There are several designs of axes that have evolved in North America and the Old World for a variety of purposes. The American Felling Axe is quintessential example of American design – the fastback muscle car of tool design. They are sexy (to me), mean-looking, connotations deep with ethic and effort surround them. And good ones have a shape, weight, and balance that begs to be gripped with both hands and always make me want to stand up straight and find a way to make my back sore and my hands calloused. But like a two door T-Top Mustang, it is not the most versatile tool in the shed.
There are lots of other great designs for elegant and beautiful iterations axes, but I’ve always felt the the bluest collar, hardest-working – the three speed pickup truck of the farm and forest is the splitting maul. Part axe, part sledge, utilitarian through and through. With enough weight and a wide profile made for splitting grain apart legnthwise, they have make many a cord of firewood from felled trees. And the grandest example I’ve ever seen was the one my father handed me out of the back of his own pickup truck earlier this year. The Big Daddy was in sorry shape when he gave it to me, snapped clean off it’s handle at the base of the head. I’ve never seen a heavier axe. It’s origin is unknown, or forgotten, an implement that seems to just have been part of the family farm, it’s shape and weight is more reminiscent of a flatbed dually diesel truck than of a striking tool.
For Christmas, I returned The big daddy to it’s rightful owner, restored, clean and sharp, and ready to meet with great force any oak round, pile or post that comes it way.
