You can ruin any axe if not used correctly. I Personally (given the choice) wouldnt want to go lower than 55 Rockwell C as it is plenty soft enough to be really tough in the steels you are talking about. i have dropped 01 blades hardened to 58 on a concrete floor after reading that wayne goddard does this to test blades. So thought id see if it works and it damaged the edge only very slightly.
Granted 01 is a tough steel but so is any good axe steel. Just my humble opinion of course But then again i am certainly no expert on Axes, or anything come to think of it
Mind you i still fancy one of those marbles axes
Granted 01 is a tough steel but so is any good axe steel. Just my humble opinion of course But then again i am certainly no expert on Axes, or anything come to think of it
Mind you i still fancy one of those marbles axes