Deciding between a Small forest and forest axe

P

Pydpiper

Joined
Feb 19, 2006
Messages
72
My quest for a decent axe has led my to GF, and because of my location I will not be able to physically handle either axe prior to purchase.
I see a tremendous amount of talk on the small forest axe and I would like to know why so many people prefer it to the larger of the two..
Thanks.
 
depends on your primary use.
The SFA is a convenient, packable size. will fit in a backpack. I consider it more like a longer handled hatchet. long enough for 2 hand use, and also small enough to swing with one hand.
I don't have the FA but I have several axes in different sizes. If I was going to fell trees or do heavy limbing I would take a bigger axe.
HTH
 
It will mostly be used for splitting small wood for campfires, 2" to 10" wood. Occasionally it will be used to fall small trees..
 
Now the hunters axe is an option..
I could really use some more advice here.. I am going on Monday (2 days) to make my purchase, I want to make sure that I chose the right tool and I am counting on some experience to chose between the hunters, SFA, and forest axe..
Minor limbing, breaking down wood that has already been split and splitting small limbs (dry). It will be used around my home as well as cottage, I burn a tremendous amount of fire wood (dry) and would really like some first hand advice on which model to chose..
Thanks in advance!
David
 
I use my small forrest axe for chopping and splitting 3-8" logs into more managable pieces mostly when camping. I use the sfa because it's smaller than a full size and stores easily in my truck. If it was something i used at home and didn't have to consider transport, storage space or weight i'd probably go for a full size. I've been using my sfa for a few years and haven't needed a full size yet, but i rarely need to fall a tree it's all down wood and scraps. Good luck with your decision.

p.s. I just sent my sfa in to GB due to a small piece that broke off the heel of the edge. Their customer service responded quickly and said they would send me a new axe if i sent mine in. I haven't heard of too many forging problems with GB axes and it's nice that they stepped right up with no hassels. It's nice to deal with companies who stand behind their products.
 
P,

Believe it or not, I have seen GF axes of all sizes go for great prices on E-Bay. Everywhere I have seen them for sale they were priced at full retail.

That still does not solve the handling issue, but you could at least order the one you think you want, and then sell it for what you have in it if you decide you want another.

I have handled many of these, and like them greatly.

Good Luck.
 
I really think the SFA is the ticket for a trip. You could fall and cut and split enough wood for a weeks worth of camping in a couple of hours. If there is any serious cutting to be done as opposed to splitting I suggest you take a take-down saw as well.

I have a #26 Limbing axe from Wetterlings that is about 1" OAL longer than the GB FA. If you have a decent pack or are not worried about office dweebs being frightened to death of the WMD strapped to your pack the added ease of chopping with this size is nice. Plus, the balance is so good that using it one handed is a doddle.
 
I got the GB SFA, to go in my backpack, with car camping thrown in for good measure.

I'm darned happy with it. But, now I'm dissatisfied with all my other cheap axes!

So, watchout, you've been warned. :)
 
Thanks guys!
I doubt I'll backpack with one, so the issue of carrying it around for a day really isn't an issue for me, I am more concerned with the angle of the blade, isn't that important?
I keep reading that the SFA is angled for green wood and the FA is angled for dry wood, it got confusing when the Hunters axe claims to cut dry wood while being similar sized to the SFA..:confused:
Am I just looking to far into this angle thing?

A great deal of my wood is pre split firewood, I want something to split that stuff yet again..
Thanks for all the input, it helps alot..
 
Pydpiper said:
I keep reading that the SFA is angled for green wood and the FA is angled for dry wood, it got confusing when the Hunters axe claims to cut dry wood while being similar sized to the SFA.
Click to expand...

I have used the FA, it has the same basic profile as the Wildlife Hatchet, they are optimized for medium density fresh woods. The Carpenters axe is ground to cut dry woods as it is usually used on dried lumber.

If you don't need the ability to use the axe one handed and are not concerned about size/weight, the Forest axe is the way to go. I would not however want to split a 10" piece of wood with it unless the wood breaks really easily like clear pine.

-Cliff
 
I went down to Lee Valley (I highly recommend this store) to see the display models, they are all screwed to a wall to prevent misuse..
While I was standing there staring blankly into the wall of axes an employee approached my carrying a small forest axe and a Scandinavian forest axe, held them out and said "thought you may want to get a feel for one.." It was 3 minutes of sheer bliss, I wanted to stand there and hold them all day long.. Both axes were smaller than I had imagined, i had my heart set on the SFA, but once it was in my hand I thought it may be just a bit too small for splitting firewood.. I ended up going home empty handed after an hour and a half drive to the store.
My wife says, how did you make out? I told her I couldn't decide so I chickened out.. To my surprise she said, "you should have bought both if you couldn't decide"
I love my wife! But I still don't have an axe.
 
Pydpiper said:
To my surprise she said, "you should have bought both if you couldn't decide"
Click to expand...

Whenever mine says that I expect to hear a click like you get on landmines when you stand on them :D
 
GB has a lovely small splitting axe that is made specifically for what you are doing. Note that you can't use it as a maul, but it will certainly do a real number on splitting precut wood. I've used one and you can't believe how easily it disects a hunk of dry hardwood. I would certainly consider it if I wasn't planning on backpacking the tool
 
Thanks..
I have my heart set on a small forest axe now, but I will seriously consider a small splitting axe, I got a chance to see one and tried to keep it in the back of my mind so I wouldn't buy too many at the same time.. It's inevitable, I'll probably get them all.
 
Any wife that says "why didn't you buy both Gransfors Bruks", is a keeper.

Lucky man!
 
Totally new on this forum, I feel like I am at some totally opposite end. My current wishes are (1) axe with handle where the head is not loose and always in danger of flying off and (2) something I can use to wear down a turned up base of huge red oak tree (fell over into neighbors and has been taken away, the timber itself). The axe I imagine is like the carpenter's hatchet I had back in the 1960's made by TruTemper (TM)
The immediate task to taking down a "stump" (roots) which vertically measure at least 7 feet, 8 feet or more diameter of upturned ROOTS would be something more like a bush axe (the kind that convicts used to handle alongside North Carolina roads during my childhood).
 
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