Primary woods tool: Hatchet/Axe or Machete?

[enki_ck]

I've read and heard a number of times; Axe in the north, machete in the south. But why? what are the advantages an axe holds over a machete and vice versa? Which one would you pick? (And don't say both )  I know my choices and reasons but I wanted to hear your guys opinions on this one too.

[Steinar]

You don't need to clear away vines and large amounts of undergrowth in the north, you do on the other hand need to chop relatively hard wood. Trying to chop frozen wood for a fire (or shelter or whatever) in winter in the northern pine forest with a machete is only for the most masochistic and patient among us.

Really, I don't know much about the uses for a machete in the south, what I do know is that I want an axe in the north.

[Medic82]

Lot's easier chopping down a tree with an axe than a machete, trust me, I have tried with something called a Samekniv that is like the machete of the native Norwegians that live up north.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

[Syph007]

Yes taking down large hard trees with an axe is easier.  The weight will bite more into the tree.  Also its colder up here so more likely you'll be making fires and splitting wood. 

I use machetes for brush clearing though, an axe sucks for that, but for felling trees an axe wins.

[dks]

I though you lot used Puukkos to cut down trees!   



 

[Gareth]

How about carrying one of these?



 

OK, so I just carry an axe. 

You don't need to clear away vines and large amounts of undergrowth in the north, you do on the other hand need to chop relatively hard wood. Trying to chop frozen wood for a fire (or shelter or whatever) in winter in the northern pine forest with a machete is only for the most masochistic and patient among us.

Really, I don't know much about the uses for a machete in the south, what I do know is that I want an axe in the north.

  That really does say it all.

[dks]

[Gareth]

Wood chopper?



 

[AimlessWanderer]

For me a primary woods tool would be a SAW!! Paired with a decent knife, and a little know how (selecting and shaping hardwoods as wedges) you might not need an axe or machete. Aside from that I'd have to ask what's in the woods where you're thinking of going and when?

Reasoning is that aside from my saw and knife, if I was taking a tent or tarp and the woodcraft was pretty much for firemaking duty, I'd go for an axe. An axe will also let you choke up on the head to do "whittling" work such as fashioning tent pegs or heavier carving tasks, but if you were looking at using spruce boughs for a bed and trimming them off to separate the "mattress" from the shelter poles, I'd rather have my Chris Caine Survival tool.

In other words - what will YOU need it to do in your area. My big two to chose from (from my arsenal) would be the Chris Caine or a Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet. There may be circumstances however, dependent on what I was planning, where I might leave them both and take the Cold Steel Spetznaz Shovel which does both jobs, but does neither of them as well. My machete only ever sees use in landscaping situations, but I have done some reasonable log bothering with the CC Survival Tool - not as comfortable as an axe after some duration though.

If I did have to pick just one for myself ... GB Wildlife Hatchet .... and a Bahco Laplander .... and my Scorpion Knives Warthog 

[theonew]

For winter camping I prefer to carry a saw. I was able to cut through this fallen tree with a Silky Super Accel 210 in a minute or two.



That's a Bark River Aurora for size reference.

[Syph007]

For winter camping I prefer to carry a saw. I was able to cut through this fallen tree with a Silky Super Accel 210 in a minute or two.

(Image removed from quote.)

That's a Bark River Aurora for size reference.

(Image removed from quote.)

I have that exact same saw! The silky is awesome!  Its like a light sabre to a jawa... cuts through wood like nothing.

[enki_ck]

Nice input guys.

I'm really enjoying the read. The international character of this forum does give some variety to this topic.

[Pacu]

Texas chiming in here...i've always been partial to a good bow saw and a hatchet. Primary tools for firewood collectin in scouts.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Hatchet for me too please

 Although given the choice I'd probably go for a kukri as its the best of both worlds

[JRB65]

How about carrying one of these?

(Image removed from quote.)

[zoidberg]

Machete for me thanks. I grew up in the bush, so I have no problem surviving with either. I do like the manoeuvrability and style of using a blade though.

As others have said, it depends on the what where when timeframe experiance etc.

IMO the blade has reach, speed, longer length of edge, lighter, you can repair or adapt it, stab, slash, hack, throw and so on.

The axe has durability, power/weight/heft, prying, splitting, chopping, pounding and so forth.

I'm sure a saw can be useful, but I'm not skilled at hunting with one and wouldn't like to try taking down a boar or go fishing with one.

Also I don't dig the inbetweeners like a kukri or a shovel.

A stainless garden trowel/hand spade that takes up no room and weights nothing, sure.

[AimlessWanderer]

 

I'm sure a saw can be useful, but I'm not skilled at hunting with one and wouldn't like to try taking down a boar or go fishing with one.

Also I don't dig the inbetweeners like a kukri or a shovel.

A stainless garden trowel/hand spade that takes up no room and weights nothing, sure.

Sharpened shovels can also dig a fire pit, fire bed, latrine, gypsy well, shift snow, dig up roots etc as well as (less efficent) hacking, chopping and splitting. I wouldn't like to try and dig a hole with my handmade cutting tools  Again it comes down to needs, environment and abilities.

A khukri if a nice inbetweener when the terrain/materials are a bit between the ideals for an axe or machete too. I wouldn't like to use any big knife for sustained axe work though - too much energy wasted and it can be tough on the hands and elbows too 

[derekmac]

How about carrying one of these?

(Image removed from quote.)

Didn't ya know, that's all us Canadians use!!

[dks]

 

[Gareth]

How about carrying one of these?

(Image removed from quote.)

Didn't ya know, that's all us Canadians use!!

(Image removed from quote.)

 

[tw56]

I prefer a hatchet.

[Grail Knight]

I carry an hatchet when camping. More useful on larger branches and cutting down small trees for firewood.

Well I do own an Ontario Knife Co. Kukri which is great for outside the home brush and shrubs like
any other thin blade knife lacks the head weight for larger jobs.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

In general, I'd take a machete; I think it'd provide more all around utility.  If I knew I had to process a lot of wood, I'd rather have an axe.  I'd love a GB Small Forest Axe, if I could afford one.  That said, I only have one machete, my Condor Golok, and it's an awesome tool... not as good a chopper as something like Condor's Parang, but again, I think the Golok is a better all around utility tool.  While it's certainly possible to use a choke grip on an axe for a small task cutting tool, I think a machete would work better used the same way.

But, my first choice, as previously mentioned, would be a saw.  I have a 21" Sven saw, and it's a good little tool; great balance of utility, small space, and low weight.  If I could have anything I wanted, I'd get one of those big Silky models, like a Gomboy, and a GB Small Forest axe.