Axe choice?

[Moab]

I'm 6'3" and looking for about a 3lb ace head with a 32"+ curved handle. 

I can either buy this axe for $85 shipped:

Council Tool SU35J36C 3.5 lb. Jersey Axe Sport Utility Finish - 36" Curved Handle https://a.co/d/eE89bRY

Or this axe. Which is a TruTempur FlintEdge. 3# and 32" handle. $75 shipped. 

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[Moab]

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[Rednex]

I know Council tools was a good tool ( not Gransformer Burks but good), True Temper was an ok brand. If I was buying it would go with the Council tools axe.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I've heard of Council Tool as well as Tru Temper, but I'd probably go with the Council Tool axe as well.

For one, it's brand new and likely comes with a warranty.

[flybynight]

Felling axes?
? Heard good things about this brand also.  It also isn't as good as a Gransfor

https://www.amazon.com/Snow-Nealley-3-5-lbs-Single/dp/B000LG85E6

I know another option is to get a vintage head and re handle and clean up the head. There's a lot of no longer made American axes  very good axe heads

[Beowolf]

Either of those will get done what you likely need to get done. I think the curve on the True Temper is a little extreme, and that head has had some whacks and heavy grinding done. But older True Temper blades should be good steel and on par with the Council Tool you posted.

If you wanted to make a project of it, you can find a good 3/3.5# head one Ebay and a new hickory handle from a reputable vendor for the same price. Then you get to haft it and wield it. But that presumes you want a project...

(I may or may not have five or more very similar heads + handles in various stages of maintenance due to the above attraction to projects.)

[Moab]

Felling axes?
? Heard good things about this brand also.  It also isn't as good as a Gransfor

https://www.amazon.com/Snow-Nealley-3-5-lbs-Single/dp/B000LG85E6

I know another option is to get a vintage head and re handle and clean up the head. There's a lot of no longer made American axes  very good axe heads

The snow healey was another of my choices. I started wanting a boys axe. But decided I needed something longer. I think I'll get the council and then later get a Cold Steel trail Boss just as a hiking or hunting axe. 

[Moab]

Either of those will get done what you likely need to get done. I think the curve on the True Temper is a little extreme, and that head has had some whacks and heavy grinding done. But older True Temper blades should be good steel and on par with the Council Tool you posted.

If you wanted to make a project of it, you can find a good 3/3.5# head one Ebay and a new hickory handle from a reputable vendor for the same price. Then you get to haft it and wield it. But that presumes you want a project...

(I may or may not have five or more very similar heads + handles in various stages of maintenance due to the above attraction to projects.)

Yes. I thought of that. But I need another project like I need another hole in my head. It's really for vehicular bug out or future use. The only wood I split at home has been for our fire pit.

Plus the Council made in US steel seemed as good as any of the axe heads I saw on ebay. But they were alot more expensive. And I didn't want to turn this into a "research every axe head ever made" project. Because thats what it would have turned into.

[flybynight]

It sounds like what you need is a boys axe. . Or even a bush axe or bigger hatchet. Several yrs back I bought a boys axe from Tractor supply.  Just for the reasons you stated.  It's a Truper 28 inch ,2.5# head. And it's done everything I've ever asked of it. I  don't think Tractor supply sell them anymore ( I got mine for 14 bucks pre covid)  

https://www.amazon.com/TRUPER-HB-2-1-4M-Hickory-Handle/dp/B00UY1QH52/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=boys+ax&qid=1679831875&sr=8-8

[Moab]

It sounds like what you need is a boys axe. . Or even a bush axe or bigger hatchet. Several yrs back I bought a boys axe from Tractor supply.  Just for the reasons you stated.  It's a Truper 28 inch ,2.5# head. And it's done everything I've ever asked of it. I  don't think Tractor supply sell them anymore ( I got mine for 14 bucks pre covid) 

https://www.amazon.com/TRUPER-HB-2-1-4M-Hickory-Handle/dp/B00UY1QH52/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=boys+ax&qid=1679831875&sr=8-8

That looks nice. But I'm 6'3". Really looking for a 32"+ handle. The Council Jersey axe seems to fit the bill at 3.5# and 36". A bit heavier. But with the handle size, and my size, I think it will work well. For both felling and chopping. I wish the handle were a bit more curved. But I can live with it.

Its a little more than I wanted to spend. But for US steel I think its worth it. Even just looking at the pics you can tell the steel is much better than the others. Which are all made in either China or Mexico. And few if any describe the actual steel it is made of.

