Guns, knives and axes, what do you take in the woods?

[BB57]

I see a lot of knife threads but not many with axes or hatchets. What do you take with you when you go in the wood?

My go to pack items are a 3" S&W 686 or a 6" Model 66, a Bark River iteration of a Kephart knife and a G&B Small Forest Axe.

A a .357 revolver addresses most trial threats short of a Brown or Grizzly bear and would put meat on the fire in a survival situation.

The Bark River Kephart is an ideal camp and game processing knife (and much more rust resistant than my Brisa Kephart) and I carry a ferro rod on the sheath.

The Small Forest Axe is a bit of a compromise but does every pretty well:

- it is not as ideal for carving as a smaller 12"-13" carving hatchet, but it is small enough and short enough to carve with, and has a razor sharp 25 degree bevel edge;

- it it's not long enough or heavy enough for serious tree felling, but the narrow profile head is designed to bite into the wood and cut across wood fibers and is ideal for limbing and felling small trees up to 3-4" in diameter; and

- it lacks the head shape needed for optimism wood splitting, but it does quite well on smaller diameter logs you'd prep for a fire.

As a do everything pretty well axe, it's a good choice when you only want to carry one and want it to fit in a small pack.

 

[mikerjf]

Used to carry a hatchet, but not since getting a small hand-size folding saw. Only for lite-duty small diameter firewood.

Normally a 60-9 and Buck 110 on-board.

 

[dwh]

Revolvers 696 44spl., 3in model 13 or a 4in 1905 32/20
Knives 5in marbles expert or bps adventurer.
Axe a modified CRKT woods chogen tomahawk.
Along with what ever else is in my bison gear pack.

 

[dave1918a2]

I have a Gerber hatchet as part of My woods kit. Can't beat it.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I haven't back packed in almost 20 years!

Car Camping:

Knives: Kabar M3 USMC knife, SAK "Camper" (wife has a Tinker) and a 4" folding Kershaw.

Hatchet: I own several, if teenagers are along: Estwing "Blue" pole axe. Normally a 1920's Plumb Toping Axe with a new 24"+/- handle. Plus, a folding camp saw. Since we tent camp mostly in the woods, a rubber mallet is worthless driving or pulling tent stakes!

Sidearm: EDC 49 no dash +8 round on a speed strip!, bad neighborhood, 1911 and multiple reloads. Bear country: 629-10 PC and 4 speed strips!

Additional: 22/20 gauge Savage 24 Camper. and a long gun for entertainment!

Ivan

 

[Mule Packer]

Usually my go-to firearm on a pack trip is my Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt with some pretty stout handloads. My knife is always a fixed blade knife that I can get to quickly if needed, because if a pack horse or mule goes over an edge, believe me, you can't cut rope fast enough. Usually anywhere from a three to five-inch blade is sufficient. I've used knives made by Randall, Buck, Case, and one made by eldest son. All have worked well. Bottom line, though, the blade needs to be razor sharp.

My axe is a ¾-size Plumb Explorer axe. Plumb doesn't make them anymore, but they had a 26½-inch handle and a 2½ pound head...a little bit bigger than Plumb's Scout axe. Just the perfect size for slipping between the ropes of a diamond hitch on a top pack where I can get to it easily.

 

[Fishinfool]

I dont normally carry an axe in the woods unless I am out clearing branches and limbs prior to hunting season.

My usual kit for woods walks is a sling bag with basic essentials, usually a short barreled big bore handgun - S&W 2.75 inch model 69, 4 inch 629, or 4.75 inch Ruger SB, and a 5 or so inch belt knife. The Cold Steel SRK or ESSE #4, both in carbon steel, are go to's. So is a good walking stick for negotiating PA's steep, rocky hills.

Larry

 

[inspcalahan]

Great thread - reminded me I needed a new small axe/hatchet, so I just ordered the same Small Forest model.

For the other needs, it's normally a Sig P220 10mm with heavy solids that will hold their own against bears and a fixed blade of some type. Lately, it was a Half Face Blades Breacher. I think I'll transition back to a Randall Combat Companion. I just need to track down a new sheath or get the old one stitched back up.

