I have 4 choices on axe to carry, wich one do you like?

I only counted three in the photo, but I would choose the one that looks most like a saw.

Maybe the saw is the 4th option. That's the way I would go.

If an "axe" must be included in your gear, I'd bring the smallest hatchet possible.

I like the 4th. It seems to be the lightest and most versatile. Also the easiest to pack. My 2nd choice is far left. Guessing on scale from the pic, it is between axe and hatchet. So, manageable size and weight. Perhaps slightly smaller than a GB Small forest axe.

Personally, I am a saw and axe man. Unless fire ban is on, then saw only. ( portage clearing)

Will, since I only see 3, I'm going to assume your 4th is a Gransfors Bruk Outdoor Axe. Bring that. .... And a Silky Gomboy:-)

There are 3 types of people in the world; those who get math and those who do not.

All great-looking tools...If I was taking one it would be the one on the left because it looks to be the smallest and lightest. If the 4th option is invisible (aka not taking an ax) that would be my preference. I carry a saw and baton medium size logs with my knife when needed.

OCDave: "There are 3 types of people in the world; those who get math and those who do not. "

Love it! Similar to the one I've heard...

There are two types of people in this world:

1) Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data

Those all look great! My favorite is #1, the smallest, is that a Norlund? On a canoe trip I would bring #4, the invisible one. The odds of getting injured by an axe or a hatchet are much lower if you don't bring one.

The middle one looks like a Boy Scout Hatchet made by Plumb. Any one of them will work better than the fourth option.

Of the three actually pictured, the one on the right is the safest but heaviest. If you miss your target the other two will go into your shin or lower leg, the third will go into the ground. I don't like hatchet for that reason. If I do bring a hatchet I usually drop to my knees to use it for safety reasons.

RunningFox: "The middle one looks like a Boy Scout Hatchet made by Plumb. Any one of them will work better than the fourth option."

It is a boy scout plumb, it is the best splitter.the 2 GB's are great tools , but #4 is my first choice lightweight, takes up no pack space and is not going to cause any injuries. A small pruning saw will do a little clearing and make any firewood that is needed

Z4K: "Those all look great! My favorite is #1, the smallest, is that a Norlund? On a canoe trip I would bring #4, the invisible one. The odds of getting injured by an axe or a hatchet are much lower if you don't bring one."

It's a GB, it gets used a lot to feather kindling in the basement.
I am totally with you from the safety standpoint, I am the guy wearing chaps hardhat, full PPE while cutting firewood from a pile. 15 years wildland firefighting has trained me to be risk adverse.

GB Wildlife Hatchet has proven invaluable on some wet mornings.
Signed, 10Fingers10Toes

YetiJedi: "

OCDave: "There are 3 types of people in the world; those who get math and those who do not. "

Love it! Similar to the one I've heard...


There are two types of people in this world:


1) Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data"

There are 10 types of people in the world:

Those who understand binary and those who do not.

Recently, I've taken a liking to the hand axes that aren't intended to be swung. They are pretty much just splitting wedges with a handle. It's lighter and safer than most any axe, and much more useful than only a knife. As long as it is used properly that is.

That pretty much sums up the plumb, it and a 2 lb dead blow hammer is the ideal kindling maker

one on the left

Depends on what degree you are needing a fire. If you are planning on cooking over the fire for most of your meals, then I would bring both an axe and a saw. I would choose the full length axe in that case.

However, if you aren't depending on a fire other then evening entertainment or a meal or two, then I would just bring a good, dependable saw.

Minnesotian: "
Depends on what degree you are needing a fire. If you are planning on cooking over the fire for most of your meals, then I would bring both an axe and a saw. I would choose the full length axe in that case.
Yeper

However, if you aren't depending on a fire other then evening entertainment or a meal or two, then I would just bring a good, dependable saw. "

yeper

A1t2o: "

YetiJedi: "

OCDave: "There are 3 types of people in the world; those who get math and those who do not. "

Love it! Similar to the one I've heard...



There are two types of people in this world:



1) Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data"

To man] 6p

There are 10 types of people in the world:


Those who understand binary and those who do not."

The first one I'll call the "Trip-Ender", the second one "Ankle-Biter" and the third "The Desanguinator".

I'll take the fourth, saw-shaped one.

cmanimal: "one on the left"

That would be my choice... it’s sad we have to make judgements on safety and the whole gammot. Some things do have more risks. But if used as intended there is minimal risk. Leaving it at home may be less risk... but it’s hard to teach proper use if there are no tools to teach with. And not only teach safety but respect for surroundings and what not to do with such a tool.

I default to telling people who ask about axes without describing sufficient skill/experience that they should not bring an axe on a trip at all until they've learned how to properly use them. To those who don't know what I could possibly mean because they think all there is to axes is swinging away at wood, well, that's further proof they shouldn't be out in the wilderness wielding one yet.

