From the school bench, each of us knows that the peak of the popularity of axes dates back to the Stone Age, when they were not only a serious weapon, but also an almost indispensable economic tool. The first axes were made of stone, bronze and copper. Then came iron axes and pure steel axes.
As for Ancient Russia, on the territory of which various nations and cultures have been mixed for centuries, the forged axes of those times can be literally called the symbol of our country. The best achievements of nomads, European and Finnish masters (thanks to a well-established system of trade relations) are reflected in the best models of ancient Russian axes.
According to historians, many handmade forged axes found in the territory of European countries were made by Russian craftsmen with high craftsmanship. Not without reason the ax among the Slavs was one of the most ancient amulets. What is the reason that ordinary forged axes were so revered by Russians?
This is probably a special way of life and difficult living conditions of the ancient Slavs. Adapting to life in the forest, ancient people could not imagine their life without this important tool, on which the possibility of survival of the whole family depended.
Forged axes were the main tool in the construction of wooden houses, they were used to clean the sown areas of the forest, to harvest firewood, to make wooden household utensils. From early childhood, children were taught to use the ax, and after the death of a person, this tool was necessarily put in his grave. The Slavs believed that with his help the deceased would be able to establish life in the afterlife and repel, if necessary, the attack of enemies.
How to choose a high-quality and reliable ax?
Forged axes (not cast and not stamped) made of well-sharpened tool steel are considered to be the best option for all types of work. However, simple axes are not suitable for chopping firewood, since there is a cleaver for this. It is much heavier than an ordinary ax, so it easily splits even the largest knotty logs. In addition to the cleaver, it is necessary to have one simple or several axes for different types of housework.
When choosing a tool, you should pay attention to the marking of the product with the manufacturer's brand name, which is usually located at the very base of the blade, as well as the grade of steel from which the ax is made. In a good ax, the cutting edge should be flat, without chips, nicks and rounded edges.
Many Russians prefer Russian-made tools to expensive products of European manufacturers, for example, the Ural forged ax from OOO Izhstal-TNP.
When choosing an ax, you should also remember that the thicker the wood to be cut, the longer the handle of your ax should be. Axes with a short handle are more suitable for people of short stature, and for simple work. The best material for an ax is birch, which has hard and elastic wood.
When buying an ax in the market or in a store, professionals advise you to try on it: take the ax in your hand, try to wave it, and best of all, try it immediately.