GB, Wetterling, Fiskars. Any real difference?

Fiskars owns Gerber (or the other way around???), so they are the same thing just with different names on them! Absolutely love my Gerber hatchets and axes!

I aboslutely would never chop anything with any kind of knife...give me an axe for that. Only exception might be a machete for lighter brush, or a Gerber saw when traveling ultralight....
 
I have a Wetterlings medium hunters axe. The initial grind was funky but after a bit of work on the belt sander it is sharp as heck. I cut myself on it the other day while treating the handle.

I'd say if you have the tools to get it nice and sharp the Wetterlings makes a good beater. I really like mine. The OAL is 19 1/2", so it is a little too short to use with 2 hands effectively and a little too big to use one handed. I think the smallest version might be better since I end up choking up on mine anyways.

I've been looking for a smaller hatchet/axe. Comes down to the same GB VS Wetterlings debate. The Knives of Alaska Hunter Hatchet looks nice, anybody used one?

http://www.knifeoutlet.com/shop/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=AL070

Wetterlings also makes a mini axe similar to the GB Mini Axe, but I haven't seen it in the States yet.
 
tarmix101 said:
I'm not going to get in a pissing match with you.... if you truly wanted others to gain knowledge from that picture (that has been around for a long time) you should have started a new thread. The thread is about axes, not the x ray of Moras.

I have the benefit of user knowledge (I have actually USED a Mora) so your account of "plenty of people" that have had Moras fail is un-substantiated IMHO (not implying you have not used them BTW).

They have been around for much longer that you or me..... they will be around for much longer after we go.

Want to discuss further.... start another thread. We can discuss the failings, and benefits of Moras until the cows come home!
Click to expand...


Threads drift. Get over it. I have over a dozen Moras that I've used for years.

I also have a Wetterling SFA (SHA?) that I used camping, and it did pretty well, but I've spent a bunch of time on the belt sander thinning it out since then. It had a pretty thick bevel to start with, but even with a thick bevel, it chopped very well. It had good balance, tight grain in the handle, and was well worth the $30 or so. I haven't yet tried a GF, but want to pick one up someday.

If you look at the outdoors-magazine forum, they have some very in-depth reviews of Wetterlings and GF.
 
ilbruche said:
I have not..... I did read a review a while back that stated it was a great hatchet, bit was a little small for larger tasks.

Thought about picking that one up, or the Bark River hatchet. Just never got around to it (no money for sharp things ;)).


Wk51_Blades2.jpg
Click to expand...
 
I guess there aren't many S&N owners out there.

I have a full sized Plumb ax, an old Norlund that I pulled out of a stump and rehandled, a GBMini & GB Small Forest.
In the State Park/Forest that I play in one isn't allowed to chop/cut green or live trees.
I was never impressed with axes on fallen dead wood. A saw kicks butt there.
I started splitting my sawn (sawed?) wood one rainy extended weekend and noticed the difference. Up until then I had the Plumb & the Norlund.
I ponied up and got the 2 GB's, back when they were 1/2-2/3 the price of what they are now. Immediatly the quality was apparent.
Dead wood chopping really didn't impress me, the saw still ruled. The mini was great for splittin small stuff and the SF for the larger.
The sharply angled eye would 'spit' the wood round off if the blade stopped at the ramp. Once in past the handle they did fine. Or if I set the wood round on the narrow part of the blade and got the next hit beyond the handle, if that makes sense.
In the last two summers I had the opportunity to chop some green wood and my what a difference. I helped take apart apricot tree prunings and made some walking sticks from some roadside trimmings.
There, on the green wood I realized how well the GB's performed.

Out in the woods wise, for me, I like to carry the mini to feed my stick stove.
In the campground the norlund or the SF is plenty. If we lay in a supply of 'store bought' split wood, like in October, I'll bring the Plumb axe to split that into manageable pieces.
If I'm feeling fashionable, I'll drag out the PJ Tomes D2 Production mini double ala Nessmuk
PJdblKindling.jpg

The wedge shaped blade splits n-i-c-e :D

I think the GB's are worth it.
I want the Wildlife next...just because :D
 
sodak said:
Threads drift. Get over it.


I also have a Wetterling
If you look at the outdoors-magazine forum, they have some very in-depth reviews of Wetterlings and GF.
Click to expand...

Statements like that make me laugh!


I have read it.... good write up IMO.


http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=147

As well as this one:
http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=144

And this one:
http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=98

And this one:
http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=71

And this one:
http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=25

And this one:
http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=138

And finally this one:
http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=34
 
Ebbtide said:
I guess there aren't many S&N owners out there.

