GB Scandinavian axe for bushcraft?

[Cpl Punishment]

Now here's the thing: I'm really stuck between the GB Small Forest Axe and the Scandinavian Forest Axe. Obviously, the former would be a better choice for bushcraft tasks and is more portable, but I'm afraid that at 19", it would be too awkward to use with one hand and too short to use with two while chopping. Now at 25", the Scandi would probably make for a much better chopper that you could get full two handed swings with, but how does it stand up for rough wood carving when you choke up? Does the long handle make usage for this and other bushcraft tasks awkward?

Reading my previous reply (sorry, I was in a hurry) I see I didn't really address this.

IIRC, you're not a small guy. For me, a 19" axe is very nice for general bushcraft, and very easy to use one-handed, not that great two-handed, but it can be done.

The problem is, you specified

predominantly for chopping, felling/limbing and wood splitting

which, frankly, the smaller axe won't be great at. However, unlike the S&N Pen Bay and Hudson Bay, the GB Small Forest and Scandi do not use the same head. The Scandi's head is half a pound heavier. That's what would really impede its use as a one-hander, especially in fine tasks like carving and hewing.

Fine carving and hewing and felling/splitting are really diametrically opposed tasks, and the 19" axe can do both, but neither well.

You mention you carry a small blade, large blade and want a chopper. I would get the Scandi, and use the knives for the carving and such, or if you want to get into axe carving, get a GB mini to go along with the Scandi, and on those days, don't worry about taking the larger knife, go with the small knife, Mini and Scandi.


OR



Do like a lot of us would like, and just by a sample of every one of GB's axes (and a spare, of course), and just pick the one that best suits what you want to do that day!!

 

[killa_concept]

Here's some pictures of three together that might help size them. Have to say that the edges on all three that I have were shaving sharp when they arrived. Gave all three a light stropping anyway.

The Scandinavian is a great two-hander. It swings easily and bites deep. Despite the added length, it rides nice on the outside of a backpack. I think the proportions of the axe head are appropriate for the handle size and it's balance and weight work well. The curve of the handle is comfy. The poll is generous for pounding. The cheeks are on the thin side.

The Small Forest Axe is great for choking up on with one-hand to clean up or limb and medium chopping duties. You can two-hand it and do some serious cutting but it is a little awkward. For a pack axe, not much you can't do with this despite it's shorter length. As with the Scandinavian, everything is proportioned well.

The Mini-Hatchet is a great little tool. You could almost leave your knife at home if you have this with you. I'm not real fond of the handles curve but it works. The heel of the bit is very useful. Expensive little bugger but I think it's worth having around.

**pics omitted**

I hit a rock with one but despite that, the edges are all still very sharp after several hard use outings.

Big thank you for those shots! Incredibly helpful for comparative purposes. Am I right in seeing that the handle area just prior to the heads are fairly similar in size on the SFA and Scandi (with the Scandi just being slightly larger)?
Also any chance of a shot from the top of both to show the difference in thickness and head profile? Like the 5th picture but including the whole top section?

IIRC, you're not a small guy. For me, a 19" axe is very nice for general bushcraft, and very easy to use one-handed, not that great two-handed, but it can be done.

Haha - then you are certainly mistaking me for someone else. I'm 5'4 and about 110-115lbs. 19" does still seem awkward for a two handed swing though - your hands pretty much have to stay one on top of the other as there really isn't enough room to move your top hand up and down the haft to get any benefits.

Do like a lot of us would like, and just by a sample of every one of GB's axes (and a spare, of course), and just pick the one that best suits what you want to do that day!!

Yeah - I've been leaning towards the scandi but just watched Ray Mears make a canoe paddle using his SFA and instantly became indecisive again. Would love to give that a go.

In all honesty, I probably will end up with a selection sooner or later... might have to sell some of my kukris off to get the funds together though

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Haha - then you are certainly mistaking me for someone else. I'm 5'4 and about 110-115lbs. 19" does still seem awkward for a two handed swing though - your hands pretty much have to stay one on top of the other as there really isn't enough room to move your top hand up and down the haft to get any benefits.

Ooops, yep got you confused. But, you're right, you have your hands right on top of each other on a 19" haft if using it two-handed.

Yeah - I've been leaning towards the scandi but just watched Ray Mears make a canoe paddle using his SFA and instantly became indecisive again. Would love to give that a go.

Well, you have to decide what you really want to do with the axe.
The activities in your OP lean toward the heavier axe being more useful.
If you want to do a LOT of hewing and such, it's not the best. However, if you are careful, the increased weight won't be too much of a problem, but you'll tire your wrist faster while hewing with a larger axe than with a small one.

BUT, if you are going with the small/large knife and axe route, you can use your large knife for such things as carving a paddle. This is where batoning can help you have enough control for "planking" the flat portion of the paddle.

If you really want to do more hewing, then you'd probably be better off with the small forest, or even the Wildlife, and getting a large axe for the felling and big splitting.

Let me ask another question: how big do you want to fell and split? If you are sticking to wrist-size, or maybe up to 6" diameter, then a 19" is enough, unless you want to cut a cord of wood.

