The newly formed Craftsman Committee has been hard at work creating new categories for the Third Annual WATL Craftsmen Awards. They are excited to honor the exceptional talent that shapes the landscape of the Craftsman Program. All WATL Certified Craftsman Program members are eligible to apply for the expanded list of categories this year.
The awards categories are:
Scored By A Panel of Judges
- Best Hatchet
- Best Big Axe
- Best Sheath
- Best Laser Engraving
Voted By The WATL Community
- Community Choice: Hatchet
- Community Choice: Big Axe
- Community Choice: Sheath
- Community Choice: Laser Engraving
PANELED VOTING PROCESS
This competition will be scored by a panel of judges – each category will be rated on a 10-point scale in each of the following categories:
BEST HATCHET & BEST BIG AXE
Fit:
- Quality of the hang
- Are there any gaps on the top or bottom of the axe head?
- Is the blade true to the handle?
- How well is the head affixed to the handle, is it loose?
- Is there curling under the axe head?
Finish:
- Are there any gaps in the glue-up?
- Are there bubbles in the epoxy?
- If any, are the patterns or lines lined up?
- How finished is the profiling, is it rough, are there swirls, is it rusted?
- How centered is the wedge, are there any gaps?
- Is the blade modified to throw for maximum coverage 4in / 4-⅝?
- Is the sanding of the handle smooth and uniform?
- When looking down the side of the handle is the handle itself straight? (Not bowed, cupped, bent, or twisted)
Weight/Length:
- All submissions for best axe must meet WATL specifications for official competition.
BEST SHEATH
Finish:
- If there is stitching is it all tight, not loose, or frayed?
- Are there any abrasion marks or imperfections outside of typical leather?
- If the sheath is dyed, is the coloring all uniform and not blotchy?
- Are the edges smoothed and rounded (Burnishing)?
- If there is hardware installed such as Chicago screws, rivets, snaps, pins, buckles, etc. Are they damaged in any way?
- If there is lasering, engraving, embossment, paint, etc. Is it all uniform, smooth, not blotchy?
Fit:
- Will the entry fit a standard WATL 4in/4-⅝ bit snugly and not too loose?
- Does the strap (if applicable) wrap around/fit snugly?
BEST LASER/ ENGRAVING
Finish:
- Is the submission done in a manner that allows the artwork to be clearly seen from all angles and positions?
- Does the submission utilize depth, surface finish, texture, and/or color to enhance the details of the artwork?
- Is the submission fully original artwork or does it incorporate existing logos or imagery?
- Is the submission clean?
- Are metal submissions free from rust, residue, engraving dust or other blemishes including fingerprints?
- Are wood/leather submissions free from burns, cracks, scorch marks, or other blemishes including residues from the engraving process?
Fit:
- Is the space provided by the item being engraved/etched utilized in a creative and well-crafted manner?
- Are the margins around the artwork uniform/symmetrical?
- Was the artwork designed to fit with the shape of the engraved item? Does it follow the edges and lines of the piece?
- Do parts of the artwork touch or cross the edge of the engraved item?
- Did the submission utilize any existing features of the engraved item in its design? (i.e. the Toro logo or the WATL logo being integrated in some manner instead of ignored or removed)
- If a submission includes elements that are painted, dyed, stained, or otherwise colored, was that applied evenly and cleanly? Are there any bubbles, thin/thick sections, or other blemishes visible?
Please note that any awards that use panels for judging (non-community vote) will not include anyone who submitted an axe/sheath for that award. If all Craftsmen committee members would like to submit items for panel-judged awards, then the panel will consist of WATL Council members, WATL staff, and/or other committee members (i.e. Judges, Rules, etc.). Any potential conflict of interest is the responsibility of the panel member to report to the Craftsmen Committee to find a replacement. Failure to report a conflict of interest will result in a disqualification of the entry and may result in further disciplinary action if applicable.
COMMUNITY CHOICE AWARDS
These awards will be judged by the WATL community; each community member will get one vote.
There are four (4) Community Choice Awards:
- Community Choice – Hatchet
- Community Choice – Big Axe
- Community Choice – Sheath
- Community Choice – Laser/ Engraving
Each submission must include at least four (4) pictures to be displayed with the entry.
These photos can be styled, but can not obscure the axe or sheath.
The community will vote for their favorites in an online poll that will be posted once all submissions are received, date TBD.
RULES OF THE CRAFTSMAN AWARDS
- All participants must be a member of the Certified Craftsman Program as of 1/1/2024.
- All participants are allowed one entry per award.
- The same submission can be entered into both the Panel and Community categories.
- The same submission cannot be entered into multiple awards in the same category.
- Participants can enter separate submissions for all awards in both categories.
- All submissions need to have been created between 1/1/2024 – 3/17/2024
- All submitted axes must be WATL axe heads
- All designs must adhere to the WATL Code of Conduct
- Judges for the Best Axe/Sheath/Engraving may not compete in that category
- Laser/engraving work cannot be submitted to Best Axe in any category if the person submitting the laser/engraving work did not build the axe
- Any submissions that were commissioned as a trophy for any organized sport, tournament, or other official event are not eligible for submission
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Participants must submit the following pictures and video for each axe category:
- Photo of the left and right profiles of each entry – totaling two (2) photos
- Birds-eye view of the whole entry laid on a table
- Top-down view showing head-to-handle alignment
- Close-up of the axe head detail
- Close-up of the axe handle detail
- Photo on a scale showing axe is within WATL specifications
- Photo with a tape measure showing axe is within WATL specifications
- Styled shot – displaying your axe how you would like
- Each Best Axe submission must include a video of the axe being thrown
- For a Best Axe submission, pay attention to the criteria and submit photos/video accordingly
Participants must submit the following pictures and video for the Best Sheath category:
- Photo of the left and right sides of each entry – totaling two (2) photos
- Birds-eye view of the whole entry laid on a table
- Close-up of the sheath stitching, lasering, engraving, and/ or embossment detail
- Styled shot – displaying your entry how you would like
- Each best sheath submission must include a video of the sheath being put on and removed from an axe or knife.
Participants must submit the following pictures and video for the Best Laser/ Engraving category::
- 2 Photos – bird’s-eye views of the entire submission from both sides taken top down with the submission laying on a table with a clean background free from obstructions so the submission is clearly visible.
- 1+ photos – close up photos of the submission showing the depth and detail of the piece including the fit of the artwork on the piece.
- Styled shot – displaying your axe or knife, how you would like.
All Entries Must Be Submitted by March 17th, 2024
PRIZES
Each winner will receive a Craftsman plaque and:
Panel TOTAL: $800 (WATL store credit)
- Panel Best Hatchet $250
- Panel Best Big Axe $250
- Panel Best Sheath $150
- Panel Best Laserwork/Engraving $150
Community TOTAL: $600 (WATL store credit)
- Community Best Hatchet $200
- Community Best Big Axe $200
- Community Best Sheath $100
- Community Best Laserwork/Engraving $100
Learn more about our Certified Craftsman and how you can join the program!
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