- Joined
- Dec 22, 2006
- Messages
- 2,194
I went to one of my favorite hardware stores in Seattle today, Hardwick's, near the University of Washington campus. It is an old-time store with glass cases full of hand tools and more hanging from the ceiling. They carry a lot of stuff for the local boat building and repair trades, so you can find a couple dozen hand planes, a hundred kinds of hand saws (really!!!), 6' barefoot ship's augers... and axes from the US, Japan, Sweden and Austria.
I was drooling over the Gransfor Bruks axes laid out in the case, but the prices really cooled me off. I checked out some odd looking Japanese designs and found a brand from Austria, Stubai, which I new from hiking gear as they make ice axes and crampons. They had some large carpenter' axes and alongside them was a small axe that looked like a good pack axe--- for $20. I said, "what the heck" and bought one. It is Stubai model 6722-02, the Kuchenbail, or Kitchen Axe.
Specs:
Total weight: 1lb7oz
Overall Length: 15"
Head length: 5-5/8"
Head weight: 400g (14.1oz)
Blade: 3-5/8"
Poll height: 1-1/2"
Poll width: 5/8"
Steel type: unpublished; assumed carbon steel.
Stubai makes all sorts of hand tools as well as mountaineering equipment. After surfing their web site a bit, I found that they make some smaller camping axes as well, with 275g (10oz) head and 265mm (10.5") long. They make a full line of larger carpenter's and felling axes too.
I haven't had a chance to try this on green wood. It did chew up a kiln dried 2x4 with no problem. Balance is good and the handle design allows a good grip anywhere on the shaft, so choking up for fine work is no problem. The handle is ash and has a clear finish. The head is held in place with a wooden wedge. The handle fit in the eye of the head is good and tight, with no gaps and little or no shavings on the outside. It did not come with a sheath, just the rubber blade cover. I did try an Estwing #5 sheath available at the store for $8 which wasn't a bad fit.
I drilled the lanyard hole and finished up the edge on my belt grinder and took it to a nice paper-cutting edge with a ceramic stone. The factory edge was a little rough and obviously left to be finished to the taste of the user. I had my choice of 6 axes on the shelf and they were consistent in fit and finish.
I would say this axe is well worth $20 and is much more of a real tool than the Vaughan Sub Zero axes on the shelf next to it at the same price. It feels much better in the hand than the 14" Fiskars axe I own. The only downside is the lack of a sheath--- I'll have to whip something up there.
I was drooling over the Gransfor Bruks axes laid out in the case, but the prices really cooled me off. I checked out some odd looking Japanese designs and found a brand from Austria, Stubai, which I new from hiking gear as they make ice axes and crampons. They had some large carpenter' axes and alongside them was a small axe that looked like a good pack axe--- for $20. I said, "what the heck" and bought one. It is Stubai model 6722-02, the Kuchenbail, or Kitchen Axe.
Specs:
Total weight: 1lb7oz
Overall Length: 15"
Head length: 5-5/8"
Head weight: 400g (14.1oz)
Blade: 3-5/8"
Poll height: 1-1/2"
Poll width: 5/8"
Steel type: unpublished; assumed carbon steel.
Stubai makes all sorts of hand tools as well as mountaineering equipment. After surfing their web site a bit, I found that they make some smaller camping axes as well, with 275g (10oz) head and 265mm (10.5") long. They make a full line of larger carpenter's and felling axes too.
I haven't had a chance to try this on green wood. It did chew up a kiln dried 2x4 with no problem. Balance is good and the handle design allows a good grip anywhere on the shaft, so choking up for fine work is no problem. The handle is ash and has a clear finish. The head is held in place with a wooden wedge. The handle fit in the eye of the head is good and tight, with no gaps and little or no shavings on the outside. It did not come with a sheath, just the rubber blade cover. I did try an Estwing #5 sheath available at the store for $8 which wasn't a bad fit.
I drilled the lanyard hole and finished up the edge on my belt grinder and took it to a nice paper-cutting edge with a ceramic stone. The factory edge was a little rough and obviously left to be finished to the taste of the user. I had my choice of 6 axes on the shelf and they were consistent in fit and finish.
I would say this axe is well worth $20 and is much more of a real tool than the Vaughan Sub Zero axes on the shelf next to it at the same price. It feels much better in the hand than the 14" Fiskars axe I own. The only downside is the lack of a sheath--- I'll have to whip something up there.
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