This 3.5 lb Jersey pattern single bit axe from Council Tool, sometimes referred to as the Baltimore Jersey, is a full-sized felling axe designed for general forestry work. The distinctive lugs (or ears) increase surface contact with the handle, contributing to a strong, durable haft. The pattern’s geographic origins are self-explanatory, with earlier Kentucky and North Carolina patterns sharing some similarities.
The axe features an approximately 5" cutting edge and a square poll, making it well suited to a wide range of forestry and general axe chores.
The head is forged from tool steel in the USA and hand sharpened with a tapered bit profile suitable for both cutting and splitting. In line with ANSI standards, the cutting edge is hardened to Rc 45–60 at least ½" back from the edge. Council Tool’s internal standards target a tempered bit hardness of Rc 48–55, extending approximately 1¼" from the cutting edge. The poll and eye walls are left unhardened in their as-forged condition for durability. The head is finished with boiled linseed oil over the as-forged surface.
The 36" curved handle is made from American hickory, with the eye section dried to below 10% moisture content to minimise shrinkage and reduce the risk of loosening over time. The axe is hafted high and proud, hydraulically seated onto the handle, and secured using a traditional double wedge system. The interior of the eye is tapered to create a strong mechanical bond, with approximately ¼" of handle length removed during final assembly.
About Council Tool:
Council Tool is still a family-owned and family-managed business, led by the fourth and fifth generation of the Council family. The company’s majority stockholders are in the office and on the plant floor every day.
The employees at Council Tool take great pride in their company and the quality for which it stands. Council Tool employees cumulatively have over 600 years of tool-making expertise.
