That is exactly why many ax manufactures can sell such junk....most people do not know what the tool is capable of if set up and used properly.

Old Jimbo has a number of articles that cover ax work.

http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/axes.html

The Forest Service files that Jimbo links to are essential reading.

http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/aatg.html

Others...

http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/hatchets2.html

http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/hatchets3.html

http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/hatchets4.html

http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/tinyhatchets.html

http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/gransfors.html

http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/aas.html

Just tour around Old Jimbo's site for more articles of interest

http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/

An excellent ax book is Dudley Cook's, "The Ax Book" or "Keeping Warm with an Ax"

I have a review of these books here:

http://outdoors-magazine.com/spip.php?article259


A well tuned ax is an excellent tool....off the shelf axes, particularily hardware store goods require a load of work to tune. GB's as long as they have a good helve require a minimum of tuning. That is why they are worth every penny.