The Optimist

The Hudson Bay pattern was never meant to bring down big timber. This is the canoeist's axe, built for traveling light, limbing, splitting kindling, or starting campfires. From put-in to take-out, it's a lifeline in the wilderness and an important piece of history. Since its 17th-century origins, the Hudson Bay pattern has thrived in the northwoods of Canada and the United States. Its slim handle and light head are what made this axe the companion of voyageurs and backwoods guides alike. To hold one is to hold an icon: a fixture on The Grand Portage, The French River, or The Boundary Waters. It's also a remarkably precise tool. The compact head invites a closer grip. A hand choked up under the cutaway cheek makes this tool ideal for the finer work of carving and splitting kindling. The Optimist is forged in limited quantities from American 5160 carbon steel in New Castle, Indiana, hung on a 30-inch Appalachian hickory handle, and secured by a Wickett & Craig leather blade guard. Pre-order has ended. We may have extra inventory in September.