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.
Blade length
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.
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 weight
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.
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).
Case
The presence
of a cover included with the tool greatly simplifies storage and transportation: the cover at least protects the blade from contact with foreign objects (which could lead to damage to these objects or the blade itself). At the same time, a complete case is more convenient, and often safer, than a case made from scrap materials.
Such a case is considered to be a full-fledged case, in which the instrument is placed entirely or almost entirely, and not an overlay on the blade.
