Looking for racings axes

Stubai said:
One of the most robust axes on the market is the Arvika 5 Star, 4.5 pounder. . .An Arvika with a half-banana grind cuts like a dream.

Cheers.
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Thread revival. . .

Anyways, just found out about this particular axe of late and was curious to get one!

Arvika5Star_iii.jpg


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Arvika5Star-1.jpg
 
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bearhunter said:
thats a sweet looking axe! is there a dealer in the states?
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I ordered this one from a company (Magard Ventures Ltd.) that specializes in log building tools up north in Prince George BC Canada. As for The Axe Hole that Steve Tall mentioned, I just only now heard of them.
 
Here's a fellow chopping frozen knotty pine and comparing his Arvika 5-Star first followed by the Bahco and then the Oxhead.

[video=youtube;spHqaokiL04]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spHqaokiL04&context=C381264aADOEgsToPDskLBMjAqNkXM1tiE1q9RP6Sv[/video]
 
Square_peg said:
Looks like that Bahco was tossing chips pretty good.
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According to the person in that video, he stated that "the Arvika seems like it's stubbing a toe into the wood instead of penetrating." He's still figuring out the [what] angle grind on this axe and found that the steel is harder than most of the axes he has worked with.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

And speaking of racing axes, anyone here experienced/heard/know of Muller (Mueller) Raching Axe? This one looks interesting:

MullerRacingAxe.jpg


An inquiry into this specific axe leaves little to be desired, since one could purchase four (4) Tuatahi Work Axes or three (3) Tuatahi Racing Axe Heads direct for the price of just one of these!
 
Plumb absolutely made racing axes.

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thechuck said:
I was told some time ago by a supplier that the steel used in the work axe was a softer, less brittle steel, which was less likely to be damaged by frozen or knotty wood. HOWEVER, based on your question, I contacted Tuatahi, and they said that the steel currently used in both axes is indeed the same. I was given no indication as to whether or not the steels used were once different. So, I appologize for (if briefly) spreading misinformation. On a related side note, some competitive axemen did metallurgical tests on a number of racing axe heads, from different manufacturers and ages. They found that axe steel is hardly uniform, between makers or vintages. This is probably not surprising, to anyone who has handled many competition axes. I personally notice the greatest difference in Keech/Keesteel/Aussie Speed (all the same manufacturer) axes. Luckily, they are date stamped, generally, and if you find one that you like, you might be able to beg or steal more from that year.



Tuatahi is, without a doubt, the highest quality axe on the market, as well as the most popular. The Keech/Keesteel/Aussie Speed/Jack O'Toole brand is, in my observation, in second place. Oxhead currently makes racing axes, and is (or was, as of a year ago) the "official" axe sponsor of the Stihl Timbersports Series. I have never seen a single axeman compete with one though. The only Oxhead racer I have seen/handled was awarded to a college team at a competition, and was basically destroyed in green aspen during a practice session. As many of you have likely seen, Dave Bolstad has recently begun marketing a work/practice axe. They are on par with the Timberman in price, and look like they might be made of a bit harder steel. As they come off the shelf, the Bolstads are heavy flat grinds with a very short chisel. I know of one that has been sent to a professional grinder for reshaping. I'll give an update when it comes back. There are rumors that Stihl Timbersports Series Veteran/Superman Jason Wynyard is also working on a line of competition axes, though I have not heard when they might be available.

Plumb never made "racing axes" that I am aware of, but many early racers did grind large Plumb axes to use for racing, before dedicated racers were available. Others in the category include Arvika and Hytest, though Hytest ALSO made dedicated racing axes later. Other companies that have made racing axes include Langdon, True Blue, Proaxe, Nivek, and others that do not come immediately to mind.



I doubt that. I am fairly sure that all Tuatahi axes are forged of the same steel. Most axes shipped to the United States (or at least a great many) are shipped as blanks, that is, unshaped. It is the grinding that makes a great axe, and there are several grinders in North America that are world class. In general, the styles of wood chopped in the US are much different than those chopped "down under" and so axes used in one place are inappropriate for racing in the other. Personally, I have just bought an axe head from Tuatahi directly (not from a US grinder) to see how it compares in quality. Unfortunately, everything around here is frozen hard, so I have not had a chance to test it. Again, a review will follow.

Feel free to ask more questions or disagree with anything I've said. I'd like to keep this thread going.
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"PLUMB RACING AXES
Axes made by the Plumb Co. had a significant impact on the harvesting of trees in many parts of the world including Australia and New Zealand. Various sources of information indicate that Plumb was one of the three earliest major North American axe manufacturers that exported axes to Australia. One of the supplemental advantages to supplying such axes was the input provided by indigenous choppers. One of the patterns attributed to such input was called the Tasmania pattern while another was the Gippslander."

- http://www.yesteryearstools.com/Yesteryears Tools/Plumb Co..html

What's the main difference between Tasmanian and Gippslander patterns?
 
Square_peg said:
Oh dear gawd! I think my shorts just got sticky!
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I don't have a "Racing Anything" but I do have to say that is a nice axe. Be it either to use if you lived in the period or you live Down Under and you spent on an axe, or simply to have come across/to own today*.
36930992_1981864165217530_9078715489626095616_n.jpg

Original paint?
 
Stunning. And in what condition!

Interesting that it has a shorter poll (in fact, like all Aussie axes if I'm right).
 
Gippsland, Victoria seems known for logging or at least being the headquarters of logging companies. Makes sense that there are/were trees to cut.
My guess is that the "Gippsland pattern" was something favored by/requested by the users there.
To start with, what is this pattern with more toe and heel than a Tasmanian called? (beyond "racing axe"):
Ossie.jpg

What trees were they cutting on the Island of Tasmania?
 
Good job reviving the thread I had no idea about Tuatahi axes until now. Very cool stuff. They are situated only 1 hours drive from me! I was looking at their Throwing axe and was wondering what is the difference between this and a hatchet? Could you use the head as a small boys axe or for hatchet type jobs? Blade width is 155mm and head weighs approximately 2 3/4 pounds. For $75nzd a hand forged brand new double bit head is an unbelievable price. What am I missing here?

https://www.tuatahiaxes.com/throwing-axes
 
It will be super super thin right, prone to chipping and breaking under heavier use?
 
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KiwiBloke said:
It will be super super thin right, prone to chipping and breaking under heavier use?
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Any "throwing anything" will most likely be tempered somewhat softer, to prevent catastrophic failures such as chipping when hitting some unintended hard object. You'd prefer the steel to roll rather than losing a nice chunk out of it.

As for the geometry...well, it should help with sticking (again, in soft targets).

I've never heard about one used as a work axe. (They do have a "work axe" though somewhere on the site.)

But I could see a throwing one working just fine through pretty much anything. It even looks like a somewhat exaggerated swamping pattern :).
 
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