Council ToolClassic Michigan Pattern Double Bit Axe - 3.5 lbs Splitting Axe with 36" Straight Wooden Handle & Phantom Bevels - SU35-2MC

I was pretty happy with the quality of the steel, it takes and holds a nice edge. It has some course grind marks, not any where close to sharp out of the box, but it's made of good steel and the handle is installed properly. I sharpened it on my bench belt grinder that I use for making knives, it cleaned up nice and took a fine edge. Nice tool for the price, looks good after I took the rough off it.

I've been using the axe for a few days now and have not encountered any problems at all. The axe head is really great quality and it seems just as sharp as when I first took it out of its packaging. With proper care I can see this axe lasting me a very long time. Although I'm giving the axe 5 stars I do have a minor complaint:The axe was constructed with a single metal wedge instead of a wooden one. This means that if the axe head ever starts to become loose it will be a bit tough to take the axe apart and install a new wooden wedge with a small metal wedge(s). But this is just me being a perfectionist.I'm very grateful that I found an axe with such high quality for a very low price.HARRY J. EPSTEIN CO. have been around since 1930 and its a really good feeling to know that American old school craftsmanship still exist!

I'm not an axe expert, I'm more of a chainsaw man these days, but this arrived in perfect condition and reminds of the quality that was always present back in the day. After several hard uses, I'm very happy with the purchase and would definitely buy it again!

Like so many here said before me, the handle on this axe is junk. Council was kind enough to go ahead and pre-crack my handle for me so I didn't have to do it while 3.5 pounds of steel was swinging through the air. I thought is may have happened during shipping, but upon closer inspection, there was finish inside the crack and there was no sign of impact to either the box or handle. Their QC is lacking across the board. The grind on the axe head looks poorer than what is on the shelf harbor freight and this thing cost 3x as much. I was astonished that neither the manufacturers mark, nor the "USA" stamp were anywhere to be found on the head of this tool. But I realized that if I made something of such poor quality, I wouldn't put my name on it either. Don't waste your money on this or any other product from Council Tool.

This double bit axe is pretty nice. The blade finish is ok, not super polished or anything but it's a tool meant to be used so I'm fine with that. It came semi-sharp but a few minutes with a stone improved that. The grain on the handle for the one I received was not perfect, not the worst it could be so that's a mixed bag. I've spent a few hours using it and it performed very well and the blades did not dull badly or fold over, steel appears to be good quality.

This axe is overall pretty “meh” not terrible, not great. I’ve seen a few reviews saying the handle finish isn’t great quality and I’m inclined to agree. I do like that the handle isn’t lacquer finished like a lot of them are and had it just been a rough finish on the handle I wouldn’t have minded very much. The part that really threw me off was how poor the fit was. The one I received appears to have been beat down until someone deemed it “good enough” the handle has wood curling under the axe head, isn’t flush with the top of the head (some is flush and some is under), doesn’t fill out the eye completely, and the wedge was driven in to the point it’s corners were deformed/shaving leaving some sharp corners on the top.

Very nice symmetrical forging, hung dead straight and slightly proud, with what appears to be a poplar wedge and a steel barrel wedge. The handle is straight as an arrow with superb grain orientation and no run out. Sharp enough for splitting, but will need a little work for chopping. Handle is a little thick for my taste, as it should be, to allow the end user to thin and shape to their preference.

For the price this unit chops some wood well. It's pretty light, so I could get some good head speed without much effort. Handle seems to be strong, and comfortable to heavily use 2 hours at a time without sore hands in the end. I used it on cherry and oak, wet as hell. Head kept an edge suprisingly well, metal quality is not bad at all. Let my friends borrow it and even they didn't break it.