Some experienced axe reviewers, far more experienced than I am, don't care for the fawn's foot hafts. Lots of well-made axes with straight handles, so I certainly cannot disagree with overwhelming long term practical experience. However, for lots of bushcrafting and other woodworking, the "double-bellied" (throat and belly to some) fawn's foot haft is an important feature--to my way of thinking. Like many, I need that end knob as a stop for broad swings, which I rarely make. Very light hatchets might not need those curves, but tend to have them. Hultafors and Granfors etc. have fawn's foot hafts on their very small belt hatchets. And if I could afford one of those tiny fellows, I'd buy one. Fiskars polymer handles I should trust, but irrationally, I need the feel wooden handle. 600 gm is my choice of weight, as those grams do the work for me. I could use a lighter head sometimes. For a razor sharp edged small hatchet. My Hudson Bay, I keep sharp, but not razor sharp. Barks branches better, less accidental gouging or lifting off long, deep strips.
Those French trappers, who modified a medieval French axe head for North America, were on to something, using their small hatchets for a lot of what many would consider knife work. All those "reviews" on YT showing guys hacking at trees with their "chopping" survival knives, steel slabs, well, no comment. Axe me no questions, I'll fell you no lies!
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