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GETTING INTO THE SWING WITH THESE CHOPPING TOOLS
There’s nothing like an axe or hatchet for the backyard or backwoods when you need to take chunks out of wood. With these tools, you can clear trails, limb and fell trees, split firewood, make kindling, build a shelter, and improvise everything you need in a primitive camp.
Have a look at the Chopping Buyer’s Guide 2023:
WOOX FORTE SPLITTING AXE
Overall Length: 22 or 28 inches
Head Length: 7 ¼ inches
Head Thickness: 1 ¾ inches
Cutting Edge: 4 ¼ inches
Head Steel: C60/1060 carbon steel
Handle Material: Appalachian hickory wood, friction fit
Sheath Material: Leather
Origin: Italy, USA
MSRP: $169 (22-inch), $189 (28-inch)
HULTS BRUK 325-YEAR ANNIVERSARY AXE
Overall Length: 15 inches
Head Steel: Hand-forged Swedish steel
Handle Material: American hickory
Sheath Material: Leather
Head Weight: 1.25 pounds
Total Weight: 2.2 pounds
MSRP: $184
HULTS BRUK ALMIKE HATCHET
Overall Length: 16 inches
Cutting Edge: 2.875 inches
Head Steel: Hand-forged Swedish steel
Handle Material: American hickory
Sheath Material: Leather
Head Weight: 1 pound
Total Weight: 1.75 pounds
MSRP: $169
WOOX AX1 HATCHET
Overall Length: 15.7 inches
Head Size: 5.3 inches long x 1.06 inches thick
Cutting Edge: 3.25 inches
Head Steel: C45/1045 tempered carbon steel w/Cerakote finish
Handle Material: Octagonal Appalachian hickory handle w/steel, diamond-shaped pommel
Sheath Material: Leather
Origin: Italy, USA
Other: Italian leather handle collar included
MSRP: $199
GERBER BUSHCRAFT HATCHET
Overall Length: 15.25 inches
Blade Length: 5.5 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.8 inch
Blade Material: Forged carbon steel
Handle Material: GFN (glass-reinforced nylon) w/rubber overmolding
Weight: 2.4 pounds
Origin: Vietnam
Other: Integral overstrike guard on upper handle, waterproof gear storage compartment in hollow handle for survival gear
MSRP: $70
CASE WINKLER PACK AXE
Overall Length: 14.25 inches
Cutting Edge: 2.57 inches
Construction: One piece of 3/8-thick 80CRV2 steel with Caswell matte gray finish
Handle Material: Canvas laminate scales over steel handle
Weight: 26 ounces
Sheath: Kydex with two nylon attachment straps and elastic security cord
Origin: USA
MSRP: $499.99
Columbia River Knife & Tool: CRKT SKEGGOX
Overall Length: 12.94 inches
Cutting Edge: 4.83 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.25 inch
Construction: One piece SK-5 steel w/powdercoat finish
Handle Material: Glass-reinforced nylon scales over steel handle
Sheath Material: Thermoplastic
Weight: 1.63 pounds
Origin: Taiwan
MSRP: $150
BOKER USA: BOKER PLUS APPALACHIAN AXE SMALL
Overall Length: 13.98 inches
Cutting Edge: 4.13 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.79 inch
Blade Steel: 1095
Handle Material: Hickory wood
Sheath Material: Leather, sold separately at $24.95
Origin: Taiwan
Other: Longer version available, 19.69 inches overall
MSRP: $68.69
HULTS BRUK AKKA FORESTER’S AXE
Overall Length: 24 inches
Cutting Edge: 3.125 inches
Head Steel: Hand-forged Swedish steel
Handle Material: American hickory
Sheath Material: Leather
Head Weight: 1.5 pounds
Total Weight: 2.2 pounds
MSRP: $184
WOOX SOLO
Overall Length: 19 inches
Cutting Edges: 3.5 and 2 inches
Head Dimensions: 8.25 inches long x 3.5 inches tall
Head Steel: C45/1045 tempered carbon steel
Handle Material: Appalachian hickory wood, friction fit
Sheath Material: Leather
Origin: Italy, USA
Other: Chisel-tipped mattock/adz blade 1.5 inches wide
MSRP: $149
GERBER BUSHCRAFT AXE
Overall Length: 26.25 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.9 inch
Blade Length: 6.87 inches
Blade Material: Forged carbon steel
Handle Material: GFN (glass-reinforced nylon) with rubber overmolding
Sheath Material: Nylon
Weight: 4.5 pounds
Origin: Vietnam
Other: Integral overstrike guard on upper handle, two waterproof gear storage compartments in hollow handle for survival gear
MSRP: $90
COUNCIL TOOLS 2-LB HUDSON BAY CAMP AXE
Head: Hand-sharpened, forged steel, 2 pounds
Handle: 18-inch curved hickory
Other: Sport utility finish
Origin: USA
MSRP: $64.94
CONDOR TOOL & KNIFE HERITAGE AXE 1
Overall Length: 19.01 inches
Cutting Edge: 5.83 inches
Blade Steel: 1060 high-carbon steel
Handle Material: Burnt American hickory
Sheath: Leather
Weight: 39.51 ounces
Origin: El Salvador
MSRP: $109.18
COUNCIL TOOLS 1.7-LB Hatchet
Head: Hand-sharpened, forged steel, 1.7 pounds
Handle: 14-inch hickory
Other: Dayton-pattern hatchet with curved handle, sport utility finish
Origin: USA
MSRP: $49.15
ESTWING SPECIAL EDITION SPORTSMAN’S AXE
Overall Length: 14 inches
Cutting Edge: 3.25 inches
Construction: One solid piece of American steel w/matte black finish
Handle Material: Leather over steel
Sheath Material: Nylon
Origin: USA
Weight: 1.9 pounds
MSRP: $49.99
CRKT WOODS CHOGAN T-HAWK
Overall Length: 19.13 inches
Cutting Edge: 3.5 inches
Blade Steel: 1055 carbon steel
Blade Thickness: 0.52 inch
Weight: 2 pounds, 1.4 ounces
Handle Material: Tennessee hickory, press fit
Other: Hammerhead poll
MSRP: $60
A version of this article first appeared in the Jan/Feb 2023 print issue of Knives Illustrated Buyer’s Guide.