Well, my opinion is high. It chops well and holds an edge like an axe or hatcher should.... until continued use begins to dull it

I have a large axe from Sears I think. A couple of small hatchets that I inerited. One is a Stanley and the other, who knows? This HB is my favorite by far. I picked it up at a knife and gun show for $10. The old fellows who were selling it had tried to grind it down with something as evidenced by the grind marks. All I did was invest a couple of hours work on the edge. It'll take a very fine edge but I can;t say how long it holds it because it's all relative to use, in my opinion. It's 15" long.

If I get another, I would like a Gransfors Bruks small forest axe I think.