Veritas Bench Axe

Veritas Bench Axe

Veritas's Bench axe is a modern take on a carpenter's or single bevel broad axe. Instead of the traditional forged or cast head, the Bench Axe uses a PM-V11 steel blade mounted to a hickory handle with two screws and a cast mounting plate. The blade can be easily removed for sharpening. (It's like sharpening a big plane iron.)

With a flat face on one side and a beveled face on the other, the Bench axe can be used to shape flat or convex shapes. The blade has a “bearded” shape so you can grasp the handle directly behind the blade when making paring and other fine cuts.

The Bench Axe weighs in at 3.5 lbs and has an 11" long handle. The cutting edge is 4" long and comes with a protective leather sheath. Made in Canada.

Left-bevel or Right-bevel?

The Veritas Bench Axe comes in both left- and right-bevel versions. Each is designed for working one side of a workpiece. You won't need one of each, though. You can just move to the other side of the workpiece.

• The right-bevel bench axe is scissor-sharpened with the bevel on the right side of the blade. The left side of the blade is flat and without a bevel.

• The left-bevel bench axe is scissor-sharpened with the bevel on the left side of the blade. The right side of the blade is flat and without a bevel.