I keep my "survival" axe in the survival toolbox in the bed of my survival truck parked in my survival garage.

Years ago I read the novel “Danger West” and a company was hiring to create a trail through a stream bottom. The interview was to tell the candidates to choose an axe in a hardware store. Those that got hired were the ones that asked if they could bring their personal axes.

I recently went canoe camping for the first time with friends in Algonquin and everyone chuckled when they saw me bring my full length axe (Cold Steel Trail Boss) because we already had a folding saw and hatchets. Buuuuuuuut lo and behold, the bulk of viable wood we found were relatively wide diameter trees. With the rain, we needed a hot, slow burning fire and plenty of fuel. Fortunately, my axe did what their hatchets could not do easily: blast through thick logs like nothing. The long handle makes it a bit awkward for fine detailed work, but it did just fine making shavings. It holds an edge really well and is easy to sharpen with a simple sharpening stone (brought that too just in case). Used it to hammer our new tent stakes too and made a few wedges with it to split a particularly resistant log. The full axe is relatively light and honestly it straps on pretty easily. The most important thing I think regarding axes is learning how to actually use them and being confident about the swing. I cringe when I see someone about to take a huge swing and I see, just inches away, a large stone in the ground. Like bro, just cut it AWAY from the rock! Little things like that make a difference between a good axe-user and a dangerous one. While the full length axe is more cumbersome than a hatchet or shorter handle axe, I find one simple truth: the large axe can do pretty much everything a small axe can, but a small axe cannot do everything a large axe can. Great videos! Subbed :)

I use an old roofers hatchet from the 1950’s. It’s never failed me.

The Alton Brown of bushcraft. So glad I have found this channel. This is helping get my 8 year old son involved

Axe safety, axe-orientated ifak, injuries through tiredness from a too-heavy axe, stance, footwear, axe- maintenance, technique. Almost a whole channel bin itself right there. Thanks 👍

I'm a 58 year old homemaker, grandma, and love your instructional videos. I just learned about axes here for the first time in my life. Although I've split plenty of wood in my 20's and 30's, bearing and raising 6 children in a 1700 year old homestead, I never really had anyone critique my tools. They were already very old tools we would pick up at auctions during the 80's. They worked then, and now still, super well. Dependable, quality work horse tools. But to watch you detail - talk about tools is a new thing for me. And if I bought new tools, would definitely be details that I'd keep in mind. I'm in the mountains now, no longer on the homestead. I'm also far north in PA now also where winters are snowy and cold which I love. State forest surrounds my property. Black bears are my neighbors. We enjoy a slower pace life now, but really enjoy learning survival skills from your channel. Chopping wood is 9 months of the year's work here. We have a splitting maul for big stove firewood, and hatchet and hammer for small stove firewood, and sledge hammer and wedges for big snarly chunks and we bring dying and dead trees down with a chainsaw. My husband and I grew up in the outdoors and the woods and the streams every day of our lives, as kids growing up in the '60s and seventies you weren't allowed to be in the house your mother kicked you out so we literally spent all the seasons outside, even winter and in blizzards, and we had a great time! Truth! Life was good then. Life outdoors back then was safer for kids. So we could be over mile away from home as long as we were home for supper didn't matter where we were. It was like Little House on the Prairie days, I even walked a mile to school back then and back home all by myself, from age 5 years old and up. Now parents can't even let their kid out in the front yard by themselves without watching like a hawk cuz somebody could take them. So yes we agree with you get outside, play in the woods, walk in the woods explore the woods.. take it all in.. breathe the woods air and listen to the sounds everybody! 👍 Take care everyone.

When I was first shopping for a camping axe, someone told me either get a hatchet or go full length - if you miss, those full-length handles will be more likely to put the bit into the dirt than your shins.

Love my Estwing 26” axe. Comfortable and indestructible.

He's wearing a flannel shirt. Instant credibility

Just looking at all the different patterns of axes (past and present) should be a clue that no single axe is going to excel at every task. Most, if not all can be used beyond the specific intent of their design, but at some cost of efficiency, ergonomics, control, precision, etc. Great info Dan, thanks!

Taking your comments to heart, I’m looking for a for efficient fire prep as the first priority. Second is emergency shelter construction. Third is camp/cabin building. Emphasis is on efficiency first and portability second. My current choice (not purchased yet) is 2.5 lbs overall with 1.6 pounds of that being the head. The cutting edge is 3.25” and handle length is 23” total. The bit seems designed to help split but also has decent bite with a thin or narrow wedge profile. It generally is an all-around good compromise on paper. My pack has side pockets with “pass through” behind them. Straps top and bottom make it a great home for an axe of this size. Hoping to pick it up this summer and get some practice in with it

What great timing for this video! I was just gonna axe you about this subject.

