Choosing a new axe

[bananmand]

Hi there, i am fairly new to bushcraft, but i already love it
I have all of the equipment i need for the future, the only thing missing is an axe.

Last year i got a hultafors 80 cm (32") 1500 g felling axe, and have used it ever since, but last month i broke the axe, and need a new one. I feel like the axe is a little too big, especially for finer woodwork and carving, so i am thinking about getting a smaller axe. I am looking for an axe big enough to cut down small trees with, but still small enough to do rough carving with. I am thinking about getting a longer axe with a smaller head, 60-70 cm and 800-1000 g head. If you have any recoomendations both relating to length and weight, or to a brand i would love to hear it

It will mostly be used for gathering firewood, making shelters and to projects like making bows.

 

[punkrockcaveman]

Gransfors bruks small forest axe is nice and handy size. 19" handle is useful for both single and double handed use. I think the head weight is 1.5 lbs. I've heard great things about the Scandinavian forest axe, which is a little larger, but I've not tried it personally. I imagine it would perform better for the double handed work but a little hefty for single handed stuff

 

[Janne]

Gränsfors Small Outdoor axe, Wildlife hatchet, Small hatchet or Hand hatchet.

Less weight, will do the same job with just a tiny bit more effort. The trees you are taking down, how thick trunk diameter are they?

I have used a Wildlife hatchet for years, on up to 15-20 cm wood.

It is not the size and weight, but sharpness.

 

[srod]

Fiskars axes... not very traditional looking but good value and do the job. Unbreakable shafts supposedly.

I recently bought an X17 for splitting firewood for home, it's a delight to use.

I say the X15 or possibly X10 would be excellent tools for the sort of thing you are after.