I am searching for a good bushcraft/ camping axe. Most of my camping is with our tiny trailer but we enjoy cooking over a fire as well as the ambiance. Mostly the axe would be used for splitting purchased fire wood to more useful sizes, down to kindling size.

My current axe is a boy's axe (Collins) purchased at my local Ace Hardware store. 3.6 lb total weight, 28" long. It seems to do what I need but I am trying to learn more about bushcraft skills and might want to purchase a more high end axe.

My searching on this forum and the web has not found the info I am looking for. Does anyone know of any texts on what design features should be in a bushcraft/ camping axe? As well as how to use the axe effectively?

The next question I suppose is suggested / recommended brands. I would like to buy an American made axe but probably not custom made. Budget, about $150 max but negotiable depending on what is recommended.

Any assistance is most appreciated.

Council, Eastwing and Vaughn (some, not all) are the only production companies I am aware of that still make axes in the U.S.

Thanks Doug.

Estwing fan here. I have used one of their hatchets for many years for camping chores; I believe their larger models are well regarded.

For larger jobs, I really like to use a Pulaski - a great chopper and hewer and also excels at grubbing in the dirt. Absolutely indispensable fighting wildfires.

It's a big topic. Axes designed for felling trees have a very thin profile compared to axes designed for splitting wood. Marrying both is a voodoo art. I find that thin profile axes like Estwings are lousy splitters if your wood has knots or is not perfectly cured; but you can do a lot of camp/hunting stuff with them that a fat axe cannot.

A different approach to consider: a lot of old axes had very high quality steel compared to the big box store junk you see now. The owners paid top dollar for steel that was intended to work every day and get things done. The steel is of better quality and temper than many blades around now. The best axes/hatchets I own have been plucked out of thrift shops, estate sales, swap meets and junk piles for prices ranging from $10 to free.

When it comes to survival equipment, there is a heated debate around the very real risk of injury (esp. when tired, dehydrated, stressed) vs. the obvious all-around utility of an axe. I've had enough close calls to believe this is a real concern.

P.S., I love pulaskis as well, for their endless all-around usefulness. The Leatherman of axes!

The hardware store boys axe that I have been using is almost rectangular in shape. I seem to have read that is called a Dayton pattern.

While many bushcraft type axes flare out so the cutting edge is wider than the eye (hole for the handle).

What are the advantages for the two patterns?

What shape is preferred for a light weight medium/small camping axe?

I doubt that there is a real, significant difference. Sharp axes work better than dull ones, regardless of the shape of the head.

Here's a good publication an axes by the US Forest Service:

"An Ax to Grind: A Practical Ax Manual"

https://www.fs.fed.us/t-d//pubs/pdfpubs/pdf99232823/pdf99232823Pdpi300.pdf

Thanks for that link haertig. I am not finished reading it yet but so far it is very i formative.

Great link! And it's deeply gratifying when an expert author agrees with me, haha!

"Most axes with broken handles are thrown out
or relegated to a dusty corner of the garage and
replaced with a new ax from the local discount
store. Often the ax heads thrown into the
corner are of much higher quality (better steel,
craftsmanship, temper) than most generic axes
sold by mass marketers today."