The best bushcraft axe is a functional one. Although axes serve more or less the same purpose, there are plenty of different options out there for different situations.

Axes may be thought to be a thing of the past however they still have a valuable place within the hearts of the bushcraft community. They are extremely handy to have around camp for general use such as splitting logs for the campfire however they have some other handy uses too. In this article, we will be looking at the features of a good bushcraft axe, what makes them so useful, and what kind of tasks they can undertake.

What Are the Features of a Good Bushcraft Axe?

A good bushcraft axe will not only be useful for the first thing that springs to mind – wood splitting. They should also serve a few other needs and if you find a tactical or multi-use axe, they will function well in a diverse range of situations and undertake multiple tasks. Finding a good bushcraft axe can be difficult in this day and age as they are not as popular as they once were. Decent axes in the survival and wild camping world have become few and far between because of the introduction and development of tactical outdoor knives, shovels, and multitools.

The first thing to look out for when finding the best bushcraft axe is the steel it is made from. A good axe will be made from a hard, weather-resistant steel that once sharpened, holds a good edge for a long period of time without re-sharpening. The axe head should be able to hold up to the wear and tear of day to day outdoor life when used at camp, for bushcraft, for survival, or around a homestead.

A good bushcraft axe should be durable and rugged and offer extra abilities to undertake more than just wood splitting. Your standard small and large bushcraft axe should have a heavy head with a flat plate on the opposite side to the blade. This flat plate will allow you to use the axe as a hammer when it is used backward, this is perfect for driving in stakes, used along with a knife when sectioning a game animal, and aiding in the building of survival shelters.

Modern bushcraft axes should have a synthetic handle. We all love the way that a traditional wooden handle looks however with the modern advancement of synthetic materials wood is now obsolete. Sure, a wood handle is great for a one-use hatchet or splitting axe, but if you are using the axe in tough situations where you are putting it under immense strain a wood handle is likely to split. Bushcraft axes that feature a pummel hammer on the rear of the head need an especially strong handle as the shock from blunt force will eventually cause a natural material to break.

Talking of handles, some bushcraft axes will feature a ferro rod (firesteel) hidden within the handle so you can use it to start a fire. An axe that features this is a great all-in-one fire starting kit as you can use it to make tinder, kindling, and split up fuelwood as well as start the fire as well.

Some bushcraft axes are a little different from the standard and can come in a range of different designs that will benefit situations of specific individuals. Some people may enjoy heading out into the wilderness with as little kit as possible and won’t want to haul around a bulky axe with them. For lightweight bushcrafters a versatile axe blade tool is ideal.

You can find axe blades that can be used in hand for carving, shaving, preparing food, and processing game animals, as well as all the traditional uses of an axe. These blades come with paracord wrapped around them so the blade can be attached to a piece of wood when they are needed for splitting and intense work. Having to find a strong length of timber can be a hassle when you reach a camping spot, but it does eliminate the need of carrying a bulky axe with an attached handle around.

Other axes will come as a multi-use tool for an all in one solution to almost every bushcrafting need. If you love having an inventory of tools all in one place so everything is at hand when you need it then a multi-use survival axe is the way to go. These axes usually feature a wide range of tool heads that can be interchanged so only one handle is needed for multiple uses. You will usually find an axe head, saw blade, knife blade, and some kind of spearhead in these multi-use packs, so they can certainly accommodate many situations.

What is a Bushcraft Axe Good For?

As you now know, bushcraft axes are good for much more than just splitting wood to feed your campfire and if we haven’t already, in this section, we will hopefully open your eyes to the brilliance that an axe can bring to the table. Below is a short list of situations and uses that a bushcraft axe can accommodate. not every axe will serve each purpose on its own, but this will give you an idea of the versatility that they can bring to the table. Some of these uses and situations can be served with your basic axe and others will need a multi-use axe to undertake.

