Axe / hatchet recommendations

MikekiM · Nov 19, 2023

That’s a wrap. Very happy with the decision to buy the X11. Did about two hours of work at Basecamp prepping two days of firewood this past weekend.

The handle ergonomics are great. The mid length is unfamiliar though. The splitting head.. splits. Prepped the edge before I left. Held the sharp edge wonderfully.

I hate the sheath. If anyone has a recommendation for custom Kydex sheaths please pass that on.

Apparition · Nov 20, 2023

NashvilleTJ · Nov 20, 2023

Apparition said:

Damn. Buy a maul and a wedge…

MikekiM · Nov 20, 2023

Apparition said:

That's a wee bit bigger than I plan to work with.

Trying to think of a good joke regarding his NASA shirt...

freedom_in_4low · Jan 1, 2024

Got an x7 for Christmas. Since I don't have anything else at the house to split with, I used it on some oak firewood. It was, as expected, not as efficient as a full size splitting axe but based on how surprisingly effective it was for it's size against ~5" logs, I ordered an X25.

MikekiM · Jan 2, 2024

freedom_in_4low said:
Got an x7 for Christmas. Since I don't have anything else at the house to split with, I used it on some oak firewood. It was, as expected, not as efficient as a full size splitting axe but based on how surprisingly effective it was for it's size against ~5" logs, I ordered an X25.

I've been pleased with the X11 purchase. It's mid-sized and checks off all the boxes I need it to. Scary sharp after touching up the factory edge.

I kind of went off the rails with replacement sheaths and have an extra hand-made leather sheath if you're interested in it. I think I paid $45 for it. It's beautiful and well made. Pictured here with the Fiskars Norden N12, but fits my X11 perfectly.

AdventurePig · Jan 2, 2024

MikekiM said:
I've been pleased with the X11 purchase. It's mid-sized and checks off all the boxes I need it to. Scary sharp after touching up the factory edge.

I kind of went off the rails with replacement sheaths and have an extra hand-made leather sheath if you're interested in it. I think I paid $45 for it. It's beautiful and well made. Pictured here with the Fiskars Norden N7.

View attachment 487332

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If no-one else takes you up on it, I’d definitely snag that sheath from you.

freedom_in_4low · Jan 2, 2024

MikekiM said:
I've been pleased with the X11 purchase. It's mid-sized and checks off all the boxes I need it to. Scary sharp after touching up the factory edge.

I kind of went off the rails with replacement sheaths and have an extra hand-made leather sheath if you're interested in it. I think I paid $45 for it. It's beautiful and well made. Pictured here with the Fiskars Norden N7.

View attachment 487332

View attachment 487334

View attachment 487335

4Lo4Sho said:
If no-one else takes you up on it, I’d definitely snag that sheath from you.

Have at it! I'm not disgusted enough with the original sheath to do anything about it...yet, though that beautiful leather is definitely tempting.

AdventurePig · Jan 2, 2024

freedom_in_4low said:
Have at it! I'm not disgusted enough with the original sheath to do anything about it...yet, though that beautiful leather is definitely tempting.

Thanks! Yeah, i still use my factory sheath on my bigger axe but been looking for something for my hatchet to help with pack/belt carry.

CMBD · Nov 10, 2025

Thank you to whoever threw out the X11 suggestion

Didn't want/ need it, but needed something for a secret Santa list in 2023. Played with it, thought "meh", and threw it in the camping box.

Never used it for real till a couple weeks ago and now appreciate it

My last Sierra trip of this season it had snowed earlier in the week. Everything was wet AF and I struggled to get a decent fire going the first night.

The next day I found a downed tree that had been down a long time and was dry inside. Cut it off at the largest diameter my Sawzall 3tpi blade would do, and then cut that in to 16"ish pieces.

Split the larger stuff with my big dumb maul, and made a bunch of kindling with the smaller stuff and the X11. I can make good kindling with the big ax, but the X11 makes it so easy to make the small pieces safely.

MikekiM · Nov 10, 2025

CMBD said:
Thank you to whoever threw out the X11 suggestion

Didn't want/ need it, but needed something for a secret Santa list in 2023. Played with it, thought "meh", and threw it in the camping box.

Never used it for real till a couple weeks ago and now appreciate it

My last Sierra trip of this season it had snowed earlier in the week. Everything was wet AF and I struggled to get a decent fire going the first night.

The next day I found a downed tree that had been down a long time and was dry inside. Cut it off at the largest diameter my Sawzall 3tpi blade would do, and then cut that in to 16"ish pieces.

Split the larger stuff with my big dumb maul, and made a bunch of kindling with the smaller stuff and the X11. I can make good kindling with the big ax, but the X11 makes it so easy to make the small pieces safely.

View attachment 654387

View attachment 654388

I think it was me who suggested it. I've been using the X11 for two years. Got it in November of 2023.
It's been my primary tool at camp along with a Silky Gomboy 240 folding saw.

Had a really cool custom Kydex sheath made for it.

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Axe / hatchet recommendations

MikekiM

TJ Expert

Apparition

Sand Hollow '26

NashvilleTJ

I miss the snow...

MikekiM

TJ Expert

freedom_in_4low

I'm a rooster illusion

MikekiM

TJ Expert

AdventurePig

TJ Enthusiast

freedom_in_4low

I'm a rooster illusion

AdventurePig

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CMBD

Button pusher.

MikekiM

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