It's a big topic. Axes designed for felling trees have a very thin profile compared to axes designed for splitting wood. Marrying both is a voodoo art. I find that thin profile axes like Estwings are lousy splitters if your wood has knots or is not perfectly cured; but you can do a lot of camp/hunting stuff with them that a fat axe cannot.
A different approach to consider: a lot of old axes had very high quality steel compared to the big box store junk you see now. The owners paid top dollar for steel that was intended to work every day and get things done. The steel is of better quality and temper than many blades around now. The best axes/hatchets I own have been plucked out of thrift shops, estate sales, swap meets and junk piles for prices ranging from $10 to free.
When it comes to survival equipment, there is a heated debate around the very real risk of injury (esp. when tired, dehydrated, stressed) vs. the obvious all-around utility of an axe. I've had enough close calls to believe this is a real concern.
P.S., I love pulaskis as well, for their endless all-around usefulness. The Leatherman of axes!
Edited by dougwalkabout (03/17/21 07:20 PM)