A different opinion of the Transfers Bruks Small Forrest axe

jamesraykenney

jamesraykenney

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Apr 9, 2004
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560
Just read these reviews, and was wandering why he seemed to get such different results from the reviews I have seen here?

Gränsfors Bruks Small Forest Axe VS Roselli Long Axe
http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=71

Wetterling long hunting axe VS Gränsfors Bruks small forest axe
http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=147

Now admittedly, he did some work on the Wetterling, but STILL...

I was just about to order a Gränsfors Bruks Small Forest Axe, but now I am wondering if I should get the Roselli or the Wetterling(Thought I do not think I would want to have to work on the Wetterling like he did.
I want something that will would with at most a good sharpening session.
The Roselli, seems like it did not need ANY work before using and was VERY versatile.
 
Look at it this way...
None of them are *bad* axes.
They are just a little different.
First define what your axe will be used for and then pick the one that does that job the best.

Having said that, I have a GB SmFA and am quite happy with it. I use it camping to split both deadfall wood that we've dragged in and 'store bought' quartered rounds.
I could do the same with my full sized Plumb Axe, but it was too big to carry. The same goes for my Norlund hatchet, but it was too small for the bigger stuff.
The SmFA fits the spot right in the middle.
I would theink the other 2 that you mentioned would do well too.

Confused yet?
 
Having just gotten into 'Axe' stuff, and having given up on using them before(Do to what I NOW think was VERY bad edge profile)... I want something that is good enough for everything from small camp axe to felling axe(I know that is impossible, but I want to come as close as possible.)
I do not want to buy 3 or 4 CHEAP axes and work them over, because I do not have the skills, and even if I did, I would wind up with only a so-so axe anyway.
BUT....I cannot afford more than one(right now,) and need something that (except for sharpening,) will work 'out of the box'

The review has really got me thinking about the Roselli because it seems to be, at the very least, acceptable at everything.
 
I think Ebbtide has put it rather well. I concur with his sentiments. An axe is a personal thing. After a while, you will prefer a particular make or model.
 
The main difference is that the bit on the Wetterling is thinner, some measurements would have been informative so as to quantify this difference. The GB axe could have been slimmer down if this was desired.

Note as well that axes have to be optomized for the type of wood, what works on soft pine doesn't work best on hard seasoned spruce, so there is a tradeoff on fluidity and wedging.

It is surprising though to note a thicker bit on the GB, the ones I have seen are very thin, so much so that if I thin them out they would just ripple, however I have seen shots of others that were not. There is variability in all axes, I have seen Wetterlings that were horrible and the customer service is non-existant, with GB emails are prompt.

So if the axe does behave as described, glances due to improper handle / head alignment, then fire them off an email, and check with them about bit profile before buying.

In regards to glances, you also need to sight down the handle to see if the bit splits the end. If it is really skewed, then precision, control, etc. are all reduced.

So in short, you could be looking at one simple case of variability. You really need manufacturer feedback to put the results into perspective.

This is one of the reasons why I always fire off an email to the maker / manufacturer whenever the performance goes wrong and give them the ability to comment on the results, fix the problem, etc. .

-Cliff
 
In terms of the control due to the balance, there is a long running arguement that center head axes are better (double bit ones being obvious cases) because they induce no torque on the wrist, whereas bit heavy axes will tend to rotate down and thus you have to fight this to keep the axe stable. However I have never found this significant, its trivial to test as just hold the axe up and see how much wrist strain it induces to keep it from rotating.

The biggest problems with glancing are :

1) bit is too thick to cut at the optimal angle, wrong bit profile for the wood

2) head / handle alignment is off (many ways, both up down, side/side or twisted head)

3) bevel is uneven, chisel ground more on one side than the other

With control / precision, the biggest factor is the distance from the bit to the handle, the longer this gets, the directly harder it is to be accurate.

-Cliff
 
Thanks for all the replies....
One of the problems I have is that I do not think there are ANY dealers (where I could actually go an look at one of these) ANYWHER near where I live(Beaumont, TX.)

Has anyone around here used the Roselli?
I just do not see HOW(with a blade profile like that) that it could perform well AT ALL...
But if it really is that good, I might be willing to spend the extra $30.00 or so for the Roselli...$100.00 IS a lot of money, but I see these things as a lifetime investment...
 
Canoesport Texas in Houston has GB axes and hatchets in stock, and last time I was there I saw the Small Forest Axe. Bruce and Sherry Gillan are the owners, and Charles Duvic is an employee who has been there many years. Local phone is 713-660-7000; Toll-free is 1-866-665-2925.
 
Rex G said:
Canoesport Texas in Houston has GB axes and hatchets in stock, and last time I was there I saw the Small Forest Axe. Bruce and Sherry Gillan are the owners, and Charles Duvic is an employee who has been there many years. Local phone is 713-660-7000; Toll-free is 1-866-665-2925.
Click to expand...
Thanks!!!!!!! I just got off the phone with them and the guy said that he knew you(I did not even give your name, he guessed!)

I will try to get over there this Sat.
They have the Large Forest Axe for $68.00 and the American Felling axe for $121.00 so I may have one next week!!!!
 
I have the Roselli All Around axe and am very happy with it. It is very light in the hand when chopping, plus you can choke up on it for fine work. Perfect for camping/backpacking.
 
I have had the GB, Wetterlings, and Roselli. They are all great. I will probably get another GB or Wetterlings sometime. The Roselli is a very powerful and versatile small axe - my current axe.
 
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