first - it should be easy and deliberate - not hard and forced. Strength is NOT part of the equation and can/will result in exhaustion or injury.

vs.