Um, yeah, about the axe.
Slip a razor sharp axe into my belt and walk around with it?
No Thanks.
Yet a lot of the old timers did just that. You will notice that the handle on his axe was timber cruiser length. 30 inches or less, maybe as short as 24 on some.
Most felling and splitting axes have a 36 inch handle.

Short axe handles are more dangerous because you are inside the arc of the swing. If you miss a downward cut while standing the axe might take you in the shin or foot.
A 36 inch handle would place the bit of the axe about 12 inches in front of your toes instead, if you miss .