axes

[BigAl]

I am looking for an axe with a plastic handle to keep in the jeep. Its primary job will be cutting back dead falls across trails. I saw some heavy duty fire/rescue axes but they might be overkill. Does anyone have an experience with these Gerber axes?

Virtually unbreakable polyamide handles and forged-steel heads. Camp Axe comes with a sheath, XL Axe Weight: 3.388 lbs., blade length: 3.88 in., overall length: 28.5 in.

 

[chet]

I have an axe made by Fiskars that look identical to that. sharp as hell! when it was new I could shave with it! I have beat it up pretty good the last few years and it still looks like new.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/p...older_id=1408474396672883&bmUID=1178914390191

I will say though its a little too light for heavy brush clearing or bigger camp firewood. not enough weight to really split big wood. I have taken down around a 8" tree with it though!

 

[crawler#976]

In my experiance an axe isn't the best tool for the job. Handy to have for splitting wood or making kindling, but a saw is better for removing downed timber. We have to remove downed trees here on almost any trail in the forest - 10 years of drought and high winds have made a real mess in the backwoods. South facing slopes are pretty much 100% dead for all types of pine trees...

I carry a 20" bow saw w/ a Sandvik blade. Super fast, and it will cut thru a 15" dia or larger log w/ multiple cuts.

 

[big sky trapper]

I have a gerber 10" inch pack axe and the 24" or so one. both are pretty good. A little lite for serious chopping. I think you'd be happerier in the end with a regular sized axe. Altho A little long sometimes in a jeep. Eastwing makes a heck of an axe but spendy, all metal handle and sharp as heck. Me I just use a MAX AXE any more seems a good balance between a camp axe for spliting wood in camp to heavy enough for trail work. plus all the attachments...which are fair to good for its purpose. and no more room than a regular axe in the yoda....

 

[mountainpete]

They are not a bad axe, but not the best for large deadfall. You may want to look at something bigger.

I also echo Crawler's comments - a bow saw is very effective and easy to pack. I have even been known to bring a gas powered chainsaw once...

Pete

 

[Haggis]

The Eastwing axe that big sky trapper mentioned is a darn good axe. We've been using them forever while timbering and I've seen them survive being run over by skidders and dozers, tree boles rollin' on to them and being lost in the snow for a few months. They stout axes and hold a great edge. You can get them in sizes from hatchet sized to full axe, I believe mine is a 24" or somewhere there abouts. I always carry a chainsaw (in the truck) with me and although I'm a Stihl man (best saws on the planet), I carry a circa 1975 Homelite givin to me by one of my clients, because if it gets stolen I'll just be annoyed instead of enraged.

 

[Bergger]

I too have the Fiskars version. Great axe for splitting wood for camp fires, very durable and easy to sharpen. Highly recommend it. However I too would take a bow saw for clearing larger deadfalls.

 

[loeky]

i recently purchased an axe for similar duty along with camp/firewood use. i decided on the Gransfors Bruks and went with a relatively light model.

all told, i was very happy with the quality and build of the model. it's not plastic based, but think you would be equally happy with it and highly recommend.

 

[chet]

I have even been known to bring a gas powered chainsaw once...

Pete

Haha out here on the wet coast we pack chainsaws every spring due to windfalls. there is no way I am cutting a 24" tree with a bowsaw!!! :Wow1:

 

[mountainpete]

Haha out here on the wet coast we pack chainsaws every spring due to windfalls. there is no way I am cutting a 24" tree with a bowsaw!!! :Wow1:

I remember one trip I did out in the Kamloops area a number of years back. We had a basecamp at these rustic cabins at a little lake and did day trips to other lakes for flyfishing. Nasty windstorms went through the area a week or two before. Put it this way, after chopping half a dozen trees in the first 2 km of one particular trail I decided then and there that chainsaws were, as Martha would say: "A good thing".

I don't carry one everytime I go out, but will probably invest into a small refubished unit one day strictly for this type of use.

Pete

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

I have used both Fiskars and Gerber axes and would say they are almost identical in quality. I mean hold them side by side and they even appear identical. I bought the Fiskars axe at Lowes for about the same price as the gerber axe

I use the Fiskars Axe and the gerber hatchet in my kit.

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

I don't carry one everytime I go out, but will probably invest into a small refubished unit one day strictly for this type of use. Pete

I'd agree. I have a small craftsman saw. If it didnt spew chain oil (years of basic neglect) I'd bring it with me.:xxrotflma

 

[teotwaki]

IIRC, Fiskars owns Gerber... yup. At GerberGear.com:

"Gerber Legendary Blades, a division of Fiskars Brands, Inc., ©2007"

I have a Gerber axe and a saw like this

 

[calamaridog]

Friskar makes a large variety of axes for all types of work. For carrying around in your truck, you may have to compromise and carry a smaller than ideal axe.

 

[HenryJ]

The head on my old wood handle hatchet loosened. This was my replacement.

Gerber Camp Axe

Size was part of the consideration , as was design. 18" is the maximum length for the storage location that I have.

It is made by Fiskars and works great. It has been in service for a year now.