We recently had the opportunity to do a product review on two different axes from Fire Axe, Inc. The two axes we reviewed were the 8lb flat head axe with 36†fiberglass handle, and the 6lb pick head axe with 32†hickory handle. At first glance it may appear that these are presentation axes, but nothing can be farther from the truth… These axes are made to be abused! The axe heads are made from high grade tool steel, heat treated and polished (not chrome plated.) If we had to sum up their performance in one sentence, we would simply say: These axes held up better than any other axe we have ever used. Click here for the full review.
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Just throwing my 2 cents in… I have the same 6lb pick head axe with the 32″ handle from Fire Axe Inc. as well and absolutely love it. I’ve been carrying it with me on the truck and it’s seen it’s good share of use. I was a little hesitant to put it to the test at first because of how nice it looked but after a few times out with it I had no problem letting fly with no shame. It’s held up great. The 1-1/2″ guard at the base of the head where it meets the handle really helps out a lot preserving the handle. I know the draw back of the pick head is that I don’t have a striking tool, but I found the pick head more comfortable for one just being lighter and it works better for me when I use it to drive into a roof to create a foot hold while venting. Note the wood handle comes unfinished and the axe does need to be sharpened, nothing a little lynn seed oil, a file and some muscle can’t fix. I would recommend keeping some steel wool in your locker though, I try to clean the head as well as I can after each use but the head still collects a little rust regularly. Awesome tool though.
I own the 6lb pick with 32″ wood, had for 3 years now. GREAT AXE, worth the investment. I have used the 8lb with the notches and was impressed.
Josh Materi
Ladder 3
“high-speed buffer”……really now, come-on. Clean it with gas wipe it down and spray a little WD-40 on it. Good to go. I am all for keeping things clean and well taken care of, but shiny don’t cut. Nice axes though.
A pickhead is still a striking tool. Turn it sideways and take short strokes. It’s not ideal, and it works against the weaker direction of the handle. If you’ve got the wood handle, that could eventually cause issues. It also won’t work, striking like that, in all situations. But it will work better than nothing if you’ve got a pickhead and a halligan.
These are nice axes and hold up well.
I have the 8lb flathead axe and absolutely love it. It is true 8lbs and while most of it’s use has been during training, it is holding up very well. The notch that is cast into it is fantastic and eliminated the need for a velcro strap. I would recommend it.
I have the 6 lb, 28in fiberglass axe. Absolutely love it! I recomend these tools for everyone in my Dept. who is in the market for one. If you use some 1000-2000 grit sandpaper, that will clean it up well, as well as the steel wool.
I am a fan of these axes, they look great, perform well, but… What ever happened in taking pride in buying your own steel axe and hand polishing it? I do love these axes, but if I wanted a personal axe like this, I would make it that way myself. If you have a problem with your flateads getting bent out of shape during striking operations…. FIX THEM! Call me crazy, but I call this taking pride in your tools and not in your wallet.
Any plan to put a handle guard on the base of the hammer side of the flat head? That is just as susceptible to damage as the blade side of the handle (i.e. cutting roof with the flat side, misplaced Halligan swing, etc.).
Wood is oh so nicer on the hands/arms than fiberglass too! We still have a wood handles on a lot of our axes…much nicer feel than fiberglass IMHO.
These look like they have some of the same high performance features of the axes I own for competition chopping (logger sports). The fawn’s foot of the fiberglass handle is an exceptional feature!
How much for the axe
I have looked at these for a while and am glade to see a good review on them. What is your recomendation on the handle length? Loking at the wood handle.
These axes are on sale at The Fire Store for $130, down from $160.
http://www.thefirestore.com/store/category.cfm/cid_812_axes_sheaths/
Have not seen this debate, and might as well start it here.
WOOD or FIBERGLASS ?
Give us your pros, cons, personal experiences…
Keep it productive and fun, but lets all see what others think…
Stay safe!
I prefer a wood handle. A fiberglass handle when exposed to the sun, will start to crack and turn colors after a few short years. I prefer the wood because every few months, some sandpaper, linseed oil and a couple hours of spare time will make them smooth & as good as new. You really cant refinish the fiberglass. Sure the fiberglass is stronger, but seriously as long as the wood handle is in good shape, you’re not going to swing it hard enough to break it.
The first department I worked for had all wood handles. This is where I learned how to care for the wood handles in the axes. Two of them had “1962” engraved in them from when they were new on the two 1962 pumpers they had.
Several months back, I had the opportunity to pass down to a couple of the new guys how to care for the wood handles. We also sanded & oiled up one of the pike pole handles. They were all looking pretty sad. Just a little something more to take pride in with your work.
The axe looks like a good investment…which I will be making…been debating between fiberglass & wood handle…I had been looking for an old Iowa American 8lb axe….but since the went out of business…finding a GOOD 8lb axe has been an issue…thanx for the info…
I own the 36 inch pick head axe. Hands down the best ever, I have used this axe on several fire scenes, and it takes a hit. Clean up is easy, just follow the instructions from Fire Axe INC. I have the wood handle and with some sandpaper, and linseed oil it’s back to new. WELL WORTH THE COST. Do not buy another axe.
i own the pick-head with the 36″, i am 6’7″… it is a very tough and easy to maintain tool. it is great for forcible entry and overhaul ops. i love the feel of the WOODEN handle. fiberglass is just a substitute… this is the axe to buy! you know, when you clean and sand the handle, file the cutting edge and finish it off with a little wd-40, there is no more satisfying feeling.. brings a tear to my eye…sniff…
My Department purchased several of these a few months ago. First appearance they looked pretty good except for the unfinished handle and extremely dull blade. As stated above nothing linseen oil and a file can’f fix. Great for an Iron Set. Works great with the Probars. However the finish takes a lot of up PM (actually they suck) After the first use we actually watched the thing rust. We set it down on the roof and when we went to pick it up we notice rust on the head. By the time we cleared there was rust all over the head. Bottom line is if you got them, maintain them.