Ok, so I know you were mostly talking about backpacking. Since I am mostly out overlanding in my Jeep, I carry 3 axes. 1 hatchet for small work and tent pegs. 1 medium 24" handle with a fine thin 2 lb head for shaving feather sticks. 1 large 3.5 lb head 34" handle for splitting and chopping wood. Again only because I have a vehicle to carry them for me, I bring them all and usually use all 3 when making camp.

I really like watching this guy. Humorous while giving valuable information. So enjoyable! 🙂

Love and Power to the working class! We need to be teaching this and other useful skills in schools.

And aswell long handled axes are safer.. They go in the ground when you miss... the shorter ones will go in your legs ;). Very nice video

Great class! I'm 66 years old and have 7 various axes and I still fumble through the finding the right ax for the job. Not any more. Thanks Dan!

Thanks for a very informative video. You're a naturally good teacher, who knows hold the attention of the student. Be well & safe. Cheers.

This has got to be the best simplified "explanation" video on axes. It goes into the what, why and when of axes. I learned more here than at a survival class where they were trying to tell us that we all needed the same axe, theirs! Thank You! And I just subscribed!

To me a _survival_ axe needs to be an all-around axe. The ONE axe that does most of what you are going to need to survive. For backpacking survival, Mors Kochanski recommends an axe length so that by sticking the end of the handle in your armpit you can cup your hand or fingers around the head. This puts the axe in the "forest axe" category, which is a compromise between size & portability. Big enough to do more stuff, yet portable because pounds equal pain when carrying gear.

I custom hung my own axe, 2lb head on a 25" handle, my primary use is fire making and shelter building with a secondary use of harvesting material for other primitive tool making, works perfectly for me, never step into the woods without it, long enough to chop, light enough to carry.

some people disregard the tomahawk as a tool for cutting and chopping. it wasnt just a weapon or anything like that. if i were to get an axe, it would be a grandfors bruks or a crkt woods chogan, cause i wouldnt need to have a huge honkin thing of an axe to do any kind of big tasks if it's just me myself and i. or me with a friend. here in indiana we have some pretty decent sized trees but i wouldnt go out of my way to chop down a dead standing monster for just one camp night. the more i think bout it, the more i lean to the tomahawk cause of the fact that you can replace the handle in the field should something happen, but you cant with the grandfors. good video and im lucky to have come across this video, thank you :D

Great summary on axes. Touched on everything I thought about when getting my first "bushcraft" (utility) axe. One thing I did as a newbie was to get a bit longer of a handle to make some of the camp chores a bit safer. I believe its a 23 inch. I want to downsize to about a 19-21 inch but just have not got there yet. You are making me think about going smaller now but I might just "need" to get a secondary trappers hatchet or something haha. As a personal choice I had to make sure it was a Hudson Bay style axehead as well. I like the aesthetics more and if you don't like your axe you will use it less. Also I like how the shape lets me choke up for finer tasks. Not sure if that curvature is made specifically to enable choking up but it sure seems like it is.

I'm subscribing because the man talks sense, is entertaining and NEVER once in my experience mentions an influencer page or Patreon or like myself, sometimes asks for viewers to buy me a beer (if they can and if they think my effort is worth it). You have integrity, you're honest in your videos and seem genuine. Something sadly lacking nowadays in a lot of the BIG subscriber channels.

I believe this content because... 1) lumber jack jacket 2) trucker hat 3) there are trees in the background. These reasons make the content convincing enough to me. I use a corded power tool axe when I go to hiking site for camping.

You just answered a lot of questions I've recently had - brilliant vid, sir.

I personally respect Estwing's axes as survival tools. They're quite heavy and they're not the best performers overall, but they're reasonably priced and their dependability has been proven on more than one occasion. Thank you for the great video.

Tomahawk does a little bit of everything for me, the hammer on the backside is a bonus for hammering in stakes, breaking rocks, killing attacking predators, whatever I happen to be up to. Ultimately, it's just a fun option. A broken handle is easier to replace in a pinch in the woods as well, so there's that.

Dan , I'm a recent subscriber, and I have to tell you...I like your video's more and more all the time...informative, humorous, all without being condescending or egotistic. Thank you. You covered handle length, bit or head weight, and bit thickness, One thing you did not cover is axe head style. tomahawk, hatchet, felling, splitting, double bit, tactical, as what is best or more practical overall for "bushcraft" . thanks again.

