Journeyman Axe Review
Here are the stats for the axe:
• 800g total
• 52100 ball bearing steel
• 30 degree bevels
• 12cm cutting edge
• 32cm ash handle
• currently €195 (US $215)
Full disclosure, Max, the guy behind Woodsmans Finest, sent me this axe to review. He’s pretty confident in his work, so was happy for me to say whatever I wanted about this axe.
Mind you, Max is an actual ninja, so I should probably be a little careful with what I say…
So I’m putting my life on the line to give you the good, the bad and the ugly of this axe.
Spoiler, it’s a good axe. If you’re in the market for a heavy duty carving hatchet this will certainly work for you.
The Good
My favourite thing about this axe is probably the edge retention. The first thing I did when I got the axe was to spend a little time stropping. Since then I don’t think I’ve touched the edge and it’s held up really well.
The rifle studs on the sheath are a nice touch. Most of the snap closures that are used on the sheaths of my other axes have failed. Since the rifle studs just fit through holes in leather flaps there doesn’t seem to be much that could fail on them. Perhaps the leather holes could gradually tear wider, but I don’t think that’ll happen.
The handle is nice size. The large end knob provides a little extra counterbalance to the head. It also helps make the axe feel very secure in your grip if you’re swinging big.
The Bad
My biggest complaint about the axe is that the shoulder makes the handle a little too wide and uncomfortable to use if you want to grip fully choked up to the axe head.
The other issue I have is that there’s a secondary strap on the sheath that appears unnecessary. The main strap that goes over the top of the axe head is enough to securely hold the sheath in place. The secondary strap gets in the way when putting on the sheath.
Both of these issues have relatively easy fixes though. The secondary strap could easily be removed and the shoulder could be carved down without compromising the handle in any way.
The Ugly
(Further ramblings about the axe)
I found the handle to be a little too long, but I think that’s just down to all my other axes having shorter handles and that’s what I’ve gotten used to. A longer handle does help to generate more force when you really want the chips to fly.
The head design is solid but broadly similar to a lot of other dedicated carving hatchets out there. Upswept toe, substantial beard, s-curve handle. It works. The slight differences between the various green woodworking axes out there is probably more a matter of personal preference than real performance issues. It can be tricky, but if you’re able to get your hands on an axe to try before you buy, you’ll learn what works best for you.
For quite a while, getting hold of an axe designed for carving was tricky. There weren’t that many options and as spoon carving and green woodworking gained popularity, they quickly sold out. It’s great that Max has worked hard to bring more axes onto the market. This axe, and the Wayfarer (a smaller version of this pattern) are both solid choices.
I think a lot of beginners to green woodworking can worry too much about having the ‘right’ tools. I’ve tried a lot of different carving axes and really, if the weight is okay (not too light, not too heavy✷) and the edge is sharp, you’ll be able to carve stuff with it. A thin bit, flat or hollow ground bevels and a slightly curved edge makes life easier.
The old saying is right; first impressions are important. If you’ve got even a little carving experience, you’ll know within a minute of carving if an axe works for you or not.
✷ too light and you need to put more effort into the downswing, too heavy and you need to put more effort into the upswing. Neither is great, but I’d lean towards too light over too heavy for carving as you’re less likely to fatigue yourself.
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