I'm wanting an exe that de-limbs, shapes poles and I can do a wee bit of carving/shaping with. Plus it's my first axe so nothing too exspensive! suggestions?
Regards
Will
Regards
Will
starter axe
- Thread starter Wilderbeast
- Start date
Are you sure you want an axe? I went for an axe and spent lots of dosh only to find I prefer a khukri. As it can be used for brush clearing, chopping, paring and carving/shaping. Try using a few others bits of kit before you commit.
Sandsnakes
Sandsnakes
Of course you want an axe in fact you will need more than one
http://www.wetterlings.com/
Excellent axes Value for money Users
http://www.tamarackgroup.co.uk/acatalog/Axe.html
can be bought here
See how I ignored
http://www.gransfors.co.uk/gransfors%20standard axes.html
great axes slightly pricey for what you get imho but very nice tools
also worth considering
http://www.axminster.co.uk/product....&jump=44&cid=CYQAAXV67CWQ5BC8SLPEGUYCAD59YSBJ
or try e bay or local hardware stores car boots etc
-you will be surprised whats about for very reasonable costs
http://www.wetterlings.com/
Excellent axes Value for money Users
http://www.tamarackgroup.co.uk/acatalog/Axe.html
can be bought here
See how I ignored
http://www.gransfors.co.uk/gransfors%20standard axes.html
great axes slightly pricey for what you get imho but very nice tools
also worth considering
http://www.axminster.co.uk/product....&jump=44&cid=CYQAAXV67CWQ5BC8SLPEGUYCAD59YSBJ
or try e bay or local hardware stores car boots etc
-you will be surprised whats about for very reasonable costs
Did'nt you want to get something for your dad's 50th ?, problem solved, buy him one then borrow it !.
Don't know what kind of budget you have, but you can do both for about £25.
A machete will be between £10-£15.
I bought a hatchet from the local hardware store for just £12 - sharpened up lovely and use it all the time.
Depends on whether you want to be sucked in by having all the correct names and labels or not.
A machete will be between £10-£15.
I bought a hatchet from the local hardware store for just £12 - sharpened up lovely and use it all the time.
Depends on whether you want to be sucked in by having all the correct names and labels or not.
Very cheap, very quick and does everything IMHO
http://www.khukurihouseonline.com/Content/Catalog/Browse/ProductDetail.php?PID=a760880003e7ddedfef56acb3b09697f|5b414b
This comes with a rough rose wood handle for grip, i sanded mine down a bit to make it more comfortable. I would ask them to put a smaller round butt plate on the knife (they will do it for free and engrave it for free), if you have a larger hand the points of the diamind can dig in. If you want it traditional just ask for a longer handle.
Sandsnakes
http://www.khukurihouseonline.com/Content/Catalog/Browse/ProductDetail.php?PID=a760880003e7ddedfef56acb3b09697f|5b414b
This comes with a rough rose wood handle for grip, i sanded mine down a bit to make it more comfortable. I would ask them to put a smaller round butt plate on the knife (they will do it for free and engrave it for free), if you have a larger hand the points of the diamind can dig in. If you want it traditional just ask for a longer handle.
Sandsnakes
If you are sure you want to do that Viking axe throwing thing. I echo Wilderbeast, he has it right, i was 'sucked in' by what I assumed was superior knowlege. Go to a carboot sale. I picked up a brand new Rolson for £5. worked very well it was only listening to others that I needed a 'decent' axe that made me spend lots more cash on a Gransfors. Only later on to discover a khurkri..
Sandsnakes
. I echo Wilderbeast, he has it right, i was 'sucked in' by what I assumed was superior knowlege. Go to a carboot sale. I picked up a brand new Rolson for £5. worked very well it was only listening to others that I needed a 'decent' axe that made me spend lots more cash on a Gransfors. Only later on to discover a khurkri.. Sandsnakes
Depends on what you think.
Well, the old estwing steel handled hatchets have been used for decades by campers and construction workers. The handles last forever although the ones with the leather washer handles can deteriorate if not taken care of. Personally, I prefer the wooden handled versions. They are lighter and wood flexes and therefore absorbs shock much better. So if you plan on carrying a heavy load and/or do a lot of chopping, the wooden handled axe/hatchet is a much better choice imo. In the past decade or so, a lot of framing carpenters have traded in their steel handled Estwings and True Temper hammers for wooden handled hammers, simply because they are easier on the hands and arms when you are pounding all day, 5 or 6 days per week. Been there and done that.
I have seen a move among firefighters to go to fiberglass handles on their pulaski axes, simply because they will take over twice the stress that a good hickory handle will take. It could be life or death for a firefighter if he breaks the handle on his axe in the middle of a fire. Fiberglass is also a good shock absorber.
