Council Tool Axes?

matthewdanger

matthewdanger

Joined
Jan 29, 2003
Messages
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I have always preferred the strength of a straight handle but finding axes with straight handles has been difficult. This morning I came across a company that I have never heard of before and I thought I would see if anyone here has experience with them.

Coucil Tool makes several straght handled axes, some of which look very nice. I am looking specifically at the straight jersey axe. http://www.redhillgeneralstore.com/axe.htm

Does anyone have any experience with these?

Thanks,
Matt
 
Fiskars makes straight handled axes, and people seem to like them a lot, I cant get past the plastic handles though.
 
Thanks for the response. I have a couple of Fiskars and with a little work they can be decent axes. But like you said, I prefer wood handles.

Anyone familiar with Council Tool?
 
Council Tool makes some fine axes. They have been the main supplier of axes to fire departments and the Forest Service for several decades. They just aren't real well known because they have never focused on consumer sales until recently.

When you read the heat treat specs on their site they say they harden from 48-55 RC this does not mean they have that wide a range of hardness but that they harden their heads RC 48 on the poll and cheeks with 55RC on the bit 1 1/2 inch from the edge. They take and hold a very good edge.

The company is also very responsive and open to customer feedback and takes care of any quality issues.

I have one of their axes and am purchasing another.

They have re cently introduced their Velvicut line to compete with Gransfors and those axes are made from 5160 which is an even better steel than GB uses.

Quality US made products at competitive prices from a company which listens to the customer. Whats not to like.

My next one will be a Jersey.
 
Here's my Council 4lb felling axe. I bought this from an auction site so I'm not positive on which model it is but it seems to be a high quality tool. It just arrived so I haven't had a chance to use it yet.
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I'm really glad this was dug up. I've been wanting to find a good American axe company.:thumbup:
 
Council does make good heads and handles. The main problem is with their use of aluminum wedges, which tend to break off pieces inside the eye which leads to loosening of the heads. If you can rehandle them they make heads with good profiles and the steel is tough. The new Velvicut line is very interesting for sure.
 
I need to also look into their line of axes.

Does anyone know if they are carried in any brick & mortar stores? Would like to see one first. If not, best place to get one online?
 
coloradowildman said:
Council does make good heads and handles. The main problem is with their use of aluminum wedges, which tend to break off pieces inside the eye which leads to loosening of the heads. If you can rehandle them they make heads with good profiles and the steel is tough. The new Velvicut line is very interesting for sure.
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That's interesting. I picked up my Council at a yard sale. It had the original haft and was held with a wooden wedge and two (I believe it was two) metal cross wedges. It was holding fine, but the haft had developed a wicked bend, probably leaning against the side of some dude's shed wall for years without moving.

I would love to know if anyone had spent any time using one of the Council jersey patterns??????????? They look great.

Matt
 
I am a big weekend camper, my son (14) and I usually are out about a weekend a month 50/50 split between car camping and backpacking. I have been carrying a small camp ax 12 inch handle. I saw this post and have an interest in the council small axes. http://www.redhillgeneralstore.com/farm/Axes-Hatchets-and-Mauls.htm
I am trying to decide on which would be best. The boys axe by Council http://www.redhillgeneralstore.com/farm/Council-Tool-Boys-Axe.htm or the Council tool Curved Hudson Bay Axe http://www.redhillgeneralstore.com/farm/Council-Tool-Curved-Hudson-Bay-Axe.htm. I am wondering if the longer handle on the boys ax (28 inches) makes it that much better than the hudson bay ax. for general camp use. I like the looks of the hudson bay ax and am leaning in that direction maybe for the wrong reason (looks cool), and would be better off with the boys ax for camp use. Any Thoughts. Thanks.
 
weekendcamper said:
I am a big weekend camper, my son (14) and I usually are out about a weekend a month 50/50 split between car camping and backpacking. I have been carrying a small camp ax 12 inch handle. I saw this post and have an interest in the council small axes. http://www.redhillgeneralstore.com/farm/Axes-Hatchets-and-Mauls.htm
I am trying to decide on which would be best. The boys axe by Council http://www.redhillgeneralstore.com/farm/Council-Tool-Boys-Axe.htm or the Council tool Curved Hudson Bay Axe http://www.redhillgeneralstore.com/farm/Council-Tool-Curved-Hudson-Bay-Axe.htm. I am wondering if the longer handle on the boys ax (28 inches) makes it that much better than the hudson bay ax. for general camp use. I like the looks of the hudson bay ax and am leaning in that direction maybe for the wrong reason (looks cool), and would be better off with the boys ax for camp use. Any Thoughts. Thanks.
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Having owned both, here's my 2 cents.....if you mainly do camping then go for the Boy's axe. The Daytona pattern head-handle junction is stronger and the slightly extra length and weight are good for getting the job done. If you plan to pack the axe then go for the Hudson Bay as it is lighter yet chops and splits well for its weight. Hope this helps.
 
As coloradowildman said it is pretty easy.
The larger/heavier axe is better at processing wood but more cumbersome so better for static camping
The smaller axe is less efficient (yet Ok) for woodworking but lighter so better for hiking.

If you do mostly hiking you should probably get the lighter (unless you're winter hiking and plan to rely on firewood for heating in which case a larger axe might make sense).
If you do mostly static camping the larger is probably better.

In doubt I'd get the lighter, because in most cases it will probably be good enough, while dragging too heavy equipment while hiking is really awful.

Also you should try to pick it from a store rather than online, because quality for axes (even from good makers) varies.
 
Thanks for the info. Its a small world story.. When I was researching the boys axe I ran across this thread and low and behold Red Hill General Store is about 30 minutes from where I live (the Hillsville, Va store) so I don't have to order online I can stop by and pick it up. I think I am going for the boys axe, I have been down the road with the 12 inch camp hatchet and you can chop yourself silly and still not produce any firewood. And since the fall and early winter are our best camping times, I think the larger boys axe may be the best for me. One last question. What am I looking for when I inspect the axe for quality. Thanks
 
weekendcamper said:
Thanks for the info. Its a small world story.. When I was researching the boys axe I ran across this thread and low and behold Red Hill General Store is about 30 minutes from where I live (the Hillsville, Va store) so I don't have to order online I can stop by and pick it up. I think I am going for the boys axe, I have been down the road with the 12 inch camp hatchet and you can chop yourself silly and still not produce any firewood. And since the fall and early winter are our best camping times, I think the larger boys axe may be the best for me. One last question. What am I looking for when I inspect the axe for quality. Thanks
Click to expand...

That's great that you can go to a store that carries them. As for what to look for......1) head alignment 2) grain direction of handle 3) how much the wood fills the eye of the axe head 4) evenness of the eye itself 5) make sure head is not bent from a bad forging job

Hope this helps. Make sure you take a file to the edge when you get it and then finish it with a stone. The US Forest Service recommends getting the axe sharp enough to dry shave hair off your arm, but this does take skill along with a leather strop. Once you learn it though it's fairly easy and fun to do.
 
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