Best Brush Axe: 2023 Reviews And Comparison (Brush Axe Vs. Machete)

Last Updated on June 7, 2023 by Georgie Smith

Also known as, a billhook, the brush ax is an excellent preppers tool. It is the most preferred large knife for people who do heavy duty survival jobs. It is an excellent tool for trimming hedges and clearing bushes. While they all have a basic design that is similar, there are numerous features and material differences.

It is therefore easy for people to get confused on how to choose the best brush ax for themselves. This review will make things easier for you by reviewing the best brush ax available and giving you a list of features to look for while shopping for a bush ax.

See Also:

• Best Camping Axes and Hatchets: 2023 Reviews and Buying Guide
• Best Hatchet for Splitting Kindling and Wood: 2023 Reviews and Guide
• Best Throwing Tomahawk, Traditional Tomahawk and Bushcraft Tomahawk: 2023 Reviews & Guide

A bush ax is suitable for:

• Shaping timber
• Cutting wood
• Making tools
• As a meat cleaver
• Cutting animal bones
• Pruning
• Carpentry
• Harvesting corn

Top 5 Best Brush Axes on the Market:

PICTURE	PRODUCT NAME	FEATURES
	Fiskars Brush Axe	– Low-friction blade coating – Rust-resistant
	Gerber Gator Brush Machete	– Handle with lanyard hole – Gator rubber handle – High carbon construction
	Professional Bill Hook-brush Axe	– High tense carbon steel construction – Ergonomic handle design
	Billhook (Brush Axe), Heavy Duty	– Precise heat treatment – Ergonomic ash wood handle – Bombshell steel construction
	– Hardwood handle – Double-edge blade – Carbon steel construction	– Hardwood handle – Double edge blade – Carbon steel construction

Fiskars Brush Axe

When clearing brush or on some jobs, you will require having a reliable tool that will ensure all the outdoor work is not overwhelming. This reliability is what you get by investing in this Fiskars brush ax. With it in your arsenal, nothing will prevent you from living in a concussive environment. The 10-inch steel blade provides you with the precision you need for a neat compound or other outdoor areas.

The billhook has a durable design using the best material construction. The material is rust-resistant to ensure you have the freedom of using your ax even under heavy weather conditions. It has a low-friction coating, which guarantees that it will hold firmly in position.

This bush tool also has a fiber comp handle that is easy to hold. Both blade and handle are molded together to ensure they do not separate. It allows you plenty of swings and enhances your working speed for convenience. For security and transportation purposes, the Fiskars brush ax comes with a sheath to ensure you do not regret it.

Key features

• Lifetime warranty
• Low-friction blade coating
• Rust-resistant

Pros

• Strong blade and handle molding
• Convenient for all clearing works
• Durable steel construction
• Comfortable handle grip

Cons

• The price is slightly higher

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Gerber Gator Brush Machete

Are you having trouble controlling weeds and brush around your compound? Although this might give you a headache, you still have a chance to try out something different. Maybe the problem is with the tools you are using. Therefore, Gerber has come up with a new item that will be easy on your body and a clean brush-free environment.

Gerber has been on the market for decades, which illustrates they are conversant with the needs of various customers about their specific needs. With this brush ax, you can solve all your problems including clearing small bushes, weeding, cutting firewood, and any other activity you may have to need an extended blade.

The ax has a convenient design that makes it durable and reliable for all-time uses. Unlike other blades with mold handles, this has a gator rubber handle. It fits and holds entirely to the edge for comfort and is non-slip. The grip is highly tactical and will not slip even when working under rainy conditions.

The blade material is carbon steel, which guarantees you stability even when undertaking tough tasks. Additionally, the iron is rust-resistant for easy maintenance of the ax. It also has a non-stick coating that reduces work by ensuring low friction.

Key features

• Gator rubber handle
• Stainless steel high carbon handle
• Handle with a lanyard hole

Pros

• Convenient for all types of work
• Lightweight construction
• Durable material construction
• Non-slip grip
• Non-stick coating

Cons

• Not suitable for cutting tough materials

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Professional Bill Hook-Hooyman Axe

Billhook brush ax has multiple uses. It can help you with your agricultural works as well as serve as a weapon. With this tool at hand, you will comfortably swing it around and enjoy the results it delivers. It has a convenient shape that ensures it penetrates across anything without much effort.

