Council Tools Flying Fox Axe

My thoughts on the Council Tools Flying Fox as it pertains to how I use it and what applications it could be effective for. An overview of the tool itself, and demonstration of some basic tasks I use it for.

[@beavercreekwoodcraft8134]

If your looking for a budget axe for bushcraft and camping, the Flying Fox is damn near impossible to beat! Exellent video on the capabilities of the Flying Fox.

[@jimleighty7408]

Thanks brother! We gotta get together soon!

[@silverback4434]

What a beauty axe !

[@daveburklund2295]

Love my Flying Fox. Big value for the price, and does big work for the size.

[@PsycJoe02]

Love the axe vid, I hope council tool keeps bringing these patterns back. A Connie or cruiser from council tool would be a home run.

[@jimleighty7408]

Joe I appreciate the love man! I agree with you that they definitely need a cruiser and a connie coming out as well. I would be excited about a Cruiser on a 24'' handle option!

[@BOOSTEDLASER]

@@jimleighty7408 Sharpen your axes yourself? Machine ?

[@jimleighty7408]

@@BOOSTEDLASER yes I do, hand filed and sandpaper gets it done for me

[@BOOSTEDLASER]

@@jimleighty7408 Impressive

[@KNIGHTRACEDOTCOM]

I like GFB hatchets very well, bought the flying fox and like it pretty well. I wanted a smaller weight hatchet, I bought the council tool 1.24 lb hatchet, sharpened it at more aggressive angle. You can shave with it, sanded the handle a lot and put a finish on it I like. I think I like it better than my GFB's

[@jimleighty7408]

I feel the exact same way man! Can't beat council for the price unless maybe you find something nice and vintage

[@AnarchAngel1]

You better be good with stones with a GFB 😅, most files aren't hard enough to deal with most of the examples I have. I've come to prefer the Council Tool axes. I've got their Boy's Axe on a 28" handle and their 5lb splitting axe on the same. Just ordered the Flying Fox which is why I'm watching vids like these. I ordered the longer hafted version. I've been impressed with the ones I own so far, a Gransfors Bruk doesn't do anything these axes won't...and you can file these 😄

[@allenbuck5589]

Just beginning on axes I didn’t know there was so many out there. Good job. Thanks

[@michaelpickard7643]

I just got one through Whiskey River. Looking forward to using it as an “everything” hatchet. Might even try to start throwing it around. Thanks for the great review. Made me feel confident that I made a sound purchase.

[@KinoQuint]

Exactly what I wanted to see! Every other review I found was people indoors holding the thing talking about the shape of the handle. What kind of use is that? I wanted to see how well it actually does it's job. Great video! Thanks!

[@bubba7626]

Like that blade profile.. I see you havn't made any vids for this channel in 3 years and I just subscribed. I hope your doing well and I will enjoy and learn from your others.

[@CanoehoundAdventures]

Just ordered a Flying Fox for my Canoe tripping... good review, thanks

[@jimleighty7408]

I'm glad you got one and are enjoying it! I am a fan of your videos and trips! I do quite a bit of kayak camping and use it for that as well!

[@johnmutton799]

That is one nice handle!

[@JimmyMeatwhistle]

great vid! 🤠👍

[@ciphercode2298]

I myself use a council fss boys axe,but I bought one of the flying foxes for my brother in law who bushcraft and hunts alot and he seems to like it ok. I figured the size and the hardened poll would be great for what he does.

[@MrGonzo22]

I have a couple of these and I love them.. I fully intended to rehang the 2nd one on a longer handle 22"-24" but I just can't get myself to cut out the original handle... I figured I'd recharge it once I broke or wore it out... but they are so solid from the factory... I wish they offered it already set in nice longer handle... Or if they had an option to just buy the head...

[@tested123]

good review

[@jonnyt16]

Just got mine in the mail. Love it. I like the simplicity of the mask you made for yours. Let me know if you want to make a few extra bucks and I'll take one just like that!

[@jimleighty7408]

I appreciate the kind words and am glad you are enjoying the axe! I am for sure not a professional leatherworker but if you want some great leatherwork done check out my buddy J.C. Messer of messercustomleather on instagram, he makes sheaths for them at a very reasonable price!

[@jonnyt16]

@@jimleighty7408 Rats, wish I saw this sooner. I ordered a mask from ebay last week :(

[@billpeart]

That Plumb hatchet has a nice high center line.

[@jimleighty7408]

It sure does! Getting pretty hard to find them these days with all the axe throwers buying them up and cutting them up with grinding wheels. Its too bad because they are a beautiful working hatchet with a hardened poll. I think the Flying fox is probably the closest thing to it you can find though.

[@billpeart]

@@jimleighty7408 Right! I believe Barco still makes axes with high center lines, last I knew.

