Quirky, Not Gimmicky: Zippo ‘AxeSaw’ Makes a Great All-in-One Camp Tool

There are points throughout the year when half my time is hiking just to clear obstructed trails. From clearing winter storm damage in spring, to maintaining and managing downed trees and brush following intense, pop-up thunderstorms in summer, there’s little downtime.

The best way to attach these chores is to use both an axe and a saw (chainsaws aren’t an option when power equipment in a state forest becomes political). A few years back, Zippo released an outdoor AxeSaw. Basically, if a hatchet and a bow saw had a baby, this would be it: a hatchet with a saw blade stored in its handle. It can convert to a saw without the need for extra parts, tools, or anything that would make the transformation cumbersome.

I’ve been using the AxeSaw since early spring. Though it has the quirks that might keep it from becoming the one true tool for daily work, it has enough utility for folks doing yard maintenance or light trail work. It’s a single tool that provides multiple solutions at a fraction of the cost, and takes up less space.

In short: If you’re looking for an excellent hatchet that can moonlight as a bow saw and a mallet, then the Zippo AxeSaw might be right for you. It pairs well with car camping, nights out by the fire, yard clean-up, trail maintenance, and costs a fraction of buying all three tools on their own.

Zippo AxeSaw Review

Design & Features

The intent behind the AxeSaw is to be the one tool you need to set up camp and enjoy a few nights out by the fire. It’s a hatchet, bow saw, and mallet all in one, allowing you to go from hammering in tent stakes to collecting and splitting firewood with minimal effort.

With an overall length of 20 inches and sporting a 420 stainless steel head with a 4.5-inch bit, the AxeSaw lives in the sweet spot of what I want in a hatchet for length and weight. The name of the game with hatchets is balance, and even with its hollow handle designed to hold the saw blade, the AxeSaw has great balance.

That said, it’s a very non-traditional hatchet. Instead of its head being made from a thick chunk of steel, it’s made from a ¼-inch piece of plate steel that has been cut and shaped. This keeps the overall weight down and plays into the balance.

The hinged, plastic-molded sheath plays an equally important dual role for the AxeSaw. It is not only the sheath that covers the hatchet head during transportation, but it is also the handle of the saw. This is an innovative idea that lets you switch from hatchet to bow saw quickly and conveniently.

As I said, the 15-inch saw blade stores in the handle of the AxeSaw when not in use. Zippo refers to it only as “Hardened Stainless Steel.” However, I would add to that “with a seriously aggressive tooth pattern.” This tracks as the bit on the hatchet is as sharp as a brand-new belt knife blade. No doubt that will aid in shaping and splitting wood.

First Impressions

I really liked what Zippo did here with the AxeSaw the moment I saw it. From the overmolding on the sheath that aids in your grip when you’re in bow saw mode to the overall size and shape of the hatchet head, this looked the part all the way around.

When it arrived, I was impressed by how light it was. Yes, the handle is hollow, but it is reinforced, so it can house the saw blade without its durability being compromised. Either way, I am used to hatchets and axes being bulky. The AxeSaw is not bulky at all. It’s streamlined, in all the right ways. However, there is a bit of a sacrifice, and it’s in the sheath.

I won’t ever claim to have big hands or long fingers, but after 45 years of using them to do a lot of things successfully, I can happily say I rarely struggle with getting a good grip on most things. The sheath on the AxeSaw curves out significantly to have enough room to cover the hatchet head, but when you use it as the saw handle, it’s a little too much. Yes, the rubber overmolding compensates for the inability to wrap my hands around it more, but I’m wondering how that will transfer over when I am sawing.

Overall, though, I am impressed with the design and build. I think Zippo did a really fine job of making a multitool out of the AxeSaw.

In the Field

I’ll start by saying that both the hatchet and the saw are very effective. However, my suspicions were correct — the size of the sheath when being used as a saw handle kept my hand open more than I’m used to with a traditional bow saw.

I didn’t get fatigued from using it, but I did find myself adjusting my grip quite a bit, which slowed me down in sawing through some of the larger limbs I encountered. Still, the hatchet is effective. I like a little bit more of a duller blade on dry wood, but for wet, fresh wood, the sharper the better.

As a hatchet, the AxeSaw performs like a machete, but with more power and control behind it. 420 stainless is a decent steel that holds a good edge, so I don’t mind going on record and saying this has been an incredible chopping and splitting tool for both green and dead wood. To say a little effort goes a long way with the AxeSaw in hatchet mode is an understatement.

Regarding the mallet: As long as you stick to tent pegs, wooden garden stakes, and the like, you won’t run into any issues. Just. Don’t. Miss. I hit a rock in my yard when I was setting up stakes and buggered up the plastic coating. It’s still functional, but it’s also noticeable.

Conclusion: Who’s It For?

If you regard the AxeSaw as primarily a hatchet with the ability to be a saw and a mallet, then you’ve got yourself a very useful tool for $110. However, if you come at the AxeSaw believing it is going to be the best of the best in all three categories, that’s just not the case.

Overall, I like it. In fact, I like it a lot for campsites, and when I’m in the yard and don’t feel like dragging a bunch of tools around or walking down to the shed when I need something different. It’s also proven to be a champ when I’m out scouting for firewood for the firepit. Living in the woods has many advantages, most of which revolve around trees. It’s not something I would use professionally, but it wasn’t designed for that anyway.

So, if you’re into car camping or if you have a yard or trails that need constant grooming, the Zippo AxeSaw is going to check off a lot of boxes. Even my cheapest hatchet is more expensive than this tool, and the AxeSaw hatchet is way better. If you’ve got big mitts for hands, the saw handle might be a non-issue for you as well. Big picture, it’s affordable and effective.