Best Backpacking Axe: Wetterlings Les Stroud Bushman Axe
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- čas přidán 20. 07. 2014
- This is the best all-around backpacking axe that I have yet seen. It splits and cross-cuts. It hammers.
The extended beard makes it outstanding for fine cutting tasks and feather sticks.
It weighs 39 oz. With the sheath it is 41 oz.
Length 22 inches.
Head weight 1.6 lbs.
Straight handle promotes accuracy and strength (made of American Hickory).
Splitting is it's greatest attribute although it cross-cuts fairly well also.
This is the axe every axe company should be making.
Big credit to Les Stroud of 'Survivorman' fame, he designed it and he did a hell of a job. - Krátké a kreslené filmy
Im typically a Tomahawk guy, but I bought a Bushman axe several years ago. Its my late fall, and winter axe. I ended up cutting the handle down to 17 inches, blackened the handle with flame, drilled a new lanyard hole, and wrapped the handle end with paracord to catch a tired hand. I call her The Beast, and its a very effective tool. Nice video, and tool collection.
Thanks for this video. It seems based on experience and grounded in backpacking. So many videos are dudes out bushcrafting in the backyard. I’ve been searching for that perfect tool for splitting wood in the back country. I found the tiny hatchets to be worthless, next I tried the big knives and they work fine but they seem lacking if a guy needs to actually heat and cook with wood. Everyone pushes the 2lb axe head on a 2’ stick and that just seems too heavy to haul in the backcountry. I’m excited to try a small axe like this vs my skrama.
The 2nd gen has the metal wedges driven into the eye of the axe.
Best review of the Wetterlings bushman axe! Thanks man!
Thanks for the video! I had my axes narrowed down to these two and couldn't believe there was a video comparing them.
Glad I could be of service :)
Great video thanks so much...been looking for the perfect axe for a gift...
think I'm gonna want this for myself. .
yeah, no doubt, I've been thinking about buying a back-up. That's how good this axe is.
Thanks for the review, brother. Love the Les Stroud axe! Greetings from Sweden btw.
Thanks to you and your country for the world's best axes!
I just ordered one on line. I have my fingers crossed that it will be perfect and not have any of the issues the first generation's had. I have a Granfors Bruks Scandinavian Forest Axe already. Hopefully I'll like this one just as much. Thanks for the review.
I talked to Wetterlings via email about 2 months ago concerning the lack of product in the US, namely the Bushman. I believe the hold up was due to them working out the kinks of the first generation. The 2nd gen has more of a convex grind to promote strength. The heat treat was changed too.
I think you'll really dig it.
I hope so. I don't mind the wait, I just want a great axe for camping and hiking. So I'm glad they're making it better and stronger.
I own a few Silky saws. They rock! I also have the Katana. What a beast! I think I'll get the 210 next and maybe big boy.
Not a huge fan of broad axes. I'm clumsier than I like with them. Perhaps I'll get the Wetterling sm. outdoor axe. I have the Gransfor maul & Scandinavia axe.
Although if I was on a journey & only taking one axe. I'd pick up the Les Nessman axe he he
I really like this axe. It is a shame that GB ran Wetterlings to the ground. It would be nice for someone else to pick up this design.
Great video
+Belnap Custom Knives (Courage and Foresight with God's Aide) Thanks buddy
Hey can you do a vid on the Silky Katana Boy? I'd like to see it in action on some Hardwoods like oak or poplar if you have those in your area..Thanks.
Great points man, I like your thought on just having to try something for yourself. I am partial to straight handles, and I think the design of the bushman is thought out for its primary purpose.... some people criticize the head shape/design for not being more like other axes of its size. I guess I will have to try it for myself and see, but I think for its weight it looks to be a capable axe.... for its intended purpose even if it isnt the best for carving a spoon . thanks for the video bud !
I was hoping to see some usage
Bear Grylls can be summed up in 2 words ..... unnecessary risks .
Ray Mears for me is the best dude teaching survival on tv . i do like les stroud too like but for me ray is the boy !
your first mistake is watching survival tv...