All the Council brand axes spell out specifically what steel they are made of. For $85 I wish I could pick it out in person. For grain and how the heads set. But you can't have it all.

I think all the Councils come without lacquer too. Its called their "sport utility" finish. Alot of reviews on just about every axe complain of handle breakage. But its usually right out of the box. Meaning they took no time to properly treat the handle. It needs to be stripped of all lacquer and soaked with BLO. All these axes sit in storage for who knows how long. Drying out and getting brittle. And few of these guys sound like they've even ever used an axe much. It always breaks on a miss when the handle hits the tree or wood they are trying to split. Amd describing how it broke "right out of the box" tells me they did nothing to treat the handle.

One recipe for treating handles calls for stripping it and soaking it with BLO once a week for the first month. And once a month for the first year. It takes a longtime for boiled linseed oil to soak into wood. I've used it on rifle stocks. And I would think that recipe for an axe handle would much improve its flexability and ability to not crack.

I think later I'll buy the Cold Steel Trail Boss for hiking and hunting. Its a boys axe and much lighter. And gets decent reviews for such a cheap axe.

[flybynight]

It sounds like what you need is a boys axe. . Or even a bush axe or bigger hatchet. Several yrs back I bought a boys axe from Tractor supply.  Just for the reasons you stated.  It's a Truper 28 inch ,2.5# head. And it's done everything I've ever asked of it. I  don't think Tractor supply sell them anymore ( I got mine for 14 bucks pre covid) 

https://www.amazon.com/TRUPER-HB-2-1-4M-Hickory-Handle/dp/B00UY1QH52/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=boys+ax&qid=1679831875&sr=8-8

That looks nice. But I'm 6'3". Really looking for a 32"+ handle. The Council Jersey axe seems to fit the bill at 3.5# and 36". A bit heavier. But with the handle size, and my size, I think it will work well. For both felling and chopping. I wish the handle were a bit more curved. But I can live with it.

Its a little more than I wanted to spend. But for US steel I think its worth it. Even just looking at the pics you can tell the steel is much better than the others. Which are all made in either China or Mexico. And few if any describe the actual steel it is made of.

All the Council brand axes spell out specifically what steel they are made of. For $85 I wish I could pick it out in person. For grain and how the heads set. But you can't have it all.

I think all the Councils come without lacquer too. Its called their "sport utility" finish. Alot of reviews on just about every axe complain of handle breakage. But its usually right out of the box. Meaning they took no time to properly treat the handle. It needs to be stripped of all lacquer and soaked with BLO. All these axes sit in storage for who knows how long. Drying out and getting brittle. And few of these guys sound like they've even ever used an axe much. It always breaks on a miss when the handle hits the tree or wood they are trying to split. Amd describing how it broke "right out of the box" tells me they did nothing to treat the handle.

One recipe for treating handles calls for stripping it and soaking it with BLO once a week for the first month. And once a month for the first year. It takes a longtime for boiled linseed oil to soak into wood. I've used it on rifle stocks. And I would think that recipe for an axe handle would much improve its flexability and ability to not crack.

I think later I'll buy the Cold Steel Trail Boss for hiking and hunting. Its a boys axe and much lighter. And gets decent reviews for such a cheap axe.

Yea that's the point of a boys axe or bush axe . You could fell a tree in a pinch . But it's more suited for hiking, hunting or bushcraft type use . Or to clear a fallen tree from the road while being a bit more compact in truck when not in use. I became enamored of this type of axe watching Joe Robinet videos. He has his Grandmothers axe, which is a old boys axe. Amazing what he was able to do with it. Had to have one.  He also has a old Plumb boys axe that one of his subscribers  restored and gifted him that is a work of art

[Halfapint]

I'm curious, why not look at some double bits on Craigslist, offerup, FB marketplace? I've found dozens of 3-5lb great quality double bits. Even found some older copping axes. Most of the time you're gonna need to rehandle the axe anyways.

I just love me some old double bits. And my favorite chopper was actually and old timers logging axe. He was the grandfather to a coworker. When he died she gave me all
His old axes, cross cut saws, sledgehammer, and splitting wedges. The chopper is an absolute beast.

[Moab]

I'm curious, why not look at some double bits on Craigslist, offerup, FB marketplace? I've found dozens of 3-5lb great quality double bits. Even found some older copping axes. Most of the time you're gonna need to rehandle the axe anyways.

