We (not the editorial we, the axe community we) spend a hell of a lot of time trying to choose the axe that makes us feel and look as cool as that one dude from Merlin:
And I think it's great that we're chasing that high, I really do. But over time, my opinions about what really matters when getting a new axe have shifted. And that shift has, fundamentally, changed the way I think about the axes I want to buy, and what makes for a great hucker.
CONSIDER USER EXPERIENCE
You don't throw an axe from the metal part. Stay with me, now: you throw an axe from the handle (or haft if you wanna sound even more like you're an aging hipster who's trying desperately to justify the amount of flannel they own). Because of this truth, the handle of an axe is, more than likely, the most important element to hone in for accuracy, comfort and consistency. Is accuracy and concistency the same thing? Maybe. But I'm not changing it.
Naturally, the size of the bit (the sharp part of the axe - hopefully the only sharp part) and balance overall are considerations, but I believe that you can kinda have those elements be a little off and still throw the way you want. But a handle that's not quite right will likely impact your throw. And it makes sense - if your contact point with the thing you are throwing doesn't work for you, your throw won't work (as well) for you.
So handles are important. Fortunately, there are SO MANY types of handle considerations to...um...
...uh...
consider.
So let's do some considering, friend-o.
HANDLES AND YOU: A TOUCHING STORY.
There are plenty of axe handles out there, and I won't pretend to know much beyond someone who throws axes, but I have tried to break this down into some hella generic considerations that you should make when landing on what kind of handle works best for you (or maybe how to consider your considerations?)
Does it work for your little racoon-like mitts? There are some beautiful, wild-looking axe handles out there. And they can tempt you like ol' Odysseus, but if your little fingies can't hold on to the ding-dang thing, it's not gonna help you win any matches.
Do you know what you're looking for? Getting your handle-game in check means understanding what, exactly you're looking for. That means experimenting with other people's handles, figuring out if you like curved or straight styles, figuring out length and what not - this is particularly important if you're gonna lay down lots of money for a custom job. Speaking of...
Is it worth getting a custom handle? There are really talented people out there who are making beautiful, functional axe handes for our sport. And they are TEMPTINNNGGG but pricey, compared to a standard axe handle.
I'm not going to tell you what to do with your money, but I'll give you this caution: don't just buy a new style of handle without knowing how much you'll like it. Again, experiment with other thrower's axes first. Nothing more frustrating than getting an axe handle that, it turns out, you hate. OH WAIT THERE IS: getting a new axe handle that you hate, that cost you hundreds of dollars.
Are there little changes you could make to your current handle instead of replacing it? Maybe it's as easy as cutting off a half inch, or sanding down the shape so it's a bit more smooth/thinner. Don't dismiss a handle outright if there's a chance that just a few, little changes could help make it perfect for ya.
Overall, finding the right handle will have more of an impact on your game than finding the right axe head [sources needed]. Finding out what works best for you, and sticking with it, is worth the time and effort it can take to discover a match made in heaven.
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