The axe head is among the two components of an axe. An axe has almost seven parts in its head. And they are the cheek, blade, heel, eye, beard, butt, and toe.
Some axes might have more sections than these, and some might have fewer. Depending on the shape and size of an axe head, the functionality also differs.
The number of different types of axe heads is surprisingly large. So, let’s get this article started without wasting any time.
Types of Axes and Heads
The size and shape of an axe head have a lot to do with its functionality and features.
There are a few distinguishing aspects responsible for making an axe head. The axe head types depend on:
- Axe head as a tool
- Axe head as a weapon
- Axe head as a wood cutting and shaping equipment
Depending on the axe head pattern and uses, we have listed 24 types of axes and heads in this article. And they are as follows:
- Adze Axe Head
- Broad Axe Head
- Carpenter’s Axe Head
- Dayton Axe Head
- Double Bit Axe Head
- Felling Axe Head
- Fireman Axe Head
- Mattock
- Spitting Maul Head
- Crash Axe Head
- Forest Axe Head
- Hudson Bay Axe Head
- Tactical Axe Head
- Axe Pistol Head
- Bardiche
- Battle Axe Head
- Dagger Axe Head
- Halberd
- Throwing Axe Head or Tomahawk
- Executioner’s Axe Head
- Ice Axe Head
- Pick Head Axe
- Shepherd’s Axe Head
- Roofing Axe Head
1. Adze Axe Head
This is one of the old axe head types. The journey of the adze axe head began during the stone age. It hasn’t lost its allure in recent years.
Steel is now used to make the heads now.
The adze’s blade runs parallel to the handle. And the adze head comes in two forms. One is a hand adze, and the other is a foot adze. However, the shape of the head remains similar in both cases.
This shaping and cutting tool does all the shaping and cutting of wood smoothly.
2. Broad Axe Head
The broad axe is another tool for shaping or cutting wood. As the name says, it has a wide blade on the head. This one is among the woodworking axe types.
The heads of maximum broad axes have one flat face and one beveled face. If the flat face remains on the left and the beveled face is on the right, this is called the “right beveled axe.”
Because the flat face is on the right side and the beveled face is on the left side, it is called the “left beveled axe.” And sometimes, a broad axe head can have two beveled sides.
This traditional axe head only cuts through the logs or small sections of logs with precision.
3. Carpenter’s Axe Head
The carpenter’s axe is a smaller version of the traditional axe. The head of the carpenter’s axe is thin and sharp.
And by “a sharp blade,” we mean real sharpness.
It has a lower bevel angle than the other axes, which helps cut the wood into more accurate pieces.
The best material for this type of axe head is solid carbon steel.
Solid carbon steel gives it the utmost strength and increases its life span.
4. Dayton Axe Head
The Dayton axe got its name from Dayton, Ohio. This axe has some similarities with a felling axe. Here on the Dayton axe, the blade has a long, curved shape.
The gentle flare on the blade is necessary to cut through the wood grains with ease.
If we look at the material, this axe head is usually made of forged steel. By mixing a certain proportion of iron and carbon under high pressure makes the forged steel.
This material makes the head highly durable and rust-proof.
5. Double Bit Axe Head
The double-bit axe is another edition from ancient times. It came to America in the nineteenth century.
This axe head has two blades on either end of its head. That explains the origins of the name.
As far as functionality is concerned, the blades contribute to different sectors.
One is sharper and used for cutting trees, while the other end has an incurved blade that is mostly used for spitting wood.
It has two blades instead of one, and this one weigh more than the regular axes.
6. Felling Axe Head
A sharp tip with an extended blade is the main distinctive factor of a felling axe head. It is a single-bit axe head. The cheek of the blade is comparably thinner than the other axes.
This sharp blade incises the wood grain and cuts the tree or logs in the shortest amount of time.
These blades are specially made for cutting trees or logs.
And it usually weighs between 1 and 2.5 pounds. So, this is not amongst the heaviest axes, for sure.
