Fiskars X27 Super Splitting Axe Review
- 36" handle, the longest Fiskars offers, for leverage and swing speed
- Hardened forged blade with a convex bevel for more one-strike splits
- Insert-molded head on a shock-absorbing FiberComp handle
Opens Amazon.com · see today's price & availability
A 36-inch splitting axe built around the longest handle Fiskars makes, aimed at taller splitters and medium to extra-large logs. Here's what the convex blade and composite handle deliver.
Quick verdict
The Fiskars X27 is a dedicated splitting axe for medium to extra-large logs, built around a 36-inch shock-absorbing handle and a hardened, convex-ground forged blade. The long handle adds swing speed for taller splitters, and the insert-molded head can't work loose. It is less handy for limbing or felling, and the length needs room to swing, but for splitting firewood it is about as purposeful as an axe gets.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Convex bevel is designed to split cleanly and release from the wood
- 36-inch handle adds leverage and swing speed for taller splitters
- Insert-molded head is locked into the handle, so it can't loosen
- Shock-absorbing handle with a textured, non-slip grip
- Handle design helps prevent overstrike damage
- Protective sheath included for storage and transport
What could be better
- Long for shorter splitters or cramped splitting spots
- Splitting geometry makes it a poor choice for felling or limbing
- A composite handle can't be rehung at home like a hickory one
- At 6.3 pounds, it rewards good technique over a long session
Key features, explained
Hardened, convex forged blade
The head is forged steel, hardened so the edge stays sharper longer than on traditional axes, according to Fiskars. Its bevel is convex rather than flat. On a splitting axe that matters: the curved cheeks push the two halves of a round apart as the edge sinks in, instead of letting the bit wedge and stick. Fiskars says the geometry delivers more one-strike splits and makes the blade easier to pull free when a round refuses to open. A proprietary grind and a low-friction coating finish the head.
36-inch handle for taller splitters
At 36 inches, this is the longest handle Fiskars puts on an axe, and the X27 is pitched squarely at taller people or anyone who prefers a longer tool. A longer handle traces a bigger arc, so the head arrives at the round with more speed, and speed is where splitting power comes from. Fiskars compares its weight distribution to an aluminum bat, balanced to keep the swing fast. The flip side is reach: you need clear space around the block, and shorter splitters may control a shorter axe more easily.
FiberComp handle and insert-molded head
Instead of a wooden handle wedged into an eye, the head is insert-molded into a FiberComp composite handle. That removes the classic failure of a wooden axe, a head that loosens as the handle dries and shrinks, and Fiskars describes the result as virtually unbreakable. The handle is also shock-absorbing, with a textured non-slip grip that reduces hand strain and improves control, and it is designed to resist overstrike damage when a swing lands short of the edge.
Weight and what it splits
The axe weighs 6.3 pounds in total, with a listed head weight of 4.3 pounds. That sits at the heavy end of splitting axes but well short of a traditional maul, so each swing carries plenty of energy without the fatigue of a sledge-weight head. Fiskars aims the X27 at medium to large logs and says it makes even extra-large rounds easier to split. The same sharp edge handles kindling by the fire pit, though a hatchet is easier to manage up close.
Safe splitting and storage
A long, sharp splitting axe deserves respect. Split on a solid chopping block at a comfortable height, plant your feet apart, keep the swing zone clear of people and wear eye protection and gloves. Fiskars advises checking for cracks in the handle or chips in the blade before each use. The included protective sheath covers the edge for storage and transport, and it also keeps the hardened grind from picking up nicks against other tools in the shed.
Fiskars X27 Splitting Axe specs
| Brand | Fiskars |
|---|---|
| Model | X27 (378841-1002) |
| Type | Splitting axe |
| Overall length | 36 in |
| Overall weight | 6.3 lb |
| Head weight | 4.3 lb |
| Head | Hardened forged steel, insert-molded |
| Blade edge | Convex bevel, low-friction coating |
| Handle | FiberComp composite, shock-absorbing |
| Grip | Textured, non-slip |
| Included | Protective sheath |
| Prices change often. See the live price: Check Price | |
Who should buy it?
Great for
- Taller splitters working through a winter's worth of firewood
- Medium to extra-large rounds that a small axe won't open
- Anyone tired of wooden axe heads working loose
Skip it if
- You're on the shorter side or split in a cramped space
- You need one axe for felling, limbing and clearing brush
- You want a handle you can replace yourself with hickory
Frequently asked questions
Is the Fiskars X27 good for taller people?
Yes. It is designed for taller users or anyone who prefers a longer axe, and its 36-inch handle is the longest Fiskars offers. Shorter splitters often get better control from a shorter axe.
How much does the Fiskars X27 weigh?
It weighs 6.3 pounds overall, with a listed head weight of 4.3 pounds. That is heavy for an axe but lighter than a typical splitting maul.
Can the head come loose on the X27?
The head is insert-molded into the FiberComp handle rather than wedged onto a wooden haft, so it can't loosen the way a wood-handled axe head can as the handle dries out.
What size logs can the Fiskars X27 split?
Fiskars aims it at medium to large logs and says it makes medium to extra-large rounds easier to split. Very knotty or twisted wood can still call for wedges and a sledge.
Does the Fiskars X27 come with a sheath?
Yes. A protective sheath is included to cover the edge during storage and transport.
Final verdict
The Fiskars X27 Super Splitting Axe is a specialist, and a very good one. A hardened, convex forged blade, a head molded in rather than wedged on and the longest handle in the Fiskars range all point at one job: opening medium to extra-large rounds in as few swings as possible. Shorter splitters and anyone after an all-round felling axe should look elsewhere, but for a tall person with a big woodpile it is an easy recommendation.
Check PriceOpens Amazon.com · see today's price & availability
