Identifying axe types with Craig Roost

Craig Roost from AxeJunkies was kind enough to walk me through the displays at the Axetravaganza in Ohio, and to explain the different types of axes, and their purposes, since the axe is quickly becoming a forgotten tool in todays society.

[@michaeldougfir9807]

Time for a compliment. Most things that people say about foresters and forestry just tightens my jaws. I have been a certified timber cruiser. But I like your brief description of timber cruising. Thank you. Michael Dougfir.

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

My pleasure! 🇺🇸

[@floathouse2]

Old time ‘bushlers’ or timber fallers, did not call it ‘Felling’. It’s “falling’. The reason for a double bitted ax is that each flat face and apposing bevel is reversed from one head to the other, so that when chopping a face or notch, the axe is flipped from side to side so that the flat face is always closest to the cut shoulder. The flat face does the cutting, and the bevel ‘pops’ or wedges the cut chip out. Any faller worth his salt could cut a face in an old growth or redwood with the cut as smooth as a dinner plate. If cut marks showed, it was called ‘beavering’. I grew up in logging camps 60 years ago in SE Alaska with guys that had been falling timber since the 1920’s. They could do things with axes you wouldn’t believe unless you saw it.

[@jamesjohnson6239]

John,mahbs you could make a video. Telling about life in the camps and uour knowledge of woodsmans yools I know Od be interested! !!thanks f2fgor explaining the double bit .

[@floathouse2]

@@jamesjohnson6239 - I've had throat cancer, and I dont speak clearly or at any length, so I don't do media interviews on the two books I've written on Ancient civilizations I did do Coast to Coast as that was important, and is on youtube, but I'm not a good talking head. I have a couple videos up of my cousin's floating logging camp near Waterfall, Alaska on my youtube channel. (floathouse2)

[@sean900fps]

nice job with the info . didn't they use the double to cut notches for the spring boards to stand on for sawing with the two man cross-cut ?

[@GreeneyedApe]

Just because the people you knew called it "falling" doesn't mean everyone did. The word fell/felling goes all the way back to Old English, old dictionaries contain the word, and it's used in literature through the centuries for chopping and knocking down trees and other things. Speak for your personal experience. Don't speak for everybody, because that's a sure way to be wrong.

[@rickfalk9319]

Outstanding video and thanks for information that has become so hard to obtain these days! Love how Dave just strolls through the background too. :) Thanks for a much needed video!

[@Dirkietje8]

I spotted him too! I was flabbergasted.

[@tomhalverson3438]

Thanks for putting this together! Nice job!

[@DirectorBNI]

Hey thanks man for another excellent video. Craig Roost is a good man!

[@DrewDubious]

Those axe sheathes and shoulder straps always make me chuckle.

[@Erik1970Viking]

wow, AWESOME and informtive Video, thanks a lot !!! Cheers Erik

[@Super-jf9qv]

I know now that the axe that I have is a small tree felling tree axe. Thanks for the info. Just found one and polished to a high mirror finish and had about 40 hours to my great satisfaction.🇨🇦👍

[@mikemarch5480]

Your knowledge is amazing!! I'm a vice guy....I have rebuilt...not restored, but rebuilt, a nice older Hollands vice....fun.

[@ronalddunne3413]

Right on... thanks for sharing your expertise... now I need to get one of those back carries.. where was this stuff when I was young and lived by the axe to heat my houses or on wildland trips?? Enjoyed your presentation... Dun in Colorado

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

My pleasure! I think the loggers belt attachment has been around a long time, but it was probably only loggers who knew about them!

[@jamesjohnson6239]

Thanks for sharing yoir ac heads and knowledge

[@GTMGunTotinMinnesotan]

I recently started looking into some bigger axes, super informative video!

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

Lmk if you have any questions! I am not the grand master axe nerd, not by any means, but i know enough to be dangerous. (To myself) hahaha

[@SIXGUNSAM]

Great Video. Good information for newbies to the Axe Realm. Grassy Park, Vintage Axes and good people 👍🇺🇸

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@andrewgarratt5191]

😁 “Phantom bevels” ....I thought they were there just for style all my life. Awesome 👍🏽

[@nlo114]

Interesting. There is a wonderful video somewhere on the tube of a woodsman using a bearded side-axe to create near-perfect straight planks from rough-hewn timber.