7. Fireman Axe Head
Another name for a fireman’s axe is the Pulaski. Often, the head usually has a vibrant color in it.
The axe head is mostly red, as it catches more attention and is easier to find. This type of axe has two ends. One has a sharp cutting edge, and the other one is similar to an adze. So, you can use it both as an axe and an adze.
Other than fireman’s work, you can dig soil while gardening or chop wood with this one.
8. Mattock Head
The shape of a mattock head is completely different from the traditional axes.
It has two blades on either side of the head. One part of the head has a pick edge, and the other one is a vertical axe blade.
In North America, people call it a grub axe.
9. Splitting Maul Head
The shape of a Splitting Maul Head is mostly wedge-shaped. Some of the heads have a conical shape as well.
People also know this axe as the ham axe, sled axe, or blockbuster.
The head is quite heavy compared to other axes.
Where most of the blades are sharp, in this case, it is the opposite. The head has a bulky body with a blunt edge.
Although for splitting wood, this shape is the most effective. This is the best tool for splitting wood.
10. Crash Head Axe
The crash axe head has two ends; one is called a pike, and the other one is a basic axe blade. Both ends offer distinct features.
The axe blade is capable of chopping through any material that comes across. To be more specific, it can sever metal sheets, break plaster, and destroy any wall or cabinet.
For any destructive job, it works pretty well. This axe head is used in an emergency on an airplane or any other vehicle.
11. Forest Axe Head
The Forest Axe Head is specially made for the heavy-duty job of cutting wood. The blade is designed to cut large trees and heavy logs. That’s why it’s important to keep the blade sharp.
The forest axe head has an extremely sharp blade that can easily cut through the grains. Besides, the wide blade has a curved tip.
To give the blade a longer life span, solid carbon steel is used to make the blade.
12. Hudson Bay Axe Head
The Hudson Bay axe has a classic-looking axe pattern. It got its name from the Hudson Bay Company.
This axe head is popular because of its teardrop shape.
The blade of the previous versions had a very functional pattern, and the cheek is tremendously thin.
There was hardly any secondary bevel on the cheek.
But in modern Hudson Bay axes, the cheek became fatter, but the shape is almost similar to the previous version.
The shape of the head is as interesting as its history.
13. Tactical Axe Head
This one is one kind of tomahawk axe. The axe head is perfect for use in hunting or as a self-defense device.
It has a large blade with a point on the bottom. Most tactical axe head uses carbon steel to make them sturdy and efficient.
14. Axe Pistol Head
The axe pistol was a German invention. It combines guns and axes to make the weapon more frightening.
The head was sharp and made of zinc-cast metal.
In this axe style, the stock of the pistol was used as the handle of the axe. This axe head was popular from the mid-16th century to the 17th century.
15. Bardiche
This type of axe head is considered a close relative of the Danish axe.
The bardiche axe head has a curved blade. The shape of the blade varied significantly. However, it was usually a long, cleaver-style blade.
These blades were used in close combat as well. It is significantly similar to other combat axes. And the material that is used to make this axe head is steel.
The bardiche was first used as a butcher’s knife and was popular in Europe from the 14th century to the early 17th century.
16. Battle Axe Head
The battle-axe was for combat. It has a semi-circle round blade on its tip. At first, stone, then later bronze and iron, also was its core material.
The blade was sharp. The Romans’ battle axes have crescent-shaped heads. Wrought iron and a carbon steel edge made them very effective against the enemy.
It was a popular one in medieval times. The Vikings also preferred battle-axe.
17. Dagger Axe Head
The dagger axe was a weapon of ancient China, especially in the Shang dynasty. It comprises a dagger shape blade on its head. Considering it among one of the battle axe types will not be wrong.
The dagger axe also has an alternative form. In that variation, the head is divided into two parts, one a straight blade and the other is blade shape like a scythe.
In the old time, the blade had stone as its core material.
Later bronze replaces stone. Jade was also material for the head for ceremonial purposes.
18. Halberd
It was popular in the 14th to 16th centuries.
