I'm looking to buy a high quality saw and hatchet for vehicle carry although it might be possible that I'd have to travel on foot with them.
Sturdiness is more important here than lightweight or cost.
Any suggestions?


Thanks,

Dave

My first suggestion is buying Mors Kochanski's' Bushcraft' and learning how to handle an axe safely. Then visit www.ragweedforge.com and look over the Wetterlings. You can certainly upsell yourself to a larger axe that is far safer than a hatchet and has minimal wieght and size penalties. Ragnar has an excellent reputation among knife and outdoor forums. I have done repeat business with him over the years. For a saw, you probably will want a decent bowsaw. Most of the better ones come almost standard with excellent swedish blades. If you need something still larger, www.crosscutsaw.com is another fine and well established company. A one man saw with a basic tuning and sharpening kit can be lashed to a larger BOB or pack. The reprint of the saw manual is another library given. If you go this route, don't worry to much about tooth patterns. Theoretically they are roughly divided into hardwood/fozen and softwood designs. I've used both on everything in a pinch.

I have both a Gerber hatchet and saw. I favor Gerber products, including their knives and multitools.

I will echo the Wetterlings from Ragnar. I have the Small Hunter and can vouch for the quality and his service. It's a good value for the money.

I've ordered a Gerber catalog and will study the Wetterlings link.
Does anybody have an opinion on the Sawvivor? I'd like a bow saw and this one seems like a real winner.

I have one of the Sawvivors and it is a good saw...
They make two lengths, so be sure that the one you are getting is the one you want.
They also have a carry case for it, that I highly suggest you get unless space is CRITICLE

Gerber. They make a nice saw and hatchet set.

I keep both a hatchet and a single bit axe in my truck. They Definately have different uses. I think for most people, in most survival situations, a hatchet is the best bet, providing its a quality tool. Weight may be similar, but the handle length makes a big difference when it comes to kitting your gear.

Last time that I checked the Gerber hatchets were manufactured by Fishkars of Finland. You can buy the same product in Home Deport or Lowes with about 40% discount; only difference is a little orange color.
Hope this helps.
Saludos

Just as an FYI, I am relatively new leader in a Scout troop. The Scoutmaster of our troop told me that last year a Scout at summer camp brought along a folding hand saw - the kind where the blade folds into the handle much like a pocketknife. He says that while one of the Scouts was using the saw the blade snapped during the push stoke. That wouldn't have been so bad, but the portion of the blade still in the wood jabbed into the side of the Scouts hands creating a nasty gash that required stitches.

Now, I suppose that could happen with any kind of saw, but a folding saw puts the hand so close to the blade area that it makes me lean toward a bow-type saw even more.

I currently have a Sven folding saw and have used it for years with good results. The only problem with it is that the angle of the handle always felt odd and the triangular shape limits the thickness of wood that it can cut.

Lately I've been looking at the 18" or 24" Trailblazer aluminum buck saw - and leaning toward the 24" version. It looks like a nice saw that stows very compactly, is durable, and can cut large wood. Here are links to two reviews:

http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=43

http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sstamp/knives/trailblazer.html

For a hatchet, I've seen the Granfors Bruks axes and they are nice - they ship so sharp that some of the ones I saw at the store had actually sliced through the leather sheaths as people had taken the sheaths on and off - that is sharp!! It makes me wonder if anyone makes a kydex sheath for them.

During my Scout leader training they recommended I buy a Estwing 16" plastic gripped Camper's Axe. The idea is that the metal handle takes a lot of abuse from young Scouts - much more than a wooden handle. I ended up buying a leather-handled Estwing Sportsman's Axe because I couldn't find the other one locally. I've been warned to keep the handle dry so it doesn't absorb water once the varnish coating wears off. Of course I'd keep it dry anyway since it is carbon steel.

The Estwing axe is not nearly as sharp as the Granfors Bruks axes and doesn't take an edge as well, but my goal has never been to put a shaving sharp edge on an axe anyway. If I was buying an axe limited to my own personal use I'd probably buy one of the larger Granfors Bruks axes and would hope I can find a kydex sheath for it.

Ken K.

Interesting and nasty consequences of a folding saw failure.

FWIW, I think many folding pruning saws (like mine by Sandvik) are designed to cut on the pull stroke, minimizing the possibility of injury from this kind of failure, assuming proper technique.

Probably a noob question, but what are the advantages of a hatchet/axe in comparison to a saw beside splitting logs ?

Besides splitting wood, I'm planning on using the hatchet for removing branches from smaller trees so they can be used as poles. The saw wouldn't be suitable for this and it would be too hard on my knife.

Sir, IMHO, there are no better production axes then those produced by Gransfords Bruks. Welterings are a close second. The way I heard the story, the smaller an axe gets, the more dangerous it becomes. If I may, I would direct your attention to the previously mentioned Bushcraft by Mors Kochansky and Old Jimbo's site. Both contain good information on axe selection and use. The saw is safer to use then the axe, but cannot match the axe in versatillity. A properly designed axe can be used like a knife to make fuzz sticks or to skin game, can be used to make a shelter, and can split wet wood to allow you to make a fire fast when you need a fire NOW. Yes, I can do the same things with my knives and this reflects the redundancy I seek in my equipment, but I recognise which tool accells at which jobs and I use them that way. It seems we get into trouble when we use a tool for things it was not designed to do. Within space and weight constrants, I always carry to biggest axe I can and saws increase in size and capabillity to match the axe. Jim

What about a tomahawk like the Voyager from Two Hawks ( he sadly passed away recently). Can it replace a large axe or hatchet?
Oliver

Many of the reproduction 'hawks copy older designs with different ergonomics. You have to remember these were combination fighting and light camp use tools- think Ka-Bar. They can be used, just be sure to choose one with a good handle and know the metallurgy. www.ragweedforge.com has a link in his bookfiles to the tomahawk association with more definite feedback.