The Top Axes for Camping and Outdoor Adventures

[@bushcraftua1]

Good video

[@honorableoutfitters]

Thank you my friend, I really appreciate your support and feedback.

[@eddieburton4583]

Hey Mr dryer Eddie here just wanted to say hello and thank you for sharing your videos I really appreciate and enjoy your video brother I think I have one of those bridgeports I'm not for sure it's all metal on it but you really can't see the stuff on it it was gave to me I really appreciate and enjoy the information you gave it really helps me out a lot on looking and choosing hatchets and axes I learned a lot thank you God bless you and your family keep up the awesome videos looking forward to hearing from you soon God bless Eddie over and out

[@honorableoutfitters]

Always a pleasure and Happy New Year!

[@ssteinschreiber]

Great explanation of the hatchet uses and reasons for the face profile and grind styles! I am so glad you talked about over sharpening splitting hatchets/axes. To many people see an edge and think they need to shave!!!

[@honorableoutfitters]

Thanks and I don't understand it beyond showing off your sharpening skills.

[@ssteinschreiber]

@@honorableoutfitters yeah we were sharpening tool one night around the fire at a trail work party. Anyway, while chatting about over sharpening, it seemed it was experience with the tools, their use, and such.

[@57WillysCJ]

I have a tomahawk with a really thin blade. It does the job fine but I don't cut down trees or split large pieces in to kindling. Small diameter wood with the blade tight to the wood and slammed down on a log. If I need bigger pieces split then I start with making a couple of wood wedges and a good chunk of wood to hammer the wedges in where the hawk or thin blade hatchets first cut was made. I have been cutting and splitting well ove 50 years. Frankly even with different sized splitting mauls along 5 steel wedges I prefer my gass powered 14 ton log splitter. Only diference me now and the I start is practice all of those years.

[@honorableoutfitters]

That sounds like a solid solution my friend. Happy New Year!

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

The Kephart is completely dependent on speed, much like a tomahawk in my experience. The Nessmuk is very interesting. For the record I have restored a lot of axes in my life (not so many hatchets, oddly the heads don't seem to have survived) and they are hands down my favorite tool.

[@honorableoutfitters]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I will continue to use it and build up methods and skill. It's really fun to use and is an incredible carver! Happy New Year!

[@markcummings6856]

Great discussion. Thanks.

[@honorableoutfitters]

You are welcome and thank you for the support!

[@jamesellsworth9673]

Thank you for posting a useful commentary. I have always been impressed by historic pictures and illustrations of trade hatchets sold to Indigenous Peoples: their design was very close to the Kephart hatchet. Iron implements were a marvel to them. The edge was harder to chip than with a stone or 'flint' ax, so it cut much longer. The cutting edge was relatively small. I have had a checkered history with hatchets: my scout hatchet was fine until I whacked it on the poll and it instantly split from top to bottom along the face. I did well in camp with an Estwing 3/4 ax: it chopped and split and it held up to several seasons of use until I gifted it to an admiring grandchild.

[@honorableoutfitters]

The trade axes are nice general use tools, certainly better than the fragile flint axes. They are really enjoyable to use for me. Happy New Year friend!

[@jamesellsworth9673]

Another thought: Nordic hatchets. Some outdoorsmen prefer a hand ax that can slice and chop meat; some craftsmen use hatchets designed in bevel and thickness and what not to do controlled carving. Both Swedish styles feature attractive designs. I have been back and forth over what to choose, as these are high-end expenditures.

[@honorableoutfitters]

Good points and uses brother!

[@stevefisher2121]

I really like Husqvarna for the money. Great information in this video!!! I really like that Nessmuk!!

[@honorableoutfitters]

They are really nice! I don't own one myself but I have used one that was my assistant Scoutmaster's and it performed very nicely.

[@craigcarroll6161]

I don't know why, but some people leave hatchets in their cars when they abandon them. I've found a 1920's Plumb and a True Temper which is a great chopper. The Plumb is a little thicker. Both Boy Scout axes as well as an orange Bridgeport I had in the Scouts. I'm looking for one with a longer handle with a head a bit heavier, maybe 350-400 grams right now. I'm considering one of the Italian Rinaldi axes.

[@jenniferbauman4802]

Great video. You are building up some confidence with those little hatchets . Way better splitting with them now. Good job. To bad all the old timers are not around we could have learned a lot from them .and got information that we needed like ax handle Care and maintenance. I think they would have saw the wood between the nots for easier splitting. Like you said . Great video. Keep up the great work. God bless. From Glenn CATT in Massachusetts.

[@honorableoutfitters]

Thank you, I'm with you and wish I paid more attention to some of the older people when I was a kid. I could have gleaned much more. Happy New Year!

