Choose a high quality axe

Sharpski

Sharpski

Joined
Jun 10, 2012
Messages
784
Hey all,
I am a long time camper who was using an old felling axe my dad gave to me when I was young. It's unmarked I don't know much about it other than it worked well. It was a decent axe but I am looking to upgrade. It will be my first actual purchase of an hq axe so I was looking for some insight.

It will be mostly used a utility base camp knife. Small to med size trees, delimbing, kindling and some splitting. I would like something with decent weight, an edge in the 3.5-4" plus range, with a handle that is 18-24" in length. It will be used in NY and PA so maple, ash, pine and oak.

I am looking to make an investment here and would like to get an axe that will last me years. I am also from the USA. A few axes I have been interested in are pretty hard to get to the states so just something to consider.

I am pretty open but looking for a high quality piece. I would prefer to hear from people that have owned and tested and used. I have googled suggestions already but really want to hear from people who have used the axe. I appreciate the help but just would like to get some insight from people with experience using the suggested axe. I don't mean any offense. Thanks everyone!
 
In regards to the axes that council makes, many people will say the Council tool velvicut Hudson bay, but I've been researching axes for about a month and I went with the council tools velvicut boys axe. This website http://omahaknife.com/council-tool-axes is the best place to go. They offer free sharpening so your axe can be shaving sharp. I even used a coupon code "wood trekker" and got 10% off. Call omaha knife with any questions. Talk to Curtis, hes such a great guy, he talked to me for 45 minutes (after hours!!!) to help me figure out which axe to get.
 
Council Tool, and the one it's compared to, the Gransfors Bruks Scandinavian forest axe.
http://woodtrekker.blogspot.ca/2011/06/council-tool-boys-axe-review.html
Price range between these two is about 100 bucks, but between these two you can't really go wrong. ( I own a scandi, not the Council, but for new axes they are one of the few American companies making a quality product, these days)
The Council tool Hudson Bay might fit the bill as well. I wish I could get my hands on either of these Council axes.

Newsasquatch, thanks for the link, looks like they will ship to Canada. :)

OK question, what is the difference between the velvicut and the regular axes?
 
Last edited:
I recently received the Velvicut Boys Axe from Omaha Knife. Couldn't find a flaw with it and pleased as can be with the free sharpening service. I'm in Colorado now and will be using it as a camp axe. I bought this one with the knowledge I'll be moving back home to the Adirondacks of NY in about a year where I'll be doing a lot of canoe camping. Colorado is nice but these dang fire bans absolutely ruin camping for me!
 
Thanks for the replies guys. Those are both with my top three through the research I have done. I like the idea of supporting my home country but can't deny that the sweds have been doing it right for a long time and they have a proven formula.

Thanks for the heads up on who to order through. Although I will most likely not take them up on the free sharpening It helps to know who is willing to help you out and go the extra mile on the customer service.

The Gransfor scandi had all but disappear since December so it might come down to availability. Well see I'm still looking.
 
Liam Ryan, I'm not too knowledgable about the specs but I'll let you know what I know. The wedge in the regular Council axes are aluminum, which are said to cause the head to slip at times. The wedge for the velvicut is soft wood but is reinforced by a steel plug of some kind-just like gransfors uses. The grain orientation on the velvicut is perfect to near-perfect, while the regular ones can be pretty bad. Regarding the steel, Square_peg actually said; "The Velvi-cut line is made with 5160. IMO that's better steel than Gransfors-Bruk uses (a 1055-like steel). So it's better steel plus better fit and finish. There's certainly some added value there. Whether it's worth the extra money is up to the individual.But if money's not an issue the Velvi-cut is definitely better."
 
newsasquatch said:
omaha knife also sells gransfors fyi
Click to expand...

Thanks, they are out at the moment like nearly every retailer haha. I talked to a store that actually called g and b and they basically said they are stuck at the docks. They also said they would ship out in march, but the store said they have been telling them that since January.

That is what actually got me looking into other options. The velvicut and a wetterling were among the contenders. I like the generous weight and cutting edge of the council. Talking about cutting edges, does anyone know the measurement of the cutting edge on the council tool Velvicut. I couldn't really find it anywhere.

My other concern about that axe is one more of appearance characteristics in the highly buffed head. It looks good but for a tool that's using the woods shiny would not be my first choice that's just my personal opinion. I much prefer the rougher unfinished look. Anyway I can get over that but something else that I noticed was the actual grind of the cutting edge. In a few close-up pictures of the edge it almost looked like there was a secondary bevel on it (it was convex and then another edge was put on it) Can anyone confirm that? Initially I think I would prefer a more convex right to the edge grind style but then again those things easy enough to change.
 