Are you really going to want to do a lot of felling on a backpack/camping trip, or is it just for firewood?

 

[Briarbrow]

- each of these heads are not all that different; just a slightly different scale of general purpose tool, and should do more or less the same tasks equally well when scaled to the work.

I notice in the description of SFA it says it is sharpened to facilitate limbing. i'm not sure how they see it or what they did. If you are mostly cutting larger trees for heating or lumber-and want to de-limb it in the traditional way- the scandi FA sounds perfect. For regular ole bushcrafting my opinion the smaller ones are better.

I do think one can create an asymmetrical bevel that would improve hewing performance without sacrificing too much performance/safety while cross grain chopping. My guess is the bias is opposite for limbing v hewing.

The hewing hatchets like carpenter and swedish carving(one ive wanted for some time now) are about the same weights 1,5; 2lb. but different design

I agree with you killa_concept. The GB name is worth the extra cost. I got the husqv just to see for myself what the basic design was like. I like it much better than any axe I've ever owned. With it's now longer handle I can start with larger pieces and quickly process them to the scale that suits the axe best. -I'm not going to try chopping 8 inch dead fall in half but I can cut notches and pop off pieces to be split further. I can make a bowl or any other small project without the handle being in the way

 

[killa_concept]

Let me ask another question: how big do you want to fell and split? If you are sticking to wrist-size, or maybe up to 6" diameter, then a 19" is enough, unless you want to cut a cord of wood.

Are you really going to want to do a lot of felling on a backpack/camping trip, or is it just for firewood?

Well generally when I go camping with friends, they bring a bundle or two of firewood (depending on how long of a stay it is) and then I supplement it by downing some standing dead wood - generally ~6" or so in diameter. I'd take on larger, but doing it with a kukri would just be impractical (which is why I want a good axe).

I've sort of come to the conclusion that I'd want an axe mainly for chopping and splitting that's still somewhat portable and somewhat capable of being used for hewing should I need to. I think the Scandi fits this bill best. As I said before, I'll still probably be taking a small and large knife which will be fine for any processing or carving I want to do

That said, order placed! (Along with a crook knife, a ceramic rod and a few scout firesteel blanks )

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Good deal.

Yeah, basically a good kukri will do what an equal sized hatchet would do, so if they were too small for what you want, then the Scandi was the way to go.

Let us know when you get it.

 

[killa_concept]

Well, the GB Scandi finally came in today. The dealer I ordered from hand picked it for me and my initial response after pulling it out of the box was WOW! This thing is a beaut. Easily the best looking and best feeling axe I've ever handled.

The handle is a beautiful, rich caramel colored hickory with the most straight, flaw-free, vertical grain I've ever seen on an axe. It's also quite well-hung: the head is nicely centered onto the handle, it's quite true when used as a plumb, and the attachment method is superb. These shots don't quite do it justice:

Right off the bat, I have to say that I love the unfinished look on the head - it adds a lot of character and just plain looks good. The head on mine has a great profile that thins out fairly nicely (which I actually specifically requested). Like Brian said, it's all about application and while I doubt this would be the best for the sort of hardwoods you'd have in MI, I'm sure it be just perfect for the sort of trees we have up here in the NW. As others have noted, the factory edge was VERY sharp and well done. The whole section was capable of shaving save for a small section that is ever so slightly rolled. That's about as much of a gripe as I can come up with though - it's literally something I'll be able to take care off in less than a minute.

In all honestly, I'm quite glad that I decided on the Scandi... While I'll still probably end up getting an SFA at some point down the line, I think that for the application I'm wanting it for, the Scandi was the better choice. 25" seems more than packable and is probably the minimum length to allow for a proper two handed swing. It certainly feels a tad awkward choking up on it, and I'm sure the SFA would be the better choice if you're wanting to do finer work, but that was more a second consideration for this. Besides, that's what its two companions are for :

Anyways, that's all just my initial impression of the axe. Can't wait till I can actually get out and go use the thing

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Damn fine trio you have there!

 

[killa_concept]

Damn fine trio you have there!

Haha - thanks. The FK might see replacement once my custom order 3/8" thick, 16" CAK with a thinner than average bevel comes along, but we'll have to wait and see on that one.

 

[Mannlicher]

I use two Wetterlings axes, a 12 inch handle model and the 19 inch one. They hold an edge, and represent a great value as well. You can get both for less than the price of one GB.

 

[Jnyiri]

Never had any experience with anything but the SFA, but two hands on it will chew thru a 10 in. oak like a bever on steriods. I'm 6'3" and took a fallen oak out in less than 12 strokes with the SFA

If you're looking to fell timber, maybe the other one would work better

Depending on your size and stength, the SFA could indeed function as a one handed axe

I'm sorry I didn't say it can't be use with 2 hand , its just not that conf. like the scandinavian.

Jozsef

 

[killa_concept]

I use two Wetterlings axes, a 12 inch handle model and the 19 inch one. They hold an edge, and represent a great value as well. You can get both for less than the price of one GB.
**IMG omitted**

Yep - quite aware as to the price difference between Wetterlings and GB. Ultimately still decided that the extra price on the GB was justified