Notes on the Council Tool "2lb" Hatchet

FortyTwoBlades

FortyTwoBlades

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Got a shipment of some of the little Council Dayton pattern hatchets and was rather confused to notice that they defy typical designation convention. Nominal head weight is usually not THAT far off from the actual head weight, but the entire hatchet weighs a little under 2lb. I got the head off one that had a crack in the handle (which I got a credit for since it was a manufacturing defect) to check the actual weight and it was 1lb 7oz, so more like a conventional 1.5lb nominal, and I'm not sure why they'd call it a 2lb. The handle is listed as 14", and as we know, the way handle length is usually listed is as the pre-installation length, so actual length is usually about 1/2" shorter from trimming off the top of the tongue. However, actual end to end length was 14 and 3/8". Other than the fact that it's labeled way off, they're nice little hatchets for the money, with a high centerline and two pairs of ridges in the eye. Just thought I'd toss that info out there as an fyi. :)

I've got a nice West Woods handle that I'll be putting on it instead, and I'll be taking the paint off and cleaning up the coarse finish. Should be fun.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Got a shipment of some of the little Council Dayton pattern hatchets and was rather confused to notice that they defy typical designation convention. Nominal head weight is usually not THAT far off from the actual head weight, but the entire hatchet weighs a little under 2lb. I got the head off one that had a crack in the handle (which I got a credit for since it was a manufacturing defect) to check the actual weight and it was 1lb 7oz, so more like a conventional 1.5lb nominal, and I'm not sure why they'd call it a 2lb. The handle is listed as 14", and as we know, the way handle length is usually listed is as the pre-installation length, so actual length is usually about 1/2" shorter from trimming off the top of the tongue. However, actual end to end length was 14 and 3/8". Other than the fact that it's labeled way off, they're nice little hatchets for the money, with a high centerline and two pairs of ridges in the eye. Just thought I'd toss that info out there as an fyi. :)

I've got a nice West Woods handle that I'll be putting on it instead, and I'll be taking the paint off and cleaning up the coarse finish. Should be fun.
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I think it has been reported here before that the head weight of their boys axe was light also. If they are going to do that they should just list them as 2lb hatchets much like the Swedes do and leave it like that.
I didn't know that Council made a 2lb dayton hatchet. I don't see it on their web site but I might not know where to look.
How's the West Woods haft? I have heard they are little spendy?
 
garry3 said:
I think it has been reported here before that the head weight of their boys axe was light also. If they are going to do that they should just list them as 2lb hatchets much like the Swedes do and leave it like that.
I didn't know that Council made a 2lb dayton hatchet. I don't see it on their web site but I might not know where to look.
How's the West Woods haft? I have heard they are little spendy?
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It's this one here. It's not easy to find on their website sections because their navigation and tagging system is atrocious, but if you search for it it'll pop up. The West Woods handle is excellent and the price is quite fair. I received this particular handle as a gift from a friend, but I'd not hesitate to recommend them even though I make my own handles for most of my axes to tailor them to the specific head. As far as off-the-shelf handles available for purchase, it's easily the nicest and slimmest I've seen, and has absolutely perfect grain alignment.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
It's this one here. It's not easy to find on their website sections because their navigation and tagging system is atrocious, but if you search for it it'll pop up. The West Woods handle is excellent and the price is quite fair. I received this particular handle as a gift from a friend, but I'd not hesitate to recommend them even though I make my own handles for most of my axes to tailor them to the specific head. As far as off-the-shelf handles available for purchase, it's easily the nicest and slimmest I've seen, and has absolutely perfect grain alignment.
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Thanks Fortytwo.
Well they don't say its a two pound head, but this is kind of misleading "2# Hatchet with 14″ curved hickory handle". There are some folks that would immediately know its not a two pound head if that's what they thought they were getting.
 
Not sure why it's so far off, but my guess is some sort of error that never got caught. 1.5lb is a typical hatchet head weight that's considered desirable, so it's not like they gain anything by saying it's 2lb when it isn't.
 
