Ochsenkopf Iltis vs Council Tool Axes- The ideal axe for most work

The axe in this video is the Ochsenkopf Iltis 800 (actually weighs 950g), but they also make 1000 and 1200. The council tool is the older red type, which has been replaced with their sport utility axes. Both are great and I think outclass any more expensive Swedish axes for this role. Maybe not he most aesthetic but who cares about that after 5 minutes of chopping!

[@lmorgan877]

Two great axes and an interesting comparison. I've always thought of the Iltis Canada as an upgraded CT boys axe. Although the Ochsenkopf is undoubtably the superior tool the CT still edges it for me based on its price and the fact that the handles are usable from the factory.

[@KevinsDisobedience]

I agree with your head weight assessment 100%. Basically if you need anything over 3lbs, maybe 3.5, just leave it for the saw. Of course if you just enjoy chopping and want to bust through big wood, go for the heavy hitters.

[@roxandarveau6188]

I have inherited the exact same iltis axe from my grandfather and i recently put a new handle on il. When i recieved it about a year ago the handle was 20" and the head was on backwards. Now it have a 28 in handle and is properly sharpened ans it's a wicked tool love it. That's said you're axemanship is fare better than mine it seams like such a better tool in your hand😮👍👍👍

[@michaelg.7311]

Hy Ben, very good Video, my old Canada Iltis is 30 years old, take care, Michael.

[@jeffreyrubish347]

Good comparison. Thanks.

[@caseysimpson1806]

Excellent information in this video. I have a CT.

[@seff2318]

Brilliant video 👌

[@kg1764]

Cheers Ben. 2 axes I'm very interested in.... I have a CT Boys Axe coming tomorrow, s'pose an Iltis Canada is next on the list😅 Although the older ones definitely look better than the current model to my eye👍

[@brothersfromotherslb]

Nice video!

[@johnmutton799]

I really like the shape of that Ochsenkopf. Nothing like a nicely curved blade, slices better. Not many swings to get through that timber. I want one.

[@bushleague3472]

Thanks for the comparison. I have approximations of both these axes, old unstamped heads I hung on hardware store handles, and they are my favorites. My findings are exactly the same as yours, and while I would like to upgrade I keep holding off because I can never quite decide which axe I like better. The eye of the Iltis head looks different, wondering if the regular North American handles could be made to fit?

[@benscottwoodchopper]

the itis canada eye is a standard american shape, the iltis europa hs D shaped eye

[@bushleague3472]

@@benscottwoodchopper Thanks, I somehow missed that detail. Despite being almost 3/4lb lighter, and having a shorter handle, my rhine axe keeps up with my boy's axe surprisingly well. In terms of efficiency I think its inarguably the winner, and is somehow just more enjoyable to use.

[@bushleague3472]

Finally made up my mind and got the Council Tool, it seemed like my Boy's axe is lower maintenance than the Rhineland. For me the Rhine seems to loosen off more, the highly curved edge is a bit more prone to rolling, and I occasionally damage the flared toe. Probably operator error, but the Dayton head just seems more trouble free.

[@ajaxtelamonian5134]

Very nice. God damnit have to sell some more axes I think. Lol found a slasher head at my mates and put a cherry Handle on it from the tree I was cutting up hopefully should hold up. Yeah the Council is great and the price is right but would like an Oschenkopf at some point.

[@PaulPedrazzi]

These look great. Do you feel they are a good alternative to the Rinaldi Boys axe for general camp work or are they too heavy/big? It's impossible to find a Rinaldi 24". For work, I' looking at mostly smaller logs, firewood and kindling. I'm intrigued by the ABY Forest Ax and the Iltis 800g / 700mm. Really appreciate all your videos!

[@benscottwoodchopper]

I think it is a little bit too heavy for camping but that is really relative to how far you intend to carry it. The rinaldi is also just more versatile. What country? i may be able to find a source for you

[@PaulPedrazzi]

@@benscottwoodchopper I'm in USA. Seems no one has a Rinaldi's Boy's axe anywhere, which is why the Aby Forest came up (similar size, but more pricey).

