In reply to mypyrex:
> I'd be interested to knowif anyone still uses wooden axes. <
I still have three in loft. Long shafted army surplus (WW2?), cheapo one i bought for trip to Scotland while unemployed, and Chouinard with battered laminated bamboo shaft. The latter is the only one I've used in past 10 years, I think it was once highly regarded but the pick seems hardly more curved than a modern walking axe, Now, on very infrequent trips, I only use metal shafts: usually a ridiculously light cheapo Camp, but also some old MT tools.