Great review..I've use their hammers..have yet to get my hands on the axe..but yes..the handles are hardware store for sure..same with the hammers..super honest review..I like it.
I got mine and been using it and love it. I have no issues with the bulky handle I actually prefer bulky handles than the thinner vintage type handle they tend to break so easily. What really matters to me is the steel that the hardcore hammer Co uses. It's a 4140 Steel. The same steel the use to make gun barrels, and it's a great steel not your typical cheap carbon steel. I think this is what makes it a little bit expensive. But I don't mind paying $400 for an Axe alone If the company makes a Axe that uses S7 machine tool steel the steel that been use for Making jackhammer bits. That steel will outlast and outperform any expensive and high end axe in the market. In my opinion for $230 it's fair enough. Been using mine for felling Pine, and Hard maple, also chopping and splitting black cherry no problem no issues.
Thanks for your input. May I ask, what your hafting looked like? Also, how was the grain orientation on yours? I reached out to the Company and showed them both and they haven’t responded at all. As of now, I can’t recommend their products.
Great looking tool, but when you started to point a few things out, I wasn't as impressed. That's a lot of money and you would like the price to be represent the quality. Good vid as always!
I'm a year late to this review and I'm in agreement with you about how they ground the bit for the axe. The toe in relation to the heel is too far back for a brand new axe.
Ya that design is not good bc the toe always gets worn out first. To say this axe was a horrible purchase is an understatement. Im going to do a year review on this novelty item soon and the company is not going to like it.
Thats a good looking head and plenty sharp. Price is all relative to what you make. Might be cheap for some and expensive for others. All axes are cool 😎.. Thanks for the review and shout out brother.
I must agree with your critique of the toe being too short and will add that it needs to be thinner through the cheeks. I agree that the haft and wedging are crap . IMHO the haft is a throwaway that needs replacement right out of the box. All in all not close to a $230 axe. My Council Tool Velvicut axes are my go to favorites. The 2.25 lb Boy's Bad Axe 28" and 4 lb Felling axes. All the Velvicut line is forged of 5160, their heat treatment is second to none and not only are their shafts Grade "A", but they are thinner than most. Even so I thin them more to my liking. All my CT axes rock, even their Utility line.
Completely agree. The more I think about this tool, the more I think I got taken. Very unfortunate. The head is really nice and holds an edge great, but I didn’t pay for only the head, the rest is trash. Upsetting.
Fancy website, lots of bling, marketing gimmicks and quality control issues I will pass. All of my Council Tool axes have served me well and did not have any issues. The hafting on the CT axes is way better than this.
A good, fair review Brother. Yes, I agree with your critique, the axe haft is more like I would expect from an axe from Home Depot. The whole hang of the haft looks more like a regular maul configuration...way too thick! the head profile suggests this will both chop well and split well and I agree the toe should protrude further as this short and after a few years it will wear back. The eye is nice and big, but the collar should not really be 90 degrees across the handle for optimum strength. I think it is a bit of an assumption on behalf of hardcore to claim they have perfected the axe design, maybe with some guidance and revisions it will come closer to that i time to come. I have been using and restoring axes for 50 years. Take care and thanks for your review, WS.
@@IndianaDoug The fact that the company failed to contact you is unacceptable, and for me, a real deal breaker when you consider that they have 'perfected the axe' maybe their success with forging hammers is what they should stay with?? Thanks again, Chris
After having this axe for awhile, I regret saying anything positive about. Very overpriced. The handle and hafting are trash. The steel rusts at the sight of moisture. Even the smallest amount of surface rust discolors the metal. Horrible purchase!
Yup, nice to look at. Pretty! People have been designing and manufacturing axes for a very long time and a claim to have perfected the axe with a strong departure from proven designs is a bunch of bunk. 5160 is a far better steel than 4140 for an axe. So for a premium axe from council you would have money left over for a premium limbing axe. Their reviews aren't good either, so ultimately the public will decide.
So get the killinger French cut get it hung and then give it a go?! I mean handles don’t last forever anyway and they give a bulky handle to satisfy the guys who want a bomb proof set up - that’s my guess, but I’d love to see a review where it’s re hung on a proper stick. The steel is really the gem though here.. cheers bro. The shape is beautiful!
I got their hickory tire knocker. I've beat the shit out of it against the traditional $10 Chinese "hard wood" common ones and nothing happened. The Chinese one is all dented.
I own 3 different Hultaförs Bruk axes and love them. Looking to try this one for cutting down minor trees for my woodworking. Any thoughts in comparing the brands in quality and use?
Overall, I’m just not a fan of these axes. I gave it a shot, but I’m not going to sugar coat things. The steel seems pretty good, the handle and hafting is absolutely production line junk.
havent seen a axe come drive to the handle sharp like that from the factory before, pretty crazy. THe blade does look like an axe thats been super worn, and not too many sharpenings before its useless, chip it bad once and ur fucked, u lost all the cutting edge
They don’t! I’ve looked everywhere for this type of info, nothing. They’re a hammer company, then they had success with hatchets, now they’re moving on axes.
From the research I've done..they sell and and advertise as a bespoke type hipster product..cool designs and colors with a price tag..I have yet to talk with any framer that likes their hammers..but them do look cool..haha
Hi Doug!!😀😀 Nice looking axe. But you are right about the handle. I would spend a hour or so and thin down the handle until it fit my hands. Definitely not worth 240 dollars. Take care buddy!!😀😀👍👍 Logger Al
She's a beauty!! If you want I can see about getting you one of the mennonite made handles like what I have on my axes for ya and you can fix up the heft 😁 I really like the profile of that head man!!