Great Axe! I own the 8lb. flat head with 32″ hickory handle.
I own the 6lb hickory pickhead. One feature that I like about this axe is that the pick is longer than most others and can pierce a metal door to manipulate the panic hardwear.
Was wondering about the Forged Steel Head axes with wooden handles we have been cleaning up old equipment from a replaced back line truck we cleaned 15+ yrs worth of paint off of them. Was trying to find some info weather or not they could be kept shiny steel instead of repainting…
I have a 8 lb. flathead with the 36″ fiberglass handle and it’s a great tool. I originally ordered the 32″ hanldle but it felt imblanced in my hand (and the other guys at my station) and was too short to marry with the halligan. It just felt “wrong” when you swung it….too short for me but I am 6’6″. I actually swapped out for the 36″ @ FDIC this year when Mr. Knight was in town for the show. He was very helpful and personally responded to my questions submitted on their website. I gave up on trying to keep it shiny. I keep it clean but trying to keep the shine was impossible.
Does anybody know if the pick head will fit into a standard scabbord similar to those sold on the westcoast911 site?
Own the 28in. fiberglass handle, (Pickheaded.) I’m 5’9″, and on a peaked roof the short handle works very nice for cutting, for me at least. On a peaked roof where the pitch is coming up to you, I find a shorter handled axe works the nuts, keeps your feet out of the way of your cut and your feet off of the weakened section. Also love the pick side, the long pick has worked great for overhaul operations…opening up walls, pulling doorway trims and window frames. Also, recently had the oportunity to use this tool to open the ceiling and walls in the attic of a 1 1/2 stry private dwelling which had knee walls and short ceiling. This tool, or a halligan will work better than a hook, as a 6 foot hook we carry won’t really fit. Anyways, thats how it’s worked for me.
Pat
I got an 8 lbs flat-head for fathers day this year from my new born son. I LOVE THIS AXE! I have used it and abused it alot in just a few short months and it has held up very well so far and works wonders as a striking tool. The little extra weight makes a BIG deifference when you need it on the roof. Bigger hammer equals fewer strikes on the roof. EVERY Truckman should have one for himself.
I want one of these..but can’t decide between wood and fiberglass. I’m just afraid that the wood in my climate would end up splitting and warping faster than the fiberglass. Wisconsin sucks for wood handled tools. But the fiberglass just isn’t traditional..and this may be something I want to pass on to my kids.
These axes are exceptional tools, Jason (the owner) takes great pride in his tools! I have had my 32″ wood handled Pick headed axe for several years and it has been so useful! If you keep a nice coat of boiled linseed oil on your handle it should be just fine! purchase the scabbard as well! great quality!
ok… call me a newbie but pretty much all of my intstructors that I’ve asked and many FFs as well believe that a a pickhead axe is 100% USELESS… and a flathead is easily replaced with a sledge… several of Greensboro FD trucks have modified their sledges to mate onto the adz of the haligan and no longer use axes, sure there may be one on the truck, but its not used… with that being said why bye a personal axe? if an axe is useless anyway? that’s $130+ I can put into safety items or a good flashlight, or towards a leather helmet (which is a debate for another day) etc…
just curious and figured id show how we are being taught, our irons are axe and haligan but we never use the axe as an axe…
G-d bless,
nick
@nick. You are right, many people do not favor the pickhead axe, however, it is still widely used in many areas of the country. It’s all a matter of preference. We did a few posts on what we refer to as the “heavy irons”, which is a sledge modified like you mentioned. Please see one of the posts here: http://www.vententersearch.com/?p=221
The heavy irons are an excellent option for many scenarios.
By the way, I agree, you can never go wrong with a good flashlight or leather helmet! -Jimm-
I’m sure there are some West Coasters who favor the pickhead, and are quite handy with it. There’s also a decent bit of footage out there of CA roof ops with a pickhead axe.
While both axes and sledges have their advantages and limitations, I feel the flat-head axe is a more versatile tool than the sledge. The axe can be used in numerous scenarios where the sledge cannot (opening the gap in a tight outward door, wedge to hold purchase, fulcrum for the halligan, cutting vehicle windshields, starting a purchase in hurricane glass, gapping vehicle hoods, shearing burglar bar anchors, etc.)
Either way, we should use what works for us, but we (as a whole) shouldn’t be quick to write a tool off as useless.
ok cool I definitely see what your saying, also I learned the axe as a fulcrum trick like the day after I wrote that, haha. I could definitely see use of a pickhead in wildland or as a foothold on the roof, I guess im just more acclimated to commercial and city service. I guess its like you guys said, personal preference and requirements of your territory. I still don’t see that warranting buying a personal axe unless your a volunteer and you want it in your pov. to each his own, thanks for running a great site that helps newbies like me!
To answer nicks question……… In my department we go to the roof with two saws and three firefighters and three pick head fire axe belt combos. Chain saws are mechanical and can fail at a moments notice and even if they are operating properl u can still choke them out or throw a chain………an axe only requires proper human body mechanics, a sharp edge and a good handle to perform properly. You do the math! Fewer parts = more reliable!
Bottom line, when I’m in a room that’s taking heavy heat and I need it ventilated I can depend on my team mates to do so, regardless of the situation.
I’ve only ever seen a Halligan and a sledge pop doors “COPS”…….. Never seen em pierce three ti six layers of asphalt shingles and ventilate a roof when time was of the essence!
Yes….. I’m a west coaster! This is my opinion, take what you will from it!
Good luck and be safe
What size handle should I get at 5’9″? I want the 8LB flat head axe to go on my hip.