They claim all their Hudson Bay axes are 2# also. Why am I doubting that?
Any one own one that they have can put on a scale?
 
garry3 said:
They claim all their Hudson Bay axes are 2# also. Why am I doubting that?
Any one own one that they have can put on a scale?
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Pretty sure the HB's are on the money. Definitely feels heftier than the hatchet and looks to be more material to it.

And yes, I seem to recall hearing that O.P. Link (part of Seymour Midwest Tools) provides handles for Council, which is surprising since Council's handles are generally much slimmer than O.P. Link's standard supplied offerings.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Pretty sure the HB's are on the money. Definitely feels heftier than the hatchet and looks to be more material to it.

And yes, I seem to recall hearing that O.P. Link (part of Seymour Midwest Tools) provides handles for Council, which is surprising since Council's handles are generally much slimmer than O.P. Link's standard supplied offerings.
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Is that the Hudson Bay on a 18" haft?
 
The ones I have are on the 24" nominal. Obviously doesn't affect the head weight, though.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
The ones I have are on the 24" nominal. Obviously doesn't affect the head weight, though.
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So have you weighed them? And are they boys axe sized eyes? If the 18" one is the same head that means they have hafts available for boys axes at 18" and a hefty HB hatchet that is coming close to house axe weight.
It doesn't sound right but could be.
 
I haven't weighed just the head of the HB's so can't confirm. Total weight of the tool with the 24" nominal handle is 2lb 14oz, though, and the handle is slim.
 
Well it looks like a pretty decent hatchet, but there's something I definitely don't like about it.

Why is this hatchet $44 and change while their 3.5lb jerseys is only $47 and change ?
I just wonder why this hatchet is only $3 less than a full sized axe.

Overall I like the looks of the head, and if it was only $20 I wouldn't mind trying one out as I just could not leave it on the handle it comes on.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Well it looks like a pretty decent hatchet, but there's something I definitely don't like about it.

Why is this hatchet $44 and change while their 3.5lb jerseys is only $47 and change ?
I just wonder why this hatchet is only $3 less than a full sized axe.

Overall I like the looks of the head, and if it was only $20 I wouldn't mind trying one out as I just could not leave it on the handle it comes on.
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Machine hours are a big factor. The savings in handle length and steel are minimal. Most of the steps in manufacturing (labor being the largest factor in cost) is nearly identical. What's wrong with the factory handle? Other than the fact that one of them I received had a crack, I have no complaints about the handles.
 
Do you know when the new woodcraft axe comes out?Has anyone else noticed link handles are not the same,3 stores I have checked lately and the boys axe handles look cut out of a board no swell at all.Didnt know about this hatchet either,thanks .
 
junkenstien said:
Do you know when the new woodcraft axe comes out?Has anyone else noticed link handles are not the same,3 stores I have checked lately and the boys axe handles look cut out of a board no swell at all.Didnt know about this hatchet either,thanks .
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Link produces a number of different grades of handles. The ones I've purchased in the past were their top-grade waxed handles, which were on the thick side, but definitely had a swell.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Machine hours are a big factor. The savings in handle length and steel are minimal. Most of the steps in manufacturing (labor being the largest factor in cost) is nearly identical. What's wrong with the factory handle? Other than the fact that one of them I received had a crack, I have no complaints about the handles.
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I just don't like the shape of it, and would want more length.
To me 14" isn't long enough for a full 1½ lb, and there's not enough fawns foot. It's the same shape as the link handles I I won't buy at the hardware store.
 
Well, that's a standard handle length for a 1.5lb head. Main length is 0.8" thick and the swell is 1.35".
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Well, that's a standard handle length for a 1.5lb head. Main length is 0.8" thick and the swell is 1.35".
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I like the head , I'd just want something different for a handle.
I'd prefer at least 16", and much more of a fawns foot / swell. This handle that comes on it is just not a shape I like and doesn't look to have enough meat for me to get the shape I like out of it.

Im sure everything about this is just fine as it comes, and most people won't have anything bad to say about it.

Btw the extra work that goes into producing this head shape makes sense for the cost, just a bit of a surprise to see only a $3 different between a hatchet and full sized axe.
I guess their 3.5lb dayton just really inexpensive for what it is if it only cost $3 more than their hatchet, if I needed one I'd probably buy their Dayton.
 
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