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Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 1:17 am
by Geno
I recently had an older axe stolen from my truck. Not sure of the forge or maker. Pretty old piece,but easy to sharpen and stayed sharp with minimal amount of sharpening. I want to replace it but don't want to overdo it in the price department. I found the old one at a "yard sale" type of event. Any suggestions for a brand to seek out or to avoid. Thanks, Geno

Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 2:47 am
by yagreg
I can't stand a damn thief.

Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 2:56 am
by nemo
Any older plumb, Kelly, Collins, true temper, craftsman or other U.S. made steel. A good older serviceable axe can be had for under $20, at flea markets they can be found for $5 and up. Just make sure handle is solid and not loose. Also look at the bit length and condition, no major damage or ground too far down. A little clean up on a rusty POS will reveal a gem sometimes.
I own 75+ axes and hatchets, by far this is my favorite. It’s a 50’s era Collins in the jersey pattern weighing 3lbs. Cleaned it up and hung It on a 26” kustom ash handle.

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Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 3:03 pm
by richief
Just out of curiosity Nemo, what are some of the reasons that axe is one of your favorites? Anything you can put your finger on? Utility, asthetics, some of both?

Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 3:57 pm
by Dave1965
serial killer?

Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 4:10 pm
by ssracer
I really like my hults bruk...they ain’t real cheap though.


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Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 4:57 pm
by Whootsinator
Gerber and Fiskars are good utility, affordable axes.

Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 5:07 pm
by Whootsinator

Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 5:10 pm
by Whootsinator

Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 5:11 pm
by Whootsinator

Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 5:13 pm
by Whootsinator

Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 5:14 pm
by Whootsinator
You won't find a cheaper axe than an old axe head that you clean up and haft yourself, though.

Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 5:29 pm
by Geno
Now I'm afraid that I will be searching for more old axes! Nemo is my hero. Probably get a Gerber or Fiskars first, then on to the oldies! LOL Geno

Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:49 pm
by son of liberty
OCHSENKOPF axes rock, about the best tool quality axe I have seen. In truth most hardware store axes are plenty up to daily use, its more about the initial cleaning up of the edge. Even the cheap Mexico forged heads are pretty good axe steel. Axes of the past had diffrent profiles for different tasks, axes now all have one basic style.

Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:13 pm
by Geno
Where can one find an OCHSENKOPF brand tool?

Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:24 pm
by Geno
I found my old Boy Scout hatchet. It's a Plumb brand. Now to find a full size!

Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:29 pm
by nemo
richief wrote:Just out of curiosity Nemo, what are some of the reasons that axe is one of your favorites? Anything you can put your finger on? Utility, asthetics, some of both?

Good weight, great bite on cutting edge and stays sharp forever. It should be on a 28-30 inch handle but I prefer a more nimble axe. But if I was gonna grab one axe to do most everything it would be my Gransfors bruks small forrest axe. It’s like the Remington 870 of the axe world.


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Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:38 pm
by Livewire
nemo wrote:
richief wrote:Just out of curiosity Nemo, what are some of the reasons that axe is one of your favorites? Anything you can put your finger on? Utility, asthetics, some of both?

Good weight, great bite on cutting edge and stays sharp forever. It should be on a 28-30 inch handle but I prefer a more nimble axe. But if I was gonna grab one axe to do most everything it would be my Gransfors bruks small forrest axe. It’s like the Remington 870 of the axe world.


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+1.

My SFA is a true utility axe.

Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 9:14 pm
by Whootsinator
"Don't wanna overdo it in the price department" and you break out the Cadillac lol

Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 9:36 pm
by Geno
That SFA is very nice. What a bunch of "enablers"! I think the Boy Scout hatchet was about $15.00 when I bought it new. I'd forgotten it until I had the larger one stolen. Now I wish I knew what it was? I suppose, Used is what it was.

Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 9:58 pm
by Whootsinator

Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 10:33 pm
by nemo
Whootsinator wrote:If we're going that route...
https://www.gransforsbruk.com/en/produc ... oor-axe-2/

That has the look of a Hudson Bay or Greenland pattern. Not expecting that from the Swedes.

Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 10:41 pm
by Whootsinator
It's not their typical offering. Only thing like it that they produce, I believe.

Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 10:44 pm
by Marcus
I love all the classier axes that have been posted or restored, but I've used the heck out of that first fiskars whoots posted with 0 issues and I won't feel bad at all if I break it.

Re: Best general purpose axe for the money

Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 5:34 am
by Jakob
Marcus wrote:I love all the classier axes that have been posted or restored, but I've used the heck out of that first fiskars whoots posted with 0 issues and I won't feel bad at all if I break it.
I have a Fiskars also that I use the hell out of. I love it.