Axes Made in the United States

An ax is a very interesting and useful tool. It is also one of the oldest tools known to mankind. It can be used to cut or shape wood, for ceremonial purposes, as a symbol, but also as a weapon. 

Axes aren’t that difficult to make, but some companies just to do it better so why not support them by buying one of theirs? Here is a list of some American companies that manufacture axes. 

1. Innovation Factory

The manufacturing team behind Innovation Factory is headed by Marvin Weinberger, an expert in the field and a serial entrepreneur. 

The company focuses on important concepts ranging from research through development and into manufacturing. The whole production is done in the United States, but on a national scale. 

The designers and the manufacturers behind Innovation Factory constantly work to further develop and improve their products, making Innovation Factory one of the best in the field. 

The Innovation Factory has successfully launched a number of products, including the famous Trucker’s Friend and Lil Trucker survival and rescue tools which are present not just on the U.S. market, but also on the global market through various sellers. 

They also produce tools for snow removal like IceDozer Plus and SnowMover, but also rescue tools for firefighters aptly named Handy Rescue Tool for Firefighters. 

As you can see, Innovation Factory produces a wide array of axes and related tools, but also snow tools for the winter season. All of that is made in the United States.

2. Council Tool

This family-owned company was founded way back in 1886 thanks to the efforts of John Pickett Council. The company has specialized in manufacturing a wide array of tools, from garden equipment to axes. 

They rely heavily on manufacturing quality products, always staying innovative and progressive, being honest salespeople (integrity is important!), and by being good corporate citizens. The company is still owned by the Council family.

The company produces a variety of tools, including axes, picks, mauls, mattocks, striking tools, scrubbing tools, digging tools, wood-splitting tools, forged bars, and a variety of specialty tools.

They have started building axes with the Velvicut® axe production line, for which they say: “We don’t make a work of art – we build a tool for the art of work.” But those axes really are a work of art, because not even one Velvicuts® ax is the same, each is unique in its own way.

Then there is the WOOD-CRAFT Axe line. On making these axes, Council Tool partnered with the well-known WOOD-CRAFT company to make premium axes in the USA.

They offer many more lines of axes, such as Jersey classic axes, Michigan Railsplitter® axes, Dayton Railsplitter® axes, Firefighter axes, and many, many more.

3. The Working Axes

This company is actually the online partner of the ax-producing company Snow & Nealley. It was started by the son of the owner of Snow & Nealley, which is an Amish company, and since the Amish don’t use modern technology, the son wanted to get the company online. 

The company has a small online store and an eBay store, so they operate both locally and globally. The parent company was founded back in 1864.

The Working Axes produces axes exclusively and it is specific for its method of production. Namely, all the axes are produced on a small farm in Maine, using traditional Amish methods, which guarantees their authentic quality. 

They offer a wide range of axes, some of which include models such as:

• Penobscot Bay Kindling Axe – easy to carry because of its small size, yet great for making firewood
• Hudson Bay Camping Axe – still on the smaller size, it is a versatile ax capable of meeting outdoorsmen needs
• Outdoorsman’s Belt Axe – a very lightweight ax, made especially for hiking and camping
• 2-1/4 lb. Single Bit Axe – versatile ax for all sorts of works, from garden stakes, fence posts, to all sorts of home jobs
• 3-1/2 lb. Single Bit Axe – excellent for working in woods and doing big woodsmen’s jobs
• 3 lb. Mini Maul – perfect ax for splitting wood, and can easily be used with one hand

There also offer axes in sets, as well as sheaths, handles, and replacement heads.

4. Estwing

Based in Illinois, Estwing is likewise a family company, owned and operated by the Estwing family since 1923. The manufacturing facility, where all the products are made, is also located in Illinois. 

The company is dedicated to innovation and the production of new handtools. The engineers in the company work continually to create the most revolutionary and long-lasting hand tools on the market. 

Estwing prides itself on claiming to produce the most durable, comfortable, and attractive striking and struck tools. All claw hammers, axes, specialty tools, and pry bars are manufactured by the Eswtig company, both professional craftsmen and amateurs.

They are mostly focused on making sportsmen, campers, Tomahawk, and hunter’s axes, and they have a lot of models they offer. 

