CT is one of the only companies I know of that not only tells you EXACTLY what kind of steels you’re getting in each and every one of the axes you purchase on the website, but they also make sure to let you know that the bit on every single axe is differentially heat-treated, the rockwell hardness range of the edges after said differential heat treats, the type and grain of wood for the hafts, the type of grind and bevel you’re getting on the edge, all of it. I mean, they spell all the specs and details out for you in the product descriptions, EVERYTHING you could possibly wanna know about a supposedly high quality tool you’re purchasing. The prices for such high quality tools are also insanely attractive. Council Tool does NOT mess around. Haltzbruk, Granfors, all these other highly romanticized viking-esque axe companies could stand to learn some things from Council. Number one being: STOP BEING VAGUE AS SHIT ABOUT THE STEEL THAT YOU’RE USING. People who spend hundreds of dollars on a single axe are most likely going to want to know about the quality of the entire tool, how it was smithed, heat treated, all of it. These are NOT the kind of people shuffling into a Harbor Freight store to pick up a cheap throwaway axe.

This is an excellent video. You only missed one important detail; Council Tool axes have been made in the USA since 1886. Do not buy axes made in China. They are low quality steel and will bend and break. Take pride in your tools. Buy American made. I have a Council Tool Jersey Fallin' axe, Boy's axe and an 8 lb splitting maul. I love them!

I've had many -not all, but many. The Sweedes do make good axes... but I stopped buying them after I tried the Council axes, Council gives you a better tool for the money

I have a CT broad hatchet and it remains the most perfectly hung and oriented axe in my collection. The shape and thickness of the handle is perfect and I refuse to change a thing about it. Some of my axes get reworked not just for personal preference but also for functionality. CT has hit the ball out of the park with much of its product line.

Outstanding content! What you say makes perfect sense. Thanks for posting this VERY useful and informative comparison.

I absolutely agree with you on this subject matter…I have all axes discussed, with the exception of a CT classic jersey as it has yet to arrive (I ordered one 2 days ago). A velvicut “classic” jersey in 5160 would be the pinnacle of amazingness as far as I’m concerned..my favorite axe style coupled with my favorite steel. I enjoyed the video greatly, keep up the good work!!😁

Thanks for showing us and take care.

Great to hear this great endorsement of Council Tool seeing as I just bought their Velvicut Double Bit Saddle Axe. 5160 alloy steel. It is a beautiful piece of workmanship and I love it. Thanks. You really seem to know your steels.

Not only your video is good and informative but the moment I heard “back when man were man and music was good” I clicked liked and subscribed right that moment.

Great analysis. Thanks. ... I used to make my living fighting wildfire in Alaska. Along with the use of other tools, my primary tool was a FSS Pulaski axe. ... On the dog sled trapline, I used a Hudson Bay pattern axe for trail maintenance and White spruce round splitting (spruce literally explodes apart at -40° F and colder). ... Council Tool has been on my radar for several years. You've convinced me to give them a go. ... Thank you.

Thank you for your honest review on axes i luv a 5160 axe, i learn so much on this video

hey man great your ability to speak at length while beautifully and intelligently articulating your knowledge is extreme impressive people like you are probably my favorite part of the internet

Beautiful work

Most informative.... I had forgotten about Council Tools, thank you so much.

As an axe lover myself and as someone who spent his childhood splitting wood twice a day everyday for our home heat. I'm very much liking this channel. Subscribed.

Thank you for this

Great video mate, very helpful!!

Thanks for the metallurgy. And yes Counsel Tool's fit and finish is consistent and phenomenal. American made, American Pride in manufacturing. Can't wait to do the factory tour. Great Channel.

Excellent video with great information. In the 1990s I had the pleasure of visiting Council Tool in Waccamaw, NC. I was very impressed with the people (Jack Council was the family member I met with) and I was impressed with their desire to make quality products. I saw their forges in operation and met with some of their employees and I can tell you the values of their company that I remember match very well with your experience with Council Tool products. BTW, Lake Wakkamaw is a great place to camp, vacation, fish.

Velicut Jersey pattern axe is exactly what I want them to make too.

