Rigs for carrying axes and machetes
When I go trail-clearing I generally carry two machetes and a felling ax, but I haven't found a practical way to sling them so I can work with one without taking off the other tools. The machetes have cordura sheathes with loops, and the ax has a leather bit sheath with a loop.
I have this feeling that people who do this for a living must have clever carrying rigs or slinging techniques so they don't have to drop everything whenever they need to take a whack at something. Are there any ways to carry or rig tools like this so:
- They can be drawn straight out of their sheath, put to work, and returned to their sheath without doffing the sheath (or rig, or harness, or whatever is recommended for slinging them)?
- The slung tools don't inhibit the free swing of any others?
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How about using a couple frogs on your belt. The type of frog I suggest is similar to a bayonet frog. It's usually a piece of leather looped around your belt with a holder for a tool. In the case of a bayonet frog that tool is obviously a bayonet. But why can't it be an axe or machete?
The disadvantage to this is that the axe handle will hang down by your legs and may interfere with walking. Though, frogs were used for centuries to effectively carry swords and rapiers.
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From my experience fighting wildland fires, the number of clearing tools and the number of people in the group are usually the same. If you need more tools than you have people to operate, you need more people.
Wildland fire fighting is mostly about building fire breaks (trails) faster then the fire is moving. Each tool has a place in the line, the person operating that tool may change but the tool, keeps its position (for the most part).
In your example the machete would be first, the ax second. Some work is more exhausting then other work, so the person operating the tool may change, but the machete is always going to be making room for the ax operator to follow and have room to swing the ax.
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In reference to my comment above i made this drawing.
The comment:
What if you made a backpack only to be used for this, the ax could either go in the main part if you made a supportive frame or hang off your belt, the two machetes could be stowed in PVC tubes you attach on either side of the backpack. The tricky part would be making the pack have a supportive frame, and old hiking pack may be able to be customized to do so. Alternatively you could place a small bucket in the bag to give it shape and make it more sturdy. Other than that id go two custom slings for the machetes on your back deadpool style lol machetes can be used one handed while you hold ax
Alternatively, you could only do the machete tube portion and keep the axe on a loop off of you belt as it wouldn't interfere with swinging a machete to greatly. A little crazy, a little out there, but it could work with a little trial and error. With a large PVC tube you could easily return them without having to feel for a sheath with a little practice. And you'd look like a bad ass :P
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