Gerber 23.5-Inch Axe [31-002651]

I use this ax for mostly for cutting wild saplings and small trees on my farm. It is also handy for cutting small branches on felled trees. Overall it came scary sharp for an ax and the edge has held up well. I find the size perfect for camping and splitting firewood. Would recommend.

The 17” is the perfect length I found for backpacking, long enough to cut through a smaller dead tree for wood, and great for splitting. This came very sharp, and is super light. It did come with a cover for the head so it protects the blade. Metal is by fiskar which is great. The only thing I didn’t like is the handle is hollow and uncovered so dirt easily got up in the handle.. but that’s just not picking at this point. Worth the money for sure. Get a sharpening puck or something as it doesn’t come with one

My Gerber is brilliant. Nice and sharp, easy to use.

UPDATE: WOW, I took it out again to clear a few trails for motorcycle riding. The extra weight in the head makes it FAR more effective than a hand hatchet. So for my comments below: is it the best of both or the best at neither (Camp Axe vs Hatchet)- I'm going best. Probably cut my chopping time in half for branches/trees about 4 in diameter. I'm Super Impressed! I own just about every Fiskars 'woodsman' type product including all their hatchets/axes. I wanted this size and bought the Gerber b/c it was about $20 less if I recall correctly and it's made by Fiskars. It says Fiskars on the upper handle, Made in Finland, and that's why I bought it. Otherwise I would have ponied up for the Fiskars version. It cuts great, extremely sharp and chips fly! The quality is impressive, like all Fiskars products, fit/finish superb. The coating on the head is really quite slick, although it will likely wear off with use. It came quite sharp but not 'shaving sharp'. After 10 passes on my Fiskars sharpener to remove the coating from the edge, it is shaving sharp. The handle is not that grippy, in fact the plastic is a bit slick, but a little baseball bat rosin stick takes care of that. I like the fact the axe head protector has belt hangers' molded in (Fiskars don't), but they are too small for a heavy-duty belt, but I bet I can make the openings larger to accommodate a thicker/wider belt. Here's where I rethink the purchase. It's a bit too long and heavy for a one-handed hatchet, a bit too small for a two-handed grip. Is it the best of both, or the best of neither? One size fits all? If I could only ever carry one, I would probably carry the Camp Axe size, choke up for one handed use. For sticks and twigs/small trees- a hand hatches it great. But if you're keeping things light and compact, this is a PERFECT fit and I'll definitely be keeping it; it literally splits the difference between camp axe and hatchet. Choke up and use like a hatchet, 2 hands and use like an axe. The head is heavier than a hatchet but less than an axe.

Awesome splitting ax splitting makes splitting wood easy