Thank you for this excellent video. I need to look at Council for my next axe purchase.

Man, this is one of the best, most informative and important KZfaq videos I've seen in the last year on what is what when your looking to buy a new axe. I myself love Council Tool axes. I think they are the only axe company out there that is truly making an effort to build quality, well thought out axes in the current market without building one of a kind custom axes. For me little features like hardening the polls should be a no brainer feature on any decent axe. The fact that they are throwing that feature along with in a very nice sheath and a quality handle puts them in a class of one for me. The other axe company that get my attention is Snow & Nealley. The primary reason is that they are using 1080 steel. I don't know how much difference that steel makes in an axe but I tend to believe that whatever differences it makes it's all in the right direction. I've seen one of your videos before but after this one I am going to subscribe. Keep up the great work.

Excellent video, really enjoyed your insight. I've recently been buying and restoring axes. I have a gransfors bruk and a collins double bit axe, and have been looking for a good single bit. So you've sold me on council tool and bought a 6 lbs velvicut axe. Very excited to support American made steel and to get to try it out when it gets here.

Nice job, thank you.

Thanks for this video. YT recommended this after I rehandled my grandfather's axe a while back but "thankfully" my buddy just broke it so now I have the opportunity to rehang it. I'd faired the shoulder, but this time I can bevel the eye, which I didn't know to do last time.

I hit the junk/ antique stores on an off with an eye out for tools and camping gear and if you see any US army tool kits the axes are often Council, same with firefighter tools. I have their Velvicut HB pattern from a few years back and I love it for limbing, making tent pegs, or if I just need a lightweight axe I can pack easily for trail work. I was able to look through a stack of them and pick the one I thought had the best fit and handle as there is a logging supply store in my town that stocks most of Councils line.

Great vid thanks! I own a CT Jersey pattern and have always loved it, now I love it even more! Sad thing is I live in Sweden and it is really hard and expensive to buy CT axes since they don't sell here.

Hey! It's Rooster with Council Tool. Give me a call at the company offices, as I'd love to chat with you about our products. Thanks!

Great video

You got a new subscriber bud. That was a very cool video. Thank you. I live in Mann Edge tool country so I love the USA axes.

Thank you Sir for the honest opinion. I don't have a need for a $200 axe but I do appreciate what a good axe should be. the forced entry axe is bargain for sure at under $100 delivered.

I have a few of their axes, I have been nothing but impressed with their products.

My favorite axe that I own is CT but I love my Collins, True Temper and Kelly Flint Edges. All 3 are my picks but something about the Australian axes are special

When it comes to carbon content if you're comparing a plain carbon steel with an alloy you can use a carbon equivalent formula to determine the hardenability of the alloy as if it were a plain carbon steel. I learned about this when I was studying welding and metallurgy, welders use it to properly preheat and avoid cracking and it's a very good approximation. It's not exactly the same as what a person sharpening a axe or blade would be thinking about as far as hardness because that depends on the heat treatment done and can range from a completely softened state (annealed) to what the carbon equivalent formula comes up with (it's max hardenability essentially). I don't know if that helped, it actually made it more confusing really but you can look up heat treatment specs and different attributes to that process and get a good idea of how a specific type of steel will perform. It's all very well documented and specifications are often very exacting and reliable. For welding especially they need to be accurate so buildings and ships and nuclear reactors don't start falling apart unexpectedly. Good resources out there, Lincoln Electric has a small library and an absolute must have as far as I'm concerned for anyone doing anything with steel and other metals is "Metals and How to Weld Them". It's a crash course on metallurgy will be your new bible if you do any kind of metalworking, especially welding.

I think you need a conflict of interest declaration :) Just getting into axes and ordered a CT Jersey pattern. First axe bought that's not big box store standard fare. I'm really glad I found this channel!

You are bang on.

Earned my sub

I've not got to try an Council Tools axe yet, but very soon.. My old Sthil Forestry axe has been good to me for years..

