[y33t]

I'm a bit of a nerd for hand tools and I've the same book for axes, and another for hand files lying around somewhere. Around this time these tool companies had a huge array of designs for their tools. It seems like almost every region of America had their own pattern of ax head with a range of sizes to choose from, and their own preference for style of handle, of which there are probably more than you'd expect, and users had their own preference for the style of cutting edge too. You had axes for just about any type of wood cutting job you can imagine. The land was conquered by these tools and the people using them put a lot of care and consideration into them, and it showed.

Nowadays, you still have some regional patterns available, but they're almost all swamp axes (a general purpose axe, not good at any one thing -- the head is too thick for very effective falling, but too thin for very effective splitting). You could thin them out, but filing the cheeks down messes up the temper of the steel. Handles have about two styles to pick from, and they all come clearcoated, which is awful on your hands, unlike linseed oil. Sure you can go boutique, like Gransfors of Hult Bruk, or Tuatahi, but you're looking at spending hundreds, which may actually be more in line with what you would have been spending for a quality tool 100 years ago, if you adjust for inflation.

[Maxion]

In Finland hand tools are all awful. Anything available is just cheap chinese junk.

Recently found a german manufacturer, SHW, that still make forged hand tools like shovels and mattocks in old school designs. Bought a grub hoe and a strassenhacke from them and they are excellent.

[eitland]

Isn't Finland where Fiskars are from?

We had a number of Fiskars axes on our farm when I grew up and we were never able to break a single one of them (except when someone left them on the ground and a tractor ran over them or something).