Thread: Axes!

Disclaimer: I am an Arm-Chair Mountain Man. I watch all the great outdoor episodes on my Samsung 46". I can hone an axe with one hand , while gripping a slice of pizza with the other.

The first is a Gransfors Bruks American Felling axe. It has yet to see wood, hopefully I will get to use it camping in August in Michigan.
The second is a Norlund Hudson Bay axe I got a week before Hurricane Andrew, she has helped out my times since.

I use a 2 sided Carborundum or a Lansky Puck, followed by a beat up Swaty. I have use a 10" bastard file for quick edges, during hurricanes, on the Hudson Bay. I refuse to use a file on the Gransfors Bruks.

This may sound like a stupid question but what exactly is a bastard file? I've used my father's tools my whole life and he has a lot of files and I have no idea what the names of the different files are, other than a rasp.

What I was taught was that it means a file that is neither a smooth or rough cut; in other words it is a "bastard" , in between.

Have you guys seen this company? Some of them look a little dandy for my taste...others are nice...

http://www.bestmadeco.com/collections/axes

Thanks for the link.
I like them, but I hope that a member with forging background can explain the difference in the steel , between these and the Gransfors Bruks.

Nice thread, I too love axes! You'll love the Gransfors when it lands. I use a file or stones to sharpen mine then strop them. My favorite axe would be a WWII issue Swedish felling axe that was made by Hultafors I believe. The length and balance is spot on. I'll have to try to get some pics up when I get a minute.

Isn't it rather pointless to strop an axe?

I once sharpened an axe all the way to 8000 grit mirror polish and shaved with it. Only for the novelty of course. Because such edges don't last past the first couple of strokes once ou start chopping a tree. I can only see that being useful for timber sports, where time is measures in hundreths of seconds, and you only need a dozen strokes of the axe. And of course benchmarks or shaving challenges ,

Originally Posted by Hirlau

Disclaimer: I am an Arm-Chair Mountain Man. I watch all the great outdoor episodes on my Samsung 46". I can hone an axe with one hand , while gripping a slice of pizza with the other.

The first is a Gransfors Bruks American Felling axe. It has yet to see wood, hopefully I will get to use it camping in August in Michigan.
The second is a Norlund Hudson Bay axe I got a week before Hurricane Andrew, she has helped out my times since.

I use a 2 sided Carborundum or a Lansky Puck, followed by a beat up Swaty. I have use a 10" bastard file for quick edges, during hurricanes, on the Hudson Bay. I refuse to use a file on the Gransfors Bruks.
]

I will be camping in Michigan as well, where will you be?

I have 2 cheap and cheerful axes made somewhere in the Far East. Serve me well in the garden. I use a scythe sharpening stone to sharpen it, works fine. As it takes a while and I got myself a Dremel last year I am going to use that next time.

BTW: Axe lovers have their own sharpening stones acquisition disorder. Vintage synthetic Norton axe hones fetch a fortune on the bay.

Originally Posted by Kees

BTW: Axe lovers have their own sharpening stones acquisition disorder. Vintage synthetic Norton axe hones fetch a fortune on the bay.

I remember jimmy saying something about axe men always bidding on three line swatys?