Oh brother...... I've been splitting wood my whole life and I'm an old man. I split between 7 to 10 cords per winter and for years I've been using my Sthil splitting axe. It's held up amazingly well. What kind of steel? I don't know. What kind of wood in the handle? I don't know. I just know it works, LOL. How did I choose my splitting axe? I went to the tractor supply store and it was on the shelf. It looked good and I bought it. People get so wrapped up in this stuff, LOL.........

I have a 5lb Dayton for splitting lodgepole and doug fir and it does awesome. No damage whatsover in the past 3 years. Also have the Woodcraft axe on the 24" handle. That axe is great but the head slipped when camping while processing an 8" fir. Had to put another metal wedge in.

Council tool is based in the state where I live. I plan on taking a factory tour and picking up an axe while there.

Man I sure hate when axe companies sent out stinkers for handles. 😂. Great video! I have had good results with Council Tool sport utility line to be honest. I definitely want to try out the velvicut line.

I thought this was gonna be that type of fanboy video that Wrangelstar usually puts out about Gränsfors Bruk but I was certainly wrong, you are so knowledgeable on the topic both factually and by experience and you convey that so elegantly. I have one objection and its a small one. For a splitting axe I would buy a Fiskars. The plastic handle will never break and the steel is fine, maybe not as good as the premium brands but that isn't that important in a splitter IMO. And one last thing, the CT axes looks absolutely stunning and I would probably buy them if I didn't live in Sweden. Supporting high-quality Swedish products is important to me, I have a Gränsfors vildmarksyxa.

I agree good video

Ive a council rail splitter double bit from the late 79s or early 80s that my dad left me thats still got the original handle. I bought myself a fss council boys axe about 8 years from Omaha knife thats used alot limbing and splitting kindling. Its 1080 steel and has aittle stricter tempering standards than alot of axes. Its edge holds up great and is still easy to touch up. Ive also a 4lb Stanley made by mann edge tools thats pretty nice too.

So much truth in this video, that I don’t know where to start..!

The trick to swedish steel is their high RC for edge holding..I love that especially for our pines here in Canada

Love it! Have adjusted many friends flawed $25 axes with a grinder, file, sander, and oil... Nobody has ever brought me a Council Tool axe to change.. Couple unknowns, a few True Tempers' .. Lotta Collin's Axe.. Never a Council.

I just inherited some land and have to maintain some small forest. Ihave no clue of that kinda work but I wanted to get it done on my own so thought i have to get some axes, i always buy quality tools and i thank you for the informations i think i go with some of the council tool axes.

I love the wood craft axe especially love the hardened poll. But I also own the others , Hults Bruks, Gransfors Bruks, Norland. But Council Tool is a real great American tool company.

Tuatahi axes are made with their own steel recipe. I have their trapper axe which has a 18degree scandi grind that has held its edge through massive amounts of use including lots of chopping of knots etc. I've been amazed. Best performing axe I've used. Took time to sharpen though.

I make my axes from recycled fork lift tines, which is likely a 4340. I should give 1055 a try as if it’s like 1045 at all it moves much easier under the hammer.

I agree 100%!

Thanks for this great video. It seems you really like the jersey and were able to split a pretty big round with it, but you also have great words for the forcible entry. Do you think the jersey is a more "all around" axe while the forcible entry is more designed for splitting? Which would you grab on your way out the door if your workshop was burning down?

I dont have any fancy new ax's except a chinese hatchet I paid $10 for and wore out handle. All my ax's are old, many were rusted or chipped. I've cleaned them up and rehung them. I do have a 2-1/2lb HB boys ax. But i mainly split wood and use heavier 4 & 4-1/2lb Tassies as thats where I'm from. But I do like the Council tool products, so many folks dont need high end European hand forged ax's that aren't made for their area or conditions. Council gets handles too.

This is a good video because I have always wonder what steel those Swedish axes are made of and are racing axe made of 1055 to 1095 steel because it seem like the deal

Great video 👍🪓 you've got a new subscriber 🔥🔥

Hey...... just came across your channel and subscribed. So I've always bought cheap big box stores axes but I have a small piece of property now and want a QUALITY small axe but I'm not familiar with them... so I was looking at the gransfors bruks small forest axe or Scandinavian forest axe UNTILL I SAW A FEW VIDEOS OF THEESE COUNCIL TOOL AXES........ so I'm a short burly man looking for the best quality axe for limbing firewood and chopping small trees at home or camp site. What wood be your recommended axe say under 400 bucks.... thanks for the videos and your help

Love Axes, I see you too.

