Trapping axe

What is the best trapping axe for the money and longevity for use on a trapline? I'm looking for one to build small cubbies for conibears and for the few odd sets. Thanks in advance!

-TheYouthTrapper

Honestly, I'd go to Lowes and buy the cheapest hatchet they have. Or hit up some yard sales. You don't need a top of the line hatchet/axe for the trapline.

That said, I'd like to get a Snow and Neally someday, but it's not anything a beginner trapper needs.

Just get whatever hatchet you can get your hands on cheap and put a good edge on it. Go build your cubbies before season and leave the hatchet in the pickup, I’d bet you don’t use it as much as you think you’re gonna. Which is why I wouldn’t spend a bunch of money on one.

A sandvik brush axe is a great tool on the trapline for cutting trail and cutting and limbing poles.

Less than $50

Lasts a Lifetime .light, strongest to use


Estwing E45A ES45A Fixed Blade,Hunting ,Outdoor,Camping, 26", Blue

I've rehandled so many axe heads this last year but I haven't found one for running the line with yet.

Bought one a year or so ago and don't use it for much as I'm not trapping a whole bunch of timber except for a few spots.

I've heard very good things about Estwings and aren't they made in the USA?

What is it you're looking for then, exactly?

I've only been able to do mauls and felling axes since my antique store doesn't have very many smaller single bits. I'm looking for a 2-2.5# head with a 27 inch handle. I have one but the eye on it is starting to bow out from the handle and the blade of it is crooked.

This is in my basket ….buy once ,cry once. Going on 6 years with the factory edge…wicked !

That's my favorite quote "Buy once, cry once" I've done that exact thing multiple times. I like the granfors and was looking at them but I'm not nice on any of my equipment and it pains me to hurt a 150$ axe.

I've not cried over an axe yet, haha. I might if I ever buy one of those Snow and Neally's. I been eyeballing them for 10 years but just can't make myself pay that much.

When I was a 10 year old trapper I asked for a hatchet for Christmas and got a $6 TruValu special, lol. I used it on my line until I moved out of state at the age of 25. Handle was pretty chewed up by then as I never replaced it and was never a very good aim, lol. I'd say I got my $6 worth out of that hatchet over 15 years. Since I moved, I've not bought a dedicated trapline hatchet because as Bob mentioned, I don't often find use of one on my traplines.

A good axe for a trapper is a boys axe head on a full length handle.Get the limbing style head(concave profile) for bushwork.It is light enough for trapline work,and quick to sharpen with the axe file,similar benefits of the sandvik,but can cut thru bigger stuff than the sandvik when needed.
Being lighter it wont tire you as much when working with it all day.Make sure when you are fitting the handle to keep it true so the head hangs right.
Its also a great axe for chunking up frozen carcasses for trapping bait.
An axe with a full length handle has much more uses in the bush than a short handled hatchet,and is much safer to use than a hatchet.

An axe / hatchet is a must for Beaver Trapping.

While I do love the Hudson Bay pattern in both big and small I've found that a golok type big knife to be a much more useful tool in my climate.

Goloks are a philipino/indonesian machete type tool that depending on shape can fill the roles of machete, axe or sword. They are generally a thicker blade, up to 3/8" in some cases, than the latin/african machete and almost always convex ground like an axe and can range in length from a few inches to a couple feet.

I dont have much trap line use for an axe either...though at times you have to chop a tree up on public land if you eant to check your traps as you know it might be hours or days before anyone shows up to clear it for you.

“What is the best trapping axe for the money and longevity for use on a trapline?”

The one you don’t lose. I however am blessed with the uncanny ability to scatter any and all tools across the countryside.

My preferred axe for trapping and general bush work is the Hudson bay style with a 2 1/2 lb head and a 22 inch handle. Great for light splitting, chopping, driving stakes and tent pegs.

I'm with 330, an Estwing is a lot of Hatcher for the money and built like a tank.

^ yes.

I use a ratchett lopper for trail mtc more than an axe. A good rachet lopper will gut green wood 2 inches thick no problem.Also better in tight spots since no need to swing it.They also make them with telescoping handles.If you are just cutting smaller stuff to make cubbies loppers may be more suited to that work.
Cutting new trail,axe or chainsaw is better,unless you are just cutting a "line".
I seen some line cutters that made their own tool,kind of a hybrid between a machete and a sandvik.
A cut down machete blade hafted on a sandvik handle.Line cutting you dont require the inertia of a heavier tool.
An axe has many many uses and most who work with them on a regular basis customize their tools to their needs to make the work easier and more efficient.

I have both the Estwing and the Snow & Nealley Hudson Bay.Snow & Nealley is much easier to carry in a basket or bucket.Both are good,,but I prefer the Snow & Nealley Hudson Bay.

This!

I still use mine that I have had since the 1980s. Just needs to be resharpened every few years one of the better Investments I ever made

I forgot to mention mine is an estwing like the above-mentioned axes

Whatever you end up with, paint it bright yellow!!

Russ

Any of the Estwing products. I have a Plumb brand hatchet with the original handle that has served my trapline for about 48 years plus split the rib cage and pelvis of many a deer and elk. I don't know if Plumb is even in business now but they made good stuff.

Estwings do not last a lifetime. They get LOST!!!

I've seen one get bent almost ninety degrees.

A framing hammer that is. Guy on my crew jumped down into a basement over a cinder block wall with open cells. The hammer hooked into the ring on his tool bag got it's handle into a cell. He was a big guy and the hammer bent sideways, the cinder block busted and he went home for the day.

estwing for sure

Depending what your doing, the estwing roofers hatchet has a small axe blade and a hammer head...I use it camping often.

Estwing are ok for trapping or occasional use,but if you are using it a lot especially on frozen wood they will do you in.Need a wooden handled axe-much easier on the hands,elbows and shoulders.

I used to paint some blaze orange on all my fencin and trappin tools but now I use some of the reflective tape made for trailers. Easy to see in the day time and even easier to find with a spotlight after dark

All of my trapping tools, sifters, setters, etc, get that treatment.

not a bad idea to put a loop of orange reflective paracord so when you drop it in the water you can hook it with your potato rake


do you have a potato rake ?

Is a potato rake the 4 tined hard rake style? Bent like a hoe but instead of a single blade, it's 4 tines?

yes there are some variations on exact tine design but yes 4 tine about 6 inch wide head

when you use it as a walking stick the tines spread out the weight so it acts a little like a duck foot in the mud

Paul talks about his potato rake from time to time , I know a lot of the water guys use them for a lot on the water line.

do a search on potato rake here on the forum and you will see many posts about what different people use them for from snakes , to beaver , wading , under water snares

I welded up a nice long handle potato rake for beaverin'

Probably have better luck searching for "tater rake" and not "potato rake." Silly yankees, lol.

the internet apparently speaks both for a google search you get the same tools in the same order potato rake vs tater rake

but yes if your looking for a Paul Post he does call his a tater rake https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/7588891/re-holy-hook-batman#Post7588891

potato rake turned up abotu the same number of hits on trapper man as tater rake and I notice the GA fellas call the a Potato rake also in many posts so it is a mix like Pop vs Soda maybe

Ok, I have a potato rake then, so I'm good there.

Ive had a few tater rakes, but my favorite one has been the Bully Tools cultivator. Ive abused the crap out of it busting holes in the ice and the tines havent bent yet. I try to not carry the spud bar as long as i can when the ice comes on

The handle on that pic is crap, it will split/slab on the dark wood line.