From Trailblazers to Traditions: The Role of Axes and Saws in Canada's Story

Axes and saws have shaped Canada—literally and symbolically. From the first peoples who walked this land to settlers and homesteaders, from log drives to modern backwoods camps, these tools have built homes, kindled fires, and opened trails through the wilderness. In a country of forests and long winters, Canadian axes and Canadian bucksaws have been among our most trusted companions.

Long before European contact, Indigenous peoples across what is now Canada used a variety of tools - adzes, grooved stone axes, beaver-tooth knives (lesser so), and the distinctive crooked knife (mocotaugan)—to harvest wood, hollow out canoes, and build shelters. The crooked knife, used with a pulling action, was highly adaptable and remains a staple in bushcraft circles today. These tools not only demonstrated expert knowledge of local materials but later shaped the way European traders and settlers interacted with the land and crafted their own tools—laying the groundwork for what would become iconic Canadian axe brands and patterns.

Among the most enduring axe designs in Canada is the Hudson Bay pattern axe, made popular in the early 18th century by the Hudson’s Bay Company. While its exact origin is debated, it was widely used for trade with Indigenous communities and for use by voyageurs, trappers, and explorers. The Hudson Bay axe was compact, easy to carry, and ideal for wilderness travel. Its wide bit and balanced head made it perfect for camp tasks, kindling, and light felling—a trusted tool in the northern forest and still a favourite among modern users of handmade axes in Canada.

Esker, a proudly Canadian outdoor company, takes direct inspiration from this traditional pattern—building for the modern wilderness while honouring a legacy forged in the heart of Canadian history.

With settlement came the need to clear land, build homes, and heat them through long winters. Settlers relied on felling axes, broad axes, and crosscut saws, while rural families prized the bucksaw for its portability and efficiency. Paired with a sawbuck and used by the woodpile, the Canadian bucksaw turned long days of cutting into firewood for the cold months ahead.

In many communities, wood bees—gatherings where neighbours helped each other saw and split winter firewood—were as much about solidarity as survival. The rhythmic rasp of a bucksaw through frozen logs was the sound of Canadian winters being prepared for.

From the late 1800s to the mid-20th century, Canada had a vibrant toolmaking industry that produced high-quality, made in Canada axes and saws:

• Kelly Axe & Tool Works (Beaver Brand) – Galt, Ontario; makers of felling and rafting axes
• Welland Vale Mfg. Co. – Welland, Ontario; produced axes and hatchets for both domestic and U.S. markets
• Canadian Axe & Tool Co. – St. Catharines, Ontario; known for their durable double-bit axes
• Disston Canada – Toronto and Hamilton; produced two-man crosscut saws and bucking saws
• E.C. Atkins of Canada – Hamilton, Ontario; specialists in professional-grade saws for forestry

These tools built barns, bridges, railroads, and entire towns. But by the 1980s, Canada’s axe and saw industry had all but disappeared—outcompeted by imports and eclipsed by mechanized tools. The once-flourishing Canadian axe brandlegacy was nearly lost.

At Esker, we’re proud to help restore the heritage of traditional Canadian axes and saws. Our axe heads are hand-forged, shaped with care and precision in the spirit of the old makers—representing a new chapter in handmade axes Canada can be proud of. We pair these with rugged, Canadian-made leatherwork—riveted, double-stitched masks and sheaths that protect your tools for years of hard use.

For our Canadian bucksaws, we source local hardwoods—cherry, walnut, and hickory—carefully chosen for strength, flexibility, and warmth in the hand. Each saw is handcrafted for durability and performance, tuned for clean, smooth cuts whether you're in the backcountry or working the woodpile.

We’re not just making tools—we’re carrying forward a legacy of self-reliance, respect for craftsmanship, and connection to the land. Tools built for the realities of northern life—by a Canadian outdoor company that understands what that means.

Axes and saws built this country. With Esker, they still do—quietly, dependably, and with a story in every swing.