- This axe is balanced in a way that it chops more effectively and flies straight and true which means you spend less time learning how to handle it and more time hitting bulls-eyes and cutting clean.
- A hardened poll so you can pound in tent stakes so that your tent or camp doesn’t blow away from you or your family.
- The head is 1.75 lbs of 1060 steel which qualifies for various throwing leagues which means as soon as this axe arrives you can go make your friends look bad at league night.
- At just under 16”, this axe was made to be easily packed away which means an easier trip into camp for you whether that be by canoe, truck, or backpack.
This resilient, aerodynamic, little bruiser is just as comfortable soaring through the air as it is relaxing next to the campfire, revelling in the heat of the wood it just prepared. At just under 1.75 lbs the hatchet not only qualifies as a competitive throwing axe but is also an amazing option for anyone backpacking or canoeing into the wilderness.
Here is a hatchet that your wife, child, or local hippy would not be afraid of picking up and using! No more rainy off days in the woods while the kids complain about being bored. Grab your Flying Fox, find some standing dead wood, and have a camp throwing competition!
The sleek design is an amalgamation of a few mid 20th-century hatchets with a few modern touches thrown in. The flying fox also carries a hardened poll, an attribute that is unusual (because the extra effort the process of dual hardening requires) to find on such an inexpensive hatchet!
This hardened poll allows the user to safely use the Flying Fox to things such as pound tent stakes, smash old toilets, test steel-toed boots, and even bounce off the ground safely (for it...you may want to stay on your toes) on the off chance you ever hit a throwing target wrong while using it!
Long story short. This adventure hatchet is an all-around bushcraft tool that is a capable, pack-able, and all-around incredible piece of gear to take with you into the woods or to throw at a target. The Flying Fox can take anything you throw at it and anything you throw it at!
Leather NOT included BUT...
Looking for a full carry setup? The Camp Carver Full leather sheath and sling fits wonderfully! https://whiskeyrivertrading.com/collections/leather-goods/products/brown-leather-sling-and-sheath-council-tool-camp-carver
Or our Council Tool Factory Replacement handle HERE
SPECS:
Head weight… 1 lbs. 11 oz. (Just under 1.75 lbs.)
Bit length… 3 7/8” (Just under 4”)
Hardened bit and poll.
Handle has a large hatchet eye, trimmed to be under 16”
** This is a standard axe so grain orientation is not guaranteed. **
Customer Reviews
It looks great to me. The true review will be when my son receives it. It's a Christmas gift for him. Stay tuned. Appreciate the promo discount and the quick response to questions.
We have now added both the long and short Flying Fox to our Council Tool collection.
Geometry:
The head and edge dimensions are very practical and effective. It’s a good shape. Basically, the design is an improved Hudson Bay pattern and works very well. With a slimmer blade profile than the Council HB wedge, it is truly a cutter but can still spilt wood effectively.
Mass:
Head weight @ 1.625 lbs.
(26 ozs.) is ideal for the shorter camp & pack axes. It balances well.
The Council HB is 2 lbs (32 ozs) and is a bit heavy for shorter length axes.
The Flying Fox has a better feel in the shorter length category.
Metallurgy:
The 1060 alloy with Sport Utility finish is perfect for our needs.
The 1060 toughness is necessary for a beginner’s skill level. In an impact tool, it is very forgiving. The ease of sharpening allows a quick learning curve with that critical responsibility.
The exterior finish is for hard use, not for show, and hides any of the occasional dings and scratches that are going to happen.
We do not abuse our tools but we also don’t concern ourselves with the axes looking “pretty”.
We are not going to throw our Flying Foxes. That is harsh treatment for a precision tool.
There are dedicated throwing axes available if we want to try that game. Back in the day, I broke several axe handles. That’s an aggravation to avoid as much as possible.
Application:
I am presenting the Flying Fox (long) to my son, as his first axe. This length and weight will enable him to learn how to chop safely and correctly, without over-powering his beginning skill level.
It is the correct design for field use but is also very capable at the woodpile. He will learn respect for the tool, as his Axemanship progresses.
Price:
Are you kidding me? In this day and time, how can such a high quality product be produced at such a reasonable cost?
And … it’s 100% US made.
Another family member has a
Gransfors Bruk axe, of which he is very proud. That’s OK, it’s a high quality item and comparable to a Mercedes Benz. But …
Our Council Tool axes are more like the 4WD truck that you do not hesitate to take off road into the roughest conditions. The dirt, mud and grime splatter become signs of honor and tell the stories of good times and many cool exploits.
AlI the dings, dents and scratches that will accumulate over time on our Flying Foxes, will bring back fond memories of journeys afield and the coming stories of adventures yet to be lived.
Evaluation: Outstanding
Recommendation:
The Flying Fox …
A GOOD tool.
Get one !
Great axe for a beginner throwing league! I found this axe to work well for me based on how I step and throw, took some practice with different types of axes to find what worked best for me. You might find that a different axe works for you. But if the flying fox style works for you, Council Tool makes a phenomenal one and Whiskey River was quick to ship it. I appreciate the care to packaging they provided and the free sticker! The leather holster was very high quality too.
In an axe throwing league and bought this as an up-grade from an axe purchased when I first started throwing. I want to shorten the handle, but so far I really like how it feels.
Perfect weight for putting in a backpack an going up the mountain. Couldn’t be happier with my purchase. Will be getting more for family a friends as gifts!!!