Which Gransfors Bruks to Buy???

M

maw

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Oct 15, 2000
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Hello All,

I am thinking of purchasing a Gransfors Bruks axe but not sure which one to get. I was thinking of one of these three, the GB Wildlife Hatchet, the Small Forest Axe, or the Scandinavian Forest Axe.

I don’t have a lot of experience with large axes or hatchets for that matter. My use would be pretty much limited to camping chores like gathering and splitting firewood. I already have a 4-inch fixed blade for general use and a Gerber Exchange-a-Blade Sports Saw in my bag.

There are a lot of you on this forum more knowledgeable on this subject then I, therefore I ask for your recommendations.

Thanks,
Mark
 
just to confuse you more. i have the hunters axe and have found that it is about the right size in portability and heavyness of the axe head to do the job. if you are carrying the axe then the small forest axe or the hunters axe ,they are about the same size, will carry well while giving a good acount of them selves in camp and game preparation. if you are horseback, canoe, truck or motorized vehicle then a full sized axe would be easily transported. the GB axes are great tools, the heads are very hard and can be brought to razor sharpness. they are great carving tools, and a wonderfull survival tool. i would not want to do a serious backcountry expedition without one. i have the estwind axe and it is very nice and chops well but the steel seems much softer than the GB.

alex
 
I bought the Hunter's Ax. It is similar to the Small Forest Ax, but is a little lighter due to the "flay poll", and grooved handle.

It is a very precise woodworking tool. You could sharpen a pencil with the Hunter's Ax. The handle area near the Ax head widens and makes a great handle for precision carving.

As for your question, it all depends on your size and weight requirements. The Hunter's Ax and the Small Forest Ax are larger than you average tomahawk, but smaller than a full size ax. It straps on nicely to the side of my backpack.

You should also look at Khukuris from Himalayan Imports as it fills the campsite fire chore role very well. The 18" Ang Khola is a good choice. These large curved knives play a combined role of knife, ax, machete and prybar. They are generally 1/2 inch thick and are a great deal tougher for splitting wood.

Just remeber, if it is too big to carry, it won't be used.
 
Originally posted by maw
I was thinking of one of these three, the GB Wildlife Hatchet, the Small Forest Axe, or the Scandinavian Forest Axe.
Click to expand...
For the uses you describe, the WH should be plenty, but different people have different ideas of what a "fire" is:)

I'm not very experienced with axes and hatchets, either, but after getting the small Forest Axe, soon found myself with all three on your list. Hard to resist these wonderful products with such reasonable prices.
In the middle, both size and performance-wise, the small FA is the one that I usually grab, as it can be used with one or both hands, chops well for its size, and is still compact enough to fit in a daypack.
It's my "all-around" beater, and usually stays in the toolbox of my truck.
For camping, I prefer the WH, as it is big enough for any wood I'm likely to chop on a short camping trip, while being smaller, lighter, and all that good stuff.
Unfortunately mine had a defect, and wasn't used much before having to be returned. Replacement has been slow since I went through the manufacturer instead of the dealer, and apparently there is a problem with availability. I'm expecting my new WH soon (well, hoping for it, anyway).

Here's a pic I took last year when they were all pretty new, for a size comparison.
fd2d8180.jpg
 
Thank you all for your comments and the pics too! It looks as though the Scandinavian Forest Axe is out of the picture for the first purchase. I’ll probably go with the Small Forest Axe first and then add on as necessary. Again, thanks for the comments.
 
GB makes a fine Hatchet/Axe, you cant go wrong will any of there products. I really love my GB Mini Hatchet its the perfect size for backpacking and lite-camping.
 
If you are not that experienced with an axe, I would recommend starting with a quality saw and the hatchet for awhile. This combination will quickly allow you to fell even large woods (for fuel considerations) very quickly and safely.

Use the saw to cut into the tree about half way. Now take the hatchet and cut above the line at about a 45 degree angle making a notch. Since the saw has cut away the wood from underneath it will be readily cut by the hatchet and fall out in large chunks. There is no need to swing very hard as the wood will be easily cut. Once you get a feel for the hatchet you can start using more power - but in the beginning take it easy.

Now turn around to the back of the tree and make another saw cut slightly above the first one, it is critical that it be higher on the back, if you go lower you can easily get seriously hurt or killed when the tree falls as low back cuts can cause the tree to swing back towards you and up at your head. Once the cut gets deep enough push the tree over. The wildlife hatchet will also be easily able to split wood of a size that you are going to easily burn when wet. Practice technique learing how to place the hatchet so the wood splits the easiest.

As always when felling, make sure that the way the tree falls is free of obstruction, and check the limbs up the tree first to make sure there are no rotted ones that can break free and fall to club you in the melon while you are chopping away. Try to find the dead or damaged trees to burn as this will help the rest of the trees to grow, plus they burn a lot better than fresh wood which contains a very high water level. All this water directly makes the fire much cooler, as you waste a tremendous amount of heat boiling off all the moisture.

-Cliff
 
PlaceKnives,

Thanks for the POC info of Lee Valley Tool. I just logged on and ordered a WH and amazingly they have them in stock! All the other places I've contacted over the last month have been a dry hole. This will be perfect for my backpacking trips I have planned in June.

Thanks again...

-Stanley White
 
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Be aware that the Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchets currently being made are different from the ones pictured in the Lee Valley Catalog and different from the ones pictured above in OwenM's post.

I am not terribly experienced with Hatchets or Axes so I did not have a preference as to whether I would prefer the 'old' or 'new' model GB WH.

You just should know that the WH you ordered from Lee Valley will be different from the one pictured. I know because I just received a GB WH from them last week.

Like I said, I don't know if that's a bad thing or a good thing, but I figured the good folks at GB certainly know MUCH more than I am likely to ever know about Hatchets, so if they saw fit to change the design, it's probagbly for the best.

-John
 
If you are interested in the differences in dimensions, I included them in a thread in the Axe & Hawk Forum entitled "You may like the new GB Wildlife Hatchet even better." Last post was 4/19/03. Unfortunately, I have still not done a chopping test with the two (been working too much!).
 
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