• Splitting wood for fires
• Lighting fires
• Carving stakes, spears, pegs, and traps
• Hammering stakes and pegs into the ground and plugs into wood
• Sectioning game animals after slaughter
• Processing meat and vegetables ready for cooking
• Hunting and fishing
• Felling trees
• Building shelters
• Self-defense

In the next section, we will go over the specific uses that your standard bushcraft axe, multi-use survival axe, and lightweight axe can serve, so you can get a clearer image in your mind and narrow down which type of axe will best suit you. We will be reviewing the best small bushcraft axe, large bushcraft axe, multi-use survival axe, and a lightweight axe blade and going over exactly what each one can do.

Best Small Bushcraft axe

The Schrade 11.8-inch Stainless Steel Bushcraft Axe 

Functions and capabilities

• Creating tinder
• Splitting kindling
• Splitting fuelwood
• Starting fires
• Felling small trees
• Hammering stakes and pegs into the ground
• Building shelters
• Carving spears, traps, and hunting tools
• Sectioning game carcasses and meat

Overview

The Schrade 11.8-inch stainless steel bushcraft axe is a high-quality hatchet that is built to endure the strenuous activities that life outdoors throws at it. The blade is made from a high-quality stainless steel that is coated with titanium for ultimate weather-resistant, and the handle is made from a glass fiber filled TPR material for all-weather protection. This is a simple axe that has some strong reliable features like the pommel hammer head, and incorporated firesteel that is hidden in the handle.

If you are looking for a small bushcraft axe and desire traditional styling with a modern twist that is simple, robust, and durable, then this is the axe for you. Schrade have been creating high-quality tools for years and they are a reputable brand with a great track record. This axe lives up to the companies’ name and brings fantastic quality and design to the market for an affordable price.

Pros

• Robust, durable, and versatile
• Strong high-grip all-weather handle
• Incorporated firesteel
• lightweight and compact
• simple and reliable design
• pommel on hammer edge for easy striking of the firesteel
• sharp out the box

Cons

• The Sheath can be a bit tight around the head, making it difficult to sheath the tool quickly

Bottom Line

Overall, the Schrade 11.8-inch bushcraft axe is a high-quality article with a traditional design. It comes with some simple and effective features that you can rely on all-year-round in all-weathers.

Best Large Bushcraft Axe

The Schrade 15.7-inch Stainless Steel Bushcraft Axe 

Functions and capabilities

• Creating tinder
• Splitting kindling
• Splitting fuelwood
• Starting fires
• Felling large trees
• Hammering stakes and pegs into the ground
• Building shelters
• Carving spears, traps, and hunting tools
• Sectioning game carcasses

Overview

The Schrade 15.7-inch stainless steel bushcraft axe is identical to the axe above however it features a slightly longer handle for added power and versatility. This may be slightly bulkier for some, but if you are looking for a high-quality axe with the capability to undertake heavier work, then this is the axe for you.

The 15.7 features all the same great things that its smaller cousin does and is made from the same high-quality titanium-coated stainless steel and fiber-filled handle. It has an extra-large firesteel in hidden in the handle that is guaranteed to last an extremely long time, no matter how many fires you build.

Pros

• Robust, durable, and versatile
• Strong high-grip all-weather handle
• Longer handle provides more power for heavier tasks
• Incorporated extra-large firesteel for lighting fires time after time
• Lightweight and compact
• Simple and reliable design
• Pommel on hammer edge for easy striking of the firesteel
• Super-sharp out of the box

Cons

• The Sheath can be a bit tight around the head, making it difficult to sheath the tool quickly
• A little bulky for some and will take up a lot of space in a backpack

Bottom Line

Overall, the Schrade 15.7-inch stainless steel bushcraft axe is a high-quality article with a traditional design that is reliable and versatile. Boasting the same great features as its smaller cousin with a slightly longer handle, this axe puts power and endless opportunities at your fingertips.

