Adler Canoe Axe and Rhineland Hatchet

ADLER
Rhineland Hatchet
$84.00 USD

An all-purpose companion in the wilderness or for managing tasks closer to home. Ergonomic US-hickory handle with unique anti-slip paint for better grip. The head shape is the German "Rhineland" pattern which offers a larger, curved cutting surface. Each hatchet comes with a heavy-duty leather sheath with a 2-button release system, and a cotton storage bag.

Head weight: 1.35 Lbs / 600g
Total weight: 1.9 Lbs / 862g
Head mount: wood and round metal wedge
Handle length: 14” / 360mm
Handle type: US sourced hickory, ergonomic curved shape
Handle colors: Either red or olive stripe with a non-slip black paint.
Sheath: Heavy duty leather with 2 robust buttons (Made in Lithuania)
Steel type: C60
Rockwell hardness 47-55 hrc
Packaging: Cotton pouch (Made in USA) with instruction manual
 
Canoe Axe
$94.00 USD
a 1.5 pound head and a 19" handle which puts it in the 'Goldilocks' zone; meaning you can use it one handed if clearing a trail, or choking up to de-bark or do some finer work, but there's enough handle on it that you can take two hands to it for heavier work.
The Canoe Axe is designed with a great deal of utility in mind, whether traversing the waters or when out in the backcountry on foot. For fire-making, it is the perfect companion for producing kindling as well as for harvesting and spitting wood. Additionally, it is portable enough to be an all-purpose tool in the backcountry when clearing a way or keeping a trail or bank access open. The Canoe Axe is delivered with a leather sheath which is made in Lithuania.

Head weight: 1.35 Lbs. / 600g (GB SFA 1.5lb / 680g
Total weight: 2.2 Lbs / 998g
Handle length: 19.5” / 500mm
Head mount: wood and round metal wedge
Handle type: US sourced hickory, ergonomic curved shape
Handle colors: Black (anti-slip) and red
Sheath: Heavy duty leather with robust buttons (Made in Lithuania)
Steel type: C45
Rockwell hardness: 47-55 hrc
 
Heritage

Founded in 1919, the Adler factory builds on four generations of knowhow to produce world class axes—Made in Germany.

The cornerstone of today’s company was laid by Josef Schmitt when he founded a small village blacksmith shop in 1919 in southern Germany. His intuition and hand-on approach resulted in steel formed and hardened in a perfect manner. All aspects of axe creation were to his high-quality standards. Our axes today are fabricated with the same passion, exactness and high quality standards that our founder committed the company to 100 years ago.

Some important milestones for us over the last few years include the opening of our water-based paint facility in 2004 and our automatic drying kiln in 2006. We are also proud that wood waste is used to generate the energy (up to 700KW) that runs our factory. The newest generation of the Schmitt family are committed to modernizing the factory to meet state-of-the-art sustainability and production standards, while never losing sight of the heritage that makes Adler unique.

Our factory is located in the town of Waghäusel, Germany. Our home is close to the Rhine River in Baden-Würtemberg, just south of the city of Heidelberg.

All of our axes contain the “JSW” mark. The “JS” are for Josef Schmitt, the founder of our company. The “W” stands for the small village of Wiesental which is located just south of the current factory location in Waghäusel.

NOTES
Adler guarantees that the axe will be free of manufacturer’s defects for the life of the axe

[rickdisney]

I just received the Rhineland hatchet for Christmas and I love it's looks and handleing aspects of it....can't wait to use your review

[adlertools]

Thanks for that great demonstration, Mark! We're glad you like the Canoe so much 😊 And we can confidently say that your models come straight from our warehouse and every customer receives the same quality control as your models 🪓

[davidarwood]

I have many vintage axes. I've only bought two and they were new. My first axe was a cheap handled Rhineland headed axe. I swear the head is almost identical and razor sharp. After the head flew off the fiberglass filled plastic handle, I put a nice handle on. It's still my most used axe, so I will look into the Adler Canoe.

[thedriftingspore]

Very nice. I think my preference would be towards the canoe axe as well. Thanks for sharing Mark!

[Woodswalker]

A couple of beauties there Mark. Both functional within their size limits. Great demo👍

[Jijhebtmijnnaamnietnodig]

got the Adler Rheinland for car camping works like a charm

[Badger]

Thanks for the demos and comparison, Mark. Between these demos and your knife steel comparison demos, you've really been giving yourself some workouts in recent videos!

