Is it important to take an Axe with you when traveling?

[3030remchesterCOLO]

Driving many miles above Leadville, Colo. I came upon a sheriff deputy stopped in the middle of the isolated county road. A large Aspen tree had fallen across the road completely blocking travel. It was the 4th of July weekend, and he was on the radio trying to get county road crews mobilized to clear the road. While he was on the radio, I grabbed my ax I keep in the toolbox and proceeded to make 3 cuts on the fallen tree, and we rolled the tree out of the road and opened the road again. Maybe 15 minutes and was driving again.

[GSPTOPDOG]

Driving many miles above Leadville, Colo. I came upon a sheriff deputy stopped in the middle of the isolated county road. A large Aspen tree had fallen across the road completely blocking travel. It was the 4th of July weekend, and he was on the radio trying to get county road crews mobilized to clear the road. While he was on the radio, I grabbed my ax I keep in the toolbox and proceeded to make 3 cuts on the fallen tree, and we rolled the tree out of the road and opened the road again. Maybe 15 minutes and was driving again.

Same story for me and my buddy MTC in Montana .... one side of the road was a 100-foot drop and the other was the side of the mountain. A tree had fallen across the road completely blocking travel. Only one way to keep going on to our destination: straight ahead

[GSPTOPDOG]

I too have been thinking about buying an axe, not necessarily for traveling. I have been considering one of the all steel Estwings.

Good choice they are Made in the USA, and a good value!

[GSPTOPDOG]

Interesting question. I have had a hand axe/hatchet under the back seat of my truck for over 40 years.
And now that you ask that question, I can’t recall even one time when I ever used the axe.

Ken, I had a buddy that was a pilot for many, many years... he a had a parachute and never used it... I don't think he minded that ... or thought he shouldn't have had it in the plane for that matter....

[Mumbleypeg]

Interesting question. I have had a hand axe/hatchet under the back seat of my truck for over 40 years.
And now that you ask that question, I can’t recall even one time when I ever used the axe.

Ken, I had a buddy that was a pilot for many, many years... he a had a parachute and never used it... I don't think he minded that ... or thought he shouldn't have had it in the plane for that matter....

It’s still there under the seat. Maybe someday I’ll use it. I tend to be one who tries to use the best tool for the job at hand, rather than the gadget multi-tool, so maybe that’s why it has been unused all these years. Under the seat is also a real 1 lb claw hammer, fencing pliers, a “come-along” fence stretcher, a pry bar, and other tools better suited than that small combo hatchet/hammer/nail puller or other gadget tools. No axe though, so someday if I’m in need of one and not within convenient distance from my shop, where there are several “real” axes, it might get used in an emergency. Like your buddy’s parachute!

(There’s also an army surplus G.I. issue folding shovel. It has been used, but thankfully not for digging. It makes a great tool for piling hot coals onto the lid of a cast iron dutch oven)!

Ken

[GSPTOPDOG]

Interesting question. I have had a hand axe/hatchet under the back seat of my truck for over 40 years.
And now that you ask that question, I can’t recall even one time when I ever used the axe.

(There’s also an army surplus G.I. issue folding shovel. It has been used, but thankfully not for digging. It makes a great tool for piling hot coals onto the lid of a cast iron dutch oven)!

Ken, that army surplus G.I. issue folding shovel I have has been worth its weight in gold! I used to do a lot of 4x4'ing through lots of sandy washes and muddy spots and dug many a hole to throw sticks/branches under a tire to try and get some traction.... ...

I think "the best tool for the job at hand" is a pretty good philosophy ... I have a couple of friends who believe in "the most expensive tool for the job at hand" ... I can't always agree with that when there are still some many knives out there that need buying and my pockets being a little shallow as of late....

[Ivoryman]

I often take an axe when I'm hitch hiking. A great conversation starter if I ever get a ride

When was the last time you hitch hiked? Bet it's been a while.


I don't use or carry a hatchet anymore. Here's the replacement. Easier to carry and weild, much more useful for food prep, whittling sticks, tent pegs, hot dog sticks, kindling, drilling a crude hole, you can lash it to a pole and you have a spear. Don't recommend, but it works like a pry bar too.

[GSPTOPDOG]

I tote this when hiking around the mountain sometimes, American Tomahawk Co. (but I think it's made off-shore ).

R&R, I had one a few years ago and I think the original ones were made in the USA, I don't know about later production, but the one I had was marked (on the handle as I recall ) "made in the USA" I think at some point they may have started making them in Taiwan... The USA ones were fairly expensive and I traded mine to someone in a local "knife-traders-group" that used to meet informally throughout the years. ... kinda' wish I still had it... I think Cold Steel made a copy of it at some point...