Speaking for myself:

In summer, no axe at all.

In winter, a 28" boy's axe with a head no heavier than 2.5 lb. My go-to is a USFS spec boy's axe by Council Tool, but I am trying to get my hands on a Rinaldi Calabria.
I am not very fond of Gransfors, but they have marketed themselves into a position of dominance among amateurs with limited experience with different axe types and manufacturers whereby their recommendation gets self-perpetuated in forums by default. They're far from bad...just overrated.

sns: "The first one I'll call the "Trip-Ender", the second one "Ankle-Biter" and the third "The Desanguinator".


I'll take the fourth, saw-shaped one."

Tools are only as dangerous as the person using them. I have probably accidentally drawn more blood with a saw than an axe.

Unas10: "Tools are only as dangerous as the person using them. I have probably accidentally drawn more blood with a saw than an axe"

Amen to that. The nastiest cut I've had in the BWCA is from my Silky Katanaboy.

I would take the smallest one. I only use a hatchet to split wood via the method where the hatchet stays still and gets driven into the log with another piece of wood. So, a small one does the job for me.

Also considering not bringing one at all. Not sure we really need it as we can usually find sufficiently small wood that it doesn't need splitting.

A1t2o: "

YetiJedi: "

OCDave: "There are 3 types of people in the world; those who get math and those who do not. "

Love it! Similar to the one I've heard...



There are two types of people in this world:



1) Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data"

There are 10 types of people in the world:


Those who understand binary and those who do not."

I was waiting for that one :)

I take two hatchets one to pound stakes in the ground if needed. I use two when I split wood, one to pound the top of the other. I've found that split wood burns better. A hammer and a hatchet would work also.
I tried to chop off my thumb with a hatchet while camping one time. The cause was stupidity and impatience, so I don't like hatchets for that reason. I'm no genius but even they have mental and emotional lapses at times.

Love the choppers. Nice set.

I have a Brant and Cochran Dirigo Belt Axe with a custom 20" handle — so it's more like a 'camp axe'. Love the weight (2#'s) for splitting, and it's fantastic for making kindling and wood shavings.



I also have the GFB Outdoor Axe. For packing, it's hard to beat a 14" axe that weighs about a pound, and the head shape makes it solid for splitting small rounds. Makes easy work of kindling and wood shavings as well.

In either case, I don't use an axe to make kindling or wood shavings, I have knife for those tasks.

I s'pose which axe you want to bring is determined by how much (how big) of wood you want to process, and how much weight you want to tote around.

I like to take a small hatchet and a good saw. Mine are a Gransfors Wildlife Hatchet and a Silky Big Boy.

The hatchet only gets used if I find a very nice dead and downed spruce. I cut the tree into sections about 6-8 inches long and baton the hatchet with a piece of wood. No swinging. Makes quick work of small logs.

OTOH I spent a summer doing Outward Bound courses up there and only collected firewood that could be broken by hand. You really don't NEED a saw and certainly don't need an axe to make a fire in the BWCA. You can usually gather enough dry wood without resorting to tools.

They are nice to have though.

Brian

BrianDay: "I like to take a small hatchet and a good saw. Mine are a Gransfors Wildlife Hatchet and a Silky Big Boy..."

Same. Although, I will admit that I enjoyed the weight savings on our fire ban trips...

#1. Gransfors-Bruks axes are worthless. (They're nothing but marketing)
#2. Take a saw.

KarlBAndersen1: "#1. Gransfors-Bruks axes are worthless. (They're nothing but marketing)
#2. Take a saw."

I wish that I had known that earlier...

schweady: "

KarlBAndersen1: "#1. Gransfors-Bruks axes are worthless. (They're nothing but marketing)
#2. Take a saw."

I wish that I had known that earlier...




"

Maybe he got a bad one. I've had mine for about 20 years with no complaints.

B

I bring a sven saw with a smaller estwing axe and have been doing so for like 12 years. Never have problems. I stray away from fires in the summer inless nessisary for cooking but in the fall and early spring when it's cold out I do like a nice fire.

easy question : the middle axe

BrianDay: "

schweady: "

KarlBAndersen1: "#1. Gransfors-Bruks axes are worthless. (They're nothing but marketing)
#2. Take a saw."

I wish that I had known that earlier...




"

Maybe he got a bad one. I've had mine for about 20 years with no complaints.


B"

I have heard that many times. It's funny how everyone wants to use my Wilderness or Outdoor axe after actually using them in the woods:)

schweady: "

KarlBAndersen1: "#1. Gransfors-Bruks axes are worthless. (They're nothing but marketing)
#2. Take a saw."

I wish that I had known that earlier...

"

LOL!

...and axe marketing in general is really meh.