31" vs 35" GB American Felling Axe

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eakersj

Joined
Dec 31, 2014
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Does anyone have experience with both a 31" felling axe and a 35" one? I'm trying to decide between the two. Most axes seem undersized to me, so I'm leaning towards a 35" handle. I've read the other threads on this topic and would appreciate any advice before I pull the trigger.
 
eakersj said:
Does anyone have experience with both a 31" felling axe and a 35" one? I'm trying to decide between the two. Most axes seem undersized to me, so I'm leaning towards a 35" handle. I've read the other threads on this topic and would appreciate any advice before I pull the trigger.
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How tall are you?
What will the ax be used for?
 
5'11". Multi-use when I'm not carrying a chain saw. I have lots of experience with brush axes. I'm swapping to an axe to better handle medium size trees walking fence lines. Already have a large splitting axe for rounds/firewood.
 
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After taking a look, my brush axes measure 42" with 5.5 lb surveyor hook. I'm gonna go with the 35" handle and the 3.3 lb head. The 31" just seemed undersized. Now I know why.
 
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Are these axes still available? I was also looking to get one recently and one dealer said Gransfors had stopped producing them.
 
Since they are not in production, they are challening to find and are currently fetching top dollar. I managed to find two but am selling one with the hopes of helping to offset the cost. It's posted on eBay. I also saw a used one go up for sale on Craigslist in New York for 180$.
 
Okay...couple months with the 35" and I'm still amazed at how well the axe slices through even the hardest of woods. 5-7 inch water oaks...no problem. Starting to carry an axe vs a chainsaw more often now. Still need the chainsaw, but the 35" GB American Felling Axe is a beast and more fun!!! Good stuff.
 
I am always surprised by what I can accomplish with a medium weight axe vs. with a chainsaw. In a previous job (local DNR) I kept both in my truck. The thing was that if I used the chainsaw I was required to suit up, chaps, helmet, eye and hearing protection, leather boots. I just found that for clearing a smaller fall across a dirt road in the mountains that I could do it quicker by just jumping out with the axe. If I had a partner I'd let him suit up for the chainsaw. Half the time I'd have it all cut for clearing before my partner could get suited up.

OTOH if I'm cutting firewood than the chainsaw is a no-brainer. Match the tool to the work and the duration of the work.
 
I have been using my 4lb. Hults Burk with a 34" handle for splitting mostly. It works well for that. Probably the best splitter I've used. I'll have to try it more on limb work to see if the results are as glowing as you gents state. DM
 
I've got to take my hat off to you guys, I just got a Prandi with a 2.8lb head & a 31.5" handle, & that seems long to me. I'm 5'7" on a tall day, but I'm pretty muscular & have been swinging axes since I was about 8yo, so about 34 years, and I find that I'm really loving my Council Wood-Craft w a 23" handle ( it's supposed to be 24", but they're not). I gave my GB Scandi w a 25" handle to my 16yo son, & I also found that to be a very natural swinging length for all types of axe work. I use a Basque style axe from Spain for any medium-ish felling or bucking, & medium-ish is as heavy duty as I go anymore, but that axe has around a 25" handle as well....am I just a wimp or what? It just seems that a guy who's about 4" taller than me wouldn't take a jump up to a 35", rather a 31"....perhaps it's just a personal feel thing, maybe you guys simply use axes for bigger jobs than I do, I don't know, but for me, a 28" handle is my max for effectiveness, and I prefer a 23.5" - 26" OAL...and a lighter head for speed & accuracy. Scott Sherman
 
Thank you VanDammet. Personal observations based on real experience (not hearsay or Google search) are more than welcome. I've had good luck with 28 inch handles most of my life. Granted I've rarely wielded anything beyond 3 lb either. Whatever is comfortable, doesn't wreck boots, bark shins or endanger toes.
Reason handle lengths are described the way they are (ie 28") is that's how long the handles started off at before fitting, wedging and final trimming. Losing an inch, and sometimes even two, is fairly typical on overall completed length. Think of it as having to pay for a 'tamed' 1 15/32" x 3 7/16" stamped stud plus all the sawdust, shavings and effort that were forfeit while 'truing' and 'sizing' what once was a 'feral' 2 x 4.
 