Articulate, experienced, genuine - - - you're doing a fine job, Dan! 🤠

i'm impressed how spontaneous your vids are. i believe these tips are mandatory viewing for every survivalist, and you make it fun and engaging.

When I was about 10, I was in a foster home. Weekends in the winter were spent in the woods processing wood for the furnace. The trees were cut by the adults who would also make chunks of logs about 16 inches to fit the furnace door. Us kids had to get them on the toboggan and to the house. Then us four kids had to use a maul and a wedge to split those huge chunks. You had to find the grain of the wood and hopefully a little crack from drying for a year. I never learned to use an axe. Dad had a saw hooked up to an old tractor. Worked great. He used a hatchet for stove wood. He had a split in his left thumbnail to show how dangerous they can be. I need to learn to use an axe safely. Thanks...

Tomahawk, easy to replace the handle, you can slip the head off for fine work and if you get bored you can practice throwing it

Thought you might find this interesting. I’m 59 yr old woman. A “ Cybertorture “ victim ( coined by the UN sp. raptor on torture ) . Actually found out in 2018 thought I made someone mad because I was experiencing community harassment but, through research now have found my family nonconsensual research subjects a hidden global economy for decades if not a lifetime without our knowledge.... An awful existence... I much enjoy / enjoyed the topics of sustainable living , outdoors , ect.. Now my life since coming to the realization of an unimaginable situation none of anything may matter but, I try to continue on... the AI brought me to your channel and well I guess that could be interpreted in different ways and an hopefully for you a compliment to you. Thanks a Minnesota home grown woman 🌲

Man your brutal truth is awesome! You come across as helpful, almost agitated to push back against dumb questions, but at the same time just being genuine and helpful.. you rock $500 Filson jackets over $15 Harbor Freight pants… that’s awesome. Most ‘tubers get famous and drop all of their “old” equipment in favor of the new “coolness” that ether given to them In exchange for being a shill… I leave those channels about that time… great job brother, keep it up! 🇺🇸

Great beginner's guide for sure, Dan. Thank you.

That was great!! Thank you. I've been looking at axes and what I need and that was so helpful. I have one at home for sitting wood for the fireplace and 2 others I don't use and nor would I ever hike in someplace with them. Thank you!

The best advice delivered with enthusiasm and character. 👍🏻

Just get 6 or 7 or a few more and one will be your favorite. And sometimes one of the others is needed and you go , wow, I’m Glad I got this extra ax !

Love your simple and straightforward explanations

Great video Dan. Always giving some gourmet advice. Thanks.

Why I hate looking at axes on line, you almost never get a bit profile. They show the flat outline shape, maybe at a slight angle.

Thanks Dan! I bought my GB Wildlife without knowing to consider any of this.. but after watching this awesome explanation, it seems I chose well and now I know why. Great vid!

Thanks for making this Dan, very helpful!

You have a true gift for explaining things in ways we can all understand. Thanks a lot - much appreciated…

Excellent presentation. Thank you.

Great job Dan! So needed this and the clarity!

Maine wedge(E&S), 2.5lbs and 28" skinny handle. I love that thing. I also carry a light hawk for fine fire prep, clearing brush and crafting.

As another woodsman the videos I've watch are common sense and very informative

Really enjoyed this video man, you’re not arrogant or cocky. It made listening to you educational and enjoyable, thanks man.

Dan made 2 very important points; buy an axe that suites your needs and USE IT! His recommendation of a general purpose "utility" axe of 19" handle length and a 2 1/4 - 2 1/2 head is bang on. (in my humble opinion).

Love your advice Dan

That was very comprehensive! Thanks for sharing!

Excellent beginner overview on axes. It helped me. I am in the utility group. I’m now experimenting with a small axe, a saw, and a large Victorinox SAK as my woods tools cutting tools.

I have 4 main axes I just love and use all the time. My hatchet is a Snow & Nealley Outdoorsman belt axe and is great for out elk hunting and day trips. My Council Tool Woodcraft pack axe 24" is my most utility axe by far and is always on my backpack for excursions and I use it in the wood pile quite often. Next is my 3.5lb Our best from Snow & Neally with 30" handle. This is my truck axe and chainsaw companion axe. Last is my Council Tool 6lb Dayton that I use only for spitting rounds. As you may have noticed, only American made for me. The S & N do require a good sharpening out of the box, but I enjoy honing an edge to my liking. All fit different needs and all work really well when taken care of.

I really love how educational your page is great for any person wanting to start their own bushcraft hobby. Thank you

I really appreciate how you explain things, thoughtful with no BS! Count me subscribed!

Thank you for the guidance...

Great advice. God bless you.

