Need help finding a new axe

[AR fan]

I'm not happy with my Estwing axe,#5. It seems to vibrate or twang rather than just make a good solid strike and cut in. It's sharpened,(it'll shave hair), but it deflects and seems very springy.
Can anyone recommend a good small axe/large hatchet that will cut well and is constructed with good steel. I'd like a handle about 18" to 20" and a head weight of about 2lbs.

 

[mogwai]

I'm not happy with my Estwing axe,#5. It seems to vibrate or twang rather than just make a good solid strike and cut in. It's sharpened,(it'll shave hair), but it deflects and seems very springy.
Can anyone recommend a good small axe/large hatchet that will cut well and is constructed with good steel. I'd like a handle about 18" to 20" and a head weight of about 2lbs.

Wetterlings, Granfors Bruks, Snow & Neally all make good wood-handled axes and hatchets that you should look at. Fiskars has a good selection of plastic-handled jobbers that are quite nice, too.

There are a couple more yurapean mfrs with good stuff, but I've drawn a blank on their names

 

[NI200]

I'm quite happy with my Gransfors Bruks hatchet. Lee Valley has a vide range of Gransfors axes, though they more expensive then Estwings

 

[Cpl Punishment]

I'm very happy with the Snow & Neally Penobscot Bay Kindling Axe. 18" haft, 1.75 pound head.

Check out this thread on it: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=587605

 

[AR fan]

Thanks to all that replied, I appreciate the help.

 

[AR fan]

Hi all, I found an old Collins axe head, it's shaped quite a bit different, (it's straight tapered from the hole to the long convex edge). It's meatier than my newer axe, which is ground very thin. It's ground like a hollow ground knife and is very springy
Will the grind on the old Collins cut more efficiently than the Estwing?

 

[Blue Sky]

You don't mention overall dimensions or weight but it sounds like the Collins is ground more for splitting than cutting: wedge shaped profile with extra mass. Thinner profiles like Estwings are designed for cutting and tend to stick and bind when used for splitting (they'll do it, you just have to be a little more careful). Not much different than knives really, thin cuts better and thick takes a pounding better.

 

[AR fan]

Thanks for responding Blue sky, the Dimensions are, cutting edge 4", length 7", width is about the same as the Estwing. The Collins just isn't ground out to form the hollow grind of the Estwing.