[@benscottwoodchopper]

@@PaulPedrazzi I would just get the council tool boys axe then, its better than the swedish ones by miles imho

[@richardsullivan1776]

Ben, I've been using that Husqvarna 2800 splitting axe for two weeks, I really like it thus far. I had a reservation about the handle at first. It seemed soft to the touch and flimsy. As I began to use it, I noticed how comfortable the handle is, I don't get blisters like I do this Fiskars X27 for prolonged periods. I rarely get blisters with any of my hickory handles. I contacted Husqvarna through email. They don't clarify any warranty with the axe itself. 7 year limited lifetime warranty from date of purchase. The Gardena 2800 splitting axe ( same exact axe) has a 25 year limited warranty which, I find funny. I'm used to the longer 32- 36 inch handles, I have to say I've warmed up to the 27.5 fiberglass handle. Its a compact axe with a big impact! Its done great splitting straight grain maple. I'm carious to use it in knotty pine. The splitting flair is more slim lined style. The edge or beard does stick in the wood a little hard but with a nice sharp edge, just a few taps on the palm swell and its fairly easy to remove. The axe did come completely dull with that enamel coating, I'm sure for safety purposes. Very easy to sharpen and holds a decent edge. I don't really have any cons yet, thus far. If the handle were any shorter than it was, I'd pass on it. I'm not a big fan of hatchets, lol I'll keep you updated sir.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Glad to hear you are happy with it, mine is still going strong and every time I take it out I love it more. Used mine for all sorts of work and i can't say a single bad thing about it

[@paulhomsy2751]

The coating isn't "enamel". It's a type of Teflon.

[@daig1984]

Hi Ben got the same axe as you it was my dads it’s at least 20 years old.

[@benlacrosse4872]

In the start of the video when your talking about the axes weights, are you talking about the head weight or total weight?

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Head

[@enzowilson345]

Is it just me or does the Stihl ax 10 look an awful lot like the ochsenkopf 1kg? I heard ochsenkopf make the heads. Might give one a go for 30quid, the 60cm handle might be ok for limbing?

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Ochsenkopf do make axes for stihl, though not all. Others are made by Mueller. the Ax 10 is a rhineland pattern and ideal for limbing

[@enzowilson345]

@@benscottwoodchopper ax10 came today. Made in Italy apparently. Was always thinking of rehanging onto a longer handle, just as well as the run-out is epic.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

@@enzowilson345 Might be anotehr company then, perhaps prandi. Ive had handles with runout that ended up okay, its a roll of the dice though

[@zombiefighterof1987]

How do they hold up as wedge bangers? My main justification for buying axes is "i'll use it in the woods for pounding wedges, chopping off smaller limbs or branches that i miss with the chainsaw, removing bark if i need to and chopping my saw out of a pinch" so that way i don't feel like i waste money on an axe.

[@ryanE95]

When I was in school for forestry, we would use councils for hammering wedges while felling. 2.5-4.5 pounds. I saw at least 20 axes get the handles busted or cracked. These were brand new axes mind you. May have been that it was a bunch of college kids using them, but I think council may have been rushing the handles out for production. Probably not letting them dry long enough. If you buy them as wedge pounders, you may have to replace the handle. Hope that little rant helps you lol

[@noone3734]

@@ryanE95 me and a friend both bought council axes and his handle busted within the first few hits. I think it is because they don't do quality control for runout. Fair enough though for fifty dollar axes.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

If you are looking for an axe for that work, hands down the husqvarna A2400 is the best money can buy

[@zombiefighterof1987]

@@benscottwoodchopper Oh yeah i'm well aware of the plastic Husqy axes, i have the A1400 and it's great. I just like collecting interesting axes, using them in my work in forestry is just my shitty justification to keep buying new ones haha

[@lmorgan877]

I haven't pounded any wedges with mine but I've split plenty of large rounds by turning the axe upside down and driving the poll onto a block. I'd have thought that would exert more force on the head than driving wedges and touch wood it's stayed firmly on so far. I've also had plenty of overstrikes while bucking. I may just have been lucky with mine but so far it's solid.

