Most people probably think they have an axe lying somewhere around the house; that's what I thought. I couldn't find one so I bought one today along with another manual can opener. If things get bad, the axe could serve many valuable purposes. Besides the obvious, whose going to confront someone carrying an axe (except someone with a gun). I have Navy Seal training and I wouldn't even think about it.

-- DGBennett (bennett1@peachnet.net), October 02, 1999

Answers

Good point. If things get bad, chainsaws are going to have a limited life. Not only that; when I walk down the street towards the river to go fishing, no-gooders will probably give me a wide berth if I'm carrying my axe. I'll also have my hunting knife and a 38; but what they see is what they'll respect.

-- Bob Jordan (Bob@campuscwix.net), October 02, 1999.

I have an axe and a chainsaw, but I also have a couple bow saws and a bunch of spare blades, and I'd lose the axe and chainsaw before I let go the bowsaw. You can fell trees, lop branches and cut to length with the bowsaw, and it never runs out of gas. And if noise is an issue, the bow saw is much quieter than either of the others.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), October 04, 1999.

Speaking about saws and useful tools: Check out the Gerber Multi-Lock "Archer" at http://store.knifecenter.com/pgi-Product%20Spec?GB7584

It has a replaceable saber saw blade so you can buy different types and swap as you need to cut wood, metal, plastic etc.

I learned abot this by watching one of the videos I purchased from www.survival.com (the tape on weapons).

Speaking of weapons, I thought of another use for the Gerber: the needle nose pliers slide strait out with the flick of a wrist. Might come in useful in a "pinch" (ie as a nose-grabber, etc) for hand to hand situations. :)

-- Dennis Law (PaulLaw@aol.com), October 04, 1999.

The problem with the Gerber (and similar) is that there is a very limited source for blades. Bow saw blades are the same everywhere, available in any hardware store, and cheap.

Of course, I DO have my trusty needle-nose pliers, for those combat situations where I can get my opponent to hold still while I thread the pliers into his/her nostrils. It hasn't actually happened, yet, but you've given me a wonderful picture to ponder ...

-- bw (home@puget.sound), October 05, 1999.