After deciding that I wanted a new splitting axe, I did some research and settled on the compact yet versatile Fiskars X17. Although it’s not quite heavy enough to split huge chunks of red gum, it’s light enough to make easy work of peppermint gum and other lighter Eucalypts, and is a great camping axe. So… thinking I’d give Bunnings one last chance, I went and checked out their range – I was greeted with a motley collection of junk from China, some Cylones, and a few ridiculously expensive Fiskars. I walked out, kicking myself on the way, and went online as soon as I got home. I ended up buying a Fiskars X17 splitting axe from the USA for a total of $51 Australian dollars including shipping, around $30 less than Bunnings would sell it for, if they had it in stock. It took 4 working days to arrive, delivered to my door. No wonder retail in Australia is dying.
I’ve had my X17 for nearly 2 weeks now, and it’s a ripper. It’s an ideal camping and general purpose axe, and is easily light enough to be used as hatchet. I’m now very tempted to buy one of the Fiskars monster X27 Super Splitters.
