Reference Diagrams
Parts of an axe
Parts of an axe head
1. Axe Weight Specification
1.1 Weight is defined as the total weight of the axe, including the head and handle.
Hachet | Big Axe (Felling Axe) | |
|---|---|---|
1.2 The minimum weight is: | 1.5 lbs 680 g | 2.75 lbs 1,247 g |
1.3 The maximum weight is: | 2.5 lbs 1,134 g | 3.75 lbs 1,701 g |
2. Axe Handle Specification
2.1 The handle must be made from wood.
2.2 The handle length is measured from the knob (bottom) of the handle to the eye (top) of the axe head (see Measuring the Handle).
2.3 If the handle protrudes from the eye (top) of the axe head, the protruding length is not included in the measurement of the handle length (see Measuring the Handle).
Hachet | Big Axe (Felling Axe) | |
|---|---|---|
2.4 The minimum handle length is: | 13" 330 mm | 25" 635 mm |
2.5 The maximum handle length is: | 17" 432 mm | 32" 813 mm |
Measuring the Handle
Measure the handle from the knob to the eye of the axe head.
3. Axe Head Length Specification
3.1 The head length is measured from the blade to the plane of the butt of the axe head, perpendicular to the handle (see Measuring the Head Length).
3.2 The minimum and maximum head length are required at all points over the blade edge (see Measuring the Head Length).
3.3 If the axe head features any protrusion from the butt of the axe head, the protruding length is not included in the measurement of the head length (see Measuring the Handle).
Hachet | Big Axe (Felling Axe) | |
|---|---|---|
3.4 The minimum head length is: | 4.75" 121 mm | 5.75" 146 mm |
3.5 The maximum head length is: | 7" 178 mm | 7.5" 191 mm |
Measuring the Head Length
Measurements made from the blue arrow to the green area are within the minimum and maximum lengths.
Measure the length between the plane of the butt and the blade edge, perpendicular to the handle.
Protrusions from the butt are not included in the length measurement.
Measure from butt to blade. This measurement is an acceptable length.
Measure from blade to butt. This measurement is an acceptable length
REPEAT THE MEASUREMENT OVER THE WHOLE BLADE EDGE
Measure from butt to blade. All measurements shown here are between the minimum and maximum length.
Measure from blade to butt. All measurements are between the minimum and maximum length.
All measurements shown here are above the maximum length.
All measurements shown here are below the minimum length.
4. Axe Head height Specification
4.1 The head height is measured on the face (side) of the axe head, parallel to the handle (see Measuring the Head Height).
4.2 The minimum and maximum head height are required at all points over the axe head (see Measuring the Head Height).
Hachet | Big Axe (Felling Axe) | |
|---|---|---|
4.3 The minimum head height is: | 1.5" 38 mm | 2" 51 mm |
4.4 The maximum head height is: | 4" 102 mm | 4.625" 117 mm |
Measuring the head height
Measurements made from the blue arrow to the green area are within the minimum and maximum heights.
Measure the height of the axe head parallel to the handle.
Measure from the bottom to the top of the axe head. This measurement is an acceptable height.
Measure from the top to the bottom of the axe head. This measurement is an acceptable height.
REPEAT THE MEASUREMENT OVER THE WHOLE AXE HEAD
Measure from the top to the bottom of the axe head. All measurements shown here are between the minimum and maximum height.
Measure from the bottom to the top of the axe head. All measurements shown here are between the minimum and maximum height.
Both measurements shown here are unacceptable, one is too short, the other too long.
5. Blade Length Specification
5.1 The blade length is measured from the heel to the toe of the blade (see Measuring the Blade Length).
Hachet | Big Axe (Felling Axe) | |
|---|---|---|
5.2 The minimum blade length is: | 3" 76 mm | 3.5" 89 mm |
5.3 The maximum blade length is: | 4" 102 mm | 4.625" 117 mm |
Measuring the blade length
Measurements made from the blue arrow to the green area are within the minimum and maximum lengths.
Measure from the heel to the toe of the axe head.
Measure from the heel to the toe of the axe head. This measurement is an acceptable length.
Measure from the toe to the heel of the axe head. This measurement is an acceptable length.
While this axe head may be an acceptable length and height, the blade measured from toe to heel is too long.
While this axe head may be an acceptable length and height, the blade measured from toe to heel is too short.
