The Trail Boss handle has varnish on it…thats why it is smooth. You need to scrape it off and use boiled linseed oil on it. The other axes are ready for linseed oil.

Intresting test... I'm Swedish and I use axes that my grandfather bought 80 years ago (Hultafors, Hults bruk and the best in my opinion is the Gränshammars Bruk) and after one generation of use the handle is perfect. You want a good grip operating the axe in rain or -30. No oil, just use it. Cheap axes ar solid carbon steel and the more expensive are forged laminated steel. Maybe You wont tell the difference but your grandchildren will. By the way, one of my axes is more than 100 years old and handle is replaced 4 times. Don't get flimsy over the handles. Otherwise nice upload, thank you!

Maybe take the axes out and actually use them. See how the edge holds up, see how easy they are to restart sharpen, see how long it takes before the heads come loose. Who cares how sharp they are when you get them?

In my opinion You’re concerned about the wrong things, but nonetheless your point is valid. Is it worth paying so much for Swedish axes. Grain orientation means nothing-did any of them break? All the handles are too fat for real use anyway, outside of just splitting kindling. And you don’t want lacquer on the handle, which the trail boss has and will give you blisters. The two things that matter in a production axe is the hang and the steel, period. If it comes loose after a year and moves in the eye or is out of alignment, both of which I have had happen with expensive axes, than I might as well have bought a head and hung it myself.

4:00 First North American to say 'bruk' correctly, you've earned a firm like.

The first thing to do to the Trail Boss is scrape the slick clearcote off the handle, leave it a little rough, and apply oil finish to the wood. You do not want a slick handle when doing hard work with an axe : sweaty hands + slick wood = flying axe.

of course we all use our axes to shred paperwork!

That was awesome!!! Thanks so much. My trail boss came perfect. I did thin out the edge to were I like it. Blessings 🙏

You're right I found the same thing. The Trail Boss is a good tool. I think there are a lot of people after bragging rights and think that spending more gets you more and that just isn't always true.

That rough surfaced handle is a bonus in my opinion. I have a trail boss and I scraped all the laquer off the handle cause it will give you blisters over time.

The Trail Boss is a great axe. I love mine. Paid $23 and you can’t beat that!

Nice review, wish I had seen this a while back. Looks like I will try the trail boss with minor modification.

Love my Trail Boss. I use it for kindling and limbing.

Get a Gransfors Bruks and compare.

Good video Robert. I own a Trail Boss and a Husqvarna carpenter. They both do well at what they're meant for. If someone wants a " Bushcraft" show piece to hang on the outside of their pack then Granfor's and Hult's is the ticket. Both those makers are excellent but the price has a lot to do with the name now that they have become an outdoorsman's fashion statement, kinda like a Gucci Purse, lol. Again good video Rob.

I bought a trail boss and I love it. I used it last weekend when I cut down a 24 inch maple tree and it cut through this tree like it was soft pine. I did clean up the edge with my stones before I used it but it was sharp right out of the box. Well worth the money I paid for it.

This is not an axe guy. Ok.

The amount of mental gymnastics I had to do to follow your logic and train of thought was exhausting. I think you’ll change your views on a lot of this as you get more experienced in the world of axes.

I bought a Trail Boss, Carded the handle and gave it many coats of toung oil then gave it a razors edge. I am not strangers with working axes and I am more than pleased with my Trail Boss after adding this extra work to it. I went to Helco works and the sheath is unavailable. I want to add a sheath and handle protector to mine. Money well spent but it wasn't that much to begin with.

I’m happy with my Trailboss too although I’m still gonna get a gransfors bruks

I love my trail boss, my wedge is starting to get a gap in it, which kinda worries me, but gonna keep chopping away with it

NOW THAT'S THE WAY YOU DO A REWIEW. Hell yeah. THANK YOU......bought one.

after a bunch of Norse mythology and myths and shows like Vikings.... they still can't get the handle right on an over priced axe.. great review and comparison.

Steven's mantra at his site "Skillcult" is to "stop shopping and start shopping". Good advice. How many axes does one need? I own a Trailboss and after a single use, discarded it for my Swedish made axe. Piece of junk that Taiwanese made axe. Soft metal, knicks easily and requires constant sharpening to just get it to moderately cut. Even bounces back up with certain hardwoods. Too superficially detailed a comparison review, my friend. There are better American and Canadian made axes at a reasonable price than the Trailboss.

Unless you're some sort of axe connoisseur, I wouldn't overthink it!!! Just buy something you like and if it gets the job done great!!!!

The difference is your Swedish axe handles need to be hit with some steel wool then coated with boiled linseed oil.

So this tells me that any person who has NOT ever swung an axe,( or otherwise) can buy a big ole bunch of axes, (or stuff) see if it cuts paper and be rich .

In my opinion, axes in most cases are quite random. No matter which brand, I prefer buy them if I can examine and check the grains direction of their handles, how the head is attached, how the grind is, and the sheath. So other than Fiskars, I prefer not buying them online.

i dont think this ole boy has swung any of these axes.

Trail boss is a good deal but the husqvarnas for $55 is a ridiculous deal. I think those are over 100 now if you can find them.

Do you ever use these axes or do you just collect them and learn about them online. Lookin like a city boy with that puffy ass coat.

Paper has 'grain'. It's easier to cut with the grain (along the long side of a typical sheet of paper) than against it (along the short side of a typical sheet of paper). A little stropping helps a lot.

Nice video. Ive got to many axes. All the ones you have there plus Granfors et, etc. No one i know this side of the pond uses an an as the the handles come. All mine and my mates handles are different. I like a thin "whippy" handle, my mate Josh like a medium handle and my massive 6.5 mate Lars who lives in Hammerfest Norway hundreds of miles north of the artic circle leaves his a lot thicker for his bear paw hands and thick gloves. So, Swedish companies ship them thicker.

The paper on the long side is always easier to cut.

You know that Hults Bruk made those Husqvarna axes, right?

If you had to keep only one for the rest of your life, Which would it be?

What you need is a Gransfors Bruks. They are gems and have a guarantee on head not coming loose. Grain is outstanding and the handles are smooth as can be and come already treated with beeswax and boiled linseed oil. Look em up.

why would you buy hults brook when small forest axe is 10 dollars more at least were I am.?!

Are you a Hollywood actor and are you paid off by cold steel

Couldn't you have just bought some good Hickory axe handles? Instead of buying new axes?

This dude is not experienced enough to make a review.

Hoosk-varna, not Huska-varna. Otherwise nice video.

“From my experience so far” you haven’t even used it.

Blah blah blah blah...

Kleenex anyone ?