Review/Thoughts on Ochsenkopf Axes

My thoughts and review of a couple of ochsenkopf axes from germany. To see them in action check out my video 'Chopping with Ochsenkopf axes'

[@seff2318]

I’d really like to see handle companies produce thin handles again. The problem is, the way I understand it, the growth of the trees that are harvested aren’t the same as they once were. I can’t remember the exact details. There’s nothing like an NOS handle with a noticeable amount of flex, it really does help with the shock, dare I say drastically. The only down side is that, because of their age, they become brittle and are more prone to breaking. It broke my heart to hear that todd from survival sherpa had his old double bit handle break on him because of shock. You could literally see that sucker flex when he picked the axe up or swung it. I can only hope axe manufacturers will start to cater to those of us who actually use axes for felling and bucking and not just splitting and pounding wedges or the bushcraft community. I’ve actually become seriously disenchanted with that scene.. ugh. But great video Ben, I hope your channel takes off, this is a facet of axe content that is almost nonexistent on the internet. It’s a thankless job but there’s definitely a community growing that appreciates the hard work you’ve been putting into it. Cheers!

[@benscottwoodchopper]

I don't mind it too much, it doesn't take long to make a handle usable. I think the biggest driving factor in handle thickness is dumbing down and internet reviewers who break things through ill use and then complain to the company how weak their product is. The market for people who really use axes is quite low, most more rarely use an axe more than an hour so wont feel shock to the same extent. The idea that older axes is better is true but they still needed thinning. Most back in the day came without a handle and it was up to the buyer to make one. All in all it i dont mind it too much as long as the handle quality as far as runout is good

[@1südtiroltechnik]

@@benscottwoodchopper It seems to me that only the american Axehandles got fatter over the years. From old films and photos from America i saw that the handles were never or very minor thicker as they came out of the eye like in Europe. But over time the handle got wider than the eye (america). It seems to me only americans have issue with obsece thickness on handles. In Europe we used Ash traditionally and when we made axes, our wood in the eye and handle (as it comes out of the eye) had always only a minimally larger Crossection. I think our problem isnt as big because our handles are already big from ash use, even bigger and it gets unwiedly. Now im mainly talking about the upper 1/4 of the handle, the rest could be thinner, i agree with you.

[@Gladius-]

Ochsenkopf produces axes by the german norm DIN 7287 (technical specifications) quality grade „A“. This requires: min. 0,60 carbon min. 0,6 Mn max. 0,55 Si max. 0,03 P max. 0,03 S P and S together max. 0,05 The hardness for quality grade „A“ has to between 51-56 HRC This is also the mil spec (TL) requirement of the german military. But just comparing numbers doesn't tell the whole story because what makes the recipe tasty in the end is the proper heat treatment.

[@johnmutton799]

I picked one of their hewing axes, and i am well happy with it. I have been looking for one of the universal ones, it would be a great tenoning axe! Their axes a good, they leave the edge for the customer to finish how they want it. Cuts costs down. Just like husqvarna!

[@MountainDreamLand]

Nice review, thanks for sharing !

[@1südtiroltechnik]

In your recent video you made the observation about leverage. The Ochsenkopf Oberharzer Axe here also has a long Beard. Do you still have the original handle on it and how did the Form affect the Wedging? Thank you.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

That does not apply to the harzer pattern, I will explain in a future video. Still very tight

[@1südtiroltechnik]

@@benscottwoodchopper Only to the Harzer Pattern or generally on wedged axes?

[@benscottwoodchopper]

@@1südtiroltechnik harzer pattern

[@feralgrandad4429]

Ben, you mention a replacement Ochsenkopf handle. I've found couple places that sell the axes but can I ask where you get your replacement ochsenkopf handles fron please? Thank you.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

I buy them online, careful to make sure the item number matches, pictures can be wrong

[@feralgrandad4429]

@@benscottwoodchopper OK will bear that in mind. I've found the Axes on Knives & took, also Lamina. But zero luck with just the handles. Do you have a website you could recommend please?

[@benscottwoodchopper]

amazon sometimes has them

[@ThomasShue]

My man, you were scratching like crazy. The bugs eating you up?

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Yup scottish midges, sometimes they are that bad its like bieng in fog

[@jeffreyrubish347]

You wrre born in the wrong century. You'd have made a great lumberjack!

[@ammarhusin4389]

Congratulations cause u have enough exe set as wood working

[@1südtiroltechnik]

08:33 Buying american design heads in Europe isnt clever. When i had no clue about axes or wood i bought a Prandi "Yanke Pattern Axe" incase of a European pattern. Since i destroyed the handle back then i searched for a new one, i didnt want to buy Online since i wanted to get one quick and mount it. Well all the decent "Gardenshops" or agricultural shops only have ash handles, too wide and long at the eye area. A 700 mm ash handle would need a lot of thinning for the relativly little eye on the american pattern. Now since i found your channel and others i became sick of America. Im reading way too much from that country since my childhood. Trough many years of news and videos i noticed more and more, how different they are to us. They find out stuff today that we in Europa knew many years ago. And i hate how they think they invented certain things, like the double bit axe (didnt know that, thank you for your vid), the pulaski (its a frikking "Wiedehopfhaue"), etc...i forgot some in the meantime.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

really what annoys me is the misunderstanding of context. american axes are designed for heavy logging, european axes are better for multitasking and smaller trees, limbing etc. its like saying a race car is the best vehicle because it goes faster, ignoring that someone may just want something to go to work and the shop lol