Comparison Fiskars Norden N10 476 mm

1.2 kg

vs Fiskars X7-XS 355 mm

0.6 kg

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.

Length is one of the main parameters that determine the specialization of the tool. A large length is typical for models designed for rough work in large volumes, where significant effort is required — for example, in cleavers (see "Type"), this indicator can reach a metre. Small tools, in turn, are intended either for precision carpentry or for tourist use, where the tool has to be carried around and its compactness is no less important than functionality.

The smallest modern hatchets have a length of about 200 mm, often they are multifunctional tools with wrenches, sling cutters and other special devices made in the form of curly slots. The length of a tourist tool is usually about 300 mm, universal carpentry axes are about 500 – 600 mm, and most cleavers have a length of 600 mm or more.

It is worth considering that in this paragraph the length of the handle itself may also come across, when the manufacturer himself does not give clear explanations of exactly what length is indicated in the specifications. However, this value often differs by only a few cm.

The length of the ax handle, usually measured from where the blade is attached. For models with wooden (removable) handles, it is indicated for the complete ax handle.

All axes have a long handle and a relatively small blade. Therefore, the length of the handle does not differ much from the total length described above, and the meaning of these parameters is also completely similar.

The length of the ax blade, more precisely, the length of the cutting edge.

Knowing the length of the handle or the entire tool (see above), as well as the length of the blade, one can estimate the general proportions of the ax without even having a picture in front of one's eyes. However, the shape and dimensions of the blade are selected by the manufacturer, taking into account the type (see above) and the specialization of the tool. If we talk about practical significance, then the length of the blade directly determines the contact area upon impact and the corresponding features of the tool. So, a relatively small blade easily enters even hard wood, this moment is used in cleavers. In turn, a large blade that captures a large area can be useful when felling trees or some carpentry.

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.

The weight of the ax blade, excluding the handle.

It is believed that such an ax balance is optimal when its centre of gravity is maximally shifted to the blade. Accordingly, the more massive the blade relative to the handle, the closer the centre of gravity will be to it and the closer the balance will be to the perfect. At the same time, it is impossible to infinitely make the blade heavier and lighten the handle — there are limitations associated primarily with the strength of the structure. As a result, in axes weighing up to 1.5 kg, the weight of the handle is usually 200 – 250 g; in other words, the blade accounts for about 80 – 85% of the total weight of the tool. In more massive products, the handles turn out to be heavier — for example, with a weight of 3 kg, the weight of the handle can be about a kilogram, that is, the blade already accounts for only about 60% of the weight of the tool. However, such axes usually have a considerable length, which compensates for this moment.

The main material used for an ax handle.

— Tree. "Classics of the genre", material that has been used for a long time and has not lost its relevance nowadays. Wood comes in a variety of grades and qualities, but ax makers typically use hard, durable varieties for their products. Due to this, such handles are quite reliable and durable, they can be used even in long and heavy cleavers — despite the fact that wood is relatively inexpensive. It is also worth noting that the tree dampens vibrations well. In addition, the blade in such axes is always removable — thus, if desired, you can replace the complete handle with a more suitable one. The main disadvantage of this material is that the tree tends to shrink over time; because of this, the blade begins to dangle on the handle and can generally fly off from a sudden movement. To correct the situation, you have to change the handle or “treat” it by soaking and driving in a wedge. However, manufacturers can apply constructive solutions that more or less compensate for this shortcoming.

— Fibreglass. In this case, we are usually not talking about pure fibreglass, but about fibreglass — a composite material that combines glass fibre and plastic filler. This combination is characterized by high strength and relatively low weight. And its key advantage over wood is its resistance to adverse conditions, including absolute insensitivity to moisture....Thanks to the latter, the fibreglass handle does not lose its working properties with use, and its service life is comparable to the “lifetime” of the blade itself. Moreover, in some fibreglass models, only overlays can be made on the metal base of the handle, which further increases strength and durability. On the other hand, such handles are noticeably more expensive than wooden ones, and the possibility of replacement in the design is usually not provided.

— Plastic. Plastic is presented on the market in many varieties — from inexpensive and not very reliable to high-strength, not inferior in performance to the fibreglass described above. However, rather high-quality and durable plastic is usually used in axes, similar in characteristics and properties to the same fibreglass or not much inferior to it. The specific characteristics of such handles directly depend on the price category of the tool.

— Metal. The main undoubted advantage of metal handles is extremely high strength: this material can easily withstand loads that are inaccessible to wood or metal-plastic. In addition, the blade and handle in such axes are often made from a single piece of metal, which further contributes to strength. At the same time, metal is well suited only for relatively compact axes — it is quite heavy, and a cleaver, or even a large universal ax with such a handle, would be too heavy for normal work. Note that most often the metal is supplemented with overlays that make the tool more comfortable in the hand.