The Best Made company, found at www.bestmadeco.com are gear and clothing company which emerged circa 2011 in New York City. They style themselves as a mix between an old world adventure outfitter with a very modern look which taps directly into the 'artisan' movement currently going on in the gear world and beyond.
Beginning as an Axe reseller, selling Snow and Nealy brand axes with small markup (perhaps a finders fee) primarily, it seemed, as functional talking points for those wealthy enough to afford to display them in their communal areas at home.
A short time later, it appears they went into business with Council Tool, another US told producer, and tapped into their emerging 'Velvicut' line of premium axes - a line which CT aimed squarely at the market share dominated by the Swedes and their much admired Wetterlings and Gransford Bruks brands.
The concept of axes as heirlooms is not new, but appears to have gotten shelved by the mainstream consciousness during the rise of Chinese mass built, low priced, disposable commercialism that took hold in the 1980s and 1990s.
Now however, with a resurgence in quality over quantity mentality linked to a contagious pride in American cottage industry and honest blue collar work, as well as the rise of outdoorsmanship in general (my generation finally putting down their video games and getting outside) there is a strong and highly competitive market for axes and hatchets that promise durability across many years of adventure.
The newest Hatchet from the Best made line (which until this point has consisted of a longer handled CT Hudson Bay axe and a full sized American felling axe) is also a partnership with CT. From what I can tell, the straight hold hatchet is the head of a CT Hatchet, with a handle unique to this retailer, as well as some other flourishes you would expect when paying an upgrade in cost.
The Hatchet cost $89 USD. I ordered it from the website, the end price including shipping was about $130 AUD with shipping. It took two weeks to arrive. I have taken in on four extended trips and cut a large amount of wood, both in a chopping and splitting role.
This is a link to my video review, the only one so far:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMFj4Zj1a4E
Blade: 4/5
The blade is a traditional, jack of all trades Dayton pattern hatchet head with a roughly 4 inch cutting edge. It is made of 1060 carbon steel which is a pretty standard carbon steel for axe heads. I appears to be cast and shaped via stock removal. The head is 1.25pounds, which feels substantial on the footlong handle. As a chopper the blade is heavy, so you'll be doing fewer, more forceful cuts. The shape is definitely geared towards splitting. As a chopper, it takes reasonable bites from wood, but a narrower blade profile with less steel on the cheeks (the portion from the edge to the eye) cuts far better across the grain.
In a splitting role however, the extra steel is well spent, the weight and blade geometry thoroughly penetrating any mid sized round of wood I would put it to. The blow is a first strike into some ghastly, knotty, seasoned red gum. It splits like a much larger axe.
A second strike, and its all done and dusted. A light twist will do the rest.
This blade functions very well in its intended purpose - I view hatchets as fireside camp tools, mainly filling the role of a spitter and occasion limber when doing a small projects like fashioning a walking stick. You are obviously not going to have a great deal of success chopping down a tree, although even against a standing dead hardwood tree, as shown in the video review, the axe did eventually do the job. The weight lends itself well to demolition tasks. The steel is a mid to high carbon and takes a sharp but soft edge, which is preferable in tools which intend of being used and abused. There is no reason you could use the poll to pound any material softer than the steel. I don't, generally, but you could.
Useability: 3/5
The selling point for this over the standard CT hatchet, or pretty much any other modern hatchet, is the handle. Best Made state they were inspired by the carpenters hatchet handle pattern - a straight and versatile straight line, with very little flourishes to speak of. They have added some palm swells in a couple of places, in the middle and toward the heel of the handle. You can see below it is rather straight compared to two other popular axes - the Gransfors Small Forest (middle) and the Estwing Sportsmans Hatchet (far).
This handle does have a fair amount of utility. I found it very comfortable, despite coming coated in a grippy lacquer. I cannot stand lacquered handles. They mix poorly with dirt and fluid and tend to become tacky after hours of use, leading to blistering. I found this occurring after several minutes of frenzied chopping (which I do more as a test for the head stability). I deduct a point for this, as although it is a simple process to remove it, it does take some time and a little extra cost (linseed oil and several grits of sandpaper.
Here is a video of me stripping the coating after my testing:
Another two small problems which each knocked about half a point from the score are the sheath accessibility - the issue being it is difficult to pry the (very nice looking) button snap off the belt. The strap is also somewhat floppy in my example, so it is not ideal for affixing to a belt. A second holster is recommended if you want to belt carry this hatchet.
The other small issue I had, which was also remedied in my handle re-do, is the end of the handle doesn't retain the grip as well as I'd like. Simply getting as rough file and adding some crosshatched markings has done the trick though.
Overall, I would rate usability as a solid 'good'.
Build Quality: 4/5
Theres no getting around it. One point knocked for the very ugly attachment method. The aluminium wedge has been driven in unevenly, and the supporing epoxy is quite visible to the naked eye. The below images show the hatchet (middle) between the Gransfors Small Forest Axe and the Estwing Sportsmans. Whether this will stand the test of time like the well used Gransfors, time will tell. It has held fast so far, so I am only reducing one point. The rest of the hatchet is utilitarian and practical. The lacquer cost a point elsewhere. Everything else on the hatchet was clean and the grain orientation on the handle is very straight. The axe head is hung evenly and correctly, with the blade following the handle angle all the way down. Apart from the ugly eye, it is a good looking hatchet from any other angle and has held its edge very well for the steels expectations, indicating it is well heat treated.
One thing that I would also change would be to set the handle above the head, as shown below in the Gransfors. This is a must more trustworthy way of hanging a head in my experience.
Value: 3/5
The Council Tool variant of this axe is half the price to start with. It retails from the website at $42 USD. That is 5/5 value for an an American made hatchet. So we need to look at what we get extra, for our extra $43. The straight handle is one, which is fairly well implemented, but does require end user tweaking to get just right. The leather mask is high quality but does not function as well as competing axe masks. Even the Estwing, which is also a $40 hatchet - a very different type of hatchet, nonetheless - has a high quality belt mountable sheath.
Overall, for the high quality steel head, the less common and (eventually) highly ergonomic american hickory handle, US production and a good amount of after care support (I have had great experience with Best Made Co customer service - you do read mixed accounts, but I have never found them to be many less than highly accommodating) I would place this a good, but not great, value.
So would I recommend this hatchet, compared to the highly competitive and varied market it sits in? Well despite not being amazing value, it is still half the price of what a Swedish made hatchet will cost you these days. It is not to that same standard, but for the average camper, its a great purchase for someone wanting something a bit more substantial than the polymer and all steel hatchets from Fiskars, Schrade, Sog and even Estwing. It's also light years ahead of a painted no-brand number you'll grab from your local hardware store. Whether you like then handle enough to depart from the base council tool model is a bigger question.
Overall Score: 14/20
Council Tool original (as far as I can tell) : http://www.counciltool.com/product.asp?pg=product&item=20HCT14C
Positive site, where did u come up with the information on this posting?I have read a few of the articles on your website now, and I really like your style. Thanks a million and please keep up the effective work. ax throwing los angeles
ReplyDelete