Mors Krochanski is better, I even think Cody Lundin is better, but no doubt he is good.
Say Heah Rick, Up until a few years ago, I considered myself a 3Knife carry guy. I would carry a 3 1/2" blade, 5"-7" blade and a large knife generally a 9"-9 1/2"+ blade. I got pretty good attaching two of the knives on my pack, and usually the medium knife on person, Then I started adding a saw, So yeah I have a Silky Big'Boy 2000 with the yellow handle I also have the Wicked Tough Saw and of course the Bacho Laplander and the Bob's Buck Saw soon. But then I watched guys especially William Collins talked about how he even makes kindling with his Axe, and how safe it is, I had to try that, Since then I never looked back. I have the three sizes of Estwings plus the Double Bit Hatchet I also have a fiberglass Kowal 14" Hatcher, Before that I got the G. B. Small Forest Axe, Thinking I would never need another Axe, But the 26" handle would whisper get me, get me, So yeah I got a Husqvarna All Purpose Forest Axe, But before that I had a House Axe made, I love using the Iltis Oxhead on a 19" handle but it's a bit heavy. I love Scouting and alot of times I'm solo, So I got a copy of Nessmuk Double Bit Hatchet made by 2Hawks, Pieces of art, Very small Hatchet a lightweight that punches like a heavyweight I also got their three sharp edge Tomahawk the Warbeast, and yeah it's almost as good as my G. B. and my Hultafors Bruks 17 " Agdor, Because the 2Hawks I can carry either one on person all day. In what appears to be a short period, I accumulated a nice stable of hatchets/axes, But just now, I placed an order on a 24" Council Wood Craft Pack Axe. I almost forgot I still need a handle hanged on my Mini Norlund I bought at the Pawn shop at a pretty good price considering it has never been sharpened, Thank You so much for sharing your axes, But I think I too have a nice selection of them, Job well done.
Knives and axes are the beautiful creations of man's ingenuity. They were and are needed tools in the quest to survive and thrive. I love them too. Rock on, brother.
There's a quote Mors Kochansky once read from I think Nessmuk (George Washington Sears) , He quoted "Give a man a knife and he will live, But give him an Axe and he lives like a King".
It's more accurate because the axe head is balanced. The bushman axe is bit heavy, meaning it's heavier on the bit(cutting edge)side than the poll side.
Wow you must have got the perfect model! Many other people have issues with their Bushmans.. I really like the design, but for now im looking at other axes in the same range.
Any suggestions apart form the Gransfors SmallForest Axe?
Capabilities per size and weight ratio leads to the Bushman as the hands down best. Another good one is the Wetterlings Back Country Axe, good wedge shape for splitting....I think 19 inches long
How would either of these measure up to a council tools velvicut? I own the velvicut and find it to be a fabulous axe, but don't really know how it would measure up to your two axes.
Rocco Grimaldi I would tend to believe the Swedish steel used on both axes would be better than the Council. This is from what I've heard, though, I've never actually used a Council so I can't say for sure.
It`s better/more powerful than the Scandinavian F from GB? Splits better? I mean, the Scandinavian is heavier and have a longer handle. Maybe a thinner edge. IDK
What about ray mears? I would put him above Les. Both however would run circles around me in the forest.
Yeah, Ray Mears knows what he's doing for sure. I guess we've had such a glut of bad survival shows here in the US that it begins to wear on you...Fat Guys in the Woods, Tethered, Naked and Afraid...the list goes on and on.
SO THERE YOU HAVE IT FOLKS . THE HEAD IS WAY TO LIGHT TO BE EFFECTIVE AND I AGREE !
Darn it, I was chopping wood yesterday and bent/rolled the edge of the blade on a knot in the log. Hopefully I can sharpen the blade and it not affect the overall length of the blade.
+flex93312 I did that with my RTAK II, impossible to get out. Good luck, man.
Hopefully it'll work.
What is the difference between first and second generation of this axe.How do I know what generation is my axe
The 2nd gen has the metal wedges driven into the eye of the axe.
