Proax Racing Axes
Victoria, Australia – 1990s
Proax was a short-lived but respected brand of competition Timbersport axes, handcrafted in Victoria, Australia, by a father-and-son team: Garry and Geoff Meyer. Produced for only about five years in the 1990s, these axes earned a loyal following among timber sport competitors for their quality and performance.
Arden Cogar Jr., a champion lumberjack and experienced axe expert, praised the Proaxe line – noting that some axes from the Meyers were “true beauties” in terms of quality.
Unlike manty mass-produced axes, Proax heads were made using cast steel (not forged), a technique requiring precision in metallurgy and heat treatment. Each axe was carefully ground to a razor-thin edge ideal for slicing through soft, green wood in underhand and standing block chopping events. Though designed for speed and accuracy, their fine edges made them unsuitable for general use or hardwoods.
It appears Proax offered two sizes of racing, denoted by the marking of 3 or 5 (5 being the larger). The number could be marked next to the logo, or at the bottom of the poll.
Despite their brief production run, Proax axes were highly regarded. Competitors and collectors today still value them as rare examples of elite racing axes from a unique era of innovation in Australian woodchopping. Their scarcity, craftsmanship, and connection to the Meyer family’s deep roots in the sport have given Proaxe a cult status among enthusiasts.
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I would like to get one of those axes
You and me both!