Axes

[Optimist]

I'm looking to buy a few axes, but it's been years since I was reading about them.

What I'd like to get is a double bit felling axe and a camp/bushcraft axe of decent quality, plus a tough but inexpensive axe to keep in my car and loan out. (I might get a belt axe for hunting down the road, but it's not as high on my list.)

From what I remember from years ago:
Gransfors Bruks: about the best you can get but very expensive

Wetterlings: Almost as good as Gransfors Bruks, cost less but still expensive (made by the same people as Gransfors Bruks IIRC)

Council Tool: Good affordable axes. There less expensive models are not as nice as the above two but still quality.

Fiskars: Affordable, but I remember a lot of people on the past not being thrilled with the axe heads.

Estwing: Tough and cheap, but heavy and beats you up to use long-term

Snow & Neally: Used to be the go-to for a lot of people, but then switched production to China and a lot of people became unhappy with the quality (looks like they might have moved back to North America recently?).

One downside I have is that I'm mostly stuck ordering online, which means that I can't check handle grain. The only brand that I've heard never has a bad handle is Gransfors Bruks, but I don't think that necessarily justifies the cost when replacement handles can be bought.

I'm leaning towards Council Tool for being decent but still affordable. Specifically I'm looking at their Michigan double-bit axe and their Boy's axe. I've heard that their overall quality is good, but the aluminum wedges they use are frustrating, they coat the handles in a lacquer most people want to sand off and sometimes they have a handle with bad grain.

Any recommendations or other makes/models I should be looking at?

[NT2C]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixiyceu72Fg


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-HGWj-Z--k

[flybynight]

I'm looking to buy a few axes, but it's been years since I was reading about them.

What I'd like to get is a double bit felling axe and a camp/bushcraft axe of decent quality, plus a tough but inexpensive axe to keep in my car and loan out. (I might get a belt axe for hunting down the road, but it's not as high on my list.)

From what I remember from years ago:
Gransfors Bruks: about the best you can get but very expensive

Wetterlings: Almost as good as Gransfors Bruks, cost less but still expensive (made by the same people as Gransfors Bruks IIRC)

Council Tool: Good affordable axes. There less expensive models are not as nice as the above two but still quality.

Fiskars: Affordable, but I remember a lot of people on the past not being thrilled with the axe heads.

Estwing: Tough and cheap, but heavy and beats you up to use long-term

Snow & Neally: Used to be the go-to for a lot of people, but then switched production to China and a lot of people became unhappy with the quality (looks like they might have moved back to North America recently?).

One downside I have is that I'm mostly stuck ordering online, which means that I can't check handle grain. The only brand that I've heard never has a bad handle is Gransfors Bruks, but I don't think that necessarily justifies the cost when replacement handles can be bought.

I'm leaning towards Council Tool for being decent but still affordable. Specifically I'm looking at their Michigan double-bit axe and their Boy's axe. I've heard that their overall quality is good, but the aluminum wedges they use are frustrating, they coat the handles in a lacquer most people want to sand off and sometimes they have a handle with bad grain.

Any recommendations or other makes/models I should be looking at?

You about cover it . All I can advise would be to haunt the thrift stores/Ebay for a vintage axe head  from a American company from when they made quality axe heads. And then refurbish and re handle it.
   You know ( not that I own one ) , but the price of a Gransfor is no more than what some people pay for a knife. Just saying
   Also to add to what Nt2c posted, I bought a HF fire mans hatchet, ground off the pick. Removed the red paint, forced a patina and recoated the handle with lin seed oil. There's several YT vids detailing this  repurposing.


https://youtu.be/JCFw4bMWGwM

[woodsghost]

For brands, Hults Bruk and Husqvarna are also worth looking at. Condor has some options.

But to be dead serious, I'm on the Council Tool train. I have the Boys Axe and love it. I busted my first handle about 2 weeks after getting the axe. I was cutting up a fallen tree about 16 inches across. (I've made better life decisions before). I figured the handle was on borrowed time because I felt the axe head was not mated well to the handle.

I bought a replacement at the local hardware store and then bought another spare replacement handle from Council Tool. But the current handle has been good for about 10 years. The spare handle still sits in the box it shipped in.

When the first handle busted, I took a file to the shoulder of the metal along the eye and made it a more rounded transition. I did some reprofiling of the edge to sute my needs and wood. I absolutely love that axe. Currently I'm bummed because I smashed it into some gravel and I need to redo the edge.

The original handle seemed like it had too much material and a big machine just smashed the head onto the handle. So that was my experience.

Estwing .... I don't care for their geometry and when the handle goes bad, the rest of the tool is limited in utility. I know people who like them, but they are not my first choice.

I love my Wetterlings and wish I had more.

The best "value" option in my opinion is Council Tool. But if you want to spring for Wetterlings or GB, or... it looks like Hults Bruk is in that same tier?...then go for it! Also  Council Tool has some really premium options I'd like to play with.

[NT2C]

Estwing .... I don't care for their geometry and when the handle goes bad, the rest of the tool is limited in utility. I know people who like them, but they are not my first choice.