The video quality is unbelievably good! And the content was really good too.

Very informative and well spoken ,thanks. You're a wealth of knowledge.

Fantastic! Thank you, Sir!

That was both entertaining and really educational. Thanks !

You've answered all my questions, thank you sir!

Good information, personally I carry a Hardcore Survivalist Hatchet on my pack for general purpose use. But I do have several axes to serve different purposes, felling, bucking, splitting, etc.

Hey, this is the greatest video on axes I have seen. I have never been a fan of axes since I never really used them or I used one for an inappropriate task and it was too heavy so it didn't feel right. After this video it made me rethink axes quite a bit. Thanks.

Great video! Love seeing you getting pumped to go play with axes in the woods.

Awesome overview for a beginner like me. Thank you!

Good presentation about axes Dan. I have many, but I have my favorites. Take care.

Great video! Learned a lot. Thanks for the Axe 101 lesson.

Great advice, Dan.. Lots of choices and opinions in the ax world. Stay safe and stay warm.

VERY VERY informative for a nubie like myself. Thank you for the insight. ...Alan (in Texas)

great video! One thing that can also play a role in deciding, is the weather. Most of the year i get by with either a hawk or a boys axe. But with where I live, in winter i carry a much more substantial axe. 6lb head on a 36 inch handle to deal with frozen trees and a 30 inch bow saw. For anyone wondering why such a beast of an axe, I've seen axes bounce off of frozen trees. So you want it heavy, and VERY sharp to bite into frozen wood. Just a tip from a northern woodscrafter. have a great day you all!

Great video Dan! Thank you

In my younger days I learned most of this stuff by trial and error especially trying to split wood with the wrong axe! This video is 100% on point, and the best one I've seen regarding all aspects of axe craft for beginners and experienced folks alike thanks and keep up the great work.

OG coalcracker here.Very informative in a clear and concise manner. You are a very good teacher! Continue to wish the best for you and your family.

This was actually a great breakdown on what to think about when you're buying an axe: what is it going to be used for! Great video!

Hey brother...watched this video again. Axe or hatchet. Two handed axe. One handed hatchet. Yes I'm a collector of fine steel. I have hewing axes, splitting axes as well as roofing hatchets and hewing hatchets. I'm a big fan of Plumb steel. I use a different sharpening method in my shop. But your "in the field" demonstration is nice. I'll have to find myself a small stone like you're using. Very good video.

Great video. Clear & concise.

CCB, you have a good manner about you and a good teaching style. I appreciate you.

I recently started watching your videos. I like the way you simply and understandably explain things without talking down to people or making people feel stupid. Your videos are very informative and direct. Thank you.

My wild is the Arizona desert. Really cool learning from the temperate woodland guys.

Excellent video! Thanks

Great overview. Thank you!

Nice , never really thought about an ax and there different uses . I lived in the mountains at 9,000 feet for 34 years and heated our house with wood and would go through about 6 to 8 cords a year and got real good at wood processing for heating the house . Big heavy splitting maul was the ticket but when we camped it was not the best option so I ended up with something similar to your all purpose ax and know have 3 axes and use them accordingly. So I guess now that I think about it they do serve different purposes and your absolutely right they become very personal and if you take care of them they last a long time . Thanks for the video Happy Trails

Excellent explanation of a seemingly easy subject. I learnt a lot. Thanks.

Thank you Mr Coalcracker

Thanks Tons Dan! I learned a whole lot. I like your smaller axis. Hopefully I can find 1 like that.

Great info! The best info is to know how to use any ax you have to use!

You and Dave Canterbury are my go to Bushcrafters. I really enjoy your humor, knowledge and tutorials.

You are a fantastic communicator/teacher.

Really informative and categorized.

Most certainly helped me to decide on the ax that best suits my needs. Great explanation of the ax itself. Really appreciate all these video gems. Totally upping my bushcraft game !!!! Got a knew subscriber 👍

This was a very informative video I have learned a lot from this video and I will know exactly which acts I need when I go out camping this summer thank you very much

As always, great break down. I went with the Snow & Nealley camp axe. Made in the USA, 24 inch, general purpose axe. Not to heavy, not to long, works great! I did have to spend some time getting the edge right. Ok out of the box but not to that "be careful with that" sharpness.

Very very good video, I'm kinda new to this stuff just bought a new axe , felt I needed something fairly robust yet middle of the road,so got a nice 4lb head with a longer handle,30 something in. Luv it !! Thanks again for your insights friend!

Good information Dan

Good advice, put clearly. 👍

Really interesting, informative & enjoyable video to watch 👏 thank you for sharing my friend 🙂👍