The Best UK Survival And Bushcraft Axes

An axe or hatchet can prove an unexpectedly versatile and useful tool when practising your bushcraft or in any type of survival situation.

You can use it to clear the ground where you want to set up camp. Use it again to cut wood, branches, and foliage to build your bivouac – the importance of which we discussed in our blog on the 5^th of September 2021 – and use it as a digging tool as you break up any hard ground.

Your axe or hatchet also comes into its own when you want to whittle some kindling or tinder and it’ll see further action if you kill and butcher any wild game to eat.

So, an axe or hatchet will come in handy – what are the best?

1. Multitool survival axe

• When you’re travelling light – through choice or necessity – multi-purpose tools can be useful thanks to the space and weight you’ll be saving;

• There are any number of reasonably priced multi-tool options from which to choose – the Embedo Foldable Multitool, for example, that claims 15 uses in 1 or the 16 in 1 Camping Multitool made by Giriatus;

• A word of warning, though, some multi-purpose tools might seem cheap but are less than robust – what they claim in the bewildering array of different uses they lose in practice;

• Because of that, it might be worth investing – what is likely to be a fairly tidy sum – in the Multitool Survival Axe from Atax, which claims to be the only tool you’ll need whenever you head off into the backwoods;

2. Gerber Hatchet

• A purpose-made, superior quality hatchet can itself be turned to multiple uses;

• The Gerber Hatchet is well-balanced and weighted and has a comfortable, rubberised grip;

• Further up the handle are more finger grips that let you hold the axe for finer jobs such as whittling or stripping bark – and there’s a hole to pass a lanyard through so you can attach its sheath to a belt or backpack;

3. Spear and Jackson

• A familiar name for a wide range of bladed instruments, Spear and Jackson makes traditional-style hand axes of various weights – from 1.5lb up to 6.5lb;

• For most purposes, of course, and for sheer portability’s sake, choose the 1.5lb axe and you’ll find it an affordable and eminently useful addition to any bugout bag;

4. Draper

• Another familiar name is Draper, and they make the 1.7lb hand axe;

• The blade has a highly-polished cutting edge and is forged from high-quality steel which has been hardened and tempered to meet BS2945 standards;

• The axe has a traditional straight grain hickory handle;

5. Estwing E24a Sportsmans Axe

• If you’re prepared to spend a little more on a hand axe crafted from a single piece of polished steel, you might want to consider the Estwing E24a Sportsmans Axe;

• It has a leather-bound grip and carrying case – slightly heavier than some other hand axes at just under 2lb;

6. Rolson Stubby Camping Axe

• One of the lightest hand axes around is the Rolson Stubby Camping Axe, which weighs in at just a shade over 1lb;

• The short thermoplastic rubber (TPR) handle – it’s not called “stubby” for nothing – and smallish blade keep the dimension of this handy axe well within bounds and probably one of the most portable of the axes under review;

Full and partial tang

We have reviewed just a few of the axes, hatchets, and multitools available in the UK – there are very many more. Choosing the axe for your own survival or backwoods needs is up to you and your particular circumstances, of course.

One of the important distinctions you are likely to come across when comparing axes is that some are described as full tang and others partial tang – and ask yourself what’s the difference.

With the full tang, the blade runs the entire length and width of the handle; a partial tang describes a blade that tapers to a point or thinner piece of material that is separately inserted into the handle. A full tang is stronger and considered to be the better bet.

Weight

The weight of your axe is also important. It has to be portable, of course, so light enough to carry easily.

The heavier your axe, the greater force it will exert so that it cuts quicker and with less effort. On the other hand, what you gain in weight and force you lose in accuracy. Heavier axes are less accurate, and you have less control over their cutting ability.

The secret lies in balancing accuracy and weight.