Gerber Back Axe

[xcountryswimmer]

A must for every BOB! I saw it while checking out the blade section in Cabela's and it looked pretty useful for a really reasonable price. I took it camping and it worked like a charm for splitting wood. I used the butt end to hammer stakes into the ground as well. So far this piece of gear has performed better than what I thought my money could buy. I highly suggest everyone to at least check it out. I can't post links to the website, but if you go onto Cabela's website and look under the saws and axes section, you can't miss it.

[Bayou Blaster]

A must for every BOB! I saw it while checking out the blade section in Cabela's and it looked pretty useful for a really reasonable price. I took it camping and it worked like a charm for splitting wood. I used the butt end to hammer stakes into the ground as well. So far this piece of gear has performed better than what I thought my money could buy. I highly suggest everyone to at least check it out. I can't post links to the website, but if you go onto Cabela's website and look under the saws and axes section, you can't miss it.

Saw my Brother In-Law use one on a camping trip. It was working pretty good until he left it on a log several feet from the campfire. The handle turned to mush in the heat real fast. Thing was, it was NOT that close to the fire. Turned me off from buying it real fast. Old school I guess.

[Mags]

That's a hell of an observation Bayou. I will always keep that in mind while I'm out. I have used a Gerber Sport Axe for a few years. I loved it so much I picked up a couple other Gerber tools.

I have never had any issues with mine but I also do not recall leaving it anywhere near the fire. It sure didn't seem to get brittle or anything while being used when the mercury dropped.

Again, good to know and thanks for the heads up.

[Oatmealer]

I have a hatchet from Lowe's (Kobalt) that cost just under $17. Has a hickory handle and leather sheath for the blade. The head/edge needs to be ground a bit (I used my Dremel) to achieve a better bevel, but once that bevel is there, it is very easy to keep sharp (Even with a knife sharpener that has the 20 degree "V" shape carbide and ceramic), and providing you do not hit the sand, dirt, gravel with the blade while chopping, it holds very nicely. Best hatchet I have ever owned, and if I snap the handle, I can carve a new one... It is most likely heavier than the "plastic type handles, but I will deal with the weight sacrifice for the toughness of this one... (I really would love to play with that Gerber though lol)

[tommyboy4090]

Like I said in another thread i have a gerber small axe with saw in blade and it is packed in my bag between my fixed blade knife and my keltec su-16a. I really do like that gerber. I also have several gerber knives that are great had some since i was a youngin still work great and hold an edge. My favorite gerber is the gerber flik multitool.

[hminus]

TommyBoy,

What do you think of your SU-16? I am an AR guy, but have a buddy on a budget and was thinking of moving him towards the SU-16. Sorry to get off topic.. Oh back on topic --- I have a 1980's Buckmaster (Buck-184). I have had it since the 80's and its still going strong.

[tommyboy4090]

I love my kel-tec. I have had mine for five years and shot thousands of rds. through it without cleaning it. The only problem I have had the the gun is user error. A buddy of mine gave me some ammo and said it was .223 when it was .556. Cause gun to jam every couple of rounds so i checked ammo and it said very clearly .556 around the primer. So......... There are 3 functions of the gun that i really do love. The first is that some models(mine is this model) you can fold gun in half and still fire it. The second is that you can store either 2 ten round mags in stock or a 30 rd. mag. The third is that they are piston driven unlike most ars. So that means that they don't use blow back to function like most ars do. So this keeps them from getting as dirty. The only bad thing i have to say about these guns are(mine does not sure about newer models) is that the barrel gets super hot after a bunch of rds. Like third degree burns hot.

Back on topic I love my gerber small axe with saw in handle.

[hminus]

Cool, but If I remember correctly... The Kel-Tecs are chambered for 5.56. That means you can use either 5.56 or .223 (correct me if I am wrong guys). The only significant difference between the .223 and 5.56 is chamber pressure. If your gun were only rated for the .223, then using the 5.56 might cause problems due to the higher pressures. But, If I remember correctly Kel-Tec designed the SU-16 to meet the demands of 5.56, but will also shoot .223.

The .223 Remington is rated for a maximum of 50,000 CUP while the 5.56mm is rated for 60,000 CUP. That extra 10,000 CUP is likely sufficient to cause a failure in a chamber that's only rated for the "sporting" .223 Remington.

So it could have been just some bad ammo you got or I am wrong about Kel-Tecs specs on the SU-16.

Either way, the gun sounds like a good alternative to the higher end AR's out there.

Oh crap... I tooks us off topic again.... Back on topic.... ---- My Buckmaster will kick your Gerber in the patootie...What would you expect from the guys who make baby food (LOL)....

[tommyboy4090]

Cool, but If I remember correctly... The Kel-Tecs are chambered for 5.56. That means you can use either 5.56 or .223 (correct me if I am wrong guys). The only significant difference between the .223 and 5.56 is chamber pressure. If your gun were only rated for the .223, then using the 5.56 might cause problems due to the higher pressures. But, If I remember correctly Kel-Tec designed the SU-16 to meet the demands of 5.56, but will also shoot .223.

The .223 Remington is rated for a maximum of 50,000 CUP while the 5.56mm is rated for 60,000 CUP. That extra 10,000 CUP is likely sufficient to cause a failure in a chamber that's only rated for the "sporting" .223 Remington.

So it could have been just some bad ammo you got or I am wrong about Kel-Tecs specs on the SU-16.

Either way, the gun sounds like a good alternative to the higher end AR's out there.

Oh crap... I tooks us off topic again.... Back on topic.... ---- My Buckmaster will kick your Gerber in the patootie...What would you expect from the guys who make baby food (LOL)....

You may be right, but my kel-tec does not shoot .556(I checked). The safiest way to check is look on side of barrel or receiver will usually say what it shoots. The newer ones may shoot 556 but like i said mine is 5 yrs old and doesn't. Alot of things can change in 5 yrs.

Good comback on baby food but on any given day someone can take a saw(much like the one in my gerber small axe handle) and cut down more and faster using LESS ENERGY/CALORIES/TIME to cut down trees arm sized or a bit bigger versus a regular small axe/hatchet. Now isn't that the point in any survival situation, to save ENERGY/CALORIES/TIME if possible??

[hminus]

TB... You know I was joshing you on my Buck being better? I actually looked on ebay to check out the cost of your Gerber.... Im saving up for one...

[tommyboy4090]

I know you were just trying to keep on thread topic, but what i said about a saw i wasn't joking. It is true and you are smart than me i bought my axe from a sporting goods store.