Additionally, the hook extension on one side makes it suitable for both side cutting. Therefore, giving you the ability to clear even thorny areas. This tool has a heavy gauge carbon steel construction with heat treatment for strength. The design also features a rat tail shank that goes through the wooden handle. Therefore, ensuring a reliable and robust connection between the handle and the blade.

It can also help you cut through and make a clear path regardless of how dense the thickets have grown.

Key features

• Ergonomic handle
• High-tense carbon steel
• Sharp edges

Pros

• Convenient for gardening
• Easy to use
• Lightweight material construction
• Rat-tail shank
• Comfortable handle design

Cons

• The price tag is a little high

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Council Tool(Brush Axe), Heavy Duty

Just as the name, this Billhook (Brush Axe), Heavy Duty tool has a heavy-duty construction style. The design guarantees that this item will bypass all the cutting experiences you may have. The heavy-duty material makes it sturdy and reliable for any clearing. It has a convenient and comfortable ergonomic handle that allows you to work all day without injuring your hands.

The blade is conveniently sharp to ensure your work is simplified, hence saving you time. When all you need is to clear your path without trimming or cutting down hedges, you can use the hook to pull them aside as you walk across.

This item is approximately 40” long with the blade at approximately 11”. These ensure you can use it for any job regardless of how high or long the distance. Additionally, you can use it as either a weapon in times of trouble or a farm tool when you are working in your garden or backyard.

Key features

• Bombshell steel construction
• Precise heat treatment
• Ergonomic ash wood handle

Pros

• Ideal for cutting trails, and clearing bushes (you can use machete too)
• Durable and convenient material
• Retains sharpness
• Easy to use
• Wooden and rubber grip handle

Cons

• Difficult to maneuver while cutting

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Razor-back 16-Inch Weed & Brush Cutter

Clearing weeds is a tough task. It can take you a lot of time and energy to get the job entirely done. However, if you have the right tools, this job will take a few minutes, and you will feel the difference. The True Temper 16-Inch Weed & Brush Cutter clears the weeds with every swing to ensure you only work for a few minutes and achieve excellent results.

The blade is sharp and sturdy, which guarantees you that it can cut through even the most stubborn branches. With this double edge blade, nothing will stand in your way. The blade is durable and has a non-stick coating to ensure you enjoy cutting on any materials.

Additionally, it is rust-resistant for the comfort of use even under severe weather conditions. It is the result you have been looking for when it comes to dealing with debris and brushes in your backyard.

Key features

• Double edge blade
• Hardwood handle
• Carbon steel blade

Pros

• Eyehole for easy storage and hanging
• Durable steel construction
• Cuts with every swing
• Convenient handle
• Suitable for all clearing jobs

Cons

• The handle is too short for upright use

Buy from Amazon

Essential Features to Look For

There are features that you must consider when buying a brush ax. These features ensure that you get a tool that will serve all your needs.

Design

A billhook is a tool that people have used for centuries. Its overall shape has been the same over the years. However, there are minor differences from brand to brand. There are brush axes that are sharp both on the outer parts and on the inner curve. There are some that have a shaft on the out parts and some that have a saw-like design.

All these designs come in handy. Before you make your choice, however, you have to make sure that you make an informed one. It is different from other blades because of the hook it has at the front of the edge. This hook makes it more efficient for trimming branches and stripping off larger leaves. The rounded part allows it to chop faster.

If it has an ax shape at the back, it will also be great for splitting wood.

The weight of the tool

You have to think about the weight of the brush axe you buy. The last thing you want is to buy a billhook that is too heavy that it hurts when you work with it. You also do not want a tool that is too light to do any work successfully.

Users want a billhook that is heavy enough to cut through brushes yet light enough to be carried around as you work. They also need to remember that the heavier it is, the more likely you are to be inaccurate while striking branches.

If you are new to it, you want to start with a light one. As you gain strength and experience, you can go for a heavier one.

The length of the handle

What are you cutting? More extended handles are great for people who need to trim branches that are high above the ground. The longer handle allows you to strike with more force. However, you may not have as much control of the blade if the handle is too long.

Choose the handle length depending on what you frequently do with the tool. Shorter handles give you accuracy and force. You also get much better control of what you cut and how you slice it.

Materials

Handle

The materials used to make the handle will vary significantly from one brand to another. Some handles are made of wood while others are plastic, and a few come in steel. You must make sure that if the handle is wooden, you need to inspect the direction of the grain, the quality of the wood, and its width.

