A good axe can last a lifetime if you take good care of it and use it for its intended purposes. Provided that you are sharpening it every 3 to 6 months and keeping it clean and oiled, then it’s going to be one of those tools that you’ll be getting good use of for a very long time. Even cheaper axes can surprise you, but it’s definitely worth investing a little more for good, quality steel, as it’s going to hold an edge better and be much more resilient to the ravages of both time and a heavy workload.