Seeking clarification on Fiskars/Gerbers axes

[Billy The Hungry]

Hello all,

I am getting back into my old hobbies, which includes a ridiculous love of axes. My passion is for steel and wood axes, but I do enjoy the utility of Fiskars axes.

Moving on to my question, I wanted to replace my X15 I lost years ago. In my search, I stumbled upon the Gerber branded axes that are clones of the Fiskars. I was confused.
I then thought that perhaps the redundancy was partially explained by the fact that Fiskars uses the Gerber name to fill in sizing gaps. Like the 17.5 hatchet. And, apparently, now the 23.5. ( I thought the Fiskars 23.5 was discontinued, replaced by their longer 28 inch chopper)

My confusion was further thickened when I discovered Gerber also has a 14 inch hatchet, a clone of the X7, which is still being sold.
Then I stumbled upon my beloved Fiskars in 23.5. I see them in stock in several online locations.

So now I have to ask, why the redundancy?

Also, I have noticed the Gerber branded ones are more expensive.

I know Gerber axes are made by Fiskars. But are they made in the same factory, in Finland, using the same steel and plastic recipe?

I would really appreciate some clarity on this. My Google Fu must not be working that well, because I have tried to Google these questions. I guess not too many people care enough to ponder it as hard as my crazy self, haha

Thanks all!

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

The Gerber branding is simply used in the USA for sportsman-oriented marketing purposes. They use Wilkinson Sword branding in the UK. Not all of the Gerber models are made in Finland but the ones that are identical to either current or past Fiskars models are.

 

[Billy The Hungry]

The Gerber branding is simply used in the USA for sportsman-oriented marketing purposes. They use Wilkinson Sword branding in the UK. Not all of the Gerber models are made in Finland but the ones that are identical to either current or past Fiskars models are.

Hi Ben, thank you for the help.

I was wanting to make sure the Gerber axes were made in the same factory.

I plan on ordering a X15 since (apparently) they are still being made, but the 17.5" Gerber has my eye, due to the size.
Money is tight for me these days so I wanted to clear up my confusion before making a purchase. Thank you again!

 

[jeepin]

Hi Ben, thank you for the help.

I was wanting to make sure the Gerber axes were made in the same factory.

I plan on ordering a X15 since (apparently) they are still being made, but the 17.5" Gerber has my eye, due to the size.
Money is tight for me these days so I wanted to clear up my confusion before making a purchase. Thank you again!

Some of the plastic handled Gerber/Fiskars are made in Taiwan so make sure to confirm it’s one of the Finland made versions before placing your order.

 

[Billy The Hungry]

Some of the plastic handled Gerber/Fiskars are made in Taiwan so make sure to confirm it’s one of the Finland made versions before placing your order.

Thank you! I planned on sticking with the "Freescape" axes, the ones that look like clones of Fiskars. With all due respect to fans of Gerber, I do not like Gerber products. That is why I wanted to make sure the 17.5" (specifically) was made in Finland using the same metal and plastic recipe.

 

[thebrain]

The sporting side of fiskars sold the Gerber models those usually had a sheath of some type the fiskars had plastic "holders" and the Gerber models were always more expensive. It must be a new development that some are made in Taiwan but I haven't purchased any since they changed to the "x" series. I didn't like the change in handle shape and texture. Has anyone notice the steel being a tad soft in the axe/hatchet models, the brush hook is about right IMHO.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

The sporting side of fiskars sold the Gerber models those usually had a sheath of some type the fiskars had plastic "holders" and the Gerber models were always more expensive. It must be a new development that some are made in Taiwan but I haven't purchased any since they changed to the "x" series. I didn't like the change in handle shape and texture. Has anyone notice the steel being a tad soft in the axe/hatchet models, the brush hook is about right IMHO.

No, it's quite an old thing, actually. The "Gator" series ones have always been made in China despite cosmetically strongly resembling the Finnish ones.

 

[thebrain]

I never considered the gator models being the same but you are right, cosmetically they are very similar. I never liked how they felt so I didn't lump them in with the others.