GB small forest axe vs scandinivian axe for a newb

[ASharpCanadian]

axe newb reporting in! I just scored for my birthday and ended up with a small forest axe. Man, these things really are amazing and everything ive heard about Gransfors bruks seems true. I didnt even know an axe could be this sharp, the blade shape is astonishingly handy- I cant say enough. Ive played around with her a bit just in the backyard cutting some branches to patch a quinzhe I built- for this purpose it seems great. Only thing Id worry about is chopping, this thing seems to be the perfect size for me to miss on a downward stroke and butcher my leg. should I just man up and put some time in with this thing or do yall think it worthwile to pick up a GB scandinivian forest axe for extra length/safety. is there a safer way to chop with this thing? im no ray mears

 

[gunn]

The shorter length requires a different technique. I don't recommend chopping while standing up right with short axes or hatchets. Way too easy to miss and send the blade into you. One of the safer ways to use that length of axe for chopping and splitting wood is to just get down on your knees. That way if you miss, the head will go into the ground. Another way is to stand upright in the traditional style but as your arms swing downward, you bend your knees. trying to avoid the axe going beyond parallel to the ground.

 

[gunn]

Ray Mears discusses short axe safety briefly around 1:30 mark [video=youtube;2tUUctg6dfk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tUUctg6dfk[/video]

 

[scouter27]

Another way is to stand upright in the traditional style but as your arms swing downward, you bend your knees. trying to avoid the axe going beyond parallel to the ground.

This works, but it's a completely different movement than chopping. It's more like allowing the axe to fall straight toward the ground, rather than swinging in an arc. It takes a little getting used to, especially with a short axe like the SFA. Kneeling is probably more appropriate with this particular axe. I believe the actual technique is illustrated by Ray Mears in the video linked above

 

[Ravaillac]

should I just man up and put some time in with this thing or do yall think it worthwile to pick up a GB scandinivian forest axe for extra length/safety. is there a safer way to chop with this thing? im no ray mears

Larger is safer but not 'magic' safer, and buying a new one seems like an expensive solution.

One technique that can be used is kneeing when chopping. That might seem weird or excessive when your out in the woods it can be actually useful when chopping with low branches or if you want to cut tree near forest floor.
One thing you need to be careful about when kneeing is you'll lose some mobility which might be a problem if the long falls in wrong direction or (more common) if you have falling dead branches, so it's a good idea to have an eye up, and shaking the tree a bit before starting.

That said of course no one can decide for you, in the end it's your responsability to decide what you feel safe with.

 

[PayetteRucker]

man you guys are all over it already, my thoughts went straight to that Ray Mears clip. IAWoodsman uses a good safe technique that involves swinging the log with the axe to split.

 

[gunn]

This was posted on another site the other day. It shows a few more short axe techniques. [video=youtube;xq1ZB1Ca6nM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq1ZB1Ca6nM&feature=youtu.be[/video]