Ochsenkopf Forestry hatchet 800 g or Prandi German Style Hatchet?

S

Sid Post

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Oct 14, 1998
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I am looking for a "heavy" hatchet without being excessively heavy. I currently own and use the Stihl branded hatchet which I believe is a 600g Ochsenkopf model rebranded as Stihl.

The Ochsenkopf and Prandi heads both appear to come from the same foundry. The final head polishing and buffing and handles appear to be the main differences other than the ~$20 price difference.

How do these two hatchets compare to each other? Am I missing a good option in the similar $40~60 range in a "German" pattern hatchet? I am looking for something under 2 pounds and about 15" in length in a traditional "hatchet" performance and form factor, not a thick splitting hatchet.

A "Swedish" origin hatchet would be fine too but, not the >$100 price. ;)

Council Tool makes a lot of good stuff but, I don't see a German pattern hatchet there. The Italian options are nice and I own a couple but, I like the German pattern better.

TIA,
Sid
 
I'm not experienced with the Prandi. The Ochsenkopfs I've used had decent steel but tempered little on the soft side. I think it's C60 which is equivalent to our 1060. I'd guess tempered to about 50-52 RC.

If you can find one try a Mueller or Stubai.
 
Square_peg said:
...

If you can find one try a Mueller or Stubai.
Click to expand...

Those Austrian options look enticing but, online sources in the USA are hard to find with a single source in Alabama and very limited reviews. :(

Stihl/Ochsenkopf seem to dominate. The Stihl C60 axes I have used were not the hardest things around but, they also didn't chip out on me unless my aim was way off and I hit a rock or some hard metal.
 
Sid Post said:
Yes, with German forgings.
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Have a source for that? Everything I've seen indicates that they're produced wholly in Italy, but they make a lot of German patterns for export, which isn't at all unusual. A lot of the Italian tool companies produce items destined for the German and French markets.
 
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