Rinaldi racing axe?

old Lefty

old Lefty

Joined
May 15, 2020
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Anyone experienced with these? Or other big Rinaldis? They seem almost fragile and/or Viking axe like when comparing to big bruisers in Timbersports. Would like to hear any opinions, views, etc. on how these would work on standing or underhand chop training/having fun
 
Timbersports racing axes are actually quite fragile and are easily ruined. If you look closely at the logs they use you will see zero knots and as clean of grain as you could hope for. The Rinaldi racing axes look pretty thin in the edge but that is how I make all my tomahawks and they are fine you just can't abuse them.
 
They come beveled like a good working axe and while a bit light compared to a lot of competitive chopping axes, they're still on the hefty side for regular use axes. Absolutely not fragile in the slightest, unless you thin it out to that point yourself.
 
My interest is really in Timbersports. Or timbersports like chopping training to be exact, there being no Timbersports or other chopping competitions in this neck of the woods.

In any case, I did order one, time will tell how it stacks up against my others.
 
There is topic we discussed on racing axes. This was the axes used in completion
in Spain. Search 'Basque Racing axes'. He showed a lot of pictures of them. They are wide bladed with cheeks and polished and have 25-26" hafts-. All are custom made from
one maker. Apparently ax competions are a big deal there. DM
 
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Hachas Jauregi I think. I have their racing axe and it is very good. A bit lighter and smaller than say Brure Forge or Tuatahi, but beast nevertheless. I don't think it would be competitive in today's Timbersports but it might well have an edge in those traditional Basque bets/ competitions that have a serious stamina/endurance element into them.
 
Ok, got my Rinaldi last week. Seems like a good axe to build or conquer on empire with. Gave it timbersport underhand chopping run yesterday and did the same drill today using Tuatahi. Whilst the Rinaldi did cut good, it simply isn't in the same league with the Kiwi, being some 18% slower. Part of this might come from using it the 1st time, but the head, general shape, angle and the handle are not on the same level.
As said a good axe nevertheless, especially so at its price point
 
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Pine. Clean, dry consistent log, so it was easy to measure the difference. The cuts were around 40 cm in circumference. One cut each axe.
 
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I'll run the same test with Jauregi when I'll get the chance, there is room enough for one more cut in the log I think. My guess is Jauregi will be faster, ultimately losing to the Tuatahi. Methinks the Kiwi is worth its rep. as the King of the hill.
For a race of many hours, I might be tempted to choose the Basque though.
 
So, Jauregi's turn to step up to the plate today. The big Basque did well, as expected. I got a time within 5% of Tuatahi's. The Kiwi is heavier and has deeper, prominent side cuts, this I think gives it the edge on shorter bursts. For longer work, I still do think this might be easier to handle and also feels a bit more forgivable.

All in all, despite its weird design and very cheap price Rinaldi definetly seems like a very good axe. Maybe not for ultimate speed but for training and other tasks it feels a winner.
 
Don't know the head weight. Also, why do they have short thin hafts?
Those must help in this type competion? DM
 
Tustshi comes in at 2,1 kilos I think. Jauregi is somewhat lighter, so is Rinaldi which is given 1,8 kg rating.
Short shaft does indeed help when going all out.
 
I'd love to see a picture of the axes side-by-side. Or just by themselves...
 
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