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

A hewing axe! Thats a skill i am working on myself!

[@goodboyringo9716]

Thank you for the knowledge

[@tom_olofsson]

Thanks for all the info. I took notes.

[@frederickdymond8471]

The 2 1/2 lb elwell is a Kent pattern and is a very common old style axe in the UK . The 6 lb is a coal miners axe and would have a very short curved handle for confined spaces, the numbers on it are probably the miners pit check number.

[@chriscopeland1455]

the numbers are for what type handle that head would accept and it probably did take that shorter more bent handle as you said for coal mining passing the knowledge forward my friend

[@beaumoon8581]

15:00 I thought that 6 pounder head was an English moss pattern falling axe. Because good hardwood was scarce and expensive in England, they would cut "face" or straight to the main tree trunk as close as possible to the ground and saw the tree down to harvest as much as they could from a tree. Most bigger or older trees have wider girth near the ground or the root so it takes quite longer to cut down the tree. In Pacific North, they made a spring board notch with a Puget Sound pattern double bit axe which has blade to blade length 12-13" long and chop at the tree trunk where the girth is considerably smaller.

[@beaumoon8581]

After looking at the head shape again, that might be a miner's axe with a smaller poll. I have a 6 pounder moss pattern axe head and I might have confused with the similar blade profile. I think the one I have has a longer poll. So many patterns and uses.

[@rickc4317]

That was very informative. I learned some good info, esp. about double headed axes. Thanks for putting that out!

[@mikeratkowski3506]

You are now a official Rock Star Rooster!

[@1südtiroltechnik]

07:30 Why would the limbing axe not have a longer blade? In my area (alps) where the majority is softwood (spruce, larch and pine we have) the edge lenghts were from 150mm-220mm but only for limbing axes. (5,9-8,8 inch)

[@waltjwinjo8689]

Very nice video Craig, I recently acquired a" Plum Leader" Half - Hatchet, and "B&O R.R." stamped on the other side. Do you have an idea how old the hatchet is? Thanks

[@DrewDubious]

is that "plum" or "plumb"?

[@michaelstjohn6086]

Good vid, thanks!

[@johnnybloggs2494]

Excellent video. And @19:43 Dave Canterbury walks in...lol

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

Yeah he always spends plenty of time around the axe junkies area

[@BCJerbs]

On the first table you showed there was a red tipped handle felling axe with what looked like a 4 1/2 pound head....i was recently gifted one similar...made in Sweden Hults Bruk 32inch handle and is 4 1/2 pound head as well...im really having a hard time finding if it was an Arvika or a Tassie patterned axe...and everywhere I've looked I can't seem to find the model name...could you suggest where I can find out what model axe I have? Anywho great info you share in this video! Look forward to hearing back from you when you get a moment! Cheers, Kimmers and Jerbs 👍🏼🇺🇸🔥🔪🔥🇨🇦👍🏼

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

The axe junkies facebook group would be the place i would go!

[@kalanyosjozsef2601]

Good collection,good vid. Just want to say the "big felling axe" you show after the elwell is a Welsh miners Axe by Cornelius and whitehouse,I have got one myself with the stumps and it is 7 lbs, thought I share that with you

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

Interesting!!! Thanks!!!

[@johnsullivan6560]

Nice video. I have a question that you may be able to confirm for me. I have a heavy hatchet with raised metal letters welded to the backside of the head. I believe this was used to mark wood with ie sign a log on a blazed patch. Have you ever seen one of these? Is this what it was used for?

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

I have heard of that somewhere- but there may be many different axes that have that type of feature.

[@rushedandlost]

very good video .thank you.

[@yakamarezlife]

I have two hachets one has a hammer head I think its a plumb and a small one with a oxagonial shaped head they both have nail pulls

[@rickyboyz1006]

can I have that True Temper double bit please?

