Zippo Axsaw Review | gearjunkie

There are points throughout the year when half my time is spent traveling on foot just to clear blocked paths. From cleaning up winter storm damage in the spring to maintaining and managing downed trees and bushes after intense, pop-up storms in the summer, there is very little time left.

The best way to do these jobs is to use both an ax and a saw (chainsaws are not an option when power tools get political in a state forest). A few years ago, Zippo released an outdoor Axsaw. Basically, if an ax and a bow saw had a baby, it would be this: an ax with a saw blade stored in its handle. It can be converted into a saw without the need for additional parts, tools or anything that would make the conversion cumbersome.

I’ve been using Axsaw since early spring. Although it has quirks that may prevent it from being a true tool for everyday work, it has enough utility for people doing yard maintenance or light trail work. It is a single device that provides multiple solutions at low cost and takes up less space.

In short: If you’re looking for an excellent hatchet that can shine as a bow saw and mallet, the Zippo AxSaw may be right for you. It pairs well with car camping, spending the night near the fire, yard cleanup, trail maintenance, and costs a fraction of purchasing all three devices alone.

zippo xsaw review

design features

The idea behind the Axsaw is to be the tool you need to set up camp and enjoy a few nights near the fire. It’s an axe, bow saw and hammer all in one, letting you do everything from hammering in tent poles to gathering and splitting firewood with minimal effort.

With an overall length of 20 inches and a 420 stainless steel head with a 4.5-inch bit, the Axsaw is in the best position for what I need in terms of length and weight. The name of the game with hatchets is balance, and even with a hollow handle designed to hold the saw blade, the Axsaw has great balance.

That said, this is a very non-traditional axe. Instead of making its head from a thick piece of steel, it is made from a ¼-inch piece of plate steel that has been cut and shaped. This reduces the total weight and maintains balance.

The hinged, plastic-molded sheath serves an equally important dual role for the Axsaw. It is not only the sheath that covers the ax head during transportation, but it is also the handle of the saw. This is an innovative idea that lets you quickly and easily switch from a hatchet to a bow saw.

As I said, the 15-inch saw blade stores away in the handle of the Axsaw when not in use. Zippo refers to it simply as “hardened stainless steel”. However, I would like to add to this “with severely aggressive tooth patterns”. The bit on this track ax is just as sharp as a new belt knife blade. There is no doubt that this will assist in shaping and splitting the wood.

first impressions

I loved what Zippo did here with the Axsaw as soon as I saw it. From the overmolding on the sheath to the overall size and shape of the hatchet head that aids your grip when you’re in bow saw mode, it looks the part all around.

When it arrived, I was impressed by how lightweight it was. Yes, the handle is hollow, but it is reinforced, so it can hold a saw blade without compromising durability. Either way, I’m used to axes and axes being heavy. The Axsaw is not heavy at all. It is streamlined in all the right ways. However, there is still a little bit of sacrifice to be made and it is in the sheath.

I would never claim to have big hands or long fingers, but after using them to do many things successfully for 45 years, I can happily say that I rarely struggle to get a good grip on most things. The sheath on the Axsaw folds well enough to have enough room to cover the hatchet head, but when you use it as a saw handle, it’s a bit much. Yes, the rubber overmolding compensates for my inability to wrap my hands around it much, but I’m wondering how it will move when I’m looking.

Overall, though, I’m impressed with the design and build. I think Zippo has done a great job of making the AxeSaw a multitool.

in the area

Let me start by saying that both the ax and the saw are very effective. However, my suspicions were correct – the shape of the sheath left my hand more exposed than a traditional bow saw when used as a saw handle.

I didn’t get tired of using it, but I found that I had adjusted my grip significantly, slowing me down to see some of the larger organs I encountered. Nevertheless, the ax is effective. I like a slightly more blunt blade on dry wood, but for wet, fresh wood, the sharper the better.

As an axe, the axsaw works like a machete, but with more power and control behind it. 420 stainless is a good steel that holds a good edge, so I don’t mind going on the record and saying that it is an incredible cutting and splitting tool for both green and dead wood. To say that a little effort goes a long way with the Axsaw in hatchet mode is an understatement.

Regarding the hammer: As long as you stick to tent pegs, wooden garden poles and the like, you won’t have any problems. Just now. No. Miss. While I was driving the stake, it hit a rock in my yard and the plastic coating got damaged. It’s still functional, but also noticeable.

Conclusion: Who is it for?

if you believe Axsaw Primarily an ax with the ability to be a saw and a hammer, you have a very useful tool for $110. However, if you come to Axsaw assuming that it will be the best of the best in all three categories, it is not.

Overall, I like it. In fact, I love it for campsites, and when I’m in the yard and need to do something different I don’t feel like dragging a lot of tools around or walking to the shed. It also proves to be a winner when I’m looking for firewood for the fire pit. There are many benefits of living in the woods, most of which revolve around trees. It’s not something I would use commercially, but it wasn’t designed for that anyway.

So, if you’re interested in car camping or if you have a yard or trails that need constant grooming, the Zippo AxSaw will check a lot of boxes. Even my cheapest hatchet is more expensive than this tool, and the Axsaw hatchet is far better. If you have large gloves for your hands, the handle of the saw may also not be a problem for you. Big picture, it’s affordable and effective.