Council ToolSport Utility 2 lbs. 18 inch Hudson Bay Axes, SU20HB19C

A really good value for a hatchet made in the USA, good grain orientation on the handle, well hanged head with a hardened poll makes it a good pack hatchet for use around the camp site or out in the woods backpacking.

I looked over the eighteen inch and the twenty two inch with the same head, and went with the 22. Also like the straight handle on the 22. Packaging and shipping were fine.

This is a decent axe for the price but has a couple of flaws in the finish. The head grind is decent but the cutting edge is about 1/6” to 1/8” off center which is easily fixable if you have a belt sander or grinder. The cheeks have a good multipurpose shape (not too skinny or too fat) so it should be a good splitter or chopper. The eye is pretty centered maybe about 1/6” off center. The handle grain is good and at a 45 degree angle all the way a long the length of the handle, but the shaping of the handle twist a little at the end/the bottom of the handle, but this can also be fixed with some sanding. I really have a had time convincing myself to spend $200-$300 for a nice axe like a gransfors bruks or hults bruk especially since I live in the city and will only use it for camping, but dang is it too much to ask to get a little more attention to detail, especially for something made in the USA. Made in the USA doesn’t mean as much as it used to for a lot of products these days. Overall this is a decent axe if you have some general skills, tools and time to fix the imperfections I would rate the one I got about a 7 out of 10.

Arrived quickly. Council Tool makes quality USA made striking tools. Bit was sharp, handle was smooth, good balance. Ended up using a torch to pop the hickory grain and fire harden the handle end.

The hatchet is well made and the edge and pal were hardened as described (the metal was blue where it was hardened) but the handle was way too thin for me. I wear a MENS LARGE size glove and I was not able to hold the hatchet properly because the handle was too thin in both width and depth at the exact spot where you would grab it to chop wood. I have hatchets from estwing and Gerber and they are all very comfortable but this hatchet would be great for a boy or someone with smaller hands

Just received this as my first Council Tool axe and am very impressed. The sport utility finish looks great, and they sharpened it very well. Wouldn't take much to get it hair shaving sharp. The handle has a very good shape and fits the hand really well. The hickory is B grade, but the fitting and grain is done right.

Purchased this axe for the hardened pole. Like the fact that the eighteen inch handle results in a true pack axe. Even the grain and installation of the handle to head is superb. Sharp, so can be used from the box. Best axe on the market for the common man.If axe was sent to me, priced $125.00, would have been very happy. Love the hardened pole so no searching for a piece of hardwood to use as a cudgel. Great all around axe for sure.

What a great little axe. The head is hung well and as you can see from the photos everything is square. The edge is sharp. The handle is shaped well and very comfortable to use. All I did was to lightly sand it with 150 grit paper and add boiled linseed oil. Then let it sit for a couple of hours and put it to work. This Council Tool 18" Sport Utility Axe did a wonderful job splitting 5-6" diameter wood. Overall a very nice addition to my axe collection and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who's looking for a solid workhorse that's really a great value.