6. Attaching the Axe Head to the Handle
6.1 The axe head must be fixed to the handle with an eye-wedge or a pin.
6.2 "Floating" axe heads, where the head is wedged on a tapering handle, and only held on by gravity, are not allowed.
7. Axe Head Silhouette Requirements
Note: The axe head silhouette describes the shape of the axe head as viewed from the side looking at one of the faces.
7.1 The axe must be a single bit blade, meaning it has only one blade edge.
A single bit (single blade edge) is acceptable.
7.2 No blade or sharpened spike may protrude from the butt (back) of the axe head.
A flat butt is acceptable.
A blade protruding from the butt is not acceptable.
A blunt protrusion from the butt is acceptable.
A spike protruding from the butt is not acceptable.
7.3 The blade must be one smooth, sharpened edge that forms a convex curve or straight line from heel to toe. This is to avoid an unfair reduction in the axe head cross section measured at the plane of the board during gameplay.
7.3a The blade cannot be concave.
7.3b The blade cannot have notches cut out.
7.3c The blade cannot have multiple edges.
A convex blade edge is acceptable.
A straight blade edge is acceptable.
A concave blade edge is not acceptable.
A notch in the axe head away from the blade edge is acceptable.
A notch in the blade edge is not acceptable.
Multiple blade edges is not acceptable.
7.4 The axe head must not have any holes through the faces (sides).
No holes through the faces is acceptable.
Any holes through the faces are not acceptable.
7.5 The path along the top of the axe head from the toe of the blade must curve smoothly back to the handle without any abrupt decreases in the height of the axe head. This is to avoid an unfair reduction in the axe head cross section measured at the plane of the board during gameplay.
A head with no abrupt changes in height is acceptable.
A head with a flat profile from toe to handle is acceptable.
A head with an abrupt decrease in height is not acceptable.
7.6 The path along the bottom of the axe head from the heel of the blade must curve smoothly back to the handle without any abrupt decreases in the height of the axe head. This is to avoid an unfair reduction in the axe head cross section measured at the plane of the board during gameplay.
A head with no abrupt changes in height is acceptable.
A head with a flat profile from heel to handle is acceptable.
A head with an abrupt decrease in height is not acceptable.
7.7 The axe head cannot abruptly decrease down to the minimum height close to the blade, nor in the middle of the axe head. This is to avoid an unfair reduction in the axe head cross section measured at the plane of the board during gameplay.
7.7a The axe head can abruptly decrease down to the minimum height within 1" of the handle.
Shown here, the decrease in height at point A is within 1" from the handle. This is acceptable.
Shown here, the decrease in height at point A is beyond 1" from the handle. This is not acceptable.
Shown here, the decrease in height at point A is well beyond 1" from the handle. This is not acceptable.
7.8 The height of the axe head just before it meets the handle cannot be the largest height measurement along the axe head between the handle and the blade.
Height at A is less than heights at B and C. This is acceptable.
Height at A is greater than at B, but still less than at C. This is acceptable, provided the height at B is greater than the minimum head height.
Height at A is greater than at B and C. This is not acceptable.
8. Axe Modification and Customization
8.1 Some modifications and customizations to the axe head and handle are explicitly allowed, provided the axe dimensions remain within the allowed physical specifications (weight, height, lengths, silhouette, see above):
8.1a Routine blade sharpening;
8.1b Painting the axe head or handle;
8.1c Changing or replacing the handle;
8.1d Adjustments to the grip of the handle. For example: tape, sanding the handle, etc.
8.1e Decorative etching into axe handle, the butt of the axe head, or the face (side) of the axe head, away from the blade edge such that the etching does not interfere with measurement during gameplay;
8.1f Thinning the faces (sides) of the axe head.
8.2 Some modifications and customizations to the axe head and handle are explicitly disallowed, even if the axe dimensions remain within the allowed physical specifications:
8.2a Adding material (welding, gluing, or otherwise) to the axe head that would render its use unsafe or would confer an unfair advantage by affecting the measurement at the plane of the board for gameplay;
8.2b Removing material (drilling, cutting, melting, or otherwise) from axe head that would render its use unsafe or would confer an unfair advantage by affecting the measurement at the plane of the board for gameplay;
8.2c Cutting notches into the blade edge;
8.2d Etching close the blade edge such that the etching interferes with measurement during gameplay;
8.2e Decorations that violate the IATF Code of Conduct.
9. Referee's Final Decision
9.1 The final decision on whether an axe can be used for gameplay will be made by the on-site referees at each competition.
