BahcoStandard Axe 1.1/4LB

I don't normally do reviews but feel compelled to do so in this case.I've been looking for a new bushcraft axe since my last one recently disintegrated into many, many pieces and wasn't quite sure what to go for.Originally I deemed this axe too good to be true as it is so cheap so I was at first leaning towards the Husqvarna hatchet which was on offer but recently went back up in price making this Bahco one seem more desirable from the cost perspective.Although this axe does seem quite cheap I went for it on the basis that all Bahco tools I've used previously including their bow saws and the Bahco Laplander folding saw have all performed exellently and have all withstood heavy use in a forestry & woodland management environment as well as for my bushcraft hobby.The axe is lighter than I expected (which I hope is not at the expense of long-term build quality) making it ideal to stick in my backpack and is barely noticeable for going trekking with - a bit more weight would be nice when cutting but the trade-off for portability is worth it in this case as it's only a small axe and shouldn't be used to do anything too extreme with anyway.Seems to be sufficiently sturdy and well put together, I really have no issues here but the axe was very blunt but a quick file up run over a diamond stone and it is razor sharp. It was easy to sharpen and took the edge well but as for long term edge retention I can't really comment.So far I've spent half a day with it up in my local woods and it chops hazel and sweet chestnut coppice with ease, slices through branches like butter and I even tackled a 13" dia. beech log with no real problem.The edge I put on it has held up so far and have been feathering sticks with it.So to conclude, a lightweight well built axe that takes an edge well and cuts sufficiently well. And is cheap as chips.My only gripe is that I find the hadle is a bit weird but I probably just need to get used to it. It's still comfortable and ergonomic to use.

Good balance and feel to it and still have all my fingers

Perfect small axe . Good value for money. Easy to use. As with a lot of my wooden handled tools I like to shape the handle a bit to my own liking but this felt good from the start

Reasonable quality hatchet and looks better with the varnish and orange paint removed!

I've bought and used many Sandvik Bahco tools over the years, including wood saws, hacksaws, adjustable spanners, and their legendary Laplander folding saw, and I've always found them to be excellent quality. This axe, though, left quite a bit to be desired when it arrived. There's nothing at all wrong with the basic design - it was just very roughly finished. The handle and head were covered in blobby, bubbled orange paint, the hanging hole in the handle had rough edges (I could have done without this hole altogether, really), the ash-wood handle was rough to the touch and cheaply varnished, and the wedge on the head had a silly, flimsy plastic hanging loop attached to it which was broken when the axe arrived, and which needed cutting off right away. The cutting edge of the axe was none too sharp either. However, I followed the advice given in Dave Baldwin's review - spend a couple of hours sanding off all the horrible orange paint, polish and sharpen the head, work some wood oil into the handle, and lo and behold, a very nice tool emerges. I'm not quite enough of a survivalist to feel the need to wrap the handle in paracord myself, but other than that, Dave Baldwin is right on!I'll be making a leather sheath for the head next. All in all, I'm happy with my purchase, but I'm not used to having to put this much work into a tool before it's usable. I thought the Swedes loved their axes - I'd have expected Sandvik Bahco to have a better understanding of what makes for a great axe, even at this price point.

Sharper than I thought it would be,please note, dont hold wood with your thumb on the top of what you are chopping.Good value

Small sharp no app or instructions ya hit things they get hit or don’t. It’s simple well made and useful

Handle is brittle flimsy wood. Sent it back as there is no way it's going to last long.