The stacked leather handle Estwing Carpenter Hatchet was the main camp ax of my youth and young adulthood.  Split kindling and firewood like nobody's business, could take down a good-sized tree in a pinch, hammer head was easier to use for tent stakes and the like, really, it just worked for us.  My younger brother inherited it after dad passed and will not give it up for love or money so I had to buy a new one.  The new one and the 50+ year old one are identical except for wear.

[Optimist]

Thanks for all the replies.

I'll definitely have to check out Harbor Freight. Looks like it could be the perfect car/loaner axe and would probably be a good hunting axe as well.

Even though I can afford to get high-end stuff these days (within reason), over the years I've grown to appreciate having multiple good-but-inexpensive tools.

I'll check out Hults Bruk and Husqvarna as well.

[PistolPete]

For lots of use I prefer an axe with a wood or poly handle.  The Estwing with it's one piece construction transfers more shock to the arms when in use and tends to wear me out faster.

[The Twizzler]

I would give Condor a chance. I have a hatchet from them that is sharp, properly angled, and affordable. They come from El Salvador but the quality is actually really good. I also own a Fiskars axe and hatchet. They won't tell you what steel it's made from but in my experience it's quite soft. The handles are polyurethane and will last forever and also you don't need to worry about breaking the haft. You will need to sharpen them with a file a lot though and the angle from the factory isn't that great. Just my 2 cents

[Optimist]

I saw that Condor and Cold Steel were pretty inexpensive. I might get one of each to test them out.

[woodsghost]

I saw that Condor and Cold Steel were pretty inexpensive. I might get one of each to test them out.

In my experience, cheaper tools have edges which require some attention and profiling with a file before use. It's never been a problem for me. Other people I've read say "I'm paying for a tool which is perfect out of the box so I don't have to spend my time fixing it up and making it perfect. I want it perfect when I buy it." So consider if you have a little time to fix up a tool or if you want it perfect out of the box.

[rlail]

I like something along the lines of a walking axe.....something like a Danish bearded axe, or a Sparth.........wonder how one of these weapon type axes would work for utility tasks?

[woodsghost]

I like something along the lines of a walking axe.....something like a Danish bearded axe, or a Sparth.........wonder how one of these weapon type axes would work for utility tasks?

Everything I've heard is weapon type axes are light weight and fast, so they are funtional but don't bite as deep. They have thinner heads too so not as optimized for throwing wood chips.

Basically, similar to tomahawks, which I have a decent amount of experience with. Tomahawks rely on speed to do their work.

If it works, keep using it. If you have experience with tomahawks or with fighting axes and you are happy with the performance, then rock on and don't let anyone else's opinions matter to you. But if you feel they are not meeting your needs, a more traditional wood axe may be something to try.

[superduder]

I'm still using my $12 (1.25lb) tractor supply Truper hatchet... with the head swapped onto a 28" boys axe handle.
Or my trail hawk, it takes a bit longer due to taking smaller bites, but it cuts well.
this is just what works for me.

[NapalmMan67]

Estwing Campers axe with the long handle (26") has been a great tool for me for years.

Good price on them here imo.   https://www.ruralking.com/estwing-26-all-steel-camper-s-axe-e45a?rkgfblink=no&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_ceZxuuR9gIVdSs4Ch3qXgEVEAQYAyABEgI93_D_BwE


.

[Ghost]

Hatchets can really vary. But not as expensive so easier to have a few.

What I'm looking to upgrade is my axe and settling on:
https://youtu.be/jNV66gwfY-0

Price is steep but the above is a very good review and it seems to earn high marks elsewhere.

[Moab]

I've always read great reviews about the Husquvarna Forest axe. It was said to be made from the same steel plant as Granfurs. Last I looked i found one for $65. Those days are gone as are the Husquvarna forest axe i believe. I think its been replaced by their multi ourpose axe. 

I found it for $54. It added to my cart. But i did not go as far as shipping. They do use Paypal. So you'd be protected. Seems like an excellent price.

https://www.globalmowersdepot.com/husqvarna-traditional-multi-purpose-axe-576926201/

I could only find the forest axe on ebay for like $200. You can still read the reviews. It was thought of very highly. I have not read any reviews about the multi purpose axe. Or if its just a rename. 

[Blast]

A while ago I stumbled onto the Harbor Freight axe videos and it made me want one...but none of the four HFs around me have had them in stock for almost a year now. Houston has a lot of bushcrafters, so I'm going to blame them for the shortage. Lol
-Blast

[Ghost]

Hatchets can really vary. But not as expensive so easier to have a few.

What I'm looking to upgrade is my axe and settling on:
https://youtu.be/jNV66gwfY-0

Price is steep but the above is a very good review and it seems to earn high marks elsewhere.

Pulled the trigger as I wanted this bad and got one off Amazon. Its veerrrrrryyy nice. Used it camping and it chopped through anything thrown at it.

[EBuff75]

Pulled the trigger as I wanted this bad and got one off Amazon. Its veerrrrrryyy nice. Used it camping and it chopped through anything thrown at it.

Which one did you get?  (seeing that they have a whole lineup with similar names)

[Ghost]

Pulled the trigger as I wanted this bad and got one off Amazon. Its veerrrrrryyy nice. Used it camping and it chopped through anything thrown at it.

Which one did you get?  (seeing that they have a whole lineup with similar names)

This one: https://clutchaxes.com/hultafors-classic-hunting-axe-review/