For bushcraft though, seems like a wood handle would be the best choice not only for practical reasons but for aesthetic reasons as well. IMO of course.
id say go to a boot fair and pick up some wormy, rusty old kentish pattern axe (50p mine cost after some ruthless haggling ) clean it up, make and fit yourself a new handle, sharpen it and it feels like yours.
) clean it up, make and fit yourself a new handle, sharpen it and it feels like yours.Bahco do I nice axe for about £15, I got one for Xmas and its very nice indeed (although it does have some rather bright orange paint on the lower part of the hickory handle and head). I sanded my handle down to get rid of some of the orange and rubbed some linseed oil in - much better now, great tool.
ATB, Jon.
ATB, Jon.
Yes, I sanded down the handle on mine as well - not sure I want a nice shiny, glossy slippery finish on an axe handle. Mine also had bright blue paint on the blade. I thought it looked stupid so I took it off with paint stripper. It looks the part now. Here's a picture (sorry for quality - taken on a phone camera)
To be honest, if you can wait, I agree with Saddle Tramp. I'm waiting for the Boot Fairs to start up again and then going on a hunt. I'm thinking when they start again there'll be loads of old rubbish people want to get rid of after the winter. Beginning of the boot fair 'season' may be a good time to pick up a bargain.
To be honest, if you can wait, I agree with Saddle Tramp. I'm waiting for the Boot Fairs to start up again and then going on a hunt. I'm thinking when they start again there'll be loads of old rubbish people want to get rid of after the winter. Beginning of the boot fair 'season' may be a good time to pick up a bargain.
I was at the tip early last year, and a guy was throwing away a small axe/hatchet, said to me "its no good, the heads come loose".
He gave it to me, and its a great little axe, the head was red, and is stamped up DST 1 1/4 lb. And the handle is marked "genuine hickory".
He gave it to me, and its a great little axe, the head was red, and is stamped up DST 1 1/4 lb. And the handle is marked "genuine hickory".
I have to agree with Saddle Tramp, & co. boot sales are the place to find all sorts of kit. Hatchets and billhooks do come up, normally no more than a fiver if you are good at haggling! although it will probably require more than one trip to source.
I boot reguarly and you woundn't believe the ammount of kit i have found over the years and at a fraction of retail or even s/hand values (ebay etc) I won't mention them here in case it makes people sick!
If you can be bothered to get up at daft o'clock in the morning, go as often as you can, you may not find an axe for weeks but the chances are you will come back with some handy bit of kit or something for the house, car, Etc; I've not had too many wasted trips!
Good hunting!
I boot reguarly and you woundn't believe the ammount of kit i have found over the years and at a fraction of retail or even s/hand values (ebay etc) I won't mention them here in case it makes people sick!
If you can be bothered to get up at daft o'clock in the morning, go as often as you can, you may not find an axe for weeks but the chances are you will come back with some handy bit of kit or something for the house, car, Etc; I've not had too many wasted trips!
Good hunting!
sorry about this but all advice is good but the best advice is buy a Granny burkes Small Forest Axe obviously thats just my opinion but i was told to buy one and well have never regretted it yet. Its my favourite piece of kit along with my kelly kettle.
Gransfors Bruks SFA - if only because if you visit this site often and long enough, you will probably end up buying one eventually anyway!
I held out for years against buying one for the stupid reason that everyone else uses them. I got one for Christmas and now I see what the fuss is about. Everyone else uses them because, for most British environments, they are an excellent, quality, value for money piece of kit.
I held out for years against buying one for the stupid reason that everyone else uses them. I got one for Christmas and now I see what the fuss is about. Everyone else uses them because, for most British environments, they are an excellent, quality, value for money piece of kit.
It's not about "flash labels". My point is that going cheap or different is sometimes false economy. I've had cheaper axes and hatchets and all have been found wanting in some way. If I'd have gone for the Granny B in the first place - it would have represented a saving of about £20. I say "represented" because it cost me nowt personally as it was a gift.
I agree that it's not always necessary to conform - but - as I alluded to in my first post, sometimes there is a reason why so many people have a particular piece of equipment. Sometimes it's fashion, sometimes it's a celebrity endorsement (RM?) and sometimes it's because that piece of equipment is good! I happen to think the latter in the case of the GB SFA.
The request was also for a "first axe". I think the GB is a very good all rounder - it won't fell Redwoods and it won't carve matchsticks but it will "de-limb, shape poles and do a wee bit of carving/ shaping" very well indeed (I also have a Roselli which is a bit specialised IMO plus it's more expensive and I therefore wouldn't recommend it as a first axe)
Quality axes are a damm sight cheaper than quality knives and "inexpensive" is relative. Around £45 will get you a quality, hand forged tool which should last a lifetime.
