German Hand Axe

[Ivan Owen]

I'm looking to start learning axe craft and due to limited funds am looking to cheaper alternatives to the GF small.

This german hand axe is on greenman bushcraft for £13, army surplus and not necessarily in good condition but i actually like the idea of putting in the time to sort a new handle and sharpen.

So does anyone have/had one and would they recommend it considering the above?

Cheers. Ivan.

 

[sapling]

When I was involved in a project to construct a dug out log boat, the expert who was an ancient wood working specialist (often seen on time team!) one of his axes was an East German axe not to dissimilar to the one you have linked to.
He reckoned the steel was some of the best he had ever used on an axe and he knew his axes coming from a shipwright background.

 

[Ivan Owen]

sounds good... Greenman describe the steel as 'good' quality, not excellent or anything...

 

[robin wood]

When I was involved in a project to construct a dug out log boat, the expert who was an ancient wood working specialist (often seen on time team!) one of his axes was an East German axe not to dissimilar to the one you have linked to.
He reckoned the steel was some of the best he had ever used on an axe and he knew his axes coming from a shipwright background.

Damian (I assume you are talking about Damian Goodburn) is an archaeologist and has never worked as a shipwright. He does have some nice axes though and can use them well, for an archaeologist.

 

[Adze]

He does have some nice axes though and can use them well, for an archaeologist.

Ooh cutting!

Re the OP - if you're after something to restore as well as use and funds are tight I'd seriously advise finding a car boot sale and looking out for some Kent Pattern axes. You'll likely get 2 of them for less than £13 from a car boot.

Example:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/KENT-PATTERN-...Hasdware_RL&hash=item4aa7fbf612#ht_704wt_1141

 

[harrisp]

Im bidding on one very similar to that one Adze has posted up. Not many on ebay at the moment.

 

[Ivan Owen]

Having no car means it would end up costing me more to get to enough boot sales to find than to buy the german. Gonna go for the german, i'll try review it as best i can at some point, but first axe and all i've got nothing to go on.
Cheers guys much appreciated.

 

[TFan]

I've went to my local surplus store at the weekend to look at axes. They were the same thing as picture on the Greenman Bushcraft website. If they're in the same condition as those in my local store, I wouldn't bother unless you're very good at sharpening. the blades were horribly chipped and pitted.

Spend an extra £4 on the Forest Hatchet from the same site.

 

[Andy W]

I got one of these from ebay late last year, managed to sharpen up the head no problems and the handle was in good order, a bit cheaper than quoted on the web site but then there is the postage charges. Not used it much, mostly used for chopping kindling which it copes with no problems. It also has a nail-puller which is handy if breaking up pallets.