Gold Axe

Take the harvesting prefix and stop thinking about it. The combat one exists because an axe can technically be swung at an enemy, but nothing in the game rewards you for doing that when a sword costs the same ore.

This is the top of the plain metal axe line, but it is not the best pre-Hardmode option. The axes crafted from your world evil ore cut faster, so if you are already a night or two away from the Eater of Worlds or the Brain of Cthulhu, the bars are better spent elsewhere. Build this one when you need chopping power now and the boss fight is still some way off.