Axe choice?

[Moab]

So now its down to these two.

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

Council Tool SU35J36C 3.5 lb. Jersey Axe Sport Utility Finish - 36" Curved Handle https://a.co/d/9FbWCqe

C60 appears to be the same as 1060. So both are made of the same steel. I guess it comes down to head style and the handle. I like the more curve of the Ochsenkopf. It also looks like it would be better for felling. And the Council better for splitting. But thats just based on width. I've only ever used a michigan(?) style axe like the Council. So these are uneducated guesses. The gransfor bruks is the eu style tho. Amd seems to get high ratings in every category.

Anyone have opinions on these two axes?

[EBuff75]

I'm still using a cheap Ludell 3.5lb axe that I bought years ago when I was a new homeowner.  It needs to be sharpened regularly (and is due again), but it's worked pretty well for the relatively limited use that it gets.  I keep lusting after various "heirloom quality" axes, but I haven't been able to convince myself that they're really worth getting, given that I live in suburbia! 

Here's my old cheapie:

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[flybynight]

So now its down to these two.

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

Council Tool SU35J36C 3.5 lb. Jersey Axe Sport Utility Finish - 36" Curved Handle https://a.co/d/9FbWCqe

C60 appears to be the same as 1060. So both are made of the same steel. I guess it comes down to head style and the handle. I like the more curve of the Ochsenkopf. It also looks like it would be better for felling. And the Council better for splitting. But thats just based on width. I've only ever used a michigan(?) style axe like the Council. So these are uneducated guesses. The gransfor bruks is the eu style tho. Amd seems to get high ratings in every category.

Anyone have opinions on these two axes?

I'm not an experienced wood cutter by any means. But I like the lines of the European axe

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I'm not going to be much help either considering the only axe I own is a cheapo from Tractor Supply.

ETA: I take that back, I've got another double bit axe that my oldest nephew found, cleaned up as best he could and then painted in order to keep it from rusting.

I had to replace the handle (and I probably did a poor job on that I will admit) and it definitely could use a good sharpening now.

[Moab]

I just got a $10 off email from Paypal for the site that is selling the EU style one. That takes it down to $80 plus tax - shipped. Not bad. 

[Beowolf]

The European one does look nice.

For your purposes, I saw go with what looks good. Personally, I would likely go Council Tool, but I'm boring. Though I'm not an aesthetic fan of the Jersey head.

Do it. Do it now. 

[Moab]

So I was trying to decide between the:

OCHSENKOPF

European Axe, 3.5 lb. 32 inch handle.

Zoro #: G1627418

Mfr #: OX 209 E-1602

[url unfurl="true"]https://www.zoro.com/ochsenkopf-european-axe-35-lb-ox-209-e-1602/i/G1627418/[/url]

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And the Council Tools Jersey axe. 3.5lb 36 inch handle.

Council Tool SU35J36C 3.5 lb. Jersey Axe Sport Utility Finish - 36" Curved Handle https://a.co/d/31fKtMr

You cannot view this attachment.

I ended up going with the Ochsenkopf. As I got it onsale for around $81 shipped. Zoro offered a 15% discount and free shipping. And paypal offered 6% cashback. Which is the same price for the Council Tool.

My only concern was that I gave up 4 inches in handle with the Ochsenkopf. The Ochsenkopf is 32" and the Council is 36".

I have never used a European style axe head. But as it is closer to the Gransford Bruk type head. And that seeming to be the gold standard. I thought I would give it a try.

Do any of you know the differences in the European vs the American axe head in use?

I mean beyond the obvious shape difference. The EU looks like it might cut deeper. With its thinner blade. And maybe the Council would be better at splitting with its wider blade? But again, I have only ever used a standard more American style axe head.

(The Ochsenkopf is from Austria. I'm told its more of a German style head.)

[flybynight]

Didn't know if I should answer you here or on Bushcraft. But since I only lurk there...


https://youtu.be/zJS9TI_KkLs

[Moab]

Didn't know if I should answer you here or on Bushcraft. But since I only lurk there...


https://youtu.be/zJS9TI_KkLs

Thank you. Just what I was looking for.