[@krishoogstraat6866]

This a great video! Very informative!

[@honorableoutfitters]

Thank you brother, happy New Year!

[@bluemonday09]

I found a nick on my axe blade once a few years back. I got out my files and grindstones and was reading to sharpen it, but decided to pull out my microscope and look at that nick up close. Only then could I tell that actually my Nick was a Nicholas.

[@honorableoutfitters]

That...was...hilarious. I love a good "dad" joke, thank you for the laugh 😃

[@ironmikehallowween]

I have a Collin’s Half Axe. It’s great. I am always looking for more old tools. They are just wonderful and interesting.

[@honorableoutfitters]

I really like my old Collins too! The weight of it is just right and it takes and holds an edge to my liking! I wish you happy hunting, the search in half of the fun!

[@kurtbaier6122]

Nice. Never understood the Nesmuk’s double sided axe head or how useful. I think Kephart used his like many native and Colonial back woodsman during the F&I and Rev War. Where clearing ground cover and gathering light poles or stakes or punching through a deer’s pelvis or ribs, or into an enemies skull or neck was the order of the day. I suspect they used small fires for both practical and tactical reasons. And broke more wood than chopped it. And they could always add larger or longer pieces to a small fire. I suspect large open face shelters with huge fires made of timber were never used much by experienced woodsman. To much effort, to many tools, and to many calories used. Nesmuk’s hatchet would really compliment a folding saw or fixed saw. I have a BSA Plumb hatchet. Like a video on it. Luv your videos. Thanks much.

[@honorableoutfitters]

I think you are correct. Nessmuk would have not needed the axe for anything more than 3" in diameter but I suspect he would have used it more for things 2" or less and for firewood he would have used a long fire for warmth or smaller wood for cooking.

[@rickc4317]

Another thought for planning is, are you going to need a hammer for driving stakes, etc.? That may also have an impact on which hatchet you should take. Obviously, no hammer pole on the Nessmuk.

[@honorableoutfitters]

That is a great point that I neglected! Thank you for adding that!

[@markmueller5508]

What about your 1960s Plumb permabond scout hatchet from your carborundum video. I bought mine new in 1964. It still chops OK on smaller stock and splits up to about 5 inches. Half of the permabond disappeared long ago as has the cover (full head, not a mask) but it is still reliable as ever. I also have a Collins Hudson Bay (1930s) which I have “restored “ but couldn’t find a replacement handle, so it is hung as a hache manoir or house axe.

[@honorableoutfitters]

I probably should have demonstrated the Plumb, it slipped my mind. Happy New Year brother!

[@gerardmartyn1738]

My first hatchet was a mid 60s BSA Plumb. Still have the head. Going to rehaft eventually. Great video as always. Thank you 😊

[@honorableoutfitters]

Thank you. Is it the type with permabond in the eye?

[@gerardmartyn1738]

Yes it was. Red permabond, with a red stained handle.

[@oldschoolwithamoderntwist6074]

,,hello Mr, Dyer`s,, (?) do you have any ideal of how long @ a time these men stayed in the wilderness ?,, when Dick Proenneke went into the Alaskan wilderness he took all the tools he would need including a hatchet & ax & used them for many many years,, now i`m wondering if by design are these hatchets multi purpose & for on the move short term use,, i`m sorry for such a silly,(?) most interesting video,, thanks for sharing,,

[@jamesellsworth9673]

Horace Kephart went out for longer periods at a time, often with a partner. We are talking at most about a season and Kephart and partners returned to 'civilization' as needed for supplies and to post his writing to the magazines of the day. Nessmuk writes about an occasional longer ramble across a considerable country; however, his work largely chronicles much shorter fishing and deer hunting canoe trips or trips using wagon portage. Nessmuk wanted a hatchet that could slice as well as chop through bones. Note that his hatchet was custom-made by Bosh and Lomb, Rochester, New York, using surgical steel.

[@honorableoutfitters]

Well put sir.

[@stevenobryan1764]

Where can I get my hands on the Nessmuk double bit axe. Thanks Steve, by the way I do like your presentations.

[@honorableoutfitters]

Mine was made by Lockhart Ironworks in Ohio. Currently I have been discussing with Darcy Quapp the possibility of him reproducing them since Mr. Lockhart has no interest in making them last I spoke to him. Mr. Quapp made my Nessmuk and Kephart knife that I love. You can reach him on Facebook by visiting Prairie Forge and Axe. If you reach out to him, let him know I spoke to you and it will remind him of our discussion and he will likely be more willing to help you out. He is an incredible master baldesmith of the old styles and ways.