WOW. FANTASTIC AXE. I'VE USED MANY DIFFERENT STYLES BEFORE, BUT, THIS AXE IS GREAT. THE ONLY BAD THING I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT IS THE STEEL USED FOR ACTUAL SPLITTING HEAD IS NOT VERY HARD. JUST DON'T HIT ANYTHING BUT WOOD AND YOUR FINE.(I ACCIDENTALLY SPLIT THROUGH A LOG AND A VERY THIN PIECE OF WOOD AND HIT CONCRETE) A TESTIMONY AS TO HOW GREAT THIS AXE PERFORMS, JUST WISH STEEL WAS A LITTLE HARDER GRADE. DON'T USE OLD PIECE OF PLYWOOD ON CONCRETE (BECAUSE YOUR EXCITED TO TRY IT)FOR BUFFER UNDER WOOD AND YOU'LL BE FINE. ANYWAYS, I RESHARPENED TO ORIGINAL (VERY SHAP OUT OF BOX BY THE WAY) CONDITION AND WAS FINE. I LOVE THE LENGTH. LOT'S OF GREAT LEVERAGE AT VERY LITTLE WEIGHT DUE TO HOLLOW HANDLE CONSTRUCTION, WICH BY THE WAY SEEMS PLENTY STRONG.