Gerber Axes Are A Cut Above The Rest

Product: Gerber Camp and Sport Ax

Description: The Sport Ax is a 1.5-pound ax with a 12 1/8-inch handle length and 13 7/8-inch overall length. The Camp Ax is a 2.3 pound-ax with a 15-inch handle length and 17 1/2-inch overall length. Both axes have Lexan handles and forged steel heads and come with ballistic cloth belt sheath.

Pro: Lightweight - possibly the lightest and strongest mini-ax on the market. The blade holds an edge well, even with repeated and purposeful miss-hits into the ground. What nicks the blade did receive were quickly and easily honed out with a sharpening stone. Lexan handle is very durable, surviving numerous intentional whacks across a log and other surfaces. The Lexan handle is molded around the blade which prevents the ax head from becoming loose and/or separating from the handle. Handle is welldesigned and is comfortably and securely gripped during use. Handle surface is textured and less slippery than varnished wood handles which must be roughed before use. Unlike many factoryissue sheaths that aren’t worth the thread they are sewn with, the Gerber sheath is built to use and last.

Con: Too small for big jobs such as hacking dead stumps, splitting fireplace wood (although I must admit I have used mine for this purpose) and felling trees. Even in the hands of an experienced user, the short length of the handle and the lightness of the hand ax can lead easily to glancing blows which may deflect to the user, resulting in possible cut fingers, feet and shins. The Camp Ax with its longer handle gives an increased margin of safety. However, for splitting wood at home, I think it’s still best to use a full size ax with a 28- to 32-inch handle.

Comments: What I wouldn’t have given for my Gerber ax last summer in Alaska. My expedition into Kodiak Island’s wet interior went through two cheap axes, shattering one head and splitting one wooden handle. The Gerber Sport Ax is the ideal ax for the on-the-move camper in wet domains. I’ve tried every way I know to abuse and destroy these axes, but they keep right on performing with nary a weak point.

Suggested Retail: Camp Ax - $60; Sport Ax - $54.

Company: Fiskars Inc., Gerber Division, 14200 SW 72nd., Portland, 97281; (503) 639-6161.