An axe can be a lifetime investment if you choose the right one. We did the research to find all the American made axes that are a cut above the rest. We’ve listed our findings below, along with details on each one and tips for finding high-quality axes.
Complete List of Axe Brands Made in the USA
Council Tools is a staple in American made tools, a family-run business making axes and hand tools in their Lake Waccamaw, NC factory since 1886. Council Tools has an excellent reputation in the forestry community. The Hudson Bay Axe is one of their most popular axes due to its sturdiness and reliability.
Vaughan & Bushnell Manufacturing has been making quality striking tools right here in the US since they were founded in Peoria, IL, in 1869. Their double-bit axe is a popular option, primarily helpful in felling trees and doing other large forestry work.
Estwing is an American manufacturer that solely focuses on making high-quality striking tools (known for their shock-reducing grips) and has been doing so since 1923. Estwing also makes several other American made tools like hammers and pry bars, among other things. I have an Estwing axe in my tool shed – it’s super reliable and is going to last me a really long time.
Leatherhead Tools focuses solely on tools for firefighters and rescue personnel, which include tools like pick-head axes. Leatherhead Tools was previously named Dasco Pro – they changed their brand name when they switched to focus on rescue personnel tools in 2007. If you have a heavy-duty job to get through, their axes are the ones to do it with.
Ampco Safety Tools has a great selection of axes in their huge product catalog that you can purchase from their website, in any home improvement store, or from a retailer like Amazon or Walmart.
Founded in 1975, Garrett Wade is a tool manufacturer that spreads across the entire catalog of tools – everything from knives to axes and shovels. Their Hand Forged Camp Hatchet (made by Hoffman Blacksmithing in North Carolina) is one of their most popular axes.
Snow & Nealley makes axes for any job. Everything is 100% sourced and assembled in the USA (they had a brief stint of importing a couple of materials, but quickly reverted to US sourcing after noticing some quality issues). Everything is manufactured in small batches to maintain quality.
How To Find Axes Made in the USA
Not only do we want to provide you with great American made axe recommendations, we also want you to be as informed as possible when you’re shopping. So, here are our tips on finding American made products and some manufacturing notes on the axe industry.
What Does “Made In The USA” Mean?
First, let’s define what it means for an axe to be made in the USA. The “made in the USA” label is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Companies that wish to display the “made in the USA” label on their products must prove that “all or virtually all” of the product is made in the United States.
This means that all significant parts and processing must occur in the United States. The company must also assemble the product in the USA.
However, there are exceptions to this rule. According to the FTC guidelines, a product that contains foreign components may still be labeled as “made in the USA” if most of the product is American-made. For example, an axe assembled in the USA with some imported parts could still be labeled as “made in the USA.”
Check out our helpful guide on locating “made in the USA” products for more details on US legislation and shopping tips.
Materials
The first step in finding a US-made axe is researching where the materials are manufactured.
Wood
Most axes have wood handles. The USA also has one of the highest production of hardwood lumber in the world, falling just ever so slightly behind China. Axes made in the USA are often made from hickory wood. The USA has over 11 species of hickory trees and is one of the largest manufacturers of this type of wood. So, finding US-made wood handles should be pretty straightforward.
Steel
Axe heads are most commonly made with steel due to its value and strength.
While China, Japan, and India are the leading steel manufacturers worldwide, the USA is the fourth largest steel manufacturer. Although steel made abroad tends to be cheaper and easier to come by, you should always ensure that the steel on the head is made in the USA. This is because steel made in the US is three times stronger than Chinese-made steel.
Labeling
Finding an axe made in the USA is not as difficult as it may seem. The tags on the product or its packaging are a huge help. Specifically, you should look for the “made in the USA” label.
However, as previously discussed, the FTC does not do the best job at policing this label, so it’s worth doing some additional research on the company to properly ensure that the product is actually made in the USA.
By law, companies are required to provide a label to say where the product is made. So, to get around this, some companies may try to be sneaky and use alternative wording to trick customers. Look out for phrases like:
- Assembled in the USA
- Made in America
- Designed in the USA
- Made in the USA with imported materials
These phrases may make it seem like the product is produced domestically, but in reality, they are not.
Another thing to watch out for is the American flag. The usage of the American flag on labels is not protected. So, just because the product has an American flag does not necessarily mean that it is made in the USA.
Other Tips
Here are some other helpful tips when searching for products made in the USA.
Check Their Website
It is a good idea to check out the company’s website for more information. There is usually an “About Us” or “Our Story” page that may have information about the country of origin.
It’s worth noting that while the regulations say that all products need to have a label that tells consumers the product’s origin, this is not a requirement for online or promotional materials. So, if a company does not outright say whether or not its products are made in the USA, this may be a red flag. On the other hand, a product made in the USA is a huge selling point, so companies will not be likely to hide this fact.
Call the Company
If their website is not helpful, you can simply phone the company yourself and ask. Any reputable company will be willing to answer the questions honestly.
Axes Not Made in the USA
We came across several brands that are not making their axes in the USA when doing our research. We’ve included the full list of these brands below as well as where their axes are being made below.
- Fiskars – Mostly made in Finland, but some are made in China.
- Husqvarna – Made in Sweden, Italy, and Germany (some product pages say where the axe is manufactured).
- Gransfors Bruk – Made in Sweden.
- Hultafors – Made in Sweden.
- Hults Bruk – Made in Sweden.
- Helko Werk – Made in Germany.
- Ochsenkopf – Made in Germany.
- Adler – Made in Germany.
Related Research
- Hammer brands made in the USA
- Wrench brands made in the USA
- Socket set brands made in the USA
- Pliers brands made in the USA
Need more tool recommendations? Read our comprehensive research on tool brands made in the USA.
