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How to choose the right axe
We are often asked about what type of axe to choose. When making your choice, it is important to decide what the axe will be used for. Will it be used for chopping wood, out in the forest or to make a log house? The axe is one of mankind’s oldest tools and therefore comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes.
We are often asked which axe to choose. The most important starting point is what the axe will be used for – chopping firewood, working in the forest, carving wood or building with logs. Axes come in many shapes and sizes because they are designed for very different tasks.
Step 1: Start with the intended use
The first step in choosing the right axe is to consider what it will be used for. Axes are designed for very different types of work – from felling and limbing trees, to splitting firewood, shaping timber, or carving and fine woodworking.
The differences lie mainly in the shape, edge and weight of the axe. An axe that works well in the forest is rarely suitable for carving, and a carving axe is not made for splitting wood. Starting with the intended task makes the choice both easier and more accurate.
Below, we have grouped our axes by area of use. Choose the category that best matches the work you want to do, and we will guide you further to the right type of axe.
Step 2: Understand the differences in design
Once you know what type of work the axe will be used for, the next step is to understand how different axe designs affect how the tool works. Axes may look similar at first glance, but small differences in shape and edge geometry make a big difference in use.
The most important distinction is how the edge meets the wood. Some axes are designed to chop or split by driving the wood fibres apart, while others are made to slice into the wood with control and precision. There are also tools where the edge is set perpendicular to the handle, used for shaping, hollowing and working close to the timber.
Understanding these differences helps explain why certain axes are suited to specific tasks—and why using the right design makes the work safer, more efficient and more enjoyable.
Step 3: Choose the axe that fits how you work
When the type of work and the basic design are clear, the final step is to choose an axe that fits how you work. Even within the same category, axes differ in size, weight, balance and edge configuration, all of which affect control, comfort and results.
A smaller or lighter axe offers precision and ease of handling, especially during detailed work or longer sessions. Larger and heavier axes provide more power and reach, which can be an advantage for heavier tasks or larger pieces of wood. In some cases, handle length, edge grind or handedness also play an important role in how the axe performs in use.
By considering both the task and your working style, you can choose an axe that not only suits the job, but also feels right in the hand and supports the way you work.
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Forest Axes
Forest Axes are designed for work in the forest, from felling trees to limbing and general cutting tasks. They are made to cut across the wood fibres and combine balance, reach and control for efficient work in varied forest conditions.
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Splitting Axes
Splitting Axes are made specifically for splitting firewood. Their shape and weight are designed to drive the edge into the wood and then force it apart along the grain, making them efficient and reliable tools for all types of firewood preparation.
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Broad Axes (Log-building Axes)
Broad Axes are traditional tools used for working timber, such as squaring logs and shaping planks for log building. Their wide, flat blade and specialised handle and grinding options allow for controlled, accurate work close to the timber.
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Straight and Gutter Adzes
Straight and Gutter Adzes are traditional Scandinavian tools for precise timber work close to the log. Depending on the shape of the cutting edge, they are used either for shaping flat surfaces or for hollowing out wood in log building and woodworking.
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Sloyd Axes
Designed for shaping and carving wood where precision and control are essential. These tools are made to slice into the wood rather than split it, making them ideal for detailed woodworking, carving and fine shaping tasks.
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Historical Axes
Hand-forged replicas inspired by archaeological finds and ancient axe designs. Produced in small, unplanned series, they are made to preserve and showcase traditional forging techniques rather than to serve a specific modern function.