5. Vaughan

Vaughan is also a company with a long tradition of manufacturing quality tools. It was founded in 1882 by Alexander Vaughan, a local inventor with several tool-related patents. 

Since then, the company has been rapidly growing and is today one of the most important factors in the tool-manufacturing market. It is likewise a family company, being run by the Vaughans for five generations.

The company manufactures a variety of different striking tools, including hammers, pry bars, industrial tools, axes, but also saws and other types of tools. 

Even thou their main focus is on making hammers, they also offer some axes made in the United States, as well as some made outside.

Models made in the US include AS1-1/4 Solid Steel Camp Axe, AS2 2 lb Solid Steel Camp Axe, SC1-1/4 Supersteel Camp Axe, and SCS1-1/4 Camp Axe (Wooden).

6. Leatherhead Tools

This tool-manufacturing company is actually a subsidiary of Dasco Pro, a company founded in 1922. In 2007, Dasco Pro wanted to enter the firefighting tools market and after scanning different locations, the first line of Leatherhead tools was finally manufactured around 2007. 

The company focuses on producing high-quality tools for firefighters, law enforcement, SWAT units, and other public services that deal with the safety of the citizens. 

Their best products are produced from high-quality American steel and include different axes, hammers, hooks, handles, special entry tools, and other applicable tools. 

Although they mostly produce axes for firefighters, some of those are still great for outdoor use as well.

These are the models of axes Leatherhead Tools are making:

• Ultra-Force axe – only comes in one weight, 8lb, and it is made for forced entry. It has a longer bottom of the axe beard (cutting side), which makes it a very good choice for chopping or cutting. 
• Flat Head Axes – comes in 6 lbs. or 8lbs, and it is made for forced entry, overhaul and ventilation
• Pick Head Axe – it is made for cutting and prying in any environment, and it also comes in two weights, 6lb. or 8lb.

7. Firefighter Axe

As the name suggests, Firefighter Axe (or Fire Axe, Inc.) is a company that produces firefighting tools. The interesting thing about the company is that its tools are manufactured by firefighters themselves. 

The company is focused solely on the production of high-quality firefighting axes and also cooperates with local fire departments. 

They produce most of their axes in the United States, with their roster of products also including trophy axes, ax pedestals, and scabbards. They take pride in their American-produced products. 

Some of their axes include:

• Pickhead Axe – modeled after the famous firefighter’s axe from the early 1900s, called \”Seagrave Axe\”. It is made to be used daily and to pass down to your descendants
• JP Special Pickhead Axe – it’s a firefighter axe made with a polished steel pick, and a 4lb. Head
• Flathead Axe – classic axe made with an 8lb or a 6lb. head, made to give you more power and unsurpassed stability
• Trophy Axes – they offer trophy axes with an engraved handle and the same with an added replica of the LAFD badge

8. Northwest Axe Company

Northwest Axe Company is a relatively new company in the ax-manufacturing market. It was established in 2012 by its owner, Andy Gregory. 

Gregory liked to hike and he also liked woodsmanship. At one point, he decided to design and make his own ax, which was well-received by his friends. The company has grown since then and has started to manufacture more hand-made axes, but also some commercial clothing. 

Along with providing you with hand-made quality products, the Northwest Axe Company also provides advice on how to care for your tools and information on how to properly use your axes in different outdoor situations, depending on why you need to chop wood. 

They currently offer only one model, The Northwest Hatcher – an amazing axe, which they worked on with two legendary American manufacturers, that combined have over 200 years of producing American-made hatchet and sheath combos.

9. Razor-Back Tools

Razor-Back Tools was started in 1936 by a Union Tools employee who wanted a better shovel. And although the company started off with shovels, it has since moved on to different types of tools and has significantly increased its list of available products. 

They are all American-made and the quality of the tools has made Razor-Back a leader not just nationally, but also globally.

Razor-Back Tools offers a variety of different tools to its customers. You can find axes, hammers, rakes, tampers, edgers, shovels, picks, specialty tools, forks, scrapers, and a lot more. 

They currently have two ax models, and those are:

• Camp Axe – a versatile and high-performance wood cutting and a shaping tool
• Single Bit Michigan Axe – it is ideal for pruning trees, trimming branches, and splitting wood