mcraigl,
The convex grind holds an edge longer. You do more cutting to get a job done with an axe than with a knife. The convex grind also is stronger. It protects from chipping. It also keeps the axe from being stuck in the wood. As you probably know because you were a competitive lumberjack- to keep the axe from being stuck in the wood it should have a convex grind, then a slight thickening of the blade behind the bit, and then a slimming of the blade behind that. This makes it so that only a small portion of the axe blade is touching the wood while it is lodged in- making it easier to get it unstuck. Understand?
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