Competition Practice/Work Axes

C

catalytic

Joined
Jul 19, 2011
Messages
95
I do a lot of sustainable forestry in Ontario, and a lot of it involves cleaning overmature 100' tall Jack Pine, spruce, and poplar blowdowns in very rough terrain. I've brought a lot of vintage axes to do this over the years. These axes get a lot of use, and frankly, I'm underwhelmed by the penetration/efficiency I'm getting from them. I think it's time to move up to a competition style axe (4.5-5.5lb) with a practice/work grind tuned to knotty soft pine.

Can you guys give me some input on axe options, sources, and also where and how to have them ground to fly through knotty soft pine but stand up to long workdays? I'm looking at the Arvika 5-star, the Bolstad, and the Keech Timberman, and some vintage racing axes from down under.

Pics of my current workhorse, a ca. 1915 Charleston 5lb Kelly Perfect Jersey. Pics were taken by the seller before I lovingly rehabilitated it:
kellyperfectaxeold2small.jpg
 
You will have as much work getting a Arvika to cut as your axe.Good steel but allot of work to grind.IMOhttp://www.logrolling.org/racingaxes/biography.asp got a David foster work axe from him,He sells timbermans also(both good choices),He will grind it.so its ready to go.Try the email contact,Someone said the phone wasn't working?Been A year since I contacted him.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/525080-Looking-for-racings-axes. Old thread but has same info.

Guy in Canada Alan Boyco(not sure if that's how he spell's It),Sells some axes, not sure what he has,Talked to him at a timber show,sharpens c/cuts and I think he also grinds axes, I don't have his contact info here.Maybe someone does? pm me if you need it?
 
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