Spear & Jackson 3725CD Razorsharp 2.5lb Axe

This costs a little more than most but it offers a useful middle ground between the rather small hatchets which can be of limited use and the much larger felling axes & mauls which are too large for detailed work. Beautifully made with a 2.5 lb drop forged head that is about a lb or so heavier than a hatchet and so offers greater ability for cleaving but is not so heavy that it is difficult to use for more detailed work. The hickory handle is also slightly longer and puts this firmly in the middle ground for size but again gives enough swing for heavier work but also allows for closer & more careful tasks. It is not too thin so can be held firmly and the curve allows for a good and accurate swing if needed. The use of wood for handles may seem outdated but the new carbon fibre ones can shatter more easily if you mis-time a blow. The rubber grips nearly always end up sliding down the handle too. The head is pretty sharp and on larger logs with a good grain or softer wood it splits them well. For larger logs or rounds you may want to consider using a splitter, (I hate them as they always get stuck-so make sure you buy two so you can release one if necessary), or my preferred choice a maul. Make sure it's the heaviest you can use comfortably & safely and the work will be so much easier. So for ordinary logs and for making kindling or felling smaller trees etc this is an excellent product that is very well made and should give years of service. A few points to bear in mind are that if chopping logs, place them on a flat wooden surface. You're bound to miss with the odd swipe and you'll end up chipping the blade. It will save your back if the log is elevated a foot or so from the ground. Always use gloves and goggles or safety glasses. It only takes one splinter to find your eye. Gloves allow for a better grip and what could be a potentially severe cut is usually reduced to just bruising. Sorry to sound like your mother nagging on but I would also recommend ear defenders or foam plugs,(my favourite), as continual whacking away can leave your ears ringing for some time and long term can damage hearing. A great product recommended happily.

Just got my new axe today and initial impressions are that this is a very high quality and well finished axe for the price. The edge is not razorsharp but will come up very well after a little shaping and honing. Good balance between head weight and handle length. This is a very powerful tool for a hatchet and the head is a good compromise between splitting and cutting ability in shape. A leather sheath would have been a bonus and will be getting a good one made up. A pleasing purchase.

Great value for money, works amazingly and is very sturdy. However dose not come razer sharp out the box

The axe comes blunt and needs some sharpening before ready to use! The axe itself seems to be of good quality and I think it will do a good job!

Surprisingly good quality for the very reasonable price. The balance and weight makes it a great pleasure to use.

I used this for light chopping of small logs. The axe has a good heft and does its job well. No complaints so far.

Very disappointed with the axe it has been very poorly sharpened not sharp and lots of grinding marks on the head

I Really like this axe. Did the job I needed it for really well. It’s a solid axe. I would recommend it.