Best Multi-use Bushcraft Axe

The Zubin Survival Axe 

Functions and capabilities

• Creating tinder
• Splitting kindling
• Splitting fuelwood
• Felling small and large trees
• Hammering stakes and pegs into the ground
• Building shelters
• Carving tools and traps
• Sectioning game carcasses and meat
• Sawing wood and harvesting branches from trees
• Hunting with the hunting spear
• Fishing with the fishing spear
• Hunting with the slingshot
• Navigating with the compass
• Excavating and digging

Overview

The Zubin survival axe is the best multi-use bushcraft axe for the person that wants an all-in-one tool for all manner of scenarios. It functions extremely well as an axe, but it can also be used as a saw, slingshot, fishing spear, hunting spear, excavation tool, and a compass. It comes with two handles (one long and one short) so you can benefit fully from the wide range of tool heads that come in the kit. A handy carry case comes with this set to carry all of the tool heads in one place, and everything except the long handle will fit comfortably in a backpack. Don’t worry about the long handle though, if you want to take it into the wilderness it functions as an excellent walking aid for hiking.

This is a high-quality well-designed multi-use axe that is perfect for the bushcrafter that likes to keep all of their tools in one place. You will be able to hunt, fish, and prep your catch as well as dig a fire pit and chop all of the wood you need to get your meat or fish cooking! The only thing that is missing is a firesteel.

Pros

• High-quality materials that are well-crafted
• Extremely versatile and serves many uses
• Compact for such a wide variety of tools
• Lightweight
• Comes with long and short handles
• Handles are made from strong lightweight aluminum

Cons

• The Case for the attachments could be designed better
• Some of the attachments are a bit tight-fitting, but this will loosen after a bit of use

Bottom Line

Overall, the Zubin multi-use survival axe is a high-quality article that can undertake multiple tasks with ease. This kit will make life in the wild ten times easier and it all fits neatly in your backpack!

Most Versatile Bushcraft Axe

The Fremont Farson Axe Blade 

Functions and capabilities

• Creating tinder
• Splitting kindling
• Splitting fuelwood
• Creating feather sticks for fire lighting
• Felling small trees
• Building shelters
• Carving spears, traps, and hunting tools
• Sectioning game carcasses
• Skinning game animals
• Preparing meat and veg neatly for cooking
• Tying up tarps, timber, or foliage for shelters (with the paracord included)

Overview

The Fremont Farson Axe blade is the simplest but most versatile axe on our list. It is so small it fits neatly in your backpack and even your pocket, but when set up correctly can function as a reliable axe with as long a handle as you desire. This axe head can be securely fastened to a strong branch or piece of timber so it can be used as an effective hatchet, but it can also be used in-hand as a super sharp cutting blade.

This tool can be used for chopping wood, carving spears and tools, creating traps, sectioning game carcasses, skinning fish and game, preparing meat and vegetables for cooking, and much more. The possibilities are endless with this tool which is amazing considering it fits in the palm of your hand!

The design was adapted from an archaeological discovery in the Great Red Desert near Farson Wyoming. Archaeologists Discovered an ancient tool that was used by the people of the area for cutting wood, chopping meat, slicing fish, and skinning. Fremont decides to take the design of the rustic tool and recreate it with modern materials and manufacturing processes. When you hold this extremely versatile tool in your hand you will be amazed that its original design was invented by a native American settlement that dates back over 13,000 years!

Pros

• Extremely compact and lightweight
• Fits in your pocket
• Comes with a good length of 550 paracord
• Versatile, durable, and robust
• Smart and simple design
• Made from high-quality materials
• Serves many uses and functions as a handheld knife as well as an axe

Cons

• May not be heavy-duty enough for some users
• Carry pouch lacks quality

Bottom Line

The Fremont Farson Axe Blade is a one of a kind tool, that has been created from an ancient rustic tool found in the Wyoming area. It is unbelievably versatile and has a place in everyone’s bushcraft inventory. If you are looking for a high-quality axe, that functions as a handheld blade, and that fits in your pocket, then this is the best tool for you!

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