[@CHAD-RYAN]

Does it have a hardend steel bit wrapped with wrought iron like the vintage?

[@KevinsDisobedience]

So agree about GB being overly hard and handles too thick. I said the same thing in one of my GB videos. Be careful or the GB fanboys will come down on you. I’ve thought the Flying Fox would be good on a 25” handle.

[@jimleighty7408]

Hahaha oh they do come down on you that's for sure! You sound like you know what you like. I personally feel like those thick clubbish handles fatigue my hand quite a bit on the GB's and I know many other people feel the same. I am putting a flying fox on a 24'' handle soon to test it out but I am sure it will be awesome. Thanks for the response brotha!

[@KevinsDisobedience]

I’ve learned what I like, yeah. That’s the main theme I push in my axe videos is to experiment and quit repeating what other people say. I think the flying fox on a 24” handle will be ideal for that head.

[@jamesyarbrough4777]

good job in the flying fox, but dang that plumb is sexy! Given a choice id go with the plumb

[@thebassmanster6092]

What exact handle did you order for it?

[@jimleighty7408]

I picked this one up in person from Brandon last time I saw him. But it is the 18'' hatchet handle from whiskey river. The 21'' camp axe handle is also a really solid choice if you want something longer. Both have really nice palm swells and thinner handles.

[@thebassmanster6092]

Jim Leighty How much shaping did you need to do to get a good fit?

[@jimleighty7408]

@@thebassmanster6092 Minimal honestly, but I use a shinto rasp to do that so it makes for quick work. Only difficult part is the ridges in the eye. I file them down a little bit at the bottom of the eye

[@thebassmanster6092]

Jim Leighty Just what im looking for. I got a gransfors outdoor axe a year or two ago and was very disappointed. Poorly hung and forged with the bit twisted out of alingment. Now im looking into replaceing it with the Flying Fox for my main small wood processing tool. Still have the gransfors just kinda bothers me for how much $$ I spent on it.

[@jimleighty7408]

@@thebassmanster6092 Yep, I had similar experience with my gransfors. IMO its better to just learn to profile and create your own perfect pack axe. I think the flying fox is a great starting point for making just that.

[@KNIGHTRACEDOTCOM]

Damn good video... I like my GFB and Helko's and Plumb's. I got into a little bushcraft the past few years and first thing I learned is these guys thinks knives are for splitting wood........ Please for the love of God get an axe or hatchet was the first thing I said when people were beating there knives... Nice video and glad to see some old school axe use. Almost everyone needs one in there car with fire stick..

[@jimleighty7408]

Thanks for enjoying the video! I agree with you, can't beat a good hatchet or axe. I have a few large knives in the 1lb + weight range than can split kindling nicely but obviously not the right tool for the job in a lot of instances. Cheers brother!

[@KNIGHTRACEDOTCOM]

@@jimleighty7408 Keep up the good videos and stay safe, cheers.

[@TysonHook-22-]

I use both knives and hatchet/axes for splitting wood, if you got a high quality knife it'll easily baton through wood no problem, its fun and cool to show others that your knife can split wood... also dangerous as ive had people try to copy my batoning trick on there own and used low quality knives and/or a rock to bash on the blade, which is vary dangerous. but batoning a quality knife through a small log using a wood baton is a tested and true bushcraft skill... in a true survival situation you may not have a hatchet or axe on hand but should hopefully have yourself at least a belt knife, a huge part of bushcraft/survival skills is using whatever you have available to you, to your advantage... even if that involves a technique were your not using the right tool for the job. also it all depends on the type of camping your doing and the environments your in and your personal philosophy of use, since like many things in life theres pros and cons to both approaches. if your a true backpack camper were every oz of weight savings matter then carrying a large knife may be lighter and more versatile in use then bringing along a hatchet or axe, but thats all personal preference. All that said, I believe one should always take an axe or hatchet with them camping whenever possible, especially with the quality and affordability of the council tool axes, everyone should own one... I use to be heavy into knife batoning and still do it on occasion but since I picked up the axe addiction a few years back and restored myself some sweet vintage axes and hatchets, I take pride in my workmanship and the vintage tool quality and these days its always a worthwhile weight sacrifice for me to bring along an axe in the backcountry... and im also 6'4" so if its not a hatchet, im taking a 28-32" axe since i just dont trust or like using smaller axes, but its a worthwhile sacrifice in weight and packability to have the safety and comfort that a longer handle provides me... others may feel its ridiculous to carry such a large axe camping and would suggest you dont need anything larger then 24" as a pack axe... but to me i say that 20-24" axes are the most dangerous to use in the hands of novice and experienced users alike.

[@Jesusiskingamen7]

People can hate on the small forest axe all they want but nothin comes close in that size range