Watch: Vintage USFS Axe Training Video

“Good axemanship.” “No swing wasted, and no lost motion.” “Men are not born skilled axemen.” These are some of the credos mentioned in this vintage video, in which we learn about axe selection, how to properly swing an axe, how to take down trees with an axe, how to cut felled logs, how to split even big wood with an axe, and more.

Only a few minutes in, I learned something I didn’t know before; that a double-bitted axe has blades of different thickness. Having never used one, I’d just assumed the two blades were identical.

A [simple but effective] chopping pattern has been suggested… which should eliminate the aimless and dangerous practice of ‘chewing down’ trees.

Good advice.

This picture should stimulate interest in a definite procedure, but always remember this: Although you selected a good axe, which is properly fitted and perfect for good chopping, you are judged by how you handle the axe.

I hope this old educational film is as interesting to you as it is to me. I’ll be looking to try that upward swing for clearing brush.

Russ Chastain

Editor & Contributing Writer Russ Chastain is a lifelong hunter and shooter who has spent his life learning about hunting, shooting, guns, ammunition, gunsmithing, reloading, and bullet casting. He started toting his own gun in the woods at age nine and he's pursued deer with rifles since 1982, so his hunting knowledge has been growing for more than three and a half decades. His desire and ability to share this knowledge with others has also grown, and Russ has been professionally writing and editing original hunting & shooting content since 1998. Russ Chastain has a passion for sharing accurate, honest, interesting hunting & shooting knowledge and stories with people of all skill levels.