Great video and analysis. Council's premium line also seems to avoid their major critique of less than stellar handle hanging. It would be interesting to see them market unhung heads through a distributor or two much like Prandi...especially if it knocked $10-20 off their economy line price as well as shipping.

Jersey pattern Velvicut in 5160 for the win!!! (With 30”, 32”,36” or no handle options)😃👍🏼

Have you tried CT's splitting axe? Trying to decide if I get one of their jerseys for all around use, or if maybe I pick up the splitting axe and the boys axe.

I saw the 5160 forest axe from council and the velvicut 5160. I am moving to a wooded parcel next year and can't decide which one to get. The velvicut looks nicer and has a lifetime warranty but the forest axe is the same 5160 steel and doesn't seem to say anything about warranty. Do you know the main difference between the 2?

What’re you using for that overstrike guard on the Forceable Entry Axe?

Does Council Tools make a good camp/bushcraft axe with a handle between 15-20" and 1-2 lb head? I like the idea of a hardened poll as well for additional utility and durability. I'm in Canada and it seems like their prices are even above Gransfors which is insane to me. I can't find husqvarna near me either except for the ugly composite shite

Hello. I would like to order a set of axes/hatchets to cover all needs from utility, camping to splitting logs. What would be your recommendation. Great video. Thank you

Just got a hultafors HY 10-1,5 SV. Had a estwing 26" camp axe. I like 1055 to be honest. Id rather a softer steel for hard use tools. I paid around $100 CAD for the Estwing, $155 CAD for the hultafors. Heat treats makes a big diff and the design/structure for the need/utilization. I have found over my life (with knives) that i prefer "lower quality" steels over the "super steels". The benchmade i had dis nit serve my utilization like D2, 420HC and the best knife ive ever had is the CRKT M21-04G with a "cheap" german steel". You learn what you like in the field, or with utilization in accordance with your needs.

Maybe mentionable: Blade geometry and heat treatment are more important than the differences in the „carbon“ steels. BTW: you said 60 percent somewhere in the video if I heard it correct- this would be a little to much carbon… ;-) BTW2: here in Germany often used axes are from „Ochsenkopf“. Half the price of swedish axes and they do their job well. No fancy things. Tools to work with. My „ochsenkopf Iltis“ is chopping for decades now without complaints.

Have a local hardware store that sells council axes and I can confirm that they are extremely well made.

I sharpened one of my CT's back in Sept '19 and ended up slicing my foot open soon afterward. Fun memory. My gf was freaking out, but I kept her calm so that she could get me to the ER after we sent out for pizza because I hid the injury long enough.

Excuse me the 5160 woodcraft axe from council not the forest axe. I can't seem to figure out which would suit me better. I'll be felling pine trees and chopping firewood. The woodcraft axe is more money and seems to have a black coating which I don't really know the purpose of. So ya I will be felling some pine trees and mainly chopping, would you recommend the velvicut or the woodcraft?

Thanks a lot now I want to buy them all LOL!

I am an Axe man. I love my GFB but I have had one with such a bad handle I had to return it, I like my Council tool. The 36" curved is best axe in my life for money,. Have the woodcraft axes but like my GFSB better.

I do agree. Hults Bruk new marketing towards that Agdor line is only to reduce the time spent refining axe heads. Just slap a bunch of blue paint over em,slap a sticker and call em good. I understand why… they recognized that the Montreal pattern was selling well and receiving good reviews, so they capitalized by expanding that line. I have that same agdor Montreal pattern and I do actually like it. But when I stripped the blue paint, the axe head surface is horrendous. Worst I’ve ever seen on an axe. LEAVE THE BLUE PAINT ONN!! Lol. Still a solid axe once you sand down the handle and reprofile the bit to your liking

I have two Velvicut axes and a fiberglass us forestry axe from Council. Harry J Epstein carries a ton on New Old Stock axes that were made for the U.S. Forestry too.

