Axe question

[Jdubcity22]

I have a axe I recently was gifted to me and it is marked “made in sweden” and also has a crown stamped on it with GBA inside the crown. Can anyone tell me the history on it and if it’s worth anything? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated thanks.

 

[John A. Larsen]

Post on the Axe forum and you will get a quick answer. John

 

[JJ_Colt45]

The GBA is a Gransfors Bruks Axe. Without pictures it's tough to tell you more information.

And we can't discuss values unless you are a Gold Member or higher.

 

[rdnzl]

Its worth using. It's from the best axe maker on the planet.

 

[Peter Hartwig]

Nice gift, nice axe

 

[Hickory n steel]

Its worth using. It's from the best axe maker on the planet.

Yes it's worth using, but they are not and have never been the best maker on the planet.
Their modern axes are debatable, but the vintage GB axes you'll find were the cheap cutrate imports of the 60's-70's.
People assume that since axes used to be made better the vintage GB's must be the finest axes ever made but that's not remotely true
The bits are softer than even an inexpensive TT woodslasher or late 60's Mann made Collins, and I mean significantly softer.
I had a made in India HF hatchet with a harder bit than the vintage GB I was given.

They definitely had nice handles though and everything about them is designed like a proper axe with convex cheeks, the bit hardness is the only thing better about the modern GB's with all other aspects of the modern examples being inferior in every way.

 

[garry3]

I like them a lot better than H&S does. They are nothing special though and I flip them.
Probably to rdnzl....

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

The modern ones are overhyped but still decent axes and a fine gift. As Hickory n steel mentioned, the old ones were considered cheap import models. Axes, scythes, and other agricultural tools used to be imported to the USA from Sweden as the "cheap but good" alternative to domestically produced models, with Austrian-made imports just being "plain cheap".

 

[hugofeynman]

The modern ones are overhyped but still decent axes and a fine gift. As Hickory n steel mentioned, the old ones were considered cheap import models. Axes, scythes, and other agricultural tools used to be imported to the USA from Sweden as the "cheap but good" alternative to domestically produced models, with Austrian-made imports just being "plain cheap".

So, what do you consider to be a better axe than Gransfors? I'm always in the search of quality tools.

 

[flexo]

many axes are better than GB! I myself have only one of their axes, a vintage small scout hatchet with very hard steel to sharpen with a file, (too hard is not a sign of quality either if you can no longer make it sharp in the wood, when all it takes is for the steel to be harder than the wood basically!)
some no name of mine are better ,
when we consider all aspects of the tool, hardness; sharpness, ergonomics of the handle and the iron etc. without forgetting an important factor: the price
i input some knowledge in them because all off mine are made with homemade halves from wood billets.
which ones are better than these swedish ones in my (not so) collection? let's say: a lot!a germanic one for forestry rings like a bell with a flick...a Leborgne slipfit... a concil tool knock off...
well don't want to bore you!
voilà to finish with humour let's translate le borgne : One eyed!

 

[garry3]

I love the fist model Wilderness hatchet, great tool. It's a joy to use and the heat treat is really nice, but I prefer harder steels.
It won't excel at all tasks though.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I like them a lot better than H&S does. They are nothing special though and I flip them.
Probably to rdnzl....

Or maybe Wranglerstar, he's the type of person who would probably assume the vintage GBA axes must be the finest ever made and would declare it so without proof.
I'll take the old ones over the current ones anyday if they're not being sold like a precious metal.
The handles were shaped right, the heads weren't oddly proportioned, and they had convex cheeks.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

So, what do you consider to be a better axe than Gransfors? I'm always in the search of quality tools.

Barring antiques and customs, a lot really depends on your design requirements. Brant & Cochran I'd say is a solid better option, along with Lamaca. In terms of axes that have "good bones" to finish out better yourself, I'm quite a fan of Rinaldi if you don't mind them being somewhat roughly finished from the factory and like slip-fit eyes and Italian traditional head designs. Council has some very solid designs these days that include a high centerline and perform very nicely.

It's not that Gransfors is bad, per se, but rather that in premium axes there are nicer ones for around the same price or not much more but in economy models there are ones that can get nearly the same performance for a fraction of the cost, or equal that performance with the addition of a little sweat equity.

 

[rdnzl]

Some of you are full of it.

 

[hugofeynman]

Barring antiques and customs, a lot really depends on your design requirements. Brant & Cochran I'd say is a solid better option, along with Lamaca. In terms of axes that have "good bones" to finish out better yourself, I'm quite a fan of Rinaldi if you don't mind them being somewhat roughly finished from the factory and like slip-fit eyes and Italian traditional head designs. Council has some very solid designs these days that include a high centerline and perform very nicely.

It's not that Gransfors is bad, per se, but rather that in premium axes there are nicer ones for around the same price or not much more but in economy models there are ones that can get nearly the same performance for a fraction of the cost, or equal that performance with the addition of a little sweat equity.

Thank you very much! Those two brands I had no idea they existed. I'll look at their website. Rinaldi I already know, also because of you selling them. I have their machete and it's a good product.

 

[garry3]

Or maybe Wranglerstar, he's the type of person who would probably assume the vintage GBA axes must be the finest ever made and would declare it so without proof.
I'll take the old ones over the current ones anyday if they're not being sold like a precious metal.
The handles were shaped right, the heads weren't oddly proportioned, and they had convex cheeks.

I hope he's figured out which end of the eye to drive out old hafts.

That epoxy eyed Swedish stuff from the 60's or 70's are about as bad as any, with over sized eyes to boot on the hatchets. Right in line with Norlund, which most Bushcrafters would probably tell us are the finest ever made. I do love flipping that stuff.

I have an old Sater Banko that is really on point. I don't know what years it was produced but it's nothing like their later ones.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Ah yes--Norlund. Proving decades later that "rugged outdoorsman" advertising spin still works.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I hope he's figured out which end of the eye to drive out old hafts.

That epoxy eyed Swedish stuff from the 60's or 70's are about as bad as any, with over sized eyes to boot on the hatchets. Right in line with Norlund, which most Bushcrafters would probably tell us are the finest ever made. I do love flipping that stuff.

I have an old Sater Banko that is really on point. I don't know what years it was produced but it's nothing like their later ones.

I don't know how old the GBA I have is, but it doesn't have that red epoxy and I believe the handle is original.
I'll have to look at it again.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Ah yes--Norlund. Proving decades later that "rugged outdoorsman" advertising spin still works.

At the very least they did have some stuff that was cool, like the little spike tomahawk they had with the flint knapped surface.
Being cool only goes so far though, and they should not have the undeserved reputation that they do.
Worst of all is that myth I keep hearing that they " went to Sweden to learn how to make axes ".
They were made by Mann if I'm not mistaken, and METCO sure didn't need any lessons.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Yes, they were an economy brand by Mann mostly sold in country stores in a shrink-wrapped hang packaging. They're basically a hardware store special with glamping glitz sprinkled on for good measure. But that's also kind of where we got the modern Hudson Bay pattern so it's all good in the end I guess. At least it makes it good for flippers who know better.