Then he puts his pipe in his pocket, and settles to the serious work of the 'great axe,' as he calls it.

I never could use this ungainly tool aright: a top-heavy, clumsy, awkward thing, it rules you instead of you ruling it.

The handle, too, is flat--almost with an edge itself sometimes--and is quite beyond the grasp of any but hands of iron.

Now the American axe feels balanced like a sword; this is because of the peculiar curve of the handle.

To strike you stand with the left foot slightly forward, and the left hand uppermost: the 'S' curve (it is of course not nearly so crooked as the letter) of the American axe adjusts itself to the anatomy of the attitude, so to speak.
The straight English handle does not; it is stiff, and strains the muscles; but the common 'great axe' has the advantage that it is also used for splitting logs and gnarled 'butts.' An American axe is too beautiful a tool for that rude work.