1844 Helko Werk Germany Vario Heavy Universal Axe - German Made Heavy Duty Large Felling and Cutting Axe - Head 5.5 lbs, Handle 36 in. (Heavy Universal) #10055

*update post using it to fell a tree*. Last week I had to fell a tree. Nothing huge. An old fir tree, was half dead and needed to be removed. Was about 15’ tall. Trunk was about 10” diameter. Not a huge tree by any measure. But large enough for me to get a sense of the axe. Long story short. This isn’t much of a felling axe. My 3 1/2 pound jersey pattern Council tool did a far better job than the 6 pound helko. There are three reasons for this,1) the way the axe is assembled (discussed below) it’s entirely bit heavy. This is fine when you’re splitting wood as the force of gravity is aligned with the direction of the axe. However When you’re felling a tree, gravity is transverse to the swing direction. And you have to actively fight to prevent the axe head rotating down. This results in a reduction in accuracy and increased fatigue. 2) the axe sharp, but is quite thick behind the edge and therefore doesn’t bite as deeply as a thinner axe and 3) it’s really heavy. The 6 pound weight is excellent for splitting, but swinging it sideways into a tree. It’s not clear it’s adding value and it is more tiring. I ultimately cut the tree down with this axe and then went back to lower the stump about 8 inches. The second go round I used my Council tool 3 1/2 pound. The job took half the time with a Council. I still like the axe a lot and consider it to be excellent. However, I’m thinking I might buy the splitting maul bit and switch it out. Essentially just make this a dedicated heavier splitter, which is already what it is. ** I wind up chopping a fair amount of wood. Firewood for heat in the winter. Firewood to cook in the spring and summer. Being in the northeast the firewood here is all maple and oak. Sometimes cherry. All pretty hard dense woods. The axe arrives with a brochure. A little bottle of oil (like Balistol I guess) and a hex key to change the bit. This particular axe, the helko vario 2000 heavy universal is by far the heaviest axe I own. It’s heavier in fact that my splitting maul (a fiskars x30 which is fine). It has a very large edge. And a heavy slightly hollowed profile. The Vario serious have interchangeable bits. There is half inch think back plate and a strike protector which i guess is around 5/32” thick, the bit bolts on through all this via 2 large hex bolts. It has a vaguely medieval vibe. The bit is shaped like a Tasmanian axe, and it’s basically as if a splitting maul and Tasmanian had a baby ( a big baby). Which of course is the idea. It’s meant to be capable of splitting rounds. But unlike a maul also credible for felling. I haven’t tried to fell anything with it but I did need to break down some smaller rounds. 10-12” x 15” stuff for cooking. This made quick work of them. The weight is a little unusual (no forged eye so all the weight is bit down) and it took a few minutes to get comfortable with my swing. What I noticed was on a full swing the axe doesn’t even seem to bite, the wood essentially splits apart on contact. Not sure how else to describe it. But it feels like the combo of being very heavy and quite sharp transmits enough energy to these small rounds that they just explode. Do to it’s size and mass It was a bit unwieldy for breaking smaller pieces down. I do have a few nits. 1) the handle is beautiful huge piece of straight grain American hickory (thick feels more like a baseball bat than an axe handle). But someone coated it with something and stained it brown… why? So now I have to strip that and oil it. It’s frustrating on an axe at this price point that the handle doesn’t just ship oiled. 2) this is minor but the edge on the axe when it arrived wasn’t very sharp. That was easy to correct. 3) this one is the most important. I’m not sure this would be the design I bought if I were to do it again. The idea of the universal axe appealed to me again a good splitter that could also fell a tree. It is a good splitter although from what I understand the dedicated heavy, splitting maul head is far better at that. And having spent some time with it I don’t think it would be my choice for felling a tree. When you’re splitting, the mass works for you. When you’re felling it really doesn’t. I think if it ever came up that I needed to fell a tree with an axe, I would grab my 3 1/2 pound Council tool jersey pattern. It’s lighter by half and sharper with nearly the same edge size. The nice thing about this Vario set up is I may just swap this to the splitting head and give up on it as a felling axe. Hope this helps.

This is truly an heirloom product, I've spent a lot on axes but never this much. This axe is worth it! Weighted right, slices through wood, I'll need a maul for knotted pieces but this is my favorite everyday axe.

Was really excited for this axe, loved the style. Handle broke on the third swing, chopping maple, not even a hard wood. Don’t know if it was just a faulty handle but it couldn’t have broke faster.

The 1844 HELCO WERK VARIO is a rare axe and a fine tool. While I swing this axe in a I’m in no hurry, it’s sharp edge, it’s weight, and the impeccable handling make each cut follow through with ease. Thanks again, Steve Patchett

Was on the fence at first with all the different reviews ranging from good to bad, but I pulled the trigger and bought it and took it on my camping trip, and the weight felt good in the hand. The sharpness and edge were good. So far, it seems to be pretty good value for the money, and it looks cool.

Axe head is good quality and a nice fit. The grind quality is a little rough for how high a price the axe is. The handle had a lesser quality due to not being aligned with the grain fully and was to thick even with larger hands. And like all axes they ship with a sloppily done blunt edge more akin to splitting over chopping.

It werks

Impressed the group of men cutting fire wood the other day. When told them the price, kinda drove them off topic. How can you keep the quality and lower costs? Besides electing Trump. lol.

Recently used this solid axe on a backcountry canoeing and camping trip – felt like a true lumberjack! Not only does it have the ruggedness to get the job done in style, but it's also incredibly reliable. Can't recommend it enough. Huge shoutout for the lightning-fast shipping too – got it in less than a week in Canada!