Axe makers......

D

d.weglarz13

Joined
Jun 4, 2008
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Okay guys. Weird question, forgive me if I am clueless. I have really been loving axes lately. I have always been a knife maker, well, not professional yet, but I love it. I love everything about knives. Since I got into axes now, I am just obsessed. So, from MY research, it seems there are a couple companies and makers that mess around with axes, but not many. I see guys making hawks all the time. Im guessing the hawks are more loved by enthusiasts?

Im asking this because there are so many knife makers, and most of them are great at what they do, better than me anyway. So, Im wondering what you guys think about going into making a line of axes.....
It seems other than Council and a couple others, there is a need for more axe makers around here these days. It is almost like axes aren't needed so much anymore, but that can't be true. I can say the same for knifemakers with all the walmart knives everywhere, but it just seems there aren't a lot of guys who still love axes. Well, other than this forum. I could be way off, and maybe there is a huge community of axe users and lovers out there, just like knives, but I have yet to find it.

It seems that if a man wanted a good ol' axe, there aren't a lot of places one can go to buy one, other than a sporting goods store for a SOG hatchet or some crap like Gerber, etc. Im talking quality, like the old companies used to make.

So, what are some other companies or makers that STILL produce QUALITY axes today, other than Council or Barco, or Bestmade? Just real curious, and hey, maybe I can go a different route with my love of steel and edged tools........

thanks for ANY input guys,

dave
 
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Dave,
gransfor Bruks seems to be setting the standard; however, Mike Deibert, a fine knife maker, make a beautiful axe!
 
The market is wide open for a quality axe. For traditional axes as well as those that are made for bushcraft. The workmanship and designs can all be improved on what is being made today. Learn what it is that makes some of the older axes great. I think you are in the right place to ask.
Bestmade buys there heads from Council. Not at all familiar with Barco. I would much rather buy a vintage head than a Council.
I could set down and talk about what makes a great axe or hatchet for hours as many on this board could.
Do it right if you are going to do it. No shortcuts on quality or design. You could have more orders than you could handle I would think.
 
Frm said:
Dave,
gransfor Bruks seems to be setting the standard; however, Mike Deibert, a fine knife maker, make a beautiful axe!
Click to expand...

Gransfors is indeed for the bushcraft crowd. There heads have great balance and are very nice to use. But with just a bit of a high center line they would be even better.
 
The problem is there really isn't a mass market for high quality axes anymore. This is why all the well known big names of the past closed their doors. Even Gransfors' back story is they were going under making plain working axes (they were once one of the more common brands on logging sides around here. I have several of the older ones) so they switched to the fancy boutique models to keep their doors open. Few axes at high prices.
The up side is every flea market in this part of the world has plenty of old axes heads at cheap prices if you don't mind putting a handle on them.
 
+1 for Gransfors. The price is high, but you get what you pay for. They have a very complete line, with axes and edge tools for almost every application. Their American Felling Axe is fairly esteemed, but I and many guys looking to do serious forest work usually look to vintage American bit/cheek profiles.

The super-boutique brands of John Neeman Tools and Autine have recently popped up, but it is quite difficult to get a tool from them. Excellent work, but the demand is extreme right now. I wish we could see an American version of JNT, but truly there are so many good vintage heads out there that I presume the demand is low.

John
 
The prospect of running a trade of reviving old axes has been brought up before, and some people do it fairly lucratively, But the type of people who would use vintage, rehandled axes are the type that would do the work for themselves. When you see an advert for such a rejuvenated axe, you have no idea of the quality of the hang and sharpen. Could be good, could be bad, who knows?

John
 
primeform said:
Do you guys know anything about autine tools?
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Autine made a double bit axe for me 3-4 months ago.... Great to deal with, emailed me quickly & finished the axe in a timely manner even though it was a completely custom order. Highly recommend.
 
KS: How is that axe working for you? Did you get the cruiser or the full length? I enquired about them, but the price was too rich for my blood when there are so many vintage heads around.

John
 
KSV02 said:
Autine made a double bit axe for me 3-4 months ago.... Great to deal with, emailed me quickly & finished the axe in a timely manner even though it was a completely custom order. Highly recommend.
Click to expand...

Pics or it didnt happen! Im hot on his hunters axe and hatchet but havent pulled the trigger yet. Probably need to order them soon if i want them this fall.
 
jpeeler said:
KS: How is that axe working for you? Did you get the cruiser or the full length? I enquired about them, but the price was too rich for my blood when there are so many vintage heads around.

John
Click to expand...

John
I really like the axe, very sharp ,perfect fit & finish. My axe is the full size one . I sent John pictures of Western & Michigan pattern double bit axes and asked him if he would make a 4lb Double bit....The cruiser was his first attempt.
 
primeform said:
Pics or it didnt happen! Im hot on his hunters axe and hatchet but havent pulled the trigger yet. Probably need to order them soon if i want them this fall.
Click to expand...

I can't post pictures at this time, if you go to Autines facebook page about half way down John has pictures of my double bit & also the cruiser he made.
 
Are the cheeks rolled or flat? That's the thing I'm not sure about with these euro axes- I'm used to very rolled cheeks on my heavier bits. Keeps wedging to a minimum. Thanks for the report!
 
Guys, thanks for all the honesty. I don't exactly plan on making axes, but this thread has me thinking a bit now. Get it? A bit?
ok ok, anyways, thanks for the input. I am really loving axes now, and can see where a good modern but of vintage type quality is needed, but yea, not really in high demand I guess. Oh well, gotta check some flea markets!
 
I don't think that forging a tomahawk and forging an ax would be much different. If you were going to make some of the bigger ax heads then a power hammer might be in order. I think the reason for more makers of tomahawks is simply more demand.
 
I think there would be a demand for well made vintage style axes. The market has changed in the last couple years.

And Bo is right, no way to make it pay without a power hammer and probably an industrial belt grinder, too. Induction forge would be nice as well. Get the routine down and make them quickly.
 
Well, got the grinder already and the oven, but have been looking into a power hammer for a while now, even just for making knives, but damn they are expensive. Thanks for the replies.

dave
 
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