 

[huntsman22]

it lacks the head shape needed for optimism wood splitting, but it does quite well on smaller diameter logs

And does a good job decapitating dead cattle......

 

[Goldstar225]

I only take an axe to the campsite but for roaming the woods I have:

S&W K22, S&W model 15, or Ruger Flattop .45 Colt depending on the purpose of being in the woods.

Aside from my EDC pocket knife I'll have my old Schrade Uncle Henry (Similar to a Buck 110) or Cold Steel Master Hunter on my belt.

 

[Breadman1]

I live in southern Arizona in an area that's notorious for desert smuggling of drugs and people. I ride my ATV out there often because there are great trails and so much open space, can go right to the border. When I go out I always have a 3" Ruger G100 357 in my front pack and a Rossi stainless 16" 45 colt Lever strapped to the back, always have 2 or 3 knives tucked away in packs also. My riding partner who is my son probably has something similar.

 

[Inusuit]

Ruger Speed Six, 2 3/4" barrel .357. Estwing small hatchet or Woodman's Pal. Buck 105.

 

[Charlie Foxtrott]

We have options.

The most recent purchase along these lines was an RMJ forge Eagle talon. They are not exactly giving them away, but I like it. One of my Randalls usually makes the cut as well.

 

[wcat94]

I take a D5 caterpiller and a 27-1 into the woods. Sometimes a Stihl chainsaw or two.

 

[BB57]

I haven't back packed in almost 20 years!

Car Camping:

Knives: Kabar M3 USMC knife, SAK "Camper" (wife has a Tinker) and a 4" folding Kershaw.

Hatchet: I own several, if teenagers are along: Estwing "Blue" pole axe. Normally a 1920's Plumb Toping Axe with a new 24"+/- handle. Plus, a folding camp saw. Since we tent camp mostly in the woods, a rubber mallet is worthless driving or pulling tent stakes!

Sidearm: EDC 49 no dash +8 round on a speed strip!, bad neighborhood, 1911 and multiple reloads. Bear country: 629-10 PC and 4 speed strips!

Additional: 22/20 gauge Savage 24 Camper. and a long gun for entertainment!

Ivan

I don't back pack as much as I used to either. I do however throw a pack in the back of an airplane when flying cross country.

I carry:
- a light weight 10'x10' heavy duty nylon tarp;
- tent stakes;
- paracord;
- a heavy duty emergency blanket;
- a Ranger roll (poncho, poncho liner and wool blanket);
- a second poncho;
- a few MREs;
- a water filter;
- a dozen or so fire starters (I make them from cotton make up pads soaked in a 50/50 mix of grill starter fluid and paraffin);
- a box of ammo;
- a knife;
- a ferro rod;
- strike anywhere matches in a waterproof container; and
- a pack axe.

It will all fit in a $20 surplus Czech Army pack.

I include a separate trauma kit and I'll add a 2 quart canteen and a few bottles of water.

In the winter I'll add a US Modular Sleep System and sleeping pad on the bottom and top of the pack, and a pair of snowshoes.

—-

The same items work fine for car (or airplane) camping, although I'll usually add a MSR white gas stove, a proper cook kit, a couple more gallons of water, a folding buck saw and a tent.

 

[garddogg56]

I pack a carpenters axe,a 66-1 and a fixed blade or folding hunter with a stockman in the pocket..

 

[BigMoneyGrip]

I've been wanting to get the Small Forest Axe but my Mini Hatchet seems to about perfect. It goes with me everytime I head out.

 

[Marshwheeling]

I never was much of a backpacker, and I am past the point of camping much off a motorbike. If I am car camping, I will have my Plumb shingling hatchet in the trunk, but first option would be the Varusteleka Skrama. For knives, Carothers DEK1 plus some flavor of Kephart, most likely Carothers again; since I have it, might as well use it.
If I walk into the woods carrying a gun, it will be a Single Six.

 

[Racer X]

hookers and booze?

 

[tajada]

Nice ax, I like a short ax for the car booth.