so you can use it to hammer wedges. The flared handle and rubberized grip keep the axe from slipping out of your hands while you’re swinging it. Visually, it's not the most appealing splitting ...

Editor’s Note: We updated this Guide on November 13, 2024, adding two smaller splitting axes ideal for lighter-duty one-handed use, the Hults Bruk Agdor 20 and the Fiskars Norden N12.

Best for: Felling and chopping trees, splitting wood for kindling ... However, this also renders the carpenter axe unsuitable ...