>>1308965>how to use this as safe and whatever as possible?Not using at all would be safest. that length of axe is nice for using on a splitting stump, but crap for using /out. Normally you'd use an longer axe (long enough that the head hits dirt on a missed swing instead of your legs) for splitting and felling and a way shorter axe (about half as long as your forearm) for fine work. Also, synthetic handles suck compared to wooden handles, sine they dampen the shock far less.
Not saying that you can't use that axe (I keep one of similiar length in my Truck for random work, and it hasn't failed me so far), but it'll be way harder than using the proper tools.
If you need to use this style of axe, make sure the leg on the side you hold it with is back so you don't accidentally hit your knee. If possible, use the axe double handed and stand with feet apart. if you're splitting wood, try to set it down somewhere so that the blade will hit something other than you on a missed swing.
If you're delimbing or felling a standing tree, keep the tree between the axe and your front leg.
if you're doing finer work (carving tent pegs for example), grip it right below the head for better control.
Also, make sure the axe is as sharp as possible all the time. a sharp axe will cut with strikes that would glance off with a blunt axe.
And try not to work to much with it at once, or your forearms will start to cramp.
And while I do not know how bad it is on the Gerbers, I'd recommend never swinging the axe in a direction where anybody is standing. At least on the Fiskars axes of that design, there have been cases where the plastic broke and the head flew of (supposedly) without any prior visible damage.
