An Axe - Seriously?

[PirateMcGee]

I'm pretty sure it is required, I have seen signs to that effect when out and about during fire season

[Borrego60]

Commies everywhere.

[coastsider]

On our recent Death Valley trip we encountered two downed trees across the trail, the axe we carried took care of the first, the second would have required a chainsaw. I take your point about a bowsaw over an axe, although a bowsaw can't split firewood. Oh, and you can't kill a zombie easily with a saw.

[craig333]

An axe requires more skill to use. Ever watch someone just chopping straight down? Also takes up much less space than a chainsaw.

[jcbrandon]

...is everyone using there axe for? I carry a bowsaw ...

I agree that a bow saw (or a chainsaw, if that's your choice) is a better tool for cutting firewood. But I think an ax is more versatile, thus more useful.

With a saw, you can only cut a limb or log that is significantly smaller in diameter than the saw is long. An ax doesn't have that limitation. An ax can split wood, a saw can't. An ax is much easier to sharpen in the field than a bow saw. An ax can be used as a big ol' hammer or pry bar. An ax is a more useful tool in an emergency or natural disaster than a saw. And although the odds are very small, should you ever need to defend yourself, an ax can be a devastating weapon.

That said, I carry a Pulaski. I've used the adze end a lot more than I have the ax blade. A Pulaski gives me two very useful tools for the cost and space of one.

[hillbillyjake]

x3 on gransfor axes. i have on in the truck. very sharp. i honestly think that it would be quicker to use a harp ax than a bow saw. i have used both. although it was a cheap bow saw versus an expensive ax, the ax won.

it is also alot easier to pound tent stakes with an ax. my $.02

[rezdiver]

depends on what else you carry, i carry an axe which replaces a hammer and pry tool. comfort and personal taste i guess, some one else will laugh at a bow saw and say why when you can carry a chain saw.

[Tennmogger]

Considering that on our last camping trip 2 weeks ago we were taking inventory of tools to cut wood for our fire. I realized I had 4 axe-type tools on board (and a small bow saw, and a machete). None of them make any obnoxious sounds and the smells that emanate from them (or their use) is purely natural. There's the small Wetterlings under the front seat, a full size single-bit in the topside box, ditto a smaller single-bit, and a Cherokee throwing tomahawk in the camper. Guess you can tell where my opinion lies.

Not much bothers me more than a generator in camp, or a power saw, but I enjoy the sound of wood being chopped. If you wear solid leather boots under your jeans you probably enjoy an axe more, and if camping in Birkenstocks and shorts is your choice, get the bow or folding saw (ok, that's tongue-in-cheek!)

But, and this is important, heed the earlier warning that using an axe is a dangerous sport (as if a chain saw isn't!!). Skill and experience makes the difference between an axe being an efficient tool or a self destruction device.

A bow saw has it's place too. A good 36" bow saw will clear a foot diameter tree from the trail much faster than an axe, and probably safer for most users. A gas chain saw in the same emergency situation makes either manual method seem dumb to even consider.

Fun discussion!

Bob

[shovelbill]

Cory.......did you actually drill holes in those perfectly good implements?

[teotwaki]

That numnutz Aron Ralston should have carried an axe instead of a rusty and dull pocket knife,,,, Much quicker for chopping off human limbs.