Outland Equipment Multi-Mission Axe 1901 Review
July 20, 2015
96 The Good
- Weight to size ratio
- Bent shaft for chopping
- Easy to carry
The Bad
- Expensive
- Handle scale loosened (easy fix)
Right off the bat, some people will be freaked out by the close to $500 price tag—but the caliber of this tool makes this a fair price. There are other hatchets on the market going for just as much (or more), but are cast instead of machined. A machined tool has less chance of cracking than a cast one (I welcome your arguments on this because it’s admittedly subjective). The addition of the hammer and pry bar make the MMA a universal soldier, that is easy to use, easy to carry and a no-brainer to rely on.
CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS
It’s obvious that Outland Equipment spent a lot of time in R&D before they released their multi-function, Multi-Mission Axe to the masses. From the shaping and overall design of the single piece S7 steel to the shaping, texture, and design of the G10 handle scales, this bad boy was designed to be used by anyone.
EASE OF USE
I usually like to go with something that is as compact as possible but in the case of the Multi-Mission axe, I opted for the 19” version over the 15” version when balancing the minimal addition of bulk (7oz.) to the 4” of leverage and reach I could get with the larger size. In chopping, splitting, prying, and hammering the MMA proved to be a joy to work with due to the bent shaft handle and an uncanny balance. I would recommend it for anyone homesteading, or setting up a significant shelter as its all-in-one design really shines in that setting. I would also suggest using gloves if you’re putting in heavy work, as textured G-10 can be torture on your hands.
EASE OF TRANSPORT/CARRY
Tools like the MMA are generally bulky and a pain to carry in comparison to a smaller camp axe or even a machete, but Outland Equipment has that covered with two different sheath options: a simple blade cover and a modular sheath. The modular sheath covers the whole head except the hammer and has multiple lashing points with different hole patterns if you want to attach it to any other mounting accessories.
STEEL QUALITY/EDGE RETENTION
When you choose S7 steel for a tool that will be used to chop, slice, split, pry, and hammer, you’re putting yourself ahead of the competition by miles. S7 is a shock resistant steel that hardens up to HRC 58 allowing it to take some serious trauma, but also sharpens up quite nicely and keeps an edge for an extended period of time. S7 is fairly corrosion resistant, but the addition of the Cerakote here aids in the MMA’s preservation.
DURABILITY
The Multi-Mission Axe is durable and reliable. I dropped a tree and then bisected it all in about three hours using the MMA, and the only issue was when, after the tree fell, I didn’t go back and tighten the handle scales—that’s a rookie move on my part but it could have been avoided with some Loctite.
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