After some axe recommendations

[Lister]

SWMBO has decided to take up gardening, I've been told to get hold of branches and limbs from trees down the local woods.....not a problem says i as they're always managing the woods. I've found tons of limbs and such that are perfect for what SWMBO wants however they need tidying (limbing but on a smaller diameter) and am pondering the best axe to do this......naturally i intend to use this as a chance to get a more bushcrafty orientated axe as that's the 1 sharp i'm missing so am after suggestions.

Looking at a budget of about £40.

Intitially looking at the Fiskars X7 36cm as I've got little to no idea about bushier brands aside from Gransfors and the holy grail - the SFA :yelrotflm

 

[Harvestman]

The Fiskars axes are good. I recommend them, unless you want something more traditional.

 

[Samon]

Husky will do you fine for literally any job in our tame woodlands!



http://www.amazon.co.uk/Husqvarna-Hatchet/dp/B001U6QSZY/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1361222873&sr=8-9

or go for a hawk and have a little tidy up project for the upcoming spring.

http://www.coldsteel-uk.com/store/Tomahawks-Throwing-Axes.html

this is my hawk, a cold steel trail hawk. Cuts branches with ease and bites really bit chunks out of wood! not the greatest splitter but it will manage most moderate logs too.

 

[crosslandkelly]

How about this. http://www.gardentoolbox.co.uk/hultafors-trekking-axe-800g-15973-124754

 

[Dave]

Here Ya Go. Those surplus swedish axes are apparently the biz.

[video=youtube;yjtsVEcxMq8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjtsVEcxMq8[/video]

[video=youtube;lKRymGciSg8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKRymGciSg8[/video]

 

[swright81076]

For the tasks you're describing, and from my own experience, I would suggest you look at a billhook. I have a fiskars x3 which I prefer over my x10 and hultafors trekking classic.
I only use the hultafors for carving, and rarely use the x10 anymore.

Billhooks are underrated when it comes to backwoods tasks.

touched by nature

 

[Dave]

My Grandad had the same billhook his entire adult life. [Farmer] My Bro must have it in his basement now. Mmmm, shall have to pay him a visit.

 

[whats wrong with you all]

How about this. http://www.gardentoolbox.co.uk/hultafors-trekking-axe-800g-15973-124754

Why does this model of hultafors seem to be so much cheaper than all of the others? It's the same on other websites as well.

It it a sort of entry model into hultafors?

 

[swright81076]

Why does this model of hultafors seem to be so much cheaper than all of the others? It's the same on other websites as well.

It it a sort of entry model into hultafors?

That's not right. The head is all wrong. I've a feeling the 'proper' ones are the classic line.
The classic trekking axe looks like this

touched by nature

 

[crosslandkelly]

Why does this model of hultafors seem to be so much cheaper than all of the others? It's the same on other websites as well.

It it a sort of entry model into hultafors?

Perhaps you are right. I've used my friends one before and it seemed a very nice little axe, perfectly capable of the jobs you've described.

 

[crosslandkelly]

That's not right. The head is all wrong. I've a feeling the 'proper' ones are the classic line.
The classic trekking axe looks like this

touched by nature

What can I say, Maybe it's a new design. They are also selling this http://www.gardentoolbox.co.uk/hultafors-classic-trekking-axe-15973-126690 for £36.
Come to think of it, it must be a new design.

 

[swright81076]

What can I say, Maybe it's a new design. They are also selling this http://www.gardentoolbox.co.uk/hultafors-classic-trekking-axe-15973-126690 for £36.
Come to think of it, it must be a new design.

That's the one. Might have to have a look at the cheaper one, looks like you could get into a bowl better with it. Cheers.

touched by nature

 

[whats wrong with you all]

The head of the cheaper one looks like it has been mass produced instead of hand forged.

cheap one

Less cheap one

 

[Shovel]

The Condor axes are great. Models like the woodworker axe and greenland pattern hatchet are great, but they have other designs that you might want to look into.

 

[Samon]

fine looking tool! dammit.. now I NEED one.

 

[swright81076]

fine looking tool! dammit.. now I NEED one.

They are nice. I bought mine on holiday in the tin tent last year. I persuaded swmbo it was essential as I had to liberate some fat wood I'd found, and I'd left my other axe at home.

touched by nature

 

[British Red]

fine looking tool! dammit.. now I NEED one.

They should be. The Master Smith at Hultafors is Cegga

 

[Samon]

so is the hultafors classic still made like that? or has the design changed?

and what's the size of that one in comaprison to say, the sfa?

 

[Setantii-Tim]

Just get the Gransfors Bruk Swedish (Large) carving axe, you will not regret it.

 

[crosslandkelly]

The Trekking axe is 800g £20, The Classic Trekking axe is 500g £36. Two different beasts.