This video is what I am concerned with when choosing to buy a new axe and also what I don't feel is necessary to pay for. Many reviewers care how an axe performs out of the box, but I think this is a poor perspective which misses out on the potential of certain axes. I prefer to sharpen and thin handles myself, but when I am paying 3, 4 or even 5 times the cost of a standard Ochsenkopf, Council tool, Rinaldi or Hultafors for essentially the same axe with the same geometry, thick handle and thick grind, then what is the benefit? What I do look for primarily is optimal geometry for the intended use of the axe, as this is the hardest if not impossible issue to resolve. This is my unfiltered opinion, if you cant handle an axe review of differing opinion then you probably need to take a concrete pill and harden up
Check these guys out, if you like my vids you will like thiers:
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoMov3tP57tv40esF_ZQ2rw/videos
Life behind the axe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzcvszRDvvYKJ51sGPF8dXg/videos
Simon: https://www.youtube.com/user/MrDesmostylus/videos
Owen: https://www.youtube.com/user/elemental4rce/videos