...one single wedge
Oh god
just for the record bend axe handles are not less accurate it just needs an more experienced hand to work with the axe
Gerit k.raak disagree with the ferocity of a hundred ravenous lions
oke lets agree to disagree everyone got their own flavor I guess
Katana silky is to big for bush craft unless your planning on crafting a log cabin
As god as my witness I thought turkeys could fly.
Always appreciate a good WKRP quote.
all these vids show perfect nice and clean axes. all unused, my axes are used as a tool. these vids are like knife vids, all look new and unused. BOLLOCKS!
Well first of all you are calling the Gransfors a "Small Splitting Axe" and it's not an axe it's a "Small Splitting MAUL" so it's for Splitting only like you said and I have the Gransfors Small forest and the Gransfors Scandanavian FA and i love them..but they can't Split like the Maul can of course because they don't have much wedge but the axe I would put up against the Les Stroud axe in splitting is the GB American Felling axe 31" straight handle and where you will be carrying 2 axes/mauls whatever and the silky I'd be carrying 1 axe the American felling 31" straight and the silky and I could split as good as you can with the LS and chop a lot better...It will almost split as good as your GB maul and if I wanted I could fell any tree in the woods also with one axe..So I'd have one axe do it all..Next you should try the GB Felling in place of both of these..but this is just my preference everybody is different and has their own likes..I like this particular Silky I wish u woulda used it in the video..I have the Gomboy 240...I will have to check into this one you have..Happy Chopping!!
First of all, the Gransfors Bruks website calls it 'Small Splitting Axe', not maul.
Secondly, I brought both axes out for testing purposes only. I will only carry one most of the time.
Thirdly, the American Felling Axe weighs 5 lbs...it would stay at home or in the truck at best.
Now that the rebuttal has concluded...
I will be doing a video of the Silky Saw. I just got the Big Boy also so I'll be testing and comparing them in the future.
Listen, I know a lot of guys love the small forest axe and the scandinavian forest axe.
I love the scandinavian myself but I have to tell it like it is. It's not as good as the Les Stroud' for backpacking purposes which is mostly splitting. This is why I tested these axes myself, so I would know for sure. And now I do.
Maybe I'll do another vid explaining the concept more clearly.
Rich Allfieldnohit
I have owned my GB Small Forest and GB Scandinavian Forest axes for over two years, and like you I feel they never did the kind of work I would like them to do(firewood splitting). They are both designed as limbing axes, and it even says so right in the GB axe book that comes with them. It would take someone with far greater skill and strength than myself to make them efficient bushcraft axes simply because they are so lightweight.
Thanks for the review on the Wetterlings Les Stroud axe... I just picked up a Wetterlings 26" Forest axe, and it blows my GB axes away with its splitting ability. It is my replacement for my GB Scandinavian Forest axe, and I have been considering replacing my GB Small Forest axe with the Wetterlings Bushman.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts... sometimes it is hard to find words to describe how these axes function with particular woods tasks, but you nailed it :)
***** Great comment, I couldn't agree more. Thanks.
Rich Allfieldnohit
Check out the Wetterlings Scandinavian Forest Axe if you want a similar axe to your GB Scandinavian Forest that splits far better than the GB. They seem similar on paper, but they are very different tools in the woods. The Wetterlings has about 4oz more steel in the head, and the head is much thicker than the GB Scandi.
I just sold my GB Scandi and I have no regrets.
***** I've been thinking about this comment since you made it. I'm going to try some Wetterlings forest axes in the future.
Good looking out, brohammer.
It was painful watching Les butcher that branch. Impossible to evaluate the hatchet, the way he mishandled it.
Amazon 9/26/18 ... $467.47!!!! You gotta be SHITT'N me. Almost 4X price just because of a guy's name? That ain't gonna happen! There are MANY other BETTER choices.
Not the recommended retail price at that time...just some extortionate vendor! I am sure no one would pay that much for any axe.
waste of time with You mate.
This guy is so American..'katana' pronounced like 'cat tan' instead of kah-tah-na.