Machete or Axe

[Olaf]

I,m starting to buy some kit. What do you think is the best for general fire wood cutting. The machete or a small axe? Eventually I will get both. Money dictates at the moment.
Also, I have been looking on google for a British Army machete. Anyone have any links to where I can buy one?

 

[vestlenning]

How about a Sami knife? Here's mine:

21 cm solid carbon steel blade, weighs about 300 grams - good for a lot of things!

 

[Olaf]

Very nice. How do they cost? Not what I have in mind but would consider putting on my list for future purchase. Need something a lot longer and hvy. But yes thanks for the reply

 

[shaggystu]

A saw, 100% definitely a saw.

 

[Orchard]

I use a GB wildlife hatchet, although if I wanted versatility i'd opt for a good billhook now.

 

[Olaf]

I think these look good(Biilhook). Not very expensive as well. Thanks for that

 

[Olaf]

Yeah, I,ll be getting one as well

 

[Samon]

The Martindale machetes (I think that's what you were referring to) are bloody terrible, so avoid them at all costs lol.

Billhook might be a nice alternative between the machete and axe. I'm trading this one atm, it's fully refurbished and hand forged, also a socket handle model so the best of the best imo.

 

[Stevie777]

Machete for small stuff, Axe for larger stuff. Both have there uses.
It's a energy game. ie, use the Machete to cut back small limbs with very little effort and use the Axe to chop heavier limbs with very little effort...get it wrong and you will expend great energy for very little return. They both have much more uses, i'll let someone else explain more.

 

[vestlenning]

Very nice. How do they cost?

Depends on how much of a snob one are. Take a look at Finnish webshop Lamnia at https://lamnia.com , they have lots to choose from.

Ref machete or small axe: Get a small axe first, very versatile tool.

 

[Olaf]

Aye thanks for the link. My snobbery is with computers,guns,cameras. Off course its nice to have well made tools. It depends what sort of usage you put them through.

 

[Orchard]

I think these look good(Biilhook). Not very expensive as well. Thanks for that

You're welcome mate, they're fantastic at brush clearance, will chop through a few cm's of green wood, and will be more solid than a knife for splitting. I would seriously consider Samon's refurb for the price, personally.

 

[Olaf]

I just PM him. See what he has

 

[sunndog]

For firewood, Axe and saw will beat anything short of a chainsaw

If you are on a budget look at hultafors axes an bahco saws......what size depends on how much you wanna cut and how far you need to carry the tools

 

[Olaf]

Thanks for the info. Will check it out

 

[dennydrewcook]

my personal opinion is a machete needs less skill to master and is slightly safer, because your closer to the blade and it's easier to judge where you cut but prefer to work with a hand axe because it's a little more versatile.


denny 😊

 

[Big Stu 12]

my personal opinion is a machete needs less skill to master and is slightly safer, because your closer to the blade and it's easier to judge where you cut but prefer to work with a hand axe because it's a little more versatile.


denny ��

Both are as dangerous in Hands that don't know what they are doing....

I would say, a machette is even as/more dangerous then an axe,

Stay safe buy a saw, or just use wood you can break....

 

[Goatboy]

Living and working outdoors for.years I'd say billhook or axe.
Machette/parang is great for cutting through jungle but is more limited.in.the.boreal forest - I take this is where you are?
For processing temperate hardwoods/softwoods I'd go with an axe/billhook choice - and a saw for heavy stuff.
The difference between equitorial and temperate cover is quite marked.

Sent via smoke-signal from a woodland in Scotland.

 

[Robson Valley]

For what it's worth, I've got more than 1/2 century camping and fishing in the boreal forest of western/northern Canada.
Hindsight tells me that I needed a short, small (2-2.5lb) camp axe, sharp enough to clean fish (yes, it is).
I use a dull-edged, long-handled 3.5lb wood splitter for firewood.
Of all people, it was my mother who gave both of those to me, many decades ago.
While I like the look of a bilhook and a machete, we have no celery to whack with those.

 

[Big Stu 12]

While I like the look of a bilhook and a machete, we have no celery to whack with those.

You are so misled thinking they can only cope with salad chopping....

Mine is regularly used for cutting 1" branches in one swipe, and larger with two or three swipes, you only got to sharpen then right..... and combined with the speed they can gather, the can make short work of sneeding a limb.

I do have a large selection of Axes as well, and use them just as much, but for other jobs