The ideal brush ax will have it’s grain running parallel to the bit of the shaft. Grains that run perpendicular tend to be weaker, and they will snap as you work. The growth rings in the handle must be narrow, tight, and numerous. This pattern tends to be stronger.

The blade

You need to make sure that the material used to make the blade is sturdy and durable. It also needs to be easy to sharpen. Traditionally, knife blades are carbon steel. The more carbon it has, the less likely it is to get damaged. You need an edge that will last for years without rusting or breaking.

You also need to be able to sharpen it as often as required. The quality of the blade will also depend on its country of origin. Steel made in the USA is much better concerning quality than steel made in China.

Price

How much money are you willing to spend on the right brush ax? The features you need will determine how much you will pay for the right tool. Even so, it is essential to have a budget. A budget will narrow your options and make choices more comfortable and convenient.

How to Use a Brush Ax

Using a brush ax is easy.

Hold the billhook with your thumb close to the bottom of the blade. The hook should be pointing downwards. Holding the brush ax in this manner allows you to snag vines and shrubs and pull them down.

The hook is used to remove suckers that come up at the base of the bush. That method also allows you to remove stubborn roots.

You can also hold the toll like it was a hatchet. Ensure that the handle is not too large so you can keep it firm.

The hatchet-style grip allows you to draw down along the branches removing all small branches and twigs. It is also appropriate when lightly pruning shrubs.

If it has a saw blade, turn it over with that side down. Ensure that the thumb is close to the hilt. The saw will bite wood fast and slice through without slipping. Your cuts will, therefore, be smoother.

Brush Axe vs. Machete

How to Change a Brush Ax Blade

After years of use, you may find that your sword has maxed out or broken. If the handle is still functional, instead of throwing the entire billhook away, you can change the edge.

You will need:

• A power drill
• Hacksaw
• Hand file
• Wood Clamp
• The blade
• Epoxy

Procedure:

Wash the blade. You need to do is make sure that the knife you will be using is clean. You will not have to clean it if it is new. If it is not, use soap and water to clean it. Remove any debris using sandpaper. If you do not rinse the blade thoroughly, the epoxy will not hold.

When buying a new blade or making a handle, make sure that the blade and the handle are a match. Have everything ready for installation to make the work efficient. Read the instruction on the proxy before mixing it.

Set the pins on one side of the handle. Use the hammer to drive the nails all the way to the second side. Mix the proxy and apply it to both sides of the handle. Put the handle together and push the pins. Attach them tightly using a c-clamp.

You can now use a sander to remove all the excess wood. Use sandpaper to finish the wood smoothly. You can also apply colors as you see fit.

Care and Maintenance

Blade care

Even when the blade is stainless steel, it is not invulnerable to rust. However, stainless steel is much easier to care for than most materials. To keep the edge sharp and shiny, oil regularly.

If your blade is carbon steel, always cover it with a layer of oil before and after using it. This material will keep rust at bay. Carbon steel is more prone to corrosion.

Make sure you have dried it thoroughly if it becomes wet.

Handle care

If your billhook is plastic, it will not require much maintenance. However wooden handles are prone to cracking and warp if exposed to moisture. Apply lemon oil occasionally and furniture polish to keep it in excellent condition.

Storage

Always store your billhook in areas that are dry to prevent corrosion. If you notice signs of rust, clean it as soon as possible to keep it from spreading further. Store the tool in a sheath and check periodically to ensure that moisture is not getting in and causing damage.

FAQs

Q: Does the country of manufacture matter?

A: Yes. The country where your tool is made matters a lot. It speaks to the quality and durability you will get. However, it also determines the price you will pay for the tool. You, therefore, need to find a device that is made of the best quality materials while at the same time remaining pocket-friendly.

Q: How often do you have to sharpen the tool?

A: It is common that you will have to sharpen the tool frequently. A blade sharpener for knives will work correctly for the brush ax as well.

Q: What is the best blade?

A: The full tang blade is a great design. The handle does not fall off. It is also less susceptible to rust and corrosion.

Q: Weight and height which matters most?

A: The weight of the blade and the billhook as a whole will determine whether your work will be precise or not. It also defines how long you can carry the tool around with you as you work.

Conclusion

While the best brush ax may be a lifesaver, there are some that will make your work harder. Choosing the right one will require you to engage in research so that you know which features are most important to you.

If this article has provided you with information that is useful to you, share it on social media so that others are informed.