Stihl Pro Splitting Hatchet vs. Woodcutter Univeral Forrestry Axe?

[Sid Post]

How do these two axes compare to each other? I need more than a hatchet and less than a full axe.

What are each head patterns best at? The Pro Splitting axe looks like more of felling axe to me and the Universal Woodcutter looks like an overgrown German pattern hatchet. I have the smaller hatchet but, find the 600g head to be too light though, its one hand use and balance are very nice.

Or put another way, does the Universal Woodcutter head come on an axe with a shorter properly shaped 'one-hand' handle?

 

[Maine20]

How do these two axes compare to each other? I need more than a hatchet and less than a full axe.

What are each head patterns best at? The Pro Splitting axe looks like more of felling axe to me and the Universal Woodcutter looks like an overgrown German pattern hatchet. I have the smaller hatchet but, find the 600g head to be too light though, its one hand use and balance are very nice.

Or put another way, does the Universal Woodcutter head come on an axe with a shorter properly shaped 'one-hand' handle?

I feel The 2 3/4 lbs head weight of the splitting hatchet is too heavy for a lot of one handed work. The universal woodcutter has a better head weight(2.2) but the handle seems a bit long to use primary one handed. I know they are a bit pricey but the Gransfors Bruks small forest axe sounds like a good choice. Husqvarna probably makes something similar for a lot less $. My first choice would be to find a vintage head of my liking and re-hang it with with an appropriate handle.

 

[Sid Post]

Anyone familiar with either of the axes? They are available relatively local so, I'd appreciate any user feedback. I'm debating a Hults Bruk Aneby but, it's about twice the cost and a long wait for overseas shipping out of the EU (Finland).

 

[Sid Post]

I bought the Woodcutter Univeral Forestry Axe and put it too good use for two days. Single-handed when my arm was 'fresh', I got some really good cuts on some one-inch softwood which were cut cleanly through with a single stroke. I had a couple hits on a metal T-post and Pipe Fence with minimal edge damage. On some two-inch hardwood trees in a ditch, I got clean cuts which took them down with a single stroke two-handed.

On some bigger hardwood (~6"), I got lightly stuck a few times with some really powerful strokes. With the long eye in the head, I had no wiggle or loosening of the handle or head when I 'rocked it' out of the trunk.

Overall, for a sub-$50 (MSRP) axe, this one is a real winner IMHO. The steel is plenty hard, the axe takes a really good bite and, the wood chips really fly even in hardwood. As best I can tell, I think it is produced by Ochsenkopf based on what I see in this axe and online for that company so, I'd call it a real bargain at its price-point.