Council Tool2# Hudson Bay Camp Axe; 18″ Curved Wooden Handle Sport Utility Finish

Received a day earlier than expected. Inspected it carefully before I sharpened. Handle is a mix of dark and light wood. Grain is straight and about 20 degrees from vertical. Blade was inline with the handle. Grind was a little rough as expected but was even top and bottom. It was sharp enough out of the box to do some chores. A 10-15 min session with a puck would have put a razor edge on it. I modify all my “cheap “ hatchets and axes. I collect more than use. Surprised at the response at Council to the recent popularity of “bushcraft” art. They have upped their game. Unfortunately prices too. Head is heat treated on blade and poll! The eye is taller- it has more wood contact to avoid the “Hudson Bay” tendency to loosen. Wood wedge and single steel diagonal wedge secures the head. I peeled the stickers off the unfinished handle and sanded any rough areas with 80 grit. Thinned the linseed oil with turpentine (mineral spirits work too) applied several thin penetrating coats to the handle. Sanded with finer grit and have started my linseed oil treatment. I took an ax file to profile the edge . This steel is hard! Got it about 90% to where I want it. Have started to make the “mask” I want using oil treated leather and copper rivets. I’m happy with what I have so far. So glad the sport utility finish is so attractive to me. I did not buy council in the past because of the paint. Now if you want a out of the box ready to go ax/hatchet get a hults Brux or granfors. I have vintage (25 yo) gransfors brux and Wetterlings. Both bought new before they were known much in this country. Still sitting in a protective place. Unused after all these years. Now my users include all estwing. One fiskars a Council tool. Boys and now this! Buy something you will use! Quality and cheap are hard to find in our current global economy. Except for those Scandinavian axes. I try to buy American. Council tool may be a disappointment to some but buying anything unseen is chance. Gone are the days we went to the store and inspected the tool. I’m happy with the 2 recent axes from Council I’ve bought.

It is somewhat difficult these days to find quality American-made tools that will actually last a lifetime, especially at this price point. Council Tool seems to have checked all the boxes with this hatchet-axe. Beefier and more robust than a tomahawk, this hatchet-axe makes for a reliable campsite companion. A few passes with a cloth dabbed in linseed oil will help the handle last longer and look better. I wear it on a leather belt loop with a separate leather sheath when I go into the forest to collect firewood.

The axe is balanced weight to length and is just longer than most of my hatchets that it gives me a little more speed on the head when splitting kindling.

I ordered this hatchet/axe after scouring the internet for reviews. This consistently came toward the top. After opening the package I can see why. The ergonomics and weight are great. We'll balanced on the shoulders, but the head does pull left. The biggest issue is that the grain pattern is far from ideal. It runs diagonally with very few grains running the full length of the handle. It's properly proud and well fit on the shoulders. That said it was perfect for turning the wood in my living room to kindling to start our first fall fire.

Nice little axe, very pleased with the purchase. It wasn't a sharp as I would like but it only took a few minutes with a stone and it was fine. Frankly, I appreciate the fact that I get to put the edge I like on it. I have big hands and the handle fits fine, though a little rough. I'll fix that with some fine grit sandpaper and some boiled linseed oil. I picked up a well fitting sheath for it from Etsy. Used it this past weekend and it handled well with decent bites into the branches. It's a fine little axe for the money.

Very happy with this hatchet. Nice and sharp. I wanted something in between a $10 cheapo hatchet that is dull and hard to sharpen and something handmade in a cave in Sweden that costs $400. This is it. Note the handle is longer than the average hatchet, but that's what I was looking for.

Nice axe I use to drive wedges. Would purchase again.

Good for de-limbing and splitting smaller stuff....It’s a camp axe for sure. Good weight and the handle is nice, although if it were just a wee bit longer(1”-2”), it would be much better IMHO. The handle did get a little fuzzy after being left out on a humid night. Which means it wasn’t properly sanded. I took care of it, and it’s not a huge deal... just something to keep in mind bc it wasn’t as comfortable to use with wood fibers sticking out. The head shape is nice and it seems to hold its edge well. The fact that it’s made in the US is also a +. I would not have purchased if it were made outside of a western country. It excels at processing kindling and smaller stuff. My only real complaint is that for the price, I feel like it should’ve come with a cover/sheath. I plan on making one, but I wish I didn’t have to. Solid axe and I think I’d buy again, especially if it came with a cover.

Une fois reçu sa na rien a voir avec la photo. Oui la hache est une council hudson bay axe, mais pas comme la photo.