Ideal Size & Weight for a Northern Bushcraft Axe

Portability, power, dexterity, versatility & safety. These are all important considerations when choosing an axe that you can depend upon in the Northern backwoods. In this video I examine a range of different axes that I have used over, and explain why I prefer the 2 1/4 lb axe with a 28" handle.

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[johnmutton]

It is like everything else in life, right tool for the job!

[ericwalker]

Thanks so much. I have a boy sized axe, about what you were saying, and a nice sized hatchet. Hopefully i have got it right. Good video, and presentation. Thanks

[MattKeevil]

I'm enjoying the channel and just going through some of your catalogue here and there. I have the axe you like (your final choice for all-around bushcraft axe) and 1) I agree, it is a great choice, and 2) at 18:10 you bring up the pattern and say you don't know for sure what it is, maybe Michigan. It is a Canadian pattern, which is characterized by wide cutting edge with upswept toe and heel, thin, flat cheeks, and a full-sized eye (normally a boy's axe size (i.e. 2-2.5 lbs) would have a smaller eye). Canadian pattern is popular in Europe (Ochsenkopf/Ox-head Iltis Canada, Elwell Slimline, Muller Biber Canada). Strikemaster, Walters, Garant, Hults Bruk, and Welland Vale have all made this pattern too. A Michigan pattern has a rounded poll and rounded toe and heel, and the toe is much flatter (not upswept). Garant calls some axes "Michigan" that are very much not Michigan pattern.

Finally, the D-shaped eye on that Rhineland pattern is a standard shape, just in Germany. The tear-drop axe eye shape is the anglo axe eye which is standard in the US and commonwealth but not necessarily elsewhere.

[rogerodonnell]

Have you done a one on how sharpen axes
If not could you
Thank you

[andreac.]

Greg thank you! I've been trying to decide for a while about either an ax or a hatchet. As far as cheap, I don't mind spending the money up front but it needs to be a one-time purchase with the best quality and suited for me. I live in N. Vermont and found a forger who makes axes and hatchets. How much is too much$) I'm a 50-year-old woman who wants to find the best purchase for my lifestyle and going forward in the future (getting older) I would mainly use it to split wood and semi clear small branches/small saplings through the woods. Thanks for the lesson.

[AMKB]

Love the axe collection! :-D

Since moving back to my family farm and cleaning up decades of... stuff... I've found probably 8 or 10 basic axes. By far the most interesting one I've found, though, is a hatchet. The cutting end is pretty standard, but the blunt end is an actual hammer head. There is even a notch cut into the steal near the cutting end, for pulling nails. Unfortunately, its handle got replaced at some point, and the tapered end did not fit into the axe head properly. I tried to use it once, and the head fell right off! LOL I definitely want to get a new handle for it. Just because I like it! I use a variety of saws (we found a collection of those, too) far more often than axes.

[michaellippmann]

Great video Greg...I love how you have painted the ends of the handles yellow for visibility! Awesome idea.
I've a double bit are...I have an ancient one I bought at a yard sale for a few bucks ages ago, I was still in high school, and it is a great axe. But as you say they clearly have their limits!
I loving this series of videos...Thank you!
Mike 🇨🇦 👍

[mandersson]

Quite a collection you have there. I live close to Hults Bruk where they have produced quality axes since 1697. So that is pretty much what I use and they last forever. I use the last longer one you presented when out in the bush or for chopping and the shorter one indoors or for carpentry.

[laurenjacobsen]

I had to buy it, it was like $12 😂😂😂. I totally get it 😂