[GSPTOPDOG]

I often take an axe when I'm hitch hiking. A great conversation starter if I ever get a ride

D.L. I think we might have meet!!! Did you ever hitch hike at night? This was a few years ago near Arlington, Texas... do you remember a youthful good-looking guy with a German Short Hair Pointer in a Red Ford pick-up? Probably talked a lot about pocketknives and tried to trade a Rough Ryder for your axe? ...

[doglegg]

I often take an axe when I'm hitch hiking. A great conversation starter if I ever get a ride

D.L. I think we might have meet!!! Did you ever hitch hike at night? This was a few years ago near Arlington, Texas... do you remember a youthful good-looking guy with a German Short Hair Pointer in a Red Ford pick-up? Probably talked a lot about pocketknives and tried to trade a Rough Ryder for your axe? ...

At that stage of my life I was more into dismembering. At this stage of my life remembering seems to be the problem. I think I remember the dog .

[doglegg]

I often take an axe when I'm hitch hiking. A great conversation starter if I ever get a ride

When was the last time you hitch hiked? Bet it's been a while.


I don't use or carry a hatchet anymore. Here's the replacement. Easier to carry and weild, much more useful for food prep, whittling sticks, tent pegs, hot dog sticks, kindling, drilling a crude hole, you can lash it to a pole and you have a spear. Don't recommend, but it works like a pry bar too.

Actually Iman, a Bowie knife is more fitting here.

[GSPTOPDOG]

I often take an axe when I'm hitch hiking. A great conversation starter if I ever get a ride

At that stage of my life I was more into dismembering. At this stage of my life remembering seems to be the problem. I think I remember the dog .

I remember you ... and well, you did make me a little bit nervous as the trip progressed ... however, as I recall my dog really took to you .... I reckon' he likes people that like pocketknives.....

[Waukonda]

So that's how you do it when you live equatorial Arizona, throw out a thick mat to keep your dog from burning his belly! Good pic, you were way overdue on posting a dog pic!

[GSPTOPDOG]

So that's how you do it when you live equatorial Arizona, throw out a thick mat to keep your dog from burning his belly! Good pic, you were way overdue on posting a dog pic!

Thanks Ike! .... ... You can't see it because they are out of the camara shot, but the soles of my shoes are starting to melt and stick to the ground and a little bit of smoke is starting to plume up around them....

[wlf]

I had to get in this thread.

Floyd, I did hitchhike from Naples Fl to Wayne WV back when I was 18. Best trip to or from FL ever, but I wouldn't do it now .

[doglegg]

I had to get in this thread.

Floyd, I did hitchhike from Naples Fl to Wayne WV back when I was 18. Best trip to or from FL ever, but I wouldn't do it now .

Lyle, I used to pick up hitch hikers, but don't anymore.

[GSPTOPDOG]

I

Lyle, I used to pick up hitch hikers, but don't anymore.

Come on D.L.! ... What could go wrong?

[doglegg]

I

Lyle, I used to pick up hitch hikers, but don't anymore.

Come on D.L.! ... What could go wrong?

[GSPTOPDOG]

Lyle, I used to pick up hitch hikers, but don't anymore.

Come on D.L.! ... What could go wrong?

D.L. ... this might could come in handy on the road again ... My buddy had one of these back in the day (90's) and we used to go camping and 4x4ing and it was a pretty handy tool. Just got this one today at a pawn shop

[doglegg]

That always struck me as a supremely useful tool. Congrats on getting it.

[GSPTOPDOG]

That always struck me as a supremely useful tool. Congrats on getting it.

Thanks D.L. ... and I am happy it still made in the good 'ol USA!!!

[LKSKNIVES]

This is a ax you would not carry with you. I will dig out some of dad’s axes at some point. He collected the marbles axes for a while the only thing I have left is a set of handles?
I have two more ax heads similar to the one on this ax. Not sure if my grandfather found them or traded something in the day for. Definitely made in America we had a Nieghbor that assemble it. Guess you could say I have a collection of what would be considered original pocket knives, my grandfather found a bunch of them also.

[doglegg]

This is a ax you would not carry with you. I will dig out some of dad’s axes at some point. He collected the marbles axes for a while the only thing I have left is a set of handles?
I have two more ax heads similar to the one on this ax. Not sure if my grandfather found them or traded something in the day for. Definitely made in America we had a Nieghbor that assemble it. Guess you could say I have a collection of what would be considered original pocket knives, my grandfather found a bunch of them also.

Cool collection.

[GSPTOPDOG]

Yes, it’s a strange question, it’s just that the BBs could help me. I’ve been thinking about buying an ax for a long time, so I don’t know for sure whether I need it or not.

I think the bigger question you may have inspired is "Should I carry something "sharp" in my vehicle when travelling?" or "Should I carry something "useful as a survival tool" in my vehicle when travelling?" so, it turns out your question is actually not so strange after all. I always try to err on the "better to not need it than not have to need it and not have it" side ...or however that old-timey saying goes ...

[Thomasg]

I carry a two pound hammer and a double bit axe in my job box .both have come in handy .