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Would you like to add information to this article? Interested in writing or submitting an article? Have a question about this article? An Ax to Grind: Part 5 of A Practical Ax Manual 
Buying an Ax
New and Used Axes
Buying a quality used ax at a secondhand store, flea market, or farm auction may be your best bet. Most used axes are also abused axes, but about 1 out of 10 is still usable. The price is usually right. Used axes can often be picked up for half the cost of a new ax. Look not only at the ax's condition, but take the ax's manufacturer and its head pattern into consideration. The quality of steel and the tempering of old axes is often superior to that of new axes (Figure 106). The helve or the handle is not of any importance at this point. Shop only for the ax head and plan to rehang it to fit your needs.  Click here for higher quality, full size image Figure 106--Telling if an ax is defective or abused (drawing courtesy of Snow & Nealley, Bangor, Maine). Manufacturers
World Wide Web: http://www.ames.com Ames Lawn and Garden Tools
Barco Industries, Inc. and sister company, Phoenix Forging Company, Inc., have a large line of striking tools, including axes and hatchets. These tools are marketed under the Barco name, as well as the registered trademarks Rocket, Kelly Perfect, Kelly Woodslasher, Woodslasher, and Light Duty. Barco Industries, Inc.
Bear Creek Tool Company specializes in hand-forged broadaxes and about 15 types of adzes. Their products have been used during a number of historical restoration projects. This is a small family operation owned by Charlie Wilkins. Bear Creek Tool Company
Collins Axe Company is part of the Mann Edge Tool Company. The Collins name has been associated with axes since 1826. The company offers a broad line of axes and replacement handles. Mann Edge Tool Company supplies ax heads to other manufacturers to market under different labels. Collins offers professional quality, 100% USA-made striking tools. Collins Axe Company
Cooper Tools is a conglomerate that manufactures hammers, axes, and chisels under the well-known Plumb trademark. Cooper Tools also owns the Nicholson, Lufkin, and Crescent trademarks, among many others. Cooper Tools
Council Tool Company was founded in 1886 by John Pickett Council who developed tools for the turpentine harvesting industry. Today Council products include a full line of quality axes and other tools. Council Tool Company
Estwing Manufacturing Company offers a full line of axes, hatchets, and wood splitting tools. Most of these tools offer tubular or solid steel handles. Estwing Manufacturing Company, Inc.
Gränsfors Bruks AB is a Swedish company established in 1902. The company offers a full line of hand-forged traditional and specialty axes and hatchets, each stamped with the initials of the craftsman who forged it. A sister company, Gränsfors Bruks, Inc., is located in Summerville, South Carolina. It imports and markets Gränsfors Bruks axes and spring steel wrecking bars, in addition to other products. World Wide Web: http://www.gransfors.com Gränsfors Bruks AB
Gränsfors Bruks, Inc.
O.P. Link Handle Company is the largest manufacturer of hickory striking tool handles and farming tool handles in the United States. The Link family of handle makers operates factories in Salem, IN; Sequatchie, TN; Crossville, TN; and Hope, AR. The company can create almost any ax handle from the patterns shown in its catalog and from its inventory of less-popular handle patterns. O.P. Link Handle Company
Peavey Manufacturing Company was founded in 1857 by Joseph Peavey, who developed the original "Peavey." Peavey does not manufacture axes, but it does make a host of log-moving and log-working tools and handles, including cant hooks, draw shaves, and its namesake tool, the Peavey. World Wide Web: http://www.peaveymfg.com
Peavey Manufacturing Company
Snow & Nealley, Bangor, ME, is a family-owned and operated business that has been producing high-quality axes and woodworking tools since 1864. World Wide Web: http://www.snowandnealley.com Snow and Nealley, Inc.
Sandvik Saws and Tools Company has developed from a provincial Swedish steelworks into an international, materials engineering conglomerate. Milford, Bahco, Belzer, and Lindström are some of the brands now incorporated under the Sandvik Saws and Tools division. The company manufactures high-quality sharpening tools, saws, and forestry tools. World Wide Web: http://www.sandvik.com Sandvik Saws & Tools Company
Tuatahi Axes and Saws in New Zealand grinds and manufactures premium quality axes and saws for export to countries all over the world. Much of its inventory is custom made. Products available include competition racing axes, work axes, crosscut racing saws, knives, and grubbers. Bailey's is the distributor for Tuatahi products in the United States. Tuatahi Axes and Saws
Bailey's World Wide Web: http://www.bbaileys.com Bailey's, Western Division
Bailey's, Southeastern Division
Vaughan and Bushnell Mfg. Company offers a line of striking tools, axes, hammers, and hatchets. World Wide Web: http://www.vaughanmfg.com Vaughan and Bushnell Mfg. Company
Distributors
World Wide Web: http://www.benmeadows.com Ben Meadows Company
The Country Workshops has been providing instruction on Swedish carving techniques and other traditional woodworking skills since 1978. It also has an online store where axes, adzes, and other traditional woodworking tools can be purchased. World Wide Web: http://www.countryworkshops.org/toolhewing.html The Country Workshops
Forestry Suppliers, Inc. carries a large line of axes and hatchets from several manufacturers, as well as supplies for forestry, engineering, and environmental science. World Wide Web: http://www.forestry-suppliers.com Forestry Suppliers, Inc.
Garrett Wade Company offers a large selection of traditional woodworking products, including handtools, axes, and adzes. World Wide Web: http://www.garrettwade.com/ Garrett Wade Company
Lee Valley Tools is another large supplier of traditional handtools, including axes, adzes, and log building tools. The company is based in Canada, but has an operation in the United States. World Wide Web: http://www.leevalley.com Lee Valley Tools, Ltd.
Lester C. Kenway Trail Services, founded in 1994, features handtools by such companies as Snow & Nealley, Collins, Peavey, and Sandvick. It also specializes in rock-moving equipment. Lester C. Kenway Trail Services
Sticks & Stones Unlimited, Inc., distributes the machine-knife stone, Item No. SB-74. This 4- by 1½-inch oilstone has a groove cut into its circumference to help protect fingers from sharpened edges. This stone works well for sharpening axes as an alternative to the thinner, traditional round stone. The company distributes other stones and sharpening tools. Sticks & Stones Unlimited, Inc.
Woodcraft, in business since 1928, is a good source for broadaxes, adzes, hatchets, and other woodworking tools. World Wide Web: http://www.woodcraft.com Woodcraft
Organizations
Early American Industries Association
World Wide Web: http://www.eaiainfo.org The purpose of the Early American Industries Association, Inc., founded in 1933, is to encourage the study and better understanding of early American industries in the home, in the shop, on the farm, and on the sea; also to discover, identify, classify, preserve, and exhibit obsolete tools, implements, and mechanical devices that were used in early America. The association also offers its members a great selection of books at reduced prices. Mid-West Tool Collectors Association
World Wide Web: http://www.mwtca.org The Mid-West Tool Collectors Association is a nonprofit international organization dedicated to the study, preservation and understanding of the early tools, implements, and devices used by our ancestors in their homes, shops, on the farms and on the seas, and to a better perception of the industries and crafts in which these tools were used as well as the craftsmen who used them. M-WTCA was started by 16 Chicago-area tool collectors in 1968 and has grown to 3,900 members in all 50 states and 5 other countries. Regional organizations (many more exist; these organizations are among the largest) Pacific Northwest Tool Collectors (PNTC)
Potomac Antique Tools and Industries Association, Inc. (PATINA)
Preserving Arts and Skills of the Trades (PAST) Tool Organization
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