Like most affordable axes and hatchets, this one too came quite dull out of the box. Steel seems to be tempered quite hard for c45 steel. I've had to spend a lot of time sharpening it.
Grain orientation was horizontal which is just opposite that it should be. Not a big deal on a light hatchet. Head was hung off and that with the grain orientation was too much for me and I decited to change the handle. All in all I would not buy again, even though this will probably end up being a decent tool. Just a bit too much work for my taste.