- Joined
- Jan 2, 2014
- Messages
- 342
I have recently been taking more of an interest in axes from knives and through scavenger hunting became really interested in Council axes. My first axe I purchased was a Wetterlings hunters axe, and while a great axe, as time went by I wasn't necessarily sold that the $100 a spent on it at the time was really necessary to get good performance. I was interested in American axes and the big 3 companies that tend to come up are Council, Snow and Nealley, and Ames True American. I thought I'd post some thoughts and opinions on these brands as these questions seem to come up often.
Ames: My local Bi-Mart sells these and the overall fit and finish of them seems to be quite poor, for the price it's odd that these axes are in the same category as Council's basic line.
Snow and Nealley: Had Chinese heads several years ago but as far as I can tell have been made in the USA again fully since 2014? Seem to get good reviews though it seems like their quality control has needed to be somewhat dialed in, slightly more expensive than what I was looking for but also come with sheaths.
Council: Blown away by the fit and finish on their less expensive axes. I bought the boys axe from a forestry supplier store for $25 and the fit and finish was miles ahead of Ames. On the website the non-velvicut axes are listed as "tool steel." I called up their customer service and verified that the basic line of axes are 1060 and the boys axe specifically is 1080 as it meets forestry standards.
Question: A lot of axe fans recommend finding classic axe heads and re-hafting them as the carbon steel in older heads is generally harder than current heads. With ISO 9001 standards though, I'm wondering if the hardness difference in a modern quality controlled axe would be noticeably different than a vintage axe head, any thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks,
Balls
Ames: My local Bi-Mart sells these and the overall fit and finish of them seems to be quite poor, for the price it's odd that these axes are in the same category as Council's basic line.
Snow and Nealley: Had Chinese heads several years ago but as far as I can tell have been made in the USA again fully since 2014? Seem to get good reviews though it seems like their quality control has needed to be somewhat dialed in, slightly more expensive than what I was looking for but also come with sheaths.
Council: Blown away by the fit and finish on their less expensive axes. I bought the boys axe from a forestry supplier store for $25 and the fit and finish was miles ahead of Ames. On the website the non-velvicut axes are listed as "tool steel." I called up their customer service and verified that the basic line of axes are 1060 and the boys axe specifically is 1080 as it meets forestry standards.
Question: A lot of axe fans recommend finding classic axe heads and re-hafting them as the carbon steel in older heads is generally harder than current heads. With ISO 9001 standards though, I'm wondering if the hardness difference in a modern quality controlled axe would be noticeably different than a vintage axe head, any thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks,
Balls