VanDammet said:
I've got to take my hat off to you guys, I just got a Prandi with a 2.8lb head & a 31.5" handle, & that seems long to me. I'm 5'7" on a tall day, but I'm pretty muscular & have been swinging axes since I was about 8yo, so about 34 years, and I find that I'm really loving my Council Wood-Craft w a 23" handle ( it's supposed to be 24", but they're not). I gave my GB Scandi w a 25" handle to my 16yo son, & I also found that to be a very natural swinging length for all types of axe work. I use a Basque style axe from Spain for any medium-ish felling or bucking, & medium-ish is as heavy duty as I go anymore, but that axe has around a 25" handle as well....am I just a wimp or what? It just seems that a guy who's about 4" taller than me wouldn't take a jump up to a 35", rather a 31"....perhaps it's just a personal feel thing, maybe you guys simply use axes for bigger jobs than I do, I don't know, but for me, a 28" handle is my max for effectiveness, and I prefer a 23.5" - 26" OAL...and a lighter head for speed & accuracy. Scott Sherman
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About the same size as you Scott. I have no use at all for a 36" haft and prefer them much shorter.
 
I'm 6'0" and I prefer to buck with a 32"-34" haft. For splitting or felling I'll take the longer 36" haft. A 28" boys axe is fine for limbing but I don't like getting much smaller than 26" for 2-handed work.

All personal preferences, I guess. But I do think that 20"-24" is a no mans land where the haft length is a danger to the user.
 
Square_peg said:
I'm 6'0" and I prefer to buck with a 32"-34" haft. For splitting or felling I'll take the longer 36" haft. A 28" boys axe is fine for limbing but I don't like getting much smaller than 26" for 2-handed work.

All personal preferences, I guess. But I do think that 20"-24" is a no mans land where the haft length is a danger to the user.
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OK, ya, that's more like what I'm used to hearing from you tall-ies. I've got to think that it's mostly about a guy's size, particularly height & arm length. The good Lord blessed me with slightly above average height, if we were living in the 14th Century, so thanks for that...& with my towering height comes a couple of strong, rippling (they stopped rippling about 15year ago) T-Rex arms. I haven't yet done any research on this, but it makes intuitive sense that a 6-foot guy would be more efficient with a longer axe as compared to an axe I'd want to use...I'm just a bit surprised that the differences appear to be so great. I'd imagine there are plenty of 5'7" guys who prefer a 35" axe, because they've got a 72" wingspan, & there's got to be some 6-footers with 68" wingspans who stay away from anything in the 30's. I do think that I can draw one safe conclusion right now - if you know how to use/swing an axe properly in all of the various axe usage categories, & you try 4 or 5 different lengths of an axe, & you definitely feel more effective & efficient with a certain length or tight range of lengths, then that's the right axe length for you.

So, Square_peg, I'm not sure if your last sentence above was meant for all guys or was a statement specifically about you, but I don't think it applies for all guys, & certainly not for me....as I can get a lot of work done at the upper end of that 20"-24" range....maybe not as much as you, but come on, you're one of them tall-ies, it aint fair!
 
20"-24" is perfect for reaching your shin and not long enough to keep the haft from passing parallel to the ground. Thay automatically put the user in the danger zone. I'm not saying they can't be used safely, just that the body mechanics required to use them safely are inconvenient and awkward - at least for me.
 
lightweight said:
Are these axes still available? I was also looking to get one recently and one dealer said Gransfors had stopped producing them.
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The word I got last week when we made a big order for work was that there was a one year backlog on the American Felling.
 
I don't know about these handle lengths, I've always used a 36". Anything else I have to buy off the internet (which is kind of a moot point because I don't buy from stores that much). To me it's more about the balance, 3.5 and above get 36s and 3s get 32s. Average height back in the day was 5'8" I think. BTW I'm 5'6".

I think it has more to do with feel though. I get similar performance out of all my axes in spite of handle length. Personally I've never used a smaller axe like you guys have been talking about. Maybe I'll give my cruiser a try
 
Yep, that's what I think. I have a 2.25-2.3 lb. axe head that I was going to put on a 24" handle, for a boys axe. Then use it for cleaning fence rows and see if I noticed a difference. I'm 6' and have always used a 34''-36" haft on a 3-4 lb. head. Which felt fine for limb work and splitting. DM
 
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