1844 Helko Werk GermanyClassic Nordic Splitting Axe - Made in Germany for Splitting Wood and Splitting Rounds and Heavy Duty Firewood, Scandinavian Axe - Head 5.5 lbs, Handle 31 in. (Nordic) #13521

Excellent craftsmanship , both the head and the handle and the hanging.So precise , so symmetrical, grinding the head and the blade is beautiful. Sharp out of the box. The handle looks made of a high quality piece of wood.The leather sheath is of high quality too.I never saw so perfect grain orientation of the handle wood.On every step of the production you can see the GERMAN dedication to precision and quality.I didn't get chance to put it to work yet.I will update the review once I do it (especially if there is any issue) and of course I will take some pictures and videos and upload. These nice people and their axes deserve it :) . Thank you!p.s. If I have to have only one axe I would choose the Expedition.Im a big guy and that axe is simply perfect for me for almost any task.The Tasmanian one is also excellent but little bit specifically designed for racing , and I'm not an expert for that , but I'm sure it's going to serve me very good for anything. It's just a bit lighter and shorter than the Expedition and will be perfect when I get tired :) or for limbing a tree , smaller splittings or felling, etc

Full day of use splitting logs, very nice finish on the head and the handle. Sheath could be better IMO but it works so I won't dock stars. Came sharp, not razor but sharp enough to not complain. The little bottle of oil and care instructions were a nice addition to those that aren't used to axes. So far very sturdy and well made. I'll update if there's a failure based on manufacturing.

Why did you pick this product vs others?:this Ax is a for real tool. It's so much sharper I just got it yesterday and I cut through two 1 foot diameter trees, 5 to 10 times easier than with a typical store Ax. It's probably close to already worth the 200 dollars in one day. It's very sharp not like a store Ax if you drop this on your foot or think you can just sit it down any old way its going to cut. There is no perfect tool for everyone I'm 5'7" and if you have open space it's no problem. But when you stand on the logs to finish them it's difficult because the handle is so long. But even this being said its night and day compared to regular axes which I have used for 10 plus years

A “Few Years Ago”- I’m 68, so maybe more than a “Few”- I used to follow the paper company logging trucks thru the forest they least , they harvested all of the pine and left the hardwood that their skitters fell with the Pine. I cut 12-14’ length pieces of Oak,Hickory and other hardwood trees. I’d take them to a Old antebellum Southern home I was restoring, I’d cut the logs (after it sat in the Alabama summer sun for 6 months) to 20” and split them with the very same brand of axe I just bought here to use to keep my new house warm during Wyoming winters. (I’m already missing the Oak & Hickory) This axe is identical to my original one but I paid 8X’s for it (How the cost of everything has gotten out of control) Thanks “Helko - Werk” for the Best Quality of Craftsmanship and Material & heat treatment for the past 181 years and to Amazon for selling top quality “Old School” tools

Comes kinda sharp, but a little work and you can cut some wood and still go shave off a beard with it. I'm just gonna say it holds an edge better than most. It's just the right size to choke up on and strip branches and bark off for makeshift tent poles, tent pegs, makeshift skewers and spit roast rotisserie. Has nice hammer for driving pegs etc. Great for bushcraft

I am an Axe \ knife and Tomahawk junkie... Actually if it has anything to do with the outdoors or survival I just seem to have to have it. For quite awhile I have been buying Cold Steel and or other Chinese made axes that I do have to say they do the job and quite well especially for the price paid. So one day I was cruising an Axe forum and came across a very well written article about the "High End" axes from Sweden, Germany etc. So, the first axe I bought was a Granfors Bruks Scandinavian Forest Axe ( almost perfection! VERY sharp and so useful !). Was so impressed with it I had to try the Helko, I figured if the Swedes could hand make such perfection then the Germans would have to match it. I was not disappointed. I settled on the Helko Classic Journeyman as I wanted something a little smaller then the GB Forest axe.The Helko came in faster then promised. Packaged VERY well. I was almost like a little school boy opening the box. Size was perfect, handle and grain spot on. Head finish "almost" perfect. The head shines like it should but the ONLY issue I had was the axe came a little dull. Nothing my honing skills couldn't fix. But I did expect a axe ready to be used. Especially such a fine German axe. The other pet peeve was the axe's leather sheath had NO protection on it at all, it was 100% raw leather. Not acceptable in my book. Especially as I use my axes. So I spent an hour or so doing my Johnson's paste wax protection on the entire axe and especially the sheath... The sheath took 6 heavy applications before it even started to look like it was getting any kind of a water proof seal. The following day it took 6 more applications.As far as carrying and using the axe. I think in my world the Helko will become my primary "hunting" axe. It holds its edge, feels almost prefect when using (slight heaviness in the head)... BUT that helps a lot when chopping etc. The handle length is perfect for me when on my hip or backpack. It is just fantastic for shaving fire tender also.I have a Wetterlings 116 Back-country Hatchet 16" coming in to complete (for now) my High End axe quest. I truly hope it is as nice and useful as this Helko.While you can find similar axes and hatchets for less money. You will not sit in your chair polishing and smiling at the quality and usefulness of these German and Swedish tools. They're top notch and worth every penny, if not just alone for the edge retention.Note... this axe would of gotten 5 stars from me if it came in razor sharp as I had expected and the sheath was sealed. This is more like a 4.7 out of 5 rating in my book.