The Axxis hand axe uses a Stone Age design as influence.
We often hear about a lot of cool knives and other blades being introduced, almost like clockwork. We also see a lot of interesting new innovations in blades all the time.
It runs the gamut, from the latest tactical blades, pocket knives, wilderness cutting implements and hatchets to classic takes on the Bowie knife. Heck, we've even see some cool handmade knives constructed from oddball recycled materials.
We also see some interesting hybrids that try to blur the lines between a survival knife and a hand axe. The Axxis hand axe falls into that category, and we are eager to share what we found when we recently gave it a test run.
The answer was in the past
The Axxis is available on Kickstarter now. In a late March update, they have since moved the campaign over to Indie Go Go. If you want, you can subscribe to their email list on their website to be sent a reminder and to stay alerted to any exclusive offers and future plans.
The designer for the Axxis, Sean Heumann, says that a life-long love of knife making had him always looking for a "unicorn of blade design." In other words, he searched for a blade that does everything any axe or knife can do, but in a compact package perfect for camping or survival gear.
The answer to this question finally came in the form of the Stone Age hand axes and Native American tomahawks of the historic past. Ancient peoples often used such blades for multi-purpose reasons. One moment they could be used for cutting or preparing big game animals. The next, a handle could be attached, and the blade could then be used as an axe.
Heumann started sketching prototype designs and with his wife's help, eventually came up with the blueprint for the forged knife/axe now known as the Axxis. They moved to Colorado to start Bone Daddy Blade WerX, and are ready to try and make the idea a success.
A very simple design
What the couple came up with is a blast from the past with a modern look. The 7-inch Axxis is made from D2 tool steel with a titanium nitride finish. The blade is 5.3 inches and the weight of the whole thing varies from 14.2-14.6 ounces, meaning it won't weigh down your pack. The blade is 3/8" thick to give it great strength but maintain a sleek and minimal footprint.
Unlike other axes, the Axxis doesn't come with a handle. The idea is that nature will provide one for you.
The Axxis is notched down the middle so you can easily slot the blade onto a stick and secure it with line. The idea of getting rid of the handle was to reduce the amount of weight and space a traditional axe would take up in a pack.
"Unfortunately, when it comes to reducing the weight of survival knives and camp axes, there has been little to no design evolution since the first stone blades and axes emerged on the scene tens of thousands of years ago. That is until the Axxis," the company says.
Contrary to what most might think at first, the holes in the design aren't just to reduce weight. They make great finger holes giving you great leverage and protection for your hands when you're using the blade as a knife. The whole thing is made from one solid piece, so you're utilizing the strength of a full-tang knife.
A very interesting idea
We see a lot of different knives and we have to say, it's an interesting idea to give a modern update to what was already a proven design. The Axxis comes with a sheath and carabiner making for a nice, compact bushcraft or camping package.
After a little digging through their YouTube channel, we found they plan for the first run to be about 1,000 units with possibility for more if demand is high enough. The MRSP will be $169.99, but those who pre-ordered during the Kickstarter campaign will get it for $135 plus shipping and handling costs. There are also going to be pre-order bonus items like T-shirts and bottle openers. The first 200 sold were numbered. Check out their Indie Go Go page for the latest info on how to get one.
There is also the possibility for variant designs in other sizes and made from different steel in the future. See www.bdbladewerx.com for more information.
For more outdoor content from Travis Smola, be sure to follow him on Twitter and check out his Geocaching and Outdoors with Travis Youtube channels.
NEXT: GEAR REVIEW: THE SILVER IUNIO CAMPING AXE AND MULTITOOL
WATCH
