---
product_id: 1562910
title: "The Ax Book: The Lore and Science of the Woodcutter"
brand: "dudley cook"
price: "$102.92"
currency: USD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 10
url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/1562910-the-ax-book-the-lore-and-science-of-the-woodcutter
store_origin: US
region: United States of America
---

# The Ax Book: The Lore and Science of the Woodcutter

**Brand:** dudley cook
**Price:** $102.92
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Ax Book: The Lore and Science of the Woodcutter by dudley cook
- **How much does it cost?** $102.92 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/1562910-the-ax-book-the-lore-and-science-of-the-woodcutter)

## Best For

- dudley cook enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted dudley cook brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Description

The Ax Book: The Lore and Science of the Woodcutter

## Images

![The Ax Book: The Lore and Science of the Woodcutter - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51pVmpfqe4L.jpg)
![The Ax Book: The Lore and Science of the Woodcutter - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41zIOQQu77L.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    a great guide to the ax
  

*by G***H on Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2012*

Years of experience and vast knowledge went into the writing of this book. The author goes into every aspect of selecting, using, and maintaining an ax with great care and detail. He also has a good section on saws.The book is so good that aside from recommending everyone who uses an ax or saw to read it, there's not much to say, so I will digress.Something I didn't understand was that the author emphasizes that a straight handle is superior to a curved handle. I agree. Then why does the picture of the curved handled ax crossed with the double head ax appear on every chapter?Of course the author is writing on his experience, which is far vaster, but different from my more limited experience. Here in northern Taiwan, we have different trees which provide different wood, so a lot of the information about American trees was interesting, but not practical for me. A big problem is that sometimes when you chop through a trunk, the tree stands and doesn't fall, because the crown is full of vines attached to the jungle canopy. Here is where bamboo is so handy. You can have a five meter bamboo pole chopped, cleaned, and ready to use in a few minutes, and it's a simple matter to attach a saw to that. Then good luck trying to saw through the vines. They're springy.Also, the very first thing you need to know about a woodpile here is that snakes love them. When I was reading his chapter on woodpiles, I kept expecting him to teach the first rule of woodpiles: You never! ever! stick your hand into a woodpile without looking carefully twice! Then check again.Something that amused me was comparing American, Japanese, and Chinese mindsets. How do you sharpen a saw? Cook provides ten pages of detailed information about the ins and outs of sharpening a saw. My Japanese carpentry book finishes the topic in one sentence: "Sharpening saws is a difficult task that should be left to a professional, so send your saw to a professional saw sharpener." I asked an expert about in northern Taipei about sharpening saws; he sold me a feather file, spent about two minutes explaining the basics, and cheerfully sent me on my way. The Chinese idea is, what works for me may not work for you, but put some effort into it, and eventually you will come up with something good.FYR: I am the proud owner of two hand-forged axes, one a 3kg splitting ax, the other a hatchet forged from an artillery shell left over from the bombardment of Jinmen/Quemoy in 1958. For most of my work in the mountains, though, I use a laraw, a Tayal aborigine mountain knife.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Fascinating and informative book
  

*by P***L on Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2022*

I found this book to be an excellent bit of story telling and also quite informative.I grew up feeding a fireplace and I've learned a lot of things from this book, especially that I was quite lucky not to injure myself in my youthful ignorance.  The author grew up back when firewood was more than a pleasant hobby and an ax was an important tool.  Other than a bit of inevitable nostalgia for 19th century steel the book does not descend into romanticizing the past.  He makes clear that axes and their usage used to be taken very seriously before the invention of the chain saw and thus they were made and used with more skill than might be applied to them today.  I wished I'd read this book fifty years ago.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Excellent, highly informative and entertaining
  

*by R***. on Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2022*

Author makes a subject that might otherwise be dull into entertaining and highly informative reading. Highly recommend.

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.us/products/1562910-the-ax-book-the-lore-and-science-of-the-woodcutter](https://www.desertcart.us/products/1562910-the-ax-book-the-lore-and-science-of-the-woodcutter)

---

*Product available on Desertcart United States of America*
*Store origin: US*
*Last updated: 2026-03-02*