Council Tool - 7 lbs Splitting Maul “Ol’ No. 7”

I purchased the maul a few weeks back and had a chance to use it. I really like how it bites into the wood and doesn’t pop back out. I would have given it 5 stars, but the handle seemed a little thin for my hands and the clear coat is slippery. I will try sanding off the clear coat to oil the handle. If the handle still bothers me, I will install a new handle. I like the design of the head so much it would be worth it.

This thing splits great! I just finished splitting about 2 cords of red oak with it and it handled it all, no problem.

This being whiskey river trading, the manufacturer of wonderful handles, I just assumed they bought the head and put it on a classic style handle that was thin. It's a normal council tool handle, very slippery and I probably could have got it from a different vendor with free shipping or something. However, the maul does a good job and splits better than a Fiskars X27 on Doug fir and oak. It doesn't stick as much as the Fiskars. The grind is -ok-, the handle fitment is pretty good for a production job and they used a round wedge which I like. It's worth the money and worth supporting WRT. I can't give an axe/maul with these junk (serviceable) handles a better review than 3/5. My other axes that I use to fell timber are all vintage with modern vintage style handles. Going back to a modern handle from council tool is very noticeable. If you're not in my boat, you will likely be very happy with the maul as is. I've stripped off the coating, sanded it to 80 grit and then a quick 100 grit to knock down any rough edges and have started to apply linseed oil after uses.

The two star review is a star for each time I got to use it. I had bought the maul thinking it would be of great use and an amazing tool as I get quite a bit of firewood each year. I was able to take it out and use it for firewood all of twice. The first time it worked fantastic and split every thing. The second time I was using it I was splitting some larger 24" quakes and got through maybe 4 logs and went to the 5th and it wasn't splitting as well so I got a decent split in it and decided to use the pole as it described it as "being able to use it to finish a split".
When I had hit it with the pole a second time the handle broke rendering it useless. How do you expect to use the pole on metal wedges when the handle will break when using it to finish a split. Now I have to spend another $20-$40 dollars on a handle on top of an already $75 maul.

"Ol'No.7" is my first axe eye maul. I have been extensively using my 8lb. maul for over two decades. Long ago, I had to get some wood split quickly, so used my 8lb. maul even though it was due for a new handle. It is on its fifth or sixth handle now after all these years. When I swung that maul really hard, I instantly noticed I had only a light stick of wood left in my hands. The maul head went airborne. Afraid to look up I covered my head with my arms and prayed. After what seemed like a long time, I heard a thud, looked forward and saw the maul head had returned to earth, not on my head. Axe eye mauls give the attachment to the maul head a lot more friction area, and probably much more taper inside the head to hang on tight. Finally I have an axe eye maul to make me safer. Performance wise I compared the "Ol'No.7" to my old 8lb. maul and to my brand new FE8. The shape of the "Ol'No.7" makes it work very much better than the 8lb. maul of old, when the log is tough to old 8lb. would bounce off, the "Ol'No.7" will stick into the wood even if the wood does not split. "Ol'No.7" is awesome up to logs about a foot and a half across. Bigger than two feet across is where the FE8 beats the "Ol'No.7". I am proud to have "Ol'No.7" ready to use. My old 8lb. with my custom shaped edge for efficiency, which over decades has served me well, is retiring now.