I just love me some old double bits. And my favorite chopper was actually and old timers logging axe. He was the grandfather to a coworker. When he died she gave me all
His old axes, cross cut saws, sledgehammer, and splitting wedges. The chopper is an absolute beast.

I plan too. But I suspect local offerings here in LA are going to be very different from ones in the PNW. Lol.

My father had a large collection of tools. Including a number of axes and hatchets of all types and sizes. Sadly, after his death, my sister made an end run and took everything. His will was very limited. Long story.

I prefer to think of the wealth he left behind as knowledge and wisdom. Of which I am a great benefactor. He was an Indian and a great woodsman, hunter, trapper and fisherman. He passed so much more onto me than some tools. But it does break my heart that that happened. Family is never the same after a big death like that. I wish someone had prepared me for that. 

[tirls]

Double bits are extremely dangerous unless you know what you're doing. And I don't mean felled a tree once or twice.

I've got a Hultafors hatchet. It's absolutely lovely, but apart from it's looks and maybe edge finishing when you get it not any better than the standard axes you get in the shops here.
I usually stick with the brands that the farmers and wood workers here use and then go by what feels right in the hand. Here those brands are Ochsenkopf and Müller. Finnish vintage axes are nice, they have a collared style but need a straighter handle that can be hard to get.

[Moab]

Double bits are extremely dangerous unless you know what you're doing. And I don't mean felled a tree once or twice.

I've got a Hultafors hatchet. It's absolutely lovely, but apart from it's looks and maybe edge finishing when you get it not any better than the standard axes you get in the shops here.
I usually stick with the brands that the farmers and wood workers here use and then go by what feels right in the hand. Here those brands are Ochsenkopf and Müller. Finnish vintage axes are nice, they have a collared style but need a straighter handle that can be hard to get.

Thise are really nice looking axes! You never hear about those discussed.

https://wisementrading.com/wood-working/muller/biber-classic-s-line-axes-mueller/

https://www.shforestrysupplies.com/919-1879812-ochsenkopf-ox-620-h-1257-universal-forestry-axe-27-1-2-handle-with-rotband-plus.html?gclid=CjwKCAjw_YShBhAiEiwAMomsECvkAawopM57OhpaKRMCIRdJ8uqQDLU6rYjKvACmsdTAdLRg3iT5lBoCdiYQAvD_BwE

I'm so sick of hearing amazon axe reviews from guys with handle breakage on the first thing they try to cut. You know they did nothing to treat the wood. And thus probably have no idea how to even swing an axe.

I really like the style of those axes. Thank you for posting that.

[Moab]

This looks really nice.

Muller Beaver Blue Felling, Forest Axe Medium 3lbs (1400g) 0003,14 Made in Austria https://a.co/d/6aaLgwh

[tirls]

This looks really nice.

Muller Beaver Blue Felling, Forest Axe Medium 3lbs (1400g) 0003,14 Made in Austria https://a.co/d/6aaLgwh

That might be the one I have, although the lighter version. I've took down a handful of trees with it so far and can't say anything negative about it. I've got an Ochsenkopf splitting axe that has performed nicely as well.
You could also look into popular brands in your area. 

The typical youtube brands are nice, but you're paying more for its name and looks without any effect on functionality in my opinion. Unless you're looking for a special axe (Hultafors for example has some really nicely shaped carpenter style axes) I just don't think it's worth it.

[Moab]

This may be my new favorite. But I can't find what steel its made of. Their website is very minimal on info.

https://www.zoro.com/ochsenkopf-european-axe-35-lb-ox-209-e-1602/i/G1627418/?origin=saytrecent

Looks oretty nice for $99 and free shipping. I'm assuming the 1602 is an older model of the 1608. And maybe why its in sale. 

[tirls]

https://www.ochsenkopf.com/-/media/files/catalogues/ochsenkopf-catalogue-2022-en.pdf
According to their catalog they use c60 steel. I can't find anything on 1602 vs. 1608, but the 1602 is still up on their homepage.

[Moab]

https://www.ochsenkopf.com/-/media/files/catalogues/ochsenkopf-catalogue-2022-en.pdf
According to their catalog they use c60 steel. I can't find anything on 1602 vs. 1608, but the 1602 is still up on their homepage.

Ya. I just saw that. C60 is what Stihl uses on their professional level axes. Costing more than this ochsenkopf.