Scyris
Refugee
Well to make the current axe a viable weapon you'd need to do 2 things: 1 set it so bladed weapons effects it, and 2, up the headshot multiplier, its largely the headshot multiplayer that makes the axe such a useless weapon. I dunno about you, but if I had to choose between a hunting knife or a fireaxe for killing zombies, most people would go for the fireaxe if they could only choose one.I kinda prefer the old way as well, but I can see why TFP changed it. Makes it a very clear upgrade path.
Just FYI, Stone Axe isn't a construction tool and doesn't build. You need a Stone Hammer for that (small stone, wood, plant fiber). But that's because I made Axe's a skill to try and turn them back into a viable weapon again.
As for old way, I really hated that forge ahead book, the leather book to, as they gated off so many recipies and sometimes I would hit lv 40 or 50 before i'd find either.