Osprey Felling Axe

Product Description:
The Osprey Felling Axe is a hand-forged large foresters axe. This superior, lifelong axe excels in every aspect of its design and execution, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a higher finish than Gransfors or Hultafors forest axes. The Osprey comes beautifully presented in a presentation box with a corresponding guarantee booklet matching the head's stamp.

Comparable In length and weight to the Gransfors Bruk American Felling Axe, the weight balance and head length of the Osprey feels much more dainty in the hands.

The axes are made from EN9 steel, which contains 0.5-0.6% carbon. This composition makes the steel hard enough to hold a great cutting edge and tough enough to withstand hard use. High-quality steel stock is used to ensure consistent results, and it is sourced from Sheffield, England.

The forging process begins with a 25x50x95mm block of EN9 steel. A hole is punched and the eye is drifted to 50%, followed by forging down the cheeks. The blade is then forged out, and the eye is finished. The piece is profile ground to refine its shape, and the corners are 'broken' by chamfering with a hammer.

Each axe is individually number stamped, and the polls undergo an additional temper (differential temper) to ensure they can be struck or used to hammer wooden pegs.

The axes are normalised, hardened, and tempered in a digitally controlled kiln. The poll and eye are torch tempered to decrease hardness and increase toughness; this differential tempering approach makes the poll and the eye slightly softer and springy so you can use the poll to hammer wood, whilst retaining the sharpness and toughness of the cutting edge. Each axe features a high convex grind with a well-supported edge and a narrow blade profile for effective cutting.

The leather used is sourced from J & FJ Baker, the last Oak Bark Tannery in the UK. Oak Bark tanned leather is much tougher than vegetable-tanned leather and is made using local hides and local bark for tanning. The leather is finished with beeswax and is bevelled, burnished, and stitched entirely by hand using traditional saddle stitch techniques.

The handles are made from European Ash, a traditional wood for handles in Europe and the UK. This wood is known for its springiness, toughness, and durability, and it also features an attractive grain aesthetic. Handles are copy lathed by the English firm Richard Carter Ltd. They are then hand finished and sanded to 400 grit, laser etched with the logo, and soaked in boiled linseed oil. The kerf is cut, and handles are shaped and fitted to the heads. Handmade wedges are fitted to the axes, and each end is finish sanded and oiled.