GRÄNSFORS SMALL SPLITTING AXE + Hulk Bruks Hatchet

[bigchelis]

Hi all,
Been using Husqvarna Carpenter Axe for 5yrs now. Heavy and good length but had to redo the handle and spent alot of time with file and KME axe system to get it sharp.

It was time to try something new. I decided on Hulk Bruks Hatchet which is about 15in OAL.
Dang thing is perfect. Sharp, handle is fit to head perfect and grain is good too. About $100 with taxes where I live. Expensive but high quality.

Then I got the GRÄNSFORS SMALL SPLITTING AXE, which I had to order online and was about $180 delivered mine is 24 inch OAL. Most expensive axe I ever purchased but its suppose to be high quality. The axe handle is awesome as it has a nice texture and all. Just its not sharp like I expected and the head is tight on handle but looks uggly compared to cheaper hulks bruks or even the Husqvarna. I am sure it will be awesome in real life use but wish it looked as good as the Hulks Bruks.

Both show good grain orientation

The Hult Bruks was sharp, but I did touch up a bit

Small hatchet good point but not sharp

Small Splitting Axe handle looks like it was installed by beginner

The Hulk Bruks hatchet on the other hand is flawless

 

[SwedeFP]

Nice axes and hatchet. Those Granfors Bruks splitting heads are something else. I have the large version with 36 inch handle, and it will spilt some stuff like even hickory that you wouldn't expect.
SwedeFP

 

[bigchelis]

Hi SwedeFP,
I hope this small variant works as good as your large one. I use a super large Fiscar 8lbs splitter and it works excellent, just the blade edge doesn't stay sharp very long. I have to end up sharpening before every use. Plus it chips easily too. Not sure if its the metal alloy fiscar uses or what.

 

[SwedeFP]

I bet it will. The head profiles are very similar. I'm thinking the weight on mine is 4 pounds, and when I got it, the thing would dang near shave you. I'm like you on the fiskars, except I have large splitting axe. It's a worker and I don't worry much about over strikes. My maul is a Stihl (Oschenkopf) and a good tool for the really hard stuff.
Can't wait to get a vintage Kelly 5 pounder into the mix. My wife probably wonders why I need all these different tools, but I have my reasons...