Axe or machete?

calgarychef1 said:
If you're back packing nothing beats a folding saw. There's no need to split wood, the saw can split a pelvis, you'll be carrying a knife anyway for shikking. Axes aren't exactly quiet so if you're trying to remain undetected while hunting....well you get the picture. Axes-especially small ones are responsible for a lot of trips to the hospital!! If you can't have a handle long enough on an ax to use both hands it's a danger to you and everyone else within your reach. A saw is safer, lighter, quieter and will also do damned near anything a knife and ax put together can do.

the chef
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In Canada, when we send green guys into the bush we generally equip them with buck saws so they don't hurt themselves.

The experienced guys carry razor sharp Iltis Ox-head axes and chainsaws.

For the small stuff in Canada like tag alders, a Sandvik brush axe is perfect and pretty safe.

In the equatorial jungle I let the locals swing the machetes. They're experts with them. There's nothing scarier than watching a Canadian cut open a green water coconut with a machete for the first time. :eek:
 
Another vote for a small axe. Here is my gerber "pack axe". $39.99 @ canadian tire. Very handy, and surprisingly effective for such a small axe.

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I only usually have an axe along in the truck.

A decent cheap machete can do way more useful work for me than an axe, if I have to carry it from camp to camp.
I have a folding pruning saw that weighs next to nothing, that is in my hunting bag always.

Cheers
Trev
 
I carry a machete and axe in truck but for hiking camping I bring a hatchet, it will do more than a machete. Plus a big knife for the elusive Samsquanch:runaway:
 
Backpacking for several days you need to keep weiht to a minimum. I use a Sandvik folding saw, they are very sharp, and will rip bones as well as wood.

I used to use an axe all the time on backpack trips, but eventually the Sandvik took over, was way lighter and smaller.

Without a doubt, the axe still has a place, in fact i use one every day in the winter, but Idont' want to pack one in addition to a weeks supply of gear and food.:)

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I carry a Gerber Gator medium length camp axe strapped to the side of my pack. The gerber packaxe is great but in my opinion it isn't as versatile as the medium length gerber axe as the packaxe is too short for my liking while weighing virtually the same amount as my longer model. If your going to pack an axe, you might as well pack one long enough to get the job done and especially when they are virtually identicle in weight. These gerber axes are incredibly light, the handles are holo but virtually indestructable made of a special fiberglass with a lifetime guarantee. I noticed they are making an axe like mine as a combo axe that has a detachble saw in the handle that is held in place by strong magnets. See below.

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I used to have a nice machete from the Dominican Republic, not a tourist one, but one that the locals used , $13 american at that time. Took it everywhere untill I lost it. Very usefull tool. Was lighter and thinner then most you find up here. It has its limitations though. If your planning on cutting wood over 3" diameter your better of with an axe/hatchet. Then there is what most of the trappers I know use, It looks close to this

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cdngunner said:
Then there is what most of the trappers I know use, It looks close to this

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Swedish bush axe. If I plan on trail blazing or just brushing existing ATV trails, this is the tool for the job.

Fiskars loppers work excellent (with much less effort) too,

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but I digress.
 
Depends on the purpose of the tool.
I take a saw I believe can cut more wood with less energy and I have bad luck with axes. I do use the Sandvik for brushing out trails and deer watches.
I also like the look of the SP-8 Machete.
257 Roberts
 
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