I have a full sized Plumb ax, an old Norlund that I pulled out of a stump and rehandled, a GBMini & GB Small Forest.
In the State Park/Forest that I play in one isn't allowed to chop/cut green or live trees.
I was never impressed with axes on fallen dead wood. A saw kicks butt there.
I started splitting my sawn (sawed?) wood one rainy extended weekend and noticed the difference. Up until then I had the Plumb & the Norlund.
I ponied up and got the 2 GB's, back when they were 1/2-2/3 the price of what they are now. Immediatly the quality was apparent.
Dead wood chopping really didn't impress me, the saw still ruled. The mini was great for splittin small stuff and the SF for the larger.
The sharply angled eye would 'spit' the wood round off if the blade stopped at the ramp. Once in past the handle they did fine. Or if I set the wood round on the narrow part of the blade and got the next hit beyond the handle, if that makes sense.
In the last two summers I had the opportunity to chop some green wood and my what a difference. I helped take apart apricot tree prunings and made some walking sticks from some roadside trimmings.
There, on the green wood I realized how well the GB's performed.

Out in the woods wise, for me, I like to carry the mini to feed my stick stove.
In the campground the norlund or the SF is plenty. If we lay in a supply of 'store bought' split wood, like in October, I'll bring the Plumb axe to split that into manageable pieces.
If I'm feeling fashionable, I'll drag out the PJ Tomes D2 Production mini double ala Nessmuk
The wedge shaped blade splits n-i-c-e :D

I think the GB's are worth it.
I want the Wildlife next...just because :D
Click to expand...

Great write up Ebbtide and nice re-handle on that hatchet. A Ox Head is in my near future, so the S&N might have to wait.

Do you have a top (bit) down shot of your mini?
 
No top down shot on the mini, I'm sure there is one on the web...somewhere :D
I didn't rehandle the double bit.
That's as it came from PJ's table.
Here is the Norlund
NorlundPJPick.gif
 
The X-ray of the Mora don't mean crap. They are tough as nails. Also I woul;d guess that a 250-300 dollar knife should outperform a 9.00 Mora although I wouldn't bet any sizable amount on that. Many is not most people can't throw down the money for the snob name knives anyway. Count me in there. I have never been able to hurt a Mora doing anything with it that knives are made for so I guess they are plenty tough for me. Everything inexpensive is not cheap and I don't have a thing against a good value.
 
of the ones mentioned ive only used the fiskars and i love it. its thicker than some with no loss of cutting ability as far as i can tell and the bonus is its splitting ability. (often necessary to get to some dry wood.) for me it seems like the best of both worlds. for my taste i have no use for the double bit axe as i sometines need a hammer as well. i will also never buy (donations i might keep) another wooden handle axe. my gear gets wet and banged around and i even backed over the handle near the head with my truck accidently without any damage. i dont EVER want to worry about a loose handle. while i like traditional materials these axes are too great an improvement to ignore, kinda like tp vs. corncobs, inovation wins out. i have also found it easy to sharpen with just a file. i am buying their small hatchet also if i dont find one in my stocking.
joshua
 
I have three Wetterlings and and the last one I got a few weeks ago was the best one yet. It has a very much improved sheath that the others were woefully lacking in. I did hear that the steel in the Wetterlings (which is good) is the same as the GB axes as they are right up the street from each other. A little competition is good. And so what if the edge needs a little work. I can get three Wetterlings for the price of one GB.
 
GB axes have more of a concave grind, while Wetterlings are almost a flat wedge grind. Here is a comparison of two similar models:

http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=147

My Wetterlings only needed a very slight adjustment of the edge, there were certainly no gross issues. It is well made and cuts well. From other people's descriptions, it sounds like they are inconsistent. I certainly like mine, and I have a hard time understanding why a GB would be worth twice the price, since my Wetterlings is so good.
 
You guys certainly are not making my decision easy! :D I'm to the point now where it's between a GB and Wetterling.....the Fiskars are pretty easy for me to get around here, in case the one I get just doesn't work out. (But, I don't think that will happen.)
I'm torn between: 1. Econimics: The Wetterling only costs 1/2 as much as the GB. With a little bit of work, it'll function pretty much the same. And according to some, feels better using than the GB.
2. Fit and finish: I like beautiful knives; knives that look good, as well as work good. With the GB, I'm buying the best there is, besides customs, of course.
Thanks for all you guys' post. They really helped me out a lot. :thumbup:
 
I've used the Fiskars quite a bit. It hasn't failed me yet. I only use it for chopping wood though, and use my belt knife for finer cutting and shaving. I think it was nailed a little while back in that it really comes down to your intended use. If you want to go the Nessmuk route of using your axe for just about everything, GB might be the way to go. If you more likely are going to use your knife for most cutting, and simply want an axe for chopping/splitting wood, I personally would go with the Fiskars.
 
O.K. Guys,
I just pulled the trigger on the GB Small Forest Axe, from Ben's. Got a couple of Mora's, too, just for good measure (and to get me the free shipping!:D)
Thanks for all your responses...you guys really know your axes. :thumbup:
 
I think you'll be delighted with the GB line. As you pointed out, there are a lot of people here who like axes. The photographs are always a welcomed addition to the text.
 
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