Changed my mind on the “boys axe”

[Kingcreek]

I always said I saw no use for a boys axe and had a gap in my collection between hatchets (up to 19”) and axes (28-34”).
Picked up an old 2# Vaughn boys axe with a damaged 25” handle.
Bought a nice 22” handle from Killinger before he got out of the Amish handle business. Finished it out with a nice leather cover.
Still saw no use for that size- long for a hatchet, short for an axe.
until yesterday. Had it with me in the Jeep when I had to recover a deer that ran 100 yards down into a tangled hell hole of brush and trees. Blazed a trail in and a shorter route on the way out to get my drag and come back.
It had just enough handle for 2 handed use and a little more reach than a hatchet but still usable 1 hand.
I have officially changed my mind.
I’ll try to get a pic up later.

 

[mcb]

In the past I would have used a heavy manchette for that job, now my Ryobi 40V 14-inch chainsaw is the choice. I like long moderately heavy axes. But I only chop down Sumac trees and Tulip poplar with it when I want to feel like Paul Bunyan with any axe.

 

[Kingcreek]

I was cutting a lot of honeysuckle brush and also cutting a blaze on larger tree trunks to mark my best trail path. Lots of branches across the trail up to 3” diameter. The deer trails are all over crisscrossing this mess and very hilly. I was able to put the cover on the edge and tuck it into my belt when I needed both hands. Hardly any part of it could I walk upright.

 

[Kingcreek]

 

[theotherwaldo]

That's what I've always called a cruiser ax, often used for marking trees that need to be cut.
Often replaced nowadays by paintball guns.

 

[Kingcreek]

I have a double bit “cruiser” on a 28” stick. The “boys axe” has been around forever but I never understood the application. With more than a dozen finished axes it fills a gap for me now.
I finished a large hatchet for my son in law with a 19” stick. I don’t know what defines the boys axe exactly but it is that mid size with 2-2.5# head I suppose.

 

[Boattale]

Boys Axe is a great tool. Closest thing I have to one is this Gransfors Small Forest Axe. It's 19" long and has a 2 pound head. It's a good one that can get a lot done - but I wouldn't want to have to build a log cabin with one.

 

[Kingcreek]

Boys Axe is a great tool. Closest thing I have to one is this Gransfors Small Forest Axe. It's 19" long and has a 2 pound head. It's a good one that can get a lot done - but I wouldn't want to have to build a log cabin with one.

View attachment 1115169

I have the 19” hunters axe. A little lighter and I consider it more of a hatchet. Very thin edge for quartering or skinning game.

 

[Ranger99]

I have a couple.
They're American made, but I can't
recall the manufacturer.
I also have a couple of True Temper
Kelly Perfect double bit that used to
do what I use a chainsaw for now

The boy's axes get used mostly
making up barbecue wood chunks
and the occasional camping trip

 

[Starter52]

I have a "camper ax" that the boys use to split firewood. It's basically a hatchet head on a 2/3 length ax handle. Perfect for kids.