[@trailnscaleRC]

great vid! im really getting into this hobby. is there a website/group besides the FB group I could check out to find like minded people in my area? do you know if there is an event like Axetravaganza on the west coast? thanks

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

I think there is or there may have been. The good folks on the facebook group "axe junkies" would know better!

[@dj-rm7bz]

Cant find anywhere on the web for the orange Kydex hatchet sheath you showed. Any help you can offer?

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

He doesnt make them anymore. Reach out to black bear custom kydex

[@Antipodean33]

Now I know what those raised cheeks on my axe is about. G'day all from Australia where I'm chopping and burning Jarrah and Ironbark, damn hard wood

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

You Aussies def have hard wood!!!

[@HollywoodTacticool]

where do we get that amazing axe with the sling made of horse tack material?

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

Council Tool from Whiskey River Trading 💪🏻

[@convex7456]

That cruiser double bit looked like it could do work. 2.25 lb double

[@adlar2005]

Very nice!

[@13bravoredleg18]

I use a vintage double bevel hewing hatchet to split kindling! 😂

[@mr.delacruz559]

awesome video rooster!I'm a big boys axe fan!! Do you think council still come out with a saddle cruiser axe after the commemorative sell out??

[@axejunkies3761]

Yes, they are planning on the Velvicuts soon after the 130 sell out.. stay tuned..

[@mr.delacruz559]

Can't wait. 130's are very beautiful and I would be worried about messing up the picture. Thanx rooster!!!

[@takotabyard4923]

I joined axe junkies years ago and was kicked out with no warning and no explanation I still have no idea why.

[@DrewDubious]

Yeah that group sucked.

[@dolsen1975]

you must have crossed the axe nazis. lol

[@terryormand7139]

My utility shed recently burned to the ground. Inside I had two True Temper double bit axes. My concern is the temper of the heads after the fire. What do you recommend?

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

Were the handles totally burned? I mean, it depends on a lot of factors?

[@andrewgarratt5191]

I pulled a great deal of tools out of a cabinet shop that burnt down... Files,chisels,plane blades....most were just fine after some TLC I’d take a bastard file to em,you know what the steel should sound like,and how the file should “bite”. If something’s amiss on them “I very strongly doubt! A few file strokes should tell you. Sorry to hear about your shed,that sucks.

[@jwodehouse7087]

Which axe is best for splitting (already felled and cut to 16”) Red Oak for firewood?

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

A lot of it is personal preference- if its straight and already seasoned, a good splitting axe should do. If its fresh and knotted i go with a heavy maul.

[@jwodehouse7087]

Thanks! I appreciate the insights. Am going to look on CL for a splitting maul. Prefer vintage over new.

[@radarash]

as of today there are almost 58K member rather than 16K mentioned in this video

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

Thats awesome!

[@timmason2556]

What axes are in the thumb nail

[@machoman5356]

I swing a double only way to fly I dull one side then the next sharpen repeat.

[@rahulpb9249]

Why step wedge is used?

[@pabloneftalylugo3109]

hello, what it is the weight of the practice racing ax?

[@axejunkies3761]

About 5 lbs.. :)

[@roofertilldeath2071]

Weres the norlunds???

[@MrThenry1988]

When is this show gonna happen again? Love to go.

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

Every year, although this year with the covid situation might be different.

[@passwordistaco507]

@@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors Wheres it gonna be

[@77pmcollins]

It's a WELSH miners axe. Hardened pole, for pit props and such like. Numbered because the mines had alot of them.

[@FlyingHat]

What does shingle, shingles, texture shingles and shingling mean ?

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

FlyingHat shingles are the little squares that make up your roof.

[@brianworley7705]

What's the difference between say a Michigan double-bit axe and a cruiser axe?

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

Brian Worley cruiser is smaller

[@DrewDubious]

Michigan is a pattern of axe head. A cruiser is typically 2.5lbs or less.

[@joeltower5964]

Sweet! I learned something! Special thanks to Jesus Christ! I love it!

[@chrisramirez1400]

Dave passes by at 19:45

[@codypost497]

Subscribed. Good shit. 🤙

[@convex7456]

Good info on the double headed. I was off on why they were made

[@MrThenry1988]

Back in the 70s a guy told me they used one side to chop roots when they were clearing land. The other side was for chopping. He said that's why one side was wore down more. It hit rocks and dirt.

