Welcome to TFB – The Feller’s Blog, the best online resource for all your questions about axes, knives and lumbersexual gear! Well, no, not really, but indeed here we take a detour from firearms to have a look at a new hand axe. The AX1 is a new product by the young outdoor oriented company WOOX, already on our radar thanks to their gorgeous Furiosa and Exactus bolt action rifle stocks.
Here is the full press release for the AX1:
WOOX Introduces the AX1
Hickory, North Carolina – April 27, 2020 – Continuing their pursuit of manufacturing the best hand-crafted outdoor gear, WOOX has now introduced the AX1.
The WOOX AX1 was developed to offer the outdoorsman the best possible tool for the job. But beyond the simple functions of an axe, the AX1 combines stunning craftsmanship with an innovative tomahawk-style design. The octagonal Appalachian hickory handle adds durability and ergonomics. The wedge-shaped head is made of tempered carbon steel and is cerakoted to offer even greater durability and weather resistance. Rounding off this great piece of gear is a heavy-duty steel, diamond heel in
the pommel.Every WOOX AX1 comes with an Italian leather collar, but you can also purchase a purpose-designed leather sheath from WOOX as well. The AX1 is made in Italy, but is developed, assembled, and finished at the WOOX North American headquarters in Hickory, North Carolina. Available in two different color configurations, the AX1 has a retail price of $179.00 and is one of the best-crafted axes for any serious outdoor adventure.
About WOOX: A new outdoor gear company, WOOX prides itself on delivering best craftsmanship at a competitive price. WOOX manufactures high-performance rifle stocks and chassis, as well as outdoor gear such as knives and axes. By circumventing traditional channels, making their gear in-house in Italy and engaging with customers directly, WOOX can deliver higher-quality, higher-performance and better-looking products at a fraction of the traditional craftsmanship price. WOOX is a division of Minelli Group with its North American headquarters situated in Hickory, North Carolina. All WOOX products are developed in the USA and manufactured in Italy. Find out more at https://wooxstore.com/.
The manufacturer also released a short video highlighting the features of the model:
Specifications:
AX1 – WOOD | AX1 – TACTICAL | |
HEAD | Tempered Carbon Steel Head (C45/1045) | Tempered Carbon Steel Head (C45/1045) |
COATING | Cerakote Black | Cerakote Grey |
HEAD FINISHING | Black | Grey |
HANDLE | Appalachian Hickory | Appalachian Hickory |
HANDLE FINISHING | Walnut | Midnight Grey |
TANG | Full Tang | Full Tang |
LENGTH | 15.7” or 40 cm | 15.7” or 40 cm |
BLADE | 3 ¼” or 8 cm | 3 ¼” or 8 cm |
WEIGHT | 2lbs or .92Kg | 2lbs or .92Kg |
HEAD WIDTH | 5 5⁄16″ or 135 mm | 5 5⁄16″ or 135 mm |
HEAD HEIGHT | 1 1⁄16″ or 27 mm | 1 1⁄16″ or 27 mm |
HEAD WEIGHT | 1,35lbs or .6Kg | 1,35lbs / .6Kg |
Overall we have a practical axe in a comfortable package, surely a great outdoor companion when paired with a small knife. Yours truly is not sold on the cerakote finish, especially on the “Wood” configuration, where a traditional blueing would look more fitting; however, it is likely a good choice to protect the carbon steel head.
The steel choice is a simple, tested and reliable one, perfectly capable of offering the right blend of edge retention and ease of sharpening in the field. The steel pommel may not be the feature which will see the most use, but if hammering is a possibility, it’s good to have an option which protects the head from abuse.
Do you like this axe and the design language of WOOX in general? As usual, let us know in the comments!
All images from WOOX website.