Steel grade
The grade of steel used in the blade of the ax (in models with metal handles, also in the handle, see above).
Knowing the grade of steel, you can easily find detailed data on it and determine the overall quality of the tool, as well as its suitability for certain tasks. And vice versa: knowing the main characteristics of the most popular grades of steel, you can evaluate the overall quality of the tool already by what brand it uses.
Steel hardness (HRC)
The hardness of the steel used in an ax blade.
Hardness is one of the key characteristics of a blade. Too soft metal will quickly become dull during operation, such a tool will have to be sharpened too often, which does not contribute to comfort. On the other hand, if the hardness is too high, the blade will be brittle, prone to chips and notches, and sharpening will be noticeably difficult.
Most often, hardness is indicated on the Rockwell scale (HRC). The optimal indicator for axes is considered to be a value from 52 to 58 – 60 HRC. Lower values are clearly not recommended; in high-end axes, hardness can be higher, various technological tricks can be used to reduce fragility, but this significantly affects the cost.
Axe weight
The total weight of the ax, for models with wooden handles — with a complete handle.
The optimal weight depends on the type (see above) and specialization of the tool. So, general purpose axes (carpentry) weigh about 0.8 – 1.5 kg; such products are able to provide sufficient inertia for impact and at the same time do not require significant effort. At the same time, lighter tools are intended for precise work, heavier ones for rough work. Cleavers and similar "generalists" are by definition massive, most often from 2 kg or more, and in the most "large-caliber" models, the weight can be about 4.5 – 5 kg. Here it is worth proceeding from the thickness and hardness of the wood that is planned to be chopped:
a heavy cleaver can easily cope even with large logs, however, it will take a lot of effort for such work. In tourist axes and tomahawks, in turn, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of transportation: for constant carrying with you, it is better to take a lighter tool, and if the tool is bought for trips to nature by car, you can choose a heavier model.
Blade corrosion resistance
The presence of a special
protective coating on the ax blade that protects the metal from corrosion.
The carbon tool steel used in most modern axes is not stainless. Thus, many axes provide a special blade coating; usually such a coating has a characteristic black colour. This feature can be useful anyway, but it is especially relevant in cases where the ax is constantly in conditions of high humidity (for example, stored in a barn during the cold season, or used in water trips).
