Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

CHAPTER XIIAXEMANSH IP—QUALITIESIZATION OF WOODAND UTIL-Next to the rifle, a backwoodsman's main relianceis on his axe. With these two instruments, andlittle else, our pioneers attacked the forest wildernessthat once covered all eastern America, and won it forcivilization.In the clearing and in lumber works the favoriteaxe is a double-bitt with 4^ to 5-pound head. Oneblade is ground thin and kept whetted keen, forchopping in clear timber. The other is left withmore bevel, as that is advantageous in splitting, andthe edge, although sharp, is rather stunt, so that itwill not shiver against a knot, or nick badly whendriven through into the earth, as may happen whencutting through roots. A professional chopper, whoworks only at felling trees and cutting off *'lops"(the branching tops) will grind both blades thin.For him, too, the double-bitt is best, since most ofits weight is back in line with the cutting edge, andro it bites deep, although driven with little force.The helve of such an axe, of course, is straight, andone bought at a store should be shaved considerablythinner on both sides; then it is not so clumsy, liesjn the hands more compactly, does not cramp thefingers and will not jar the hands, as it has somespring.A double-bitted axe is dangerous in any but experthands—more so than a loaded gun—and wouldbe a menace lying around in camp, for, even whenstuck in a tree or chopping-block, one edge is alwaysexposed. I have given elsewhere (Vol. I., pp.187