after a good handheld chopper. got an old big thing from my dad, want a smaller sharp one for kindling duties

Granfors – Small Forest Axe if you want a quality item.

i'd go to this website don't go looking for the company on google though!
they do delivery to the uk and their catalogue is free and is worth shelf space for any self respecting man!

I've got a Granförs small hand axe, and it's a lovely bit of kit, but I'd go for a Roselli from Finland as a more all-round tool. Shaped as a bearded axe, you can get your fingers around the head behind the blade for slicing or wood whittling, and the blade edge is fairly thick, so using another chunk of wood on the back makes it a perfect tool for splitting logs for firewood. Lovely design, and a well made tool.
See here: http://www.worldknives.com/products/roselli-hand-forged-hatchett-axe-small-r860-371.html

I'm sure WCA can help…

dick fine tools! great link! roselli, nice. a whole world of hatchets…

Igot into a fight in Bristol with someone called Axe, he was pretty good and gave us a good kicking……..

bristol? just down the road, mail me an address and ill get him over to do some chopping.

Gransfors make a very good splitting hatchet, for what you describe I'd just get that, it's ace- quite broad to help the split, and heavy for its size. If you want something more of an allrounder their small forest axe is nice too, it's not as good for breaking up kindling but it's very versatile.

axe throwing! while delving further i find this!

+1 for Gransfors Bruks small forest axe, hunt around and you can find them for around 45 -50ukp

yup looks good

I was going to suggest a Les Paul Standard, but realised you mean an axe 😳

Granfors Bruks as stated or something by Fiskars

I use a Kindling Maul such jobs.

Smaller choppers are crap for kindling, I gave mine away. Due to the low weight you have to swing them a bit. With a 4lb felling axe you can slice bible leaves off a straight-grained piece whilst barely lifting it and dropping under it's own weight.

And another for the gransfors. I went for the huntsman one.

4lb Axe that's for girls.

I need a smaller axe (ie. a hatchet?) for same reason as OP, looked at all the links, but how about this for a modern, even 'bikey' aesthetic?

mmmm…carbon…

headfirst, nice but I would question the shock absorption capabilities over a hickory or ash handle – same with fibreglass / polyurethane handles.

oh, that kind of axe.

thought you meant one of these:

😉

http://www.nordicoutdoor.co.uk/ecom_product_list.html?catid=2

hoping to go and have a look in their shop soon.

I was all for getting a Gransfors or other decent axe – indeed, I still am – but expediency took over in the short term, and I settled for a £10 fibre handled hatchet from B&Q.

Since all I'm doing is re-sizing already shopped wood, it will do the job for the time being. I will, however, invest in a decent axe made by a man called Sven and love it and care for it. But, right now, I need to get the fire going, and so the cheapo one will have to do.