[@brothersfromotherslb]

I’ve been checking out ochsenkopf but they all seem to have a straight handle portion behind the head, which I can’t imagine to be comfortable? What model is that one?

[@elemental4rce]

Just remove it with a rasp to get the desired shape or handle length

[@benscottwoodchopper]

You need to thin down the handle so you just scrape that away too, shinto rasps have the job done very quickly

[@1südtiroltechnik]

I noticed you didnt breath out at the end of your strike, is breathing out just your personal thing or is there something special about it? And nice vid as Always Ben!

[@1südtiroltechnik]

Are they the same thickness all the blade length or is there higher spot in the middle? Arent most american axes this way?

[@benscottwoodchopper]

both are basically flat

[@chewfacity]

How long a handle do you prefer on the council tools?

[@benscottwoodchopper]

28" to 32"

[@chewfacity]

@@benscottwoodchopper Thank you! I'm going to purchase one right now. Will be my first good axe.

[@elemental4rce]

I'd best get mine out for some whackin'

[@max_fjellstorm]

Dont you think that the Iltis is far to narrow / slender on the edge for anything else then limbing?

[@benscottwoodchopper]

no its great for cutting any wood under 12" in diameter. bigger than that you want a wedge shaped axe but the iltis is ideal for most axe work

[@buddyblankenship4186]

Almost every Ben Scott video wood chips are flying &hitting the camera/lol .

[@ajaxtelamonian5134]

Lol I've ended up with one of those Oschenkopfs now a used one like that. Feels good originally though it would be a 3.5lber but I now realise that may have been more the total weight on Ebay. Funny you saying people call them soft I'm struggling to get my Bahco Farmers file to Bite. Maybe should actually clamp it down rather than trying to just hold it and do that.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

I think the older ones are a tad harder

[@ajaxtelamonian5134]

@@benscottwoodchopper Makes sense lol not to worry I got a 12inch Bahco File to have a got at it with tomorrow.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

@@ajaxtelamonian5134 when they wear at try some vallorbes, 8 quid from axminster tools last i checked

[@ajaxtelamonian5134]

@@benscottwoodchopper Jesus! what they do steal em? xD

[@ajaxtelamonian5134]

@@benscottwoodchopper Also the original handle is lovely the palm swell is almost like a Tui.

[@noone3734]

For as thin as ochsenkopf axes are, they could easily make one with a five to six inch bit and keep it light weight. There must be a good reason bits are kept small. I don't get it, but I'll happily receive education.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

they do, the canada 1000 is a 5 inch bit and the iltis europa is 6 inches. Axes wider than 6 can be awkward when bucking smaller wood because you end up chopping with the toe, not the heel

[@noone3734]

@@benscottwoodchopper I'm happy to hear they exist, I'll have to take a look at them. I can see how that would be awkward, but couldn't that be avoided by striking down ontop of the log?

[@benscottwoodchopper]

if you are striking down on top of the log then you need to make a notch twice the size and waste twice as much wood, really not efficient. Its a cut you have to make occasionally but is best avoided if at all possible

[@noone3734]

@@benscottwoodchopper I was thinking a log small enough to need it could be easily rolled to do the back cut, but I'm sure there are circumstances where that isn't feasible.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

yeah its just a lot easier to use an axe of 4-5", wider axes are great limbing specialists though

[@joehendrix5779]

I should have bought ochsenkopf. I bought council tool axe and after three chops the axe head is loose. Not impressed with customer service

[@benscottwoodchopper]

tbh I wouldn't worry about it too much, heads coming loose is pretty normal from literally every axe company I have heard of (except tuatahi). Yes that includes gransfors despite what others say. It is to do with changes in humidity and the wood shrinking. Remove the old wedge and rewedge, it'll be good as gold. If you want i can help you and send some videos

[@olehemlock]

You didn’t get the edge of Ochsenkopf into the log for the penetration test. 👎

[@benscottwoodchopper]

uhh yeah i absolutely did, check again

[@olehemlock]

@@benscottwoodchopper great review for sure. Pretty hard to beat the steel on the German axe. I have Ochsenkopf and Council. Both great axes but the steel is definitely better on the Ochsenkopf.