[@johngrenfell7171]

The large English felling axe is a type 5 Elwell same makers of the other axe head

[@larryclare5677]

Wish you had used the back of one of those things on those inconsiderate fools mouthing off .you a very good speaker an demonstrater. first time on this site

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

Thanks, glad to have you!

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

11:25 I would call that a miners axe or rafting axe. A true rafting or mining axe has a large poll for hammering. Some are checkered, some are hardened.

[@dolsen1975]

at 9:40 what was that again???

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

Hewing hatchet

[@codypost497]

Are carbon fiber handles a thing?

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

I dont think so, at least not that i have heard of.

[@rotam8680]

they are but boy are they useless

[@dhackstall1]

Dave Canterbury Just walked bye..

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

Yeah we got to hang out with Dave a good bit, hes a proud axe junky

[@oscarsoliz781]

Has anyone else noticed that they do not have a Pulaski axe

[@theaxeman4035]

technically I don't think it's considered an axe, it's as they call it, a pulaski.

[@dolsen1975]

I have a couple if you need one.

[@larrikinaxe3424]

Not one Aussie axe there... we invented the bloody axe!

[@SupermanBB]

Hardly… axes were around LONG before any of your convict ancestors were sent to Australia

[@yirickarzoumanian9396]

Collins Legitumus Axe is the best

[@rotam8680]

Above 20"? Obviously never seen australian bushmen

[@DrewDubious]

Yeah, that whole first bit was all misinformation.

[@kingsoutdoors4379]

Im waiting on a Mask From Roost so I can get My Woodcraft Axe on My pack and out into The Woods!! Good Man rite there Folks 👊

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

Eeppiicc

[@rnilazarev2553]

👍👍👍🤝🤝

[@roofertilldeath2071]

I THINK I DIE AND GONE TO AXE HEAVEN!!!😀😀😀

[@darinmcleod9110]

If a double AXE that ILove it splits Hemlock wood really good it's really sharp hi Greg Hughes🌲🌲🌲☀️

[@dolsen1975]

rooster looks like the pansy twot he really is next to a guy that can actually swing an axe.

[@jerrybobteasdale]

Dude, put a mic on the person.

[@kingsoutdoors4379]

I could hand nail 2 n half square n hour with a Drywall hatchet when I was a young Man..lol

[@darinmcleod9110]

I would like to have free membership and be around with you guys because I got a double bit axe to her name is black ring

[@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors]

Membership is free- just find "axejunkies" on Facebook

[@darinmcleod9110]

@@Thepreppersbunkeroutdoors GoD bless you so much

[@stevenearlsmith2595]

Informative video, by a guy that obviously knows more modern Industry Branding. Wood shingles were properly called "shakes". As for Double-Bits, one side edged for "Slashing", the other for "Chopping". Axes started with several patterns, for specific uses. Axmen, had them modified for their personal use, as well as the handle length they were hung on. As time progressed, manufacturers modified & named their own designs, ( our {ax name} is better than better than X?X?X?. When I was young, you could still get 42" handles. Straight, Curved, or Really Curved. Hatchets & Hewing axes, all had a straight edge, Chopping & Slashing Axes all had curved edges. Special names like "Cruiser", or "Marking", was generally lighter & hung shorter. No More, No Less!

[@oldskoolhoss7534]

those mutton chops tho...

[@doodlegoat]

This axe is sharp enough to shave with. I just don't.

[@williamlake6151]

That is coming from a guy who knows.

[@ivanzakharov6206]

без скифов и сарматов коллекция неполная

[@natecote1971]

Dude is struggling with ounces and inches! 2 complete opposite means of measurements yet he keeps calling inches ounces lmao

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

Although the individual doing the presentation didn't strike me as overly intelligent, it was worth watching just to see a few axes that are pretty uncommon these days.

[@rickfalk9319]

I'm sure the world is eagerly awaiting your judgement on their intelligence...

[@kerryc4556]

Great video!