[terryw.milburn]

Great Demo & Performance From These 2 Mark ! ATB T God Bless

[anthonycolbourne]

I like the wider cutting edge pattern on these axes. The overall quality looks very good. I think they would be excellent for limbing/clearing a path through some undergrowth... lighter work than trying to cut through the log in your demo at least.

[youtube]

i was sold that thicker handle was for use with heavy/winter gloves.

[Pocket_EDC]

Great review. Seems like good camp hatchets. I like the narrow bit for detail work. Quality control seems like a big issue, of late, with a variety of tools. Sadly, there is a variety of reasons you could look to for that currently. The thing to look for now is the company that will back the product, against flaws, with out a great deal of hassle. Thanks for the review. Have a great day!

[tobiasfreitag]

I own the canoe axe, and use it on my canoe trips. In the beginning i was a little concerned about its light weight but with use it turned out that it is a very good compromise.
You can carry if easily, without it weighing one down. Its short enough to not get in the way when in the boat or on my pack carrying it. Its long enough to get enough momentum out of the light weight head to do some serious work.
I even like the paint in the handle that i normaly would have taken off, like i did on all my other axes.

I also thined the edge down a little and it now cuts three to four fingers deep on green wood or dry spruce.

Is it ideal for any specific type of work? No absolutely not. But it is a very handy and capable tool and a good companion when you need something that is not in the way and still able to take down a small to mid siced (european) tree.

[eyeofthetiger]

G'day Mark, if memory serves, I believe "Adler" is German for eagle.
Anyway, I'm lik'n both of these a lot
Yeah, could argue they're on the thin and light headed side, but I reckon for pack carry and tasks you'd do on the trail, .... ideal IMO. Concur, longer handle is more benefit for leverage and two handed grunt; on the other hand, more compact is a worthy aspect too.
And whilst I do like the Hudson Bay pattern, a "bit" extra on the Rhineland jobs is a bonus ; )
The bottom press stud on the mask is a new one on me, .... good stuff.
As is the bag, reckon it'd facilitate some "pillowcase" applications; did you say "cotton" ; )
Like the idea of that grippy handle coating too. I guess time will tell as to how it holds up.
Btw; not sure if there's a name for it, but the splitting technique you used is my fav. To be honest, I dont necessarily bring the handle and timber together, (depends on the piece), but either way, you learn very quickly to keep fingers out of the equation and even if you dont, a bruise, perhaps some surface skin off is better than a gash ; )
Cheers Duke.
P.S. to my knowledge cant get "Council Tool" here, (without a shipload of mess'n round anyway).
I've heard they're very good. I'd be very interested in 'your' appraisal of them.

[georgethomson]

Great review of a nice hatchet and ax. You picked some tough wood for those demos 😁. Always enjoy the reviews. Keep ‘em coming!

[mrc]

I would probably go for the axe, just a bit more use for me. Thank you for the vid.

[oknevals]

I was looking for one of those in REI but, $90 turns me off. I did by Bruks for almost $250 after 10 years of looking for it. Finally found local store selling them so, I could see one in person. I think it is way overpriced for what it is but, it is like a toy you really want. While I still haven't checked its full potential, I found that I reach for my 7yo $30 Fiskars hatchet more often. Just easier to get to tight places and hitting rocks while cutting roots doesn't do emotional damage. I think I will first get $12 Harbor Freight (can't find my $8 model with plastic handle). Maybe later I'll give try to Adler when my REI reward points kick in.

[CanadianBeachcomber]

Thank you for telling me about this company. I’ve been to the website and found a birthday present.
BTW, the first link in your description isn’t working but the second link does work.

[radagast]

Thank you for this thorough review of the Adler Axe and Hatchet.
At 9:22, it looks like the name ADLER is stamped into the haft. Does this create a rough area?
My canoe axe has an 18" haft and I find it a bit too short for me.

[Addy-ftps]

Hi Mark. While not intentonally educational, your review was educational for me. If you could only take one thing out in the woods to cut/chop/ baton wood, what woukd it be? Thanks and enjoy your weekend.

[JohnTBlock]

Splitting off a check is fine. Using every advantage is what you're SUPPOSED to do! 😂 it was cutting ok on the 8 in. Trunk, considering the "spring" involved and bit sharpness.