Ya. I ask more bushcraft questions over there too. Woodswalker used to be on there alot. 

[Moab]

Didn't know if I should answer you here or on Bushcraft. But since I only lurk there...


https://youtu.be/zJS9TI_KkLs

Thank you. Just what I was looking for.

Ya. I ask more bushcraft questions over there too. Woodswalker used to be on there alot.

That was a great video. I'm very glad I bought the EU type head and not the American. Seems alot more versatile. Council does make a nice bushcraft axe with a eu head. I may keep an out for one of those as well. 

[flybynight]

Didn't know if I should answer you here or on Bushcraft. But since I only lurk there...


https://youtu.be/zJS9TI_KkLs

Thank you. Just what I was looking for.
BUT ACTUALLY Ya. I ask more bushcraft questions over there too. Woodswalker used to be on there alot.

Have lurked there forever. Drifted away about ten years back, but came back after woodswalker died just to read his stuff there

[Moab]

Didn't know if I should answer you here or on Bushcraft. But since I only lurk there...


https://youtu.be/zJS9TI_KkLs

Thank you. Just what I was looking for.
BUT ACTUALLY Ya. I ask more bushcraft questions over there too. Woodswalker used to be on there alot.

Have lurked there forever. Drifted away about ten years back, but came back after woodswalker died just to read his stuff there

There are some very specialized guys over there. That know a sh*tload about very specific things. There are a couple guys that are axe aficionados. That have owned or own hundreds of axes. Attend national axe get togethers. And write extensively on the subject. (Not to mention a ton of other guys, like woodswalker was on firestarting, that specialize in the most specific of topics.)

One of the axe guys has convinced me to change my mind about the axe I chose. I put in a cancellation this morning. And am probably going to get the Council Tools Jersey axe instead. He also suggested putting a 32" handle on it. It comes with a 36". The axe guy thinks 32" is the sweet spot. But made no mention of height or arm length.

But I'm 6'3" so I'm going to use it for awhile before deciding to change anything. Council Tool also uses a very sophisticated and effective means of mounting the head. Which can't be replicated at home. Not that you can't replace the handle yourself. But still. If I like the stock handle I'll be keeping it. 

They dry the handle out to less than 10% moisture. Then use some type of hydraulic or pressure mechanism to mount the head on the handle. Iirc they also reenforce it with two of those round metal stays. Or whatever they are called.

His claim was that the CT would be better at cutting and even finer tasks than the Ochsenkopf. And that the handle on the Ochsenkopf was terribly thick. And would need replacing.

That and the information in the video you posted, about head geometry, and how it effects pressure on the handle. Convinced me to change my mind. EU type heads have a tendency to loosen. As the blade is not in direct line with the handle. I know the same type of head on the gransford bruk is like the gold standard in bushcraft. But I think I will get that type of head in a hatchett. For those purposes. And keep the CT for felling and more general duties. 

I also prefer the "sport utility" finish on the CT. Meaning it is bare of all paint or clear coat. So its ready to accept oil. No need to strip all the paint and varnish. The Ochsenkopf comes covered in both. And they spent a fair bit painting it almost two tone with yellow on parts of the blade and handle. I would love to see it stripped. Its probably an even more beautiful axe stripped to bare metal and wood.

I learned alot from that video about the differences in US and EU logging too. With much more finite supply of trees in EU. They typically chopped them at ground level. Instead of waist high or about is comfortable making a normal swing. So US loggers had the luxury of cutting into clean unknotted wood.  Whereas the EU logger typically was chopping at the ground/upper root level. (Watching those old clips of that made my back hurt. What a PITA!) Which required a different blade. EU loggers also did their own felling and limbing. Whereas US loggers were often split between fellers and less skilled limbing workers. Both using different axes.

I was really torn between the two axes. Even when I made my purchase. Sort of impulse buying when that sale came along too. But I found the CT cheaper as well. So I'll probably oick it up as soon as the other return is settled.