Great video my friend. However, you did state that Council tool uses 1055 steel when in fact I believe they use 1060 Steel. Forgive me if I'm incorrect. Once again, great video!!

Husqavarna is made by Hults Bruk and I tend to like them better. I have ooly ever had amaizing GB axes. Love my Scandanavian Forest Axe. To me it is near perfect.

4140 is used in low end gun barrels. It's more than sufficient for an axe! Also, my Husqvarna carpenter axe is supposedly made by Hultz but costs 1/2 the price of their "normal" axes.

It’s good to watch people who know their shit!

I have the boys axe. No complaints. Had it for a really long time, like almost 10 years. It isnt “fancy” but its a workhorse that I beat up.

I am a bit of a steel snob and I personally think 8670 is a steel that seems like it would make for excellent axe steel. In the industry, 8670 is used in band saws and sawblades. As a knife steel it is one of the toughest steels on the market.

What is anybody know about Collins acts? I have a 4 lb and I also have a 2 and 1/4 lb voice ax. I love them. I can handle some business with those things so far!!

It pains me to admit but I had an incredible Council tool velvicut American felling ax and I managed to lose the thing. Not sure where it went. Its more than likely leaning up against a tree in the forest. I’ve looked high and low and I can’t find it. I seem to look for it once a year or when I think of it just to see if I can find it. I’m going to give it go this weekend. Maybe I’ll get lucky this time. Otherwise I’ll probably get another one.

Do CT "premium" axes suffer from the same defects you addressed in one of your past videos?

"Council Tool is the only company I'm aware of that uses a higher grade of steel in their premium axe line (Woodcraft and Velvicut) that justify the price increase." Exactly. That, and they still keep the margin tight considering how much time and effort their staff puts into getting that hang and bit just right for you. That's a lot right there. (Then again, if you plan to customize your ax *at all*, why in the world would you buy a Velicut *except* maybe for the difference in steel? And do you need that little bit of difference? The Sports Utility line is right in the Goldilocks zone. Hard and durable enough; still easy to maintain the edge. Otherwords, not too hard, not too soft: Goldilocks!

I just bought a HB Qvarfot. Light head, long handle. Handle is fat. But I can remove the extra material myself. Backpack axe in boreal forest.

i know you've made videos of heads coming loose on Council Tools axes before. Does the Woodcraft not have that issue?

Ive used the council tool miners axe for years and have done some absolutely horrible things to them ( cutting rocks steel nails etx) and they seem to do well

I know you don't want to be a sellout but I would appreciate it if you had an affiliate link for your preferred axes available. I like to get what is specifically reviewed and would appreciate it if I didn't have to dig for it. Thanks for the wonderful review

Your personal honest opinion, 1080hc axe...yay or nay? Looking at one that's handmade and not sure if it would be amazing or better choices

FYI 4140 has .85% (1 in 4140) manganese. Just thought I would let you know. 4140 seems to be the axe steel thar keeps coming up...thinking of going that direction compared to a 1080 HC axe I've been looking at. Not sure though..

I just purchased a miners axe from council tools but I just noticed on their website and it says nothing about the steel on the axe. All it says is steel made in America. So I’m kinda dissapointed in that. Is the premium steel only available on the forcible entry axe?? For the same price?

What make is the Axe you are Holding at the 2min Mark ?

I have a CT 3 lb.cedar ax .Not sure when it was made.Not many made by CT.Only seen one other on the net It's a good one.

The CT Standard line Classic Jersey is 1060 not 1055. The whole SU line is 1060

I do have a wood craft pack axe.

I think they use 4140 in heavy truck axles might be wrong but pretty sure so if so pretty tough steel

4140 is used a lot in machinery and vehicle output shafts. I'm not 100% about axles but it wouldn't surprise me if that what is used. 5160 and 6150 are found in vehicle and truck springs.

Hoffman Axes uses all 4140 steel in their production. They’re expensive, and there’s a wait to get one, but they’re awesome axes.

Any recommendations on where to purchase?