An Axe - Seriously?

[stioc]

Bow saws are an excellent and cheap alternative to chainsaws especially when it comes to cutting down green trees. I've cut down palm tree limbs in my yard that were 7" in diameter in literally 30 secs using my Sear's bowsaw. However, for chopping up and splitting dry firewood I use my Fiskar's axe. BTW, when it comes to safety long handled axes are preferred over short handles because if you miss the swing a smaller hatchet will go right for your shin.

[fasteddy47]

Back to the point, I postulate that a proficient woodsman could take a sharp axe out of his storage spot in his rig and clear a 12" tree from a trail and be rolling again faster than they could get a chainsaw out, don the necessary safety gear (chaps, helmet, eyes and ears), start and and warm the saw, clear the same tree, and then put it all back away.

My .02. Btw, I've lurked for a while and decided to finally say "hello." I'm usually on tacomaworld

I agree about the 12" tree with an axe......it's the 24" inch trees in PNW that you gotta worry about!!!

Cheers
Eddy

[psykokid]

On a recent trip through some backroads in lassen national forest came across a downed tree that was blocking the connector road we were on. Dispatched it in about 5 min with my trusty Hults Bruks 1 1/4lb axe that was a hand me down from an old family friend who passed away recently. Saved me from having to turn around and back track then re-route around the fallen tree.

[Sirocco]

I bought a 'new' axe recently.

Some blurb and pics here: http://siroccoverland.com/2012/06/25...-axe/#more-470

2a.jpg

Used it just this weekend gone. I did have a similar size Fiskars but I have always wanted a Gransfors Bruks. The head is slimmer and overall it is a touch lighter and the handle 2-3" longer. Great for limbing trees and splitting wood.

G

[teotwaki]

Really nice photos of the axe on your site!

I bought a 'new' axe recently.

Some blurb and pics here: http://siroccoverland.com/2012/06/25...-axe/#more-470

2a.jpg

Used it just this weekend gone. I did have a similar size Fiskars but I have always wanted a Gransfors Bruks. The head is slimmer and overall it is a touch lighter and the handle 2-3" longer. Great for limbing trees and splitting wood.

G

[1stDeuce]

It's bling for 99% of the axes you see I'm sure. But that said, I carry one on camping trips in CO and WY. For wheeling, particularly in the spring, I carry a chainsaw, as I tend to do a lot of trail clearing. For weekend trips later in the summer, the ax gets the nod because it takes WAY less space (it rides in the round tube behind the bumper in my TJ) and weighs less, and because by that time, I'm more interested in getting through (or rather back out!) than doing a bunch of clearing. With all the beetle kill that we have out here now, you really need to have something to cut a tree out of the way if you need to. They are starting to come down a lot now, and can trap you in your campsite, or on a back road with no exit, etc after even a moderate bit of wind. I just chop them through at the base, and then winch them off into the woods.

I don't really cut firewood with it, as that's a pain to chunk it up with an axe, but most places in Colorado have an abundant supply just laying around in the woods thanks to the Forest service, so the axe does a bit of splitting occasionally. And I don't really care for fires lately anyway. For starters there's a total burn ban in most of Colorado, but I'm tired of being smokey, dry-eyed, and fried every morning of my trip.

Oh, i also carry a Gerber Gator, which is a sweet folding saw. I highly recommend them! They come with a wood blade and a "bone" blade. The wood blade makes short work of smaller branch cutting, up to about 5". Good for cutting firewood, hacking an arm off, or building a makeshift bridge over the occasional raging river!

[Momrocks]

Loppers.jpg

When I am off-road, I stick to established trails. I have never seen a need for an axe. I do however find a set of loppers very useful for widening the way when a stray branch has grown over the trail and threatens the truck's paint.

INMHO the vast (overwhelming) majority of axes seen mounted on non first responder vehicles serve an aesthetic purpose not a utilitarian purpose. I have been on trails with logs felled across but wouldn't spend the day making two cuts with an axe if the tree was so large it couldn't be winched aside.

With aftermarket bumpers, sliders and winch my rig already looks like a poseurmobile, I'm not going to mount an axe for even more attention.

[HARDTRAILZ]

When I am off-road, I stick to established trails. I have never seen a need for an axe. I do however find a set of loppers very useful for widening the way when a stray branch has grown over the trail and threatens the truck's paint.

Are you F'ing kidding me? An established trail never has trees fall on it?

Worried about paint and off-road...need to rethink some things. If you are worried about your paint, you may put yourself or others in a dangerous or life-theatening position.

I have been on trails with logs felled across but wouldn't spend the day making two cuts with an axe if the tree was so large it couldn't be winched aside.

Lazy. Hopefully the next people on the trail will do the maintenance so you can enjoy the trail in the future... You will be screwed if you are ever on a real trail that you cant turn around on...may be sitting for days waiting for someone to come do the cutting work for you.

With aftermarket bumpers, sliders and winch my rig already looks like a poseurmobile, I'm not going to mount an axe for even more attention.

Put it inside. It is a tool and a damn good one. Maybe some trail scars and scratches would get rid of your poseurmobile look.

[teotwaki]

When I am off-road, I stick to established trails. I have never seen a need for an axe. I do however find a set of loppers very useful for widening the way when a stray branch has grown over the trail and threatens the truck's paint.

INMHO the vast (overwhelming) majority of axes seen mounted on non first responder vehicles serve an aesthetic purpose not a utilitarian purpose. I have been on trails with logs felled across but wouldn't spend the day making two cuts with an axe if the tree was so large it couldn't be winched aside.

With aftermarket bumpers, sliders and winch my rig already looks like a poseurmobile, I'm not going to mount an axe for even more attention.

If we took a nose count there are probably a small percentage of Expo member's vehicles with winches. Of that number of winches I'd wonder how many ever even have the cable unspooled let alone used offroad. An axe is light and easy to carry and can be carried out of sight unlike a properly sized and mounted winch.

I don't have a winch and have had two incidents where a winch would have been nice but since I was not alone a recovery strap worked. Trees are not a huge problem in SoCal and I have only had to use an axe on two modest sized trees across the trail. A bow saw and loppers get a lot more use on local trails.

[Momrocks]

Are you F'ing kidding me? An established trail never has trees fall on it?

Worried about paint and off-road...need to rethink some things. If you are worried about your paint, you may put yourself or others in a dangerous or life-theatening position.



Lazy. Hopefully the next people on the trail will do the maintenance so you can enjoy the trail in the future... You will be screwed if you are ever on a real trail that you cant turn around on...may be sitting for days waiting for someone to come do the cutting work for you.



Put it inside. It is a tool and a damn good one. Maybe some trail scars and scratches would get rid of your poseurmobile look.

Awesome post!