Council tool velvicut boys axe is finally here...

Looks great, and glad to have more choices. But from the photo it looks like a pretty uneven grinding job for a $140 axe.
 
From the website:
"Final hardness Rc 52-56."

That's respectable. I'd like to take a file to one just to see. My gut feeling is that they have a winner here.
 
John Frankl said:
Looks great, and glad to have more choices. But from the photo it looks like a pretty uneven grinding job for a $140 axe.
Click to expand...

Just a standard polished US Forest Service Boy's Axe head & pre-stained handle?
http://www.counciltool.com/product.asp?pg=product&item=JP22DV28C

JP22DV28C.jpg
IMG_9636.JPG
 
Last edited:
nickzdon said:
Velvicuts are 5160 alloy steel, Council's standard axes and FSS heads are tool steel (unspecified). The Velvicut handles are also the pick of the litter with regards to grain orientation and density. The one in the photo looks stained probably because it's heartwood.
Click to expand...

I'd love to see a spec to spec comparison of the two.
They are identical in weight.

Is a handle coated in linseed oil considered "stained" or is there a diiference between "stained" & "coated"?
Because Council claims that Bad Axe's handle is coated with linseed oil.

I wouldn't be surprised if this is why they stopped producing the Forest Service Edition.
Since it was so well acclaimed, maybe they saw a higher market for it and with a little spit
& polish they knew they could up-charge another c-note. :)
 
CT stopped making the Forest Service axe because the contract with the FSS expired and they lost a bid for it on a military contract.
I'm sure that it is simple math for them...Like which axe do we sell the most of??? Gee I bet it was a our boys axe. Because of popular demand, lets make it in the Velvicut edition.

Simple marketing...make what is currently selling well to our customers.

Tom
 
I just think it's great that there's a renewed interest, and market, for high end axes again and that USA MADE companies are competing. I for one am a huge Council Tool Fan. Though I probably won't end up with the Velvicut Boy's axe because I was fortunate enough to get the FSS version :D
 
Double Ott said:
CT stopped making the Forest Service axe because the contract with the FSS expired and they lost a bid for it on a military contract.
I'm sure that it is simple math for them...Like which axe do we sell the most of??? Gee I bet it was a our boys axe. Because of popular demand, lets make it in the Velvicut edition.

Simple marketing...make what is currently selling well to our customers.

Tom
Click to expand...

Exactly Tom. I'm sure they would've sold more of the $40. versions
than the Velvicut versions of the FSS models were still in production.
Either way, IMO, with so much love for the Boy's axe in any make,
it was a good idea to produce a high end version of it.

Like Bob Sugar said, 'this ain't show friends, it's show business'.
 
OutdoorEnvy said:
I just think it's great that there's a renewed interest, and market, for high end axes again and that USA MADE companies are competing. I for one am a huge Council Tool Fan. Though I probably won't end up with the Velvicut Boy's axe because I was fortunate enough to get the FSS version :D
Click to expand...


Me too. When I found myself so disappointed with the initial Wetterlings ax I received, I began looking into American makers.
Besides, for me personally and with my limited experience, I prefer a good hunk of steel at the end of a securely attached piece
of hickory to just do one thing: Perform. That's all. I don't care about legacies or about aesthetics. I just want it to do what it's
supposed to do, day in and day out. I won't automatically discount a produce because of "where" it's made, but Council seems
to have secured it's place in the ax world as just a good tool.

My replacement Wetterlings was a niece piece. No doubt about it and I have zero regrets in buying it and owning it.
However, I see it for what it is...A tool to craft wood with. The Council? That'll be my workhorse along with the recent
vintage 3.5# acquisitions I just made.

I'm sure that the Velvicut Boy's Ax will sell a few bits and the enthusiast will really love it, but I bet that this isn't going
to make a dent in Council's standard Boy's Ax sales.
 
Council is doing some cool stuff these days. :)

I think that regardless of losing the contract on FSS axes they could make a nice buck still making them to spec and marketing them to the public as such.
 
The forging dies that they use to form axe heads cost a fortune. That's why it's so hard for even a large company like Counsel to introduce a new pattern. They already had the dies for a boys axe and it would be a desirable pattern for people who would buy the velvicut line so it's really a no brainer business wise. I would love to see a Connecticut or jersey next as well as a smaller variance in hardness. I can't even imagine what the sales would be on a decent jersey. The Kelly perfects regularly go for $50-$60 on ebay even in pretty bad condition.
 
Bridger said:
..I would love to see a Connecticut or jersey next as well as a smaller variance in hardness.
Click to expand...

I'm just happy to see that someone tipped them off on the HRC issue.. I've been going on and on in these Council threads about how 5160 is indeed a good choice of steel for premium axes, but how it won't shine at the 50-54 hrc they were keeping it at. Even GB's proprietary 1050 will outdo it because of the better heat treat (57hrc). I just looked over their whole velvicut offering and it seems they've upped it to 52-56hrc. I'd still like for them to get it to a smaller variance of 54-56 (or even 55-57), but it's definitely a step in the right direction. Might just pick one up!
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Council is doing some cool stuff these days. :)

I think that regardless of losing the contract on FSS axes they could make a nice buck still making them to spec and marketing them to the public as such.
Click to expand...

Totally agree.
There is no middle ground for a Boy's Ax in their line.
It goes from bottom of the barrel basic to top of the line.
 
SR69 said:
There is no middle ground for a Boy's Ax in their line.
It goes from bottom of the barrel basic to top of the line.
Click to expand...

So I guess that leaves a great big chunk of middle ground for some other maker to fill.
 
Square_peg said:
So I guess that leaves a great big chunk of middle ground for some other maker to fill.
Click to expand...

That's probably what'll happen. Council has sold out pretty much ever FSS they had. I'm sure no reasonable
person would object to paying what they are worth for Council to make a decent profit on each.

"If you build it Council, "they" will come. If you build it, they will come. If you build it, they will come..."

I got my FSS for $29. I think they could sell everyone they had at twice that. For anyone that's going to
actually use their ax, all the spit & polish in the world fades away quickly. I'm all for uber-axes, but that
FSS is just such a nice mix of workability and size for camping and light homesteading work. I've only
worked with 2 kinds of axes in my line of work: 15" Hatchets and 3.5#/32"+ axes. The Boy's Ax is a
nice piece for "non-work" activities for me. Damn glad I got mine on a total impulse buy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top