Council Tool
JP40DV36C
Dayton Pattern Axe – Velvicut / 35’’

The Council Tool Premium Velvicut American felling axe is produced by their most experienced artisans. The Dayton patterned head, which originated in the Dayton, Ohio area, features somewhat thicker cheeks than other axes in the marketplace. Its angle is approximately 25°, but is slightly convex. This superlative design feature is preferred by many tool experts and provides a deep bite into wood without sticking. . After the head is forged, much care is taken in the finishing process. The axe head is rough ground in a robotic work cell and then sharpened hand-sharpened (to fit a gauge, ensuring consistency) by an experienced craftsman using increasingly fine abrasives and then finished with leather stropping. The hickory handle is produced from a blank selected for grain orientation and density, making it strong. Council Tool’s handle pattern features a prominent grip and a slim body that allows the handle to flex a bit, improving its ergonomics. Its traditional pattern embodies the heirloom quality of axes from times gone by The Dayton pattern is a timeless shape and much preferred by skilled woodsmen for a full-sized felling axe. The four pound head is forged from 5160 alloy steel, and it will outlast any user – they guarantee it! The axe face has a 4.75’’ cutting edge and a 35″ hickory handle. A premium full-grain leather sheath is included to protect the tool and user and features a buckle for fastening. All axes are boxed and include a copy of The Council Tool Axe Book. Weight: 5 lbs. 100% Made in the USA!

Council Tool proudly created this line of premium axes called Velvicut. This name was trademarked many years ago when an axe was an essential of daily life and working activities. When sharpness, the ability to hold an edge and the feel of the tool made the day shorter — or longer – was based on performance. With Velvicut, their commitment is to combine decades of axe-making expertise with modern manufacturing techniques and excellent materials to produce a line of axes for those who want the best. Velvicut axe heads are patterned and styled with features that allow the axe to perform in an exceptional manner. The big things are certainly important, like material, shape and balance. But it’s the little things, the slight taper here, the thinning of the cheek there, that make the axe more pleasurable to use. As with all Council Tool’s products, they are made in Lake Waccamaw, NC.

They use 5160 grade alloy to make a Velvicut axe head, and this material takes nearly twice as many blows to forge a similar head – a testament to its toughness. The end result of the alloy material in these axe heads is an outstanding product—strong and tough with superior edge-holding properties. Velvicut heads are finished with a combination of experience, new technology, and old-fashioned hand-to-eye coordination. In addition to steel grade and head pattern, crucial characteristics of an axe head are proper heat treating and sharpness. Velvicut heads are shot blasted and then touched by different abrasives. However it is never a goal to remove all forging makes. Therein lies the character. No two will ever look exactly the same. Each is unique… a thing of beauty.

The custom handles used in this premium line are all American hickory and are only “A” grade, selected for grain orientation and density. White sapwood and red heartwood are equally suitable as there is no difference in the specific density or strength of the wood. The handle patterns are traditional or unique shapes chosen with performance in mind. They tend to be thinner in width, allowing the handle to flex. These handles are much more difficult and expensive to manufacture but they provide results. You will feel the difference during use. Velvicut handles are not coated with any finish prior to assembly, providing the maximum strength of head to handle bond. Handles are lightly rubbed with linseed oil before packaging. The heads are finished in their natural steel state, lightly oiled to prevent rusting.