The pack axe and belt axe, or tomahawk, is the quintessential woodsman’s companion. From the pioneering longhunters of the Ohio River valley and Kentucky, to woodscraft authors of the late 19th century, expert woodsmen have always understood–and often voiced–that the axe is more essential to survival than even the gun or knife. It is unfortunate that the conveniences of modernity have made this such a maligned, misunderstood, and even feared, tool. People simply do not understand what this tool is actually capable of, when built to quality specifications, cared for properly, and used skillfully; from the obvious and mundane tasks of chopping wood, to quartering, butchering, and even preparing meat for the stove, oven, or fire, to tasks that most people only consider the knife for. With very few exceptions (digging out splinters is the only one that comes immediately to mind, and I’ve done it with a hatchet, but it was a struggle), a well-made axe, well-maintained, in the hands of someone who knows what they are doing, can perform ANY task that a knife can do, just as efficiently as a knife can, while the reciprocal is far from the case. The serious survivor who does not possess and axe, and the expertise to use it safely, broadly, and effectively, is not serious at all. See the video, and join the conversation: https://www.patreon.com/posts/survi...paign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Continue reading...
