Best axes.

[Aunt Maud]

I've got a Gilpin 4 1/2lb side axe that's nice to use, but a bit on the heavy side. I've also got a few Gransfors axes, which are nice, but I've got to say that Hultafors are very good value and are made of quality steel that holds an edge well.

[Guest Gimlet]

On 02/03/2014 at 20:37, hedgesparrow said:

the only way to get a axe as good as a elwell is get a good tool blacksmith to make one. Dorset gave me the name of a forge in wiltshire olive forge and they make axes will make it to the design you want. may have to get hold of them see what they can do

This is going back a bit so may be old news now but wondering what came of this. John Beavis is the man in question at Olivemead forge: 

http://www.olivemeadforge.co.uk/billhooks/

 

He's made me three hooks,  a 5" bearded hedging axe and a slasher. I wouldn't buy anything else. At the moment he's renovating an early Gilpin furze cutting/coppicing hook (we're not sure which).

He's struggling to find the antique steel he used to use to hand beat his own laminate and now uses Japanese sword steel, but that's thin on the ground at the moment because no one's exporting the larger stuff. When then do I'm on the waiting list for a Yorkshire hook A socketed Ellwell 3807.

 

The axe he made me is one of these: 

 

A side axe is better for cutting hinges but is limited for other jobs. The bearded axe is more of a wedge and will split the stem down to the root if not used with care but it is more versatile. 

Edited January 16, 2019 by Gimlet

[Stere]

Stubai & mueller both have a good range of axes alot of different patterns.

 

http://stubai.com/index.php/en/forestrytools

 

http://www.mueller-hammerwerk.at/en/categorie-forest-axes.html