COUNCIL TOOL Double Bit Axe - 3.5 lb. Michigan Pattern Axe with 36" Straight Wooden Handle & Forged Steel Head - 35-2MR

This is my first and only experience with a double bit axe. It's a pleasure to split with. Been splitting with it right out of the box with no modifications or sharpening yet. It's sort of a blank slate and I look forward to improving it by stripping the paint and reprofiling/sharpening it. Can't fine another axe like it for the value. I plan on buying another council tool axe.

This axe is on the lower end of the price range for double bit axes. Don't let that fool you. Solid tool, USA made. I've split four cords of wood with it. Feels good in the hand, good weight and it gets work done.

This axe came relatively sharp and took a great felling edge and also a good utility edge for limbing and other ground work. The handle was thoughtfully unfinished but was perhaps a little too unfinished with ridges being left from the turning process. It still sanded out and took a linseed oil finish nicely. Council uses 1060 carbon steel and mine definitely was properly heat treated as it holds it edge very well. Great American quality at a fair price. If you want a good American tool that is easy to sharpen yet holds it's edge well this axe is a good choice. When I compared it to my Barco Kelly Michigan double bit the Council is hung straight and ground true. The Barco is not ground true and is hung very crooked. The Council also has a thinner and longer bit for a deeper bite. The Council doesn't have the smooth finish of the barco but it is better quality overall. If you know how to sharpen and safely use a double bit axe this is a great buy that will really perform well at an import price for all American made quality.

The axe is as advertised and made in the U.S.A. The handle could use a little sanding and a smoother finish to improve handling, but it swing nicely and bites deep into hard wood. The edges from the factory are usable but really benefit from some hand sharpening. It took me maybe 15 to 20 minutes using a Lansky Dual Grit Sharpener to clean up the edges and sharpen the axe to a nice edge. The three and a half pound head seems a little heavy at first but a few minutes later I was impressed by it's deep bite into the hard wood as compared to the cut by the two and a half pound axe. My only some what negative comment is that the bite is deep enough that I had to take a little more effort to remove the bit from its cut.

Handle is as straight as a pride parade... Also, aluminum wedge doesn’t let you set small metal wedges. The axe sits on a shelf and gets loose but doesn’t come off.

The wood handle holds up a lot better than the plastic handles. If you intend to use the ax to chop trees this is the way to go.

A. I love Council Tool I own several of theyre axes, i wanted a double for awhile. This was a budget price axe and does require some work, definetly needed sharpening if you want to actually cut with it. Handle profile is fine i dont care for the shellac or whatever is on it i striped off and linseed oil handle. The overall fit and finish and balance of Axe are good its just not ready to go to the field upon arrival, hence the price i suppose. If someone handed mine to me as it is now id rate 5 star.

My axe came in nice shape considering the price i payed and that no company will give you a truly well sharpened axe thats flawless for about this price. The handle had proper grain orientation and the head was seated perfectly. All i had to do was some filing to fine tune its edge profile which didnt take long.