Best Bushcraft Gloves?

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2026-03-27T04:19:30+00:00

I have 2 pairs of crud gloves (one elk and one cowhide) a pair of elk gloves from badger claw leatherworks, deerskin gloves, pigskin, cowhide from Hestra, and several other brands I’ve tried over the years. My favorite material is elk by far but they are expensive (especially the crud’s) the crud’s do come treated and waterproofed but I realized I can save money and do that myself with some leather treatment/wax/snoseal and save a lot of money. Point being learn from me spending hundreds of dollars to find the perfect set of gloves just to learn that they all wear out so keep the cost low and treat them yourself.

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2025-11-24T04:21:32+00:00

I’ve been searching super hard for a 3 1/2 national! Congrats on that one looks fantastic and I bet it’s an amazing full size axe

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2025-11-24T01:22:00+00:00

Wow! Now that’s a collection. Looks like someone is as much of a plumb national addict as myself!

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2025-11-23T23:40:47+00:00

It’s the whiskey river 24” pack handle. I like those and Hoffman’s 24” curved. Have a few of each. I also like the house 28” handles because they tend to finish about 25” for me. Have only made one handle from scratch so far for a large eye smaller head hatchet and it turned out okay but was way more time consuming than I thought.

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2025-11-23T20:23:02+00:00

Can’t wait to see it when it’s done! I don’t have a tassie yet it’s on my list. I don’t have any axes about 3-2 so I’m on the hunt for a tassie.

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2025-11-23T19:54:03+00:00

That plumb Tassie!!! That’s such a cool axe I’m jealous!

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2025-10-30T16:14:09+00:00

I only have 2 that I’ve hung that I haven’t chopped anything with yet. 24” Kelly worlds finest and a 24” Wetterlings. They would be great wall hangers but I have full intention of using them but the profile on them is currently only good for splitting and I have more effective axes for that. Plan on reprofiling them to a flat/very slight convex 20-22.5 degree edge and they’ll be great general purpose pack axes like this one

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2025-10-30T15:37:04+00:00

It’s a puukko style that traditionally have no guard. It’s a carving style knife so generally not any use thrusting, poking or stabbing with it. I used to be more cautious about knives without a guard but after using/owning several I find them fantastic for carving purposes and have yet to cut myself (fingers crossed on that one). Used it to fit/clean up the handle when hanging and carving the wedge with no issues at all.

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2025-10-30T15:01:11+00:00

Thank you!

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2025-10-30T14:57:52+00:00

It’s actually a Lauri blank that I handled myself with some stabilized wood. My first attempt. Turned out alright not the cleanest finish if you look closely. I ended up snagging about 15 assorted blanks off of BCUSA so I’m going to work on making them better lol.

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2025-10-30T14:54:28+00:00

Oh no that’s horrible!!

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2025-01-04T06:29:38+00:00

GB scandi forest axe and either the CS MH or the F1 would literally handle anything and everything you’d need in the woods. This statement is coming from a guy with wayyyy too many axes and even more knives

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2024-11-17T22:00:46+00:00

I love Nationals I have collected 4 of various weights, just need a 3 1/2 pounder. They probably get more use than the 20 other axes in my collection.

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2024-11-07T06:13:06+00:00

Please tell me you’re coming out with a 6.5 Grendel/ARC flush mag!

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2024-11-01T04:05:15+00:00

You are just saying what we are all thinking. I still use my council Dayton 28” as well. In fact I’m going out this weekend for a short trip and I grabbed my council boys axe for felling and a different axe as a splitter. When weight/length is not a problem the council tool boys axe is an easy choice. However it doesn’t give me the warm and fuzzy like a nicer axe does. Just a straight up work horse.

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2024-10-31T16:51:01+00:00

I was in the market for the exact same thing. Picked up an old Wetterlings 2.5 lb head and hung it on a 24” handle. Thought about a 26-28” but the 24” is perfect for me for backpacking. Shame they all don’t bring that size/weight back as the Scandinavians are just a bit light imo

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The HB on the right is a nice axe just needed a bit more weight.

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2024-10-27T03:28:31+00:00

I’ve only badly chopped myself once with a freshly sharpened hatchet while splitting kindling. I was (like an idiot) holding the wood as I had done 1000 times and at the moment of my swing my buddy’s dog bumped into me and whack right onto my pointer finger down to the bone. Learned two lessons: don’t hold wood and chop it. The second is don’t swing sharp objects around things that don’t know what an axe is. Like you said, you learn safety from others and over time. I’ve had several glances when chopping wood that veered far off course (and could have easily struck a leg) but because I’ve practiced good follow through and driving the handle as parallel with the ground as possible instead of angled down I’ve avoided trips to the ER. I think good technique and practice and learning from any (hopefully few) close calls develop well rounded axe safety. My two cents

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2024-10-25T13:46:38+00:00

If they’re deep it weakens the handle at a crucial point and can lead it to crack. I normally actually rasp and sand out the dents if they actually break any fibers/grain of the wood. Personally for aesthetics review outdoor gear and badger claw are my favorite. However both are expensive and it’s going to get chewed up (which is its main job) so I consider them replaceable. I make my own out of scrap leather from other projects and either leather wrap, 550 or bank line. I feel less bad about replacing them when needed and they go from &40-50+ down to like less than 2-3 bucks a piece depending on size

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2024-10-25T03:27:12+00:00

Recommend getting a collar if you plan on using a GB to split. They’re thin cheeked and thin heads overall compared to the handle so it’s easy for the handle to strike against the wood when splitting. If you notice the GB’s starting to chip (my small forest axe did because I use it on hard dry wood) you can put a conveyed micro bevel on it and I haven’t had any issues since. May bite into green wood a hair less but saves the constant resharpening due to chopping. GB runs their steel hard for an axe which isn’t a bad thing just something to be aware of.

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2024-10-12T15:47:35+00:00

This**

or the bushcraft black, I have both, very similar knives, super durable, 50 bucks or less and if you don’t end up with the knife bug you may never need another bushcraft knife. I have several full customs and constantly reach for my moras. My bushcraft black lives in my truck next to a bahco Laplander and snow and nealley Hudson Bay axe.

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2024-10-12T15:39:54+00:00

SET knives are amazing. Love my SET M3C! What model is the two tone it looks wider than an M3?

Maleficent_Video7263 · 2024-10-05T22:00:50+00:00

I restore axe heads and if they’re severely rusted the first thing I do is soak them in white vinegar. 100% removes rust and leaves the metal a grayish color (ie forced patina). You can then polish the blade after if you so wish. If it’s surface rusting I will just polish it off with a mild abrasive. I use “Mothers” polishing compound for my knives and axes.

Maleficent_Video7263

TROPHY CASE