My Council Tools Velvicut Hudson Bay is 22 1/4" overallm=, with a 4" cutting edge.
Granfors Bruks Small Forest is 19 1/4 overall, with 3 1/4 inch cutting edge.
Granfors Bruks Scandinavian Forest is 25", with a 3 3/4 inch cutting edge
None of them have a visible secondary bevel.

As far as the polish on the Velvicut - it's 5160...it won't stay that way unless you want it to. I have to admit, though, I haven't used mine yet because of the finish - seems a shame to mess it up when I have other axes available.
 
Sharpski said:
In a few close-up pictures of the edge it almost looked like there was a secondary bevel on it (it was convex and then another edge was put on it) Can anyone confirm that? Initially I think I would prefer a more convex right to the edge grind style but then again those things easy enough to change.
Click to expand...

That's what it looks like to me, also. And that would be typical for a axe manufacturer. I would re-sharpen it to suit myself. Or accept Omaha Knife's offer for sharpening. I thought I read on their site somewhere that they grind to the Forest Service gauge so it ought to be a great start at the very least.
 
I neglected to mention that I had Omaha Knives sharpen my Velvicut, so I can't comment on whether it might have had a secondary bevel before that. I do specifically recall him saying that most people weren't satisfied with the stock edge, so it's possible.
 
An 18-24" handle is fairly short for a base camp type axe. Is there any particular reason you want that length. The boy's axes that have been recommended are 28".
 
hhmoore said:
My Council Tools Velvicut Hudson Bay is 22 1/4" overallm=, with a 4" cutting edge.
Granfors Bruks Small Forest is 19 1/4 overall, with 3 1/4 inch cutting edge.
Granfors Bruks Scandinavian Forest is 25", with a 3 3/4 inch cutting edge
None of them have a visible secondary bevel.

As far as the polish on the Velvicut - it's 5160...it won't stay that way unless you want it to. I have to admit, though, I haven't used mine yet because of the finish - seems a shame to mess it up when I have other axes available.
Click to expand...

Nice work on the specs thanks that helps to have them all side by side. Thanks a lot! Yea that is true about the finish I have forced a few patinas and I am usually happy I did!


Square_peg said:
That's what it looks like to me, also. And that would be typical for a axe manufacturer. I would re-sharpen it to suit myself. Or accept Omaha Knife's offer for sharpening. I thought I read on their site somewhere that they grind to the Forest Service gauge so it ought to be a great start at the very least.
Click to expand...

Interesting thought. Maybe I can talk to them and see if they can't grind something I would be more happy with. I feel reasonable comfortable sharpening an axe but re-profiling is another thing. Especially on such an expensive axe! I am sorry but what is the forest service gauge? I am unfamiliar.
 
Sharpski said:
...what is the forest service gauge? I am unfamiliar.
Click to expand...

Photo thanks to moosecreektrails:

axe041_zps917101aa.jpg


Homemade is possible. The design template appears in the Forest Service booklet "An Ax to Grind".
 
My Velvicut Boys Axe is ~27.5" O/A with a 4" cutting edge. Doesn't have a secondary bevel, but like others, mine was sharpened by Omaha Knife between the factory and myself.
 
MrVandercar said:
I recently received the Velvicut Boys Axe from Omaha Knife. Couldn't find a flaw with it...
Click to expand...

Any chance you could post a few pictures? I'd appreciate seeing some some actuals rather than just the usual stock company ones if possible. Thanks!
 
newsasquatch said:
In regards to the axes that council makes, many people will say the Council tool velvicut Hudson bay, but I've been researching axes for about a month and I went with the council tools velvicut boys axe. This website http://omahaknife.com/council-tool-axes is the best place to go. They offer free sharpening so your axe can be shaving sharp. I even used a coupon code "wood trekker" and got 10% off. Call omaha knife with any questions. Talk to Curtis, hes such a great guy, he talked to me for 45 minutes (after hours!!!) to help me figure out which axe to get.
Click to expand...

That is one beautiful Axe!! I need to get one. Thanks for the info about omaha knife, sounds like a great place to do some business. ☺
 
Another option for a top quality axe with great value is just to buy an old one and restore it. Top notch axe heads typically sell at yard sales and estate sales for $10 or less. Many sell on that auction website everyday for less than $20. Clean 'em up, sharpen 'em, hang 'em and you're good to go for less than $40 with an axe that's just as good as anything Gransfors Bruk makes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top