A:  I have bought several for family & I always get it wrong when trying find it also. My advice - tell your friend Steve Fiscars wants you to use two hands so you don't cut your arm off. Maybe - Just live w/ it.

A:  Axe because it is a smaller version of a bush axe used by farmers

A:  I work as a land surveyor and use this tool daily in various situations it out performs machete in all aspects. I would say blade thickness and ability to chop through larger diameter brush with ease comparable to a hatchet makes it called an axe. A machete is a specific shape of blade, ex. Kuhkuri, billhook, sickle referring to blade shape. 

A:  It is not for chopping felled wood it will cut down 2” thick limbs but once down an axe is the tool to use to chop camp fire length logs

A:  Hello Mike, Thank you for your recent inquiry with The Home Depot. The Fiskars Chopping Brush Axe (202681658) does not have a removable blade. We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you in the future.

A:  Does not appear to be removable, but the blade is not on other machetes or axes. You sharpen it as needed. As long as you aren't hitting rocks and metal it should hold an edge.

A:  Thank you for contacting Fiskars. The blade is not supposed to have a knife edge to it as the weight of the axe and the swing is what does the work. If you would like a sharper edge you are certainly welcome to sharpen it more with an axe sharpener or a diamond cut file.

A:  I believe it is due to it being a production line item. It went through the line and got it's "grinding" and went on to packing. That grinder wears and it must be tweaked and adjusted from time to time. YOUR unit cane through at a time when the factory grinder was most in need of adjustment. I did not even think of that. I got my file and touched it up as a normal operation. I am sure I can do a better job of sharpening than a production line machine so I did it.

A:  Mine was not sharp. I used a metal file and sharpened it. Doesn’t have to have a knifes edge, the weight does a lot of the work for you.

A:  It definitely could use some sharpening!

A:  Yes

A:  Probably if you want to fill the blade

A:  Smaller ones, yes. Anything larger than a mans thumb may get difficult. The hook really helps with this use. I’d recommend Taking it to a sharpener and having the back of the hook sharpened into a useable edge.

A:  It can, but it’s better to use the hook to pull upwards against the root. Also there isn’t an edge on earth it will stay sharp through an experience like that.

A:  Thank you for your inquiry. We do not suggest using the brush axe for chopping in the ground as if you hit a rock the blade could chip.