The halberd axe head comprises an axe blade with a spike on top positioned on a long pole. It has a hook on the backside of its head.
Halberd’s top tip is sharp. The axe head has iron as the core material. Later steel was also used.
19. Throwing Axe Head or Tomahawk
The throwing axe is a well-used weapon for soldiers in the Middle Ages. It had a heavy axe head with a sharp end to cause fatal damage.
In recent times, axe throwing is now a popular sport. The axe head used in these competitions is like the previous throwing axes.
These heads are quite heavy with a pointy sharp end and have steel as their core material. The throwing axe head is solid and durable.
20. The Executioner’s Axe
The executioner’s axe head has solid steel as its core material. One side of this axe is a sharp blade. So, it can cut through flesh with ease.
The other side is blunt.
They are durable and have strength in their core.
These axes are terrifying sights from the middle age. In modern times, they have no use. Now they are just decorative pieces.
21. Ice Axe Head
The ice axe head has multiple purposes. Its head is composed of a pick end and an adze or hammer end.
The head has stainless steel as the material. And the pick end is curved. So, it can hook into the ice with less effort.
Some pick has a reverse curve for a better angle into the ice. The adze or hammer end is not pointy as the pick end. This end is used to cut steps while climbing into the ice.
22. Pick Head Axe
Pick head axes are commonly known for their “T” shaped heads. Their heads had been picked on both sides by the old pick head axe.
However, modern-day pick-head axes have a pointed pick on one end and a chisel on the other side.
The pick end could be curvy or straight. And the chisel side is often made heavy to balance out the axe. The primary use of the chisel side is to help pry when climbing.
23. Shepherd’s Axe Head
A shepherd’s axe is a combination of a walking stick and a light weapon. This tool has a rich symbolic history.
Hungarian and Bulgarian warriors carried them to war. In today’s world, they are found as decorative pieces.
Some of them have gold or silver forged into the axe head. One end of the head is sharp for cutting branches.
And the tip of the head is smooth. So, they are a comfortable option for walking.
24. Roofing Axe Head
A roofing axe is a specialized tool for roofers. Though they have lost much of their popularity, many traditional old-school workers still prefer them.
It is a unique axe built for multiple purposes. At one end, it has a sharp edge for cutting shingles off the roof. And on the other end is a hammer for nailing the shingles.
The head is often magnetized. So, it can hold stray nails. It also has a node that works as a shingle gauge.
Modern-day roofing axes use a material that can absorb shock and provide better performance.
FAQ
If you haven’t been careful enough and observed rust on the axe head, then there are a few tips to remove rust from the axe head.
First tip: Sprinkle salt on your axe head and put lemon juice on it. Let it sit for a couple of hours, and then scrub it well.
Second tip: Soak your axe head in vinegar for six to eight hours and then rub it off with steel wool.
You have got a couple of options that you can rub on your axe head to prevent it from rusting.
The most popular and cheap oils that you can apply on your axe head are:
1. Boiled Linseed Oil (BLO)
2. Beeswax
3. 3-in-1 oil
4. and Vaseline
The most commonly used material is solid steel. From ancient times, craftsmen used to melt steel and then give it its shape.
With time, the key material is evolving to make it more durable and stronger than before.
Now, a certain percentage of carbon is mixed with steel to give it the desired strength and durability.
Conclusion
With modern tools and weapons, the appeal of an axe never fades. Every day, the collection and number of different types of axe heads evolve.
The axes are being further developed using modern materials and techniques. Although people started using axes as a defensive tool, they have since found many added causes.
Because the axe head is made of metal, it requires special attention to avoid rusting. Keeping it away from dump areas and cleaning it with proper care will increase the durability of your axe.
Learn more:
- [Easy Ways] How To Tell The Top Of An Axe Head?
- How To Put An Axe Head On A Handle In 6 Steps?
- What Kind Of Simple Machine Is An Axe Head [With Examples]
- How To Blacken An Axe Head (Step By Step Guide)
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