Husqvarna596271201 20 in. Wooden Curved Carpenter Axe, Orange/Gray

Don't lie. If you just wanted an axe to chop some wood, you wouldn't be looking at this bad boy. This axe? It is destined for mobility and compact; you're an adventurer. A wanna-be-bush-craft-maniac. Maybe you daydream of crafting your own 2x4s and getting wood shavings stuck in your beard. But you don't want to spend the $150-300 for an axe you'll probably ruin from neglect... but you want the quality. This, my friends, is your axe.The axe head is clearly made by Hultafors/Hulks Bruk. It has the same exact shape and even the logo stamp area is the same. So you know Husqvarna just got a sweet deal on axe head forging from them and slaps an American wood handle into these things. Who can complain about an amazingly forged Swedish steel axe head and American hilt for a fraction of the price? You're buying this axe because you want something that is a little good at everything but is not limited to one expert function (such as a splitting maul or a little hatchet).My only warning about this axe is that the head is heavy for the handle length. You will tire faster using this axe than say a hatchet with only a 1lb head or so. Trust me. The bonus is that if you are talented and practice how to properly chop wood in whatever manner you have... you'll find this thick bad boy axe head will cleave along grain like a hot knife through butter. Seriously. I cut up a fallen ash tree like it was made out playdough with this thing.Most axes come pretty dull except for Hulks Bruk and Gransfors Bruk, but this one came pretty sharp for me. Not razor sharp but definitely field ready. The handle is nice and has clearly been sanded, but there is the slight twinge of natural grit to it. If you want your handle to be smooth... save yourself $100 by not buying a Hulks Bruk equivalent. Buy $2 worth of sandpaper and after ten minutes you'll have a perfectly great handle. This is a great axe. Just inspect it when you get it --- mine had perfect grain orientation and no nicks or damages to the axe head.

I ordered this axe with slight trepidation because of some of the reviews. I even ordered a file in case I needed to work the blade. But I was impressed enough by the good reviews, the length, by the excellent value, and quality of the steel to give it a shot. I couldn’t be happier. It came very sharp, and after I gave it a few strokes with my strop, I was able to shave the hair on my arm with it. I am also pleased with its heft and balance. I plan to do some fine work with it, and found the girth of the handle at the head to fit me well. But I also intend to do some chopping, and I have ordered a leather sleeve to protect the handle. If the sleeve affects my grip at the head, it will be easy enough to modify the handle at that point. I will sand the handle and apply boiled linseed oil. The only criticisms I have are of the handle. The grain runs at 75 degrees, instead of the ideal 90. Additionally, one side of the handle is cream colored sapwood, and the other is honey-colored heartwood. The heartwood side, though, has a beautiful grain and will stand out with an application of the linseed oil. From everything I’ve read, my understanding of these two aspects of the handle would tend to weaken the handle. I can live with that. That’s why I knocked off one of the stars in the sub-category. Were I a younger man with many more years of use in front of me, I probably would have gone with the Gransfors Bruks. But I don’t think I would be one whit happier with a Gransfors Brooks Thani am with this Husqvarner carpenter’s axe

I love this axe. The hang is beautifully done and the grain orientation is perfect. Husqvarna axes are hand forged by Hults Bruk, and much more affordable. If you're looking at a Gransfors Small Forest Axe but can't shell out the 200, I'd say this is a viable alternative, even if the axe head weighs a little more.

I wanted one of these during the pandemic, but the price went up over $120, IF you could find one. I saw the price drop to $62 the other day so I bought one, I liked it so much I bought another.Why do you need 2 axes? My wife asked, well at $62 it’s half what they usually sell for, and I want to do different things with them. When the first came it had a flat edge, it was “sharp enough to chop wood” BUT! I thought it would be fun to do some carving so I rounded the curve with a belt sander. Then sharpened it with sandpaper up to 1500 grit, it will shave end grain like a fine chisel now. Then I got to thinking it would be nice to have another for flat edges, so I bought another, the price went up In a week to$68 ($72 with tax) I want to do a small post and beam fit up on my back porch.On the first axe I shaved the handle down a little so it fit my hand better when I hold it up by the head, nice for detail work. The handle is solid, but the wood type likes to splinter if your carving it. I imagine if you hit the handle a few times it wouldn’t take too many smashes before you had splinters, but this is not an over the head swinger, it’s a short swing. It is a little heavy for one hand, but I am a regular guy and I can do it, just a little heavy.I am impressed with how well the sharp edge was able to get and how well it held up, I chopped and carved and it’s still sharp! I did however just barely hit a stone in the driveway and it did leave some tiny chips on my overly fine edge. Regular chopping and carving in wood, it will stay sharp.I don’t have other fine axes to compare it to, and I know axe guys want to see the grain a certain way in the handle ect. But if figure I will carve a cool handle for it at some point, probably with the axe itself, kind of a morbid cannibalistic type though I guess, but at the price I don’t mind, if I paid $100 or more I would be unhappy with the quality. I do have some nice steel tools and I think the metal is good quality, so I can make a wood handle a lot easier then blacksmithing a head.I hope somebody finds all this typing useful! Buy some tools, and try new things!!!