Gränsfors Bruk-Is this satisfactory for the money?

S

SC3

Joined
Jan 11, 2020
Messages
9
Hello,
New member here.
Would like others opinions on this recent purchase.
New Gränsfors Bruk Small Splitting Axe, purchased in the US from a dealer in the US.
Requested when ordered for the best of the batch, this is what I received.
Is this satisfactory these days with this company? My SFA is flawless, this however seems a bit less than what I was expecting. Right out of the box I got a splinter. If this is satisfactory in the eyes of the majority I will break out the sandpaper and BLO and spend a little time on it and call it a day.
If you care to share photos of what is and is not acceptable that would be outstanding.

Greatly appreciate all the feedback.
 
Not seeing any pics. However in my opinion the quality control has vastly gone down hill. Without rambling too much, I no longer purchase GB from retailers. I’ll swoop an older one from the forums once and a while but nothing new. They’re not what they used to be and for that reason, I believe they’re no longer worth the price tag.
 
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Yeah, apologies, I have them but am ignorant on how to post them, care to share?
Would greatly appreciate it.
 
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Kinda what I was thinking, appreciate the feedback.

Would you consider it a functional issue or just aesthetic? The head does not move, out of the box, and while the handle is rough to the touch, the grain is pretty straight.
Also, the head is straight which is a plus, I’ve read about that being an issue and it seems I dodged the bullet.

If the hang is just a aesthetic issue I’ll live with it, I’m on the road for an extended period of time and to return it would be a major hassle and I need a small splitter daily.
 
SC3 said:
Kinda what I was thinking, appreciate the feedback.

Would you consider it a functional issue or just aesthetic? The head does not move, out of the box, and while the handle is rough to the touch, the grain is pretty straight.
Also, the head is straight which is a plus, I’ve read about that being an issue and it seems I dodged the bullet.

If the hang is just a aesthetic issue I’ll live with it, I’m on the road for an extended period of time and to return it would be a major hassle and I need a small splitter daily.
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I’d still consider if functional, absolutely. If it feels sturdy, great. To me it Looks like there was a healthy gap on the front, shim’d &cut off?? I hope not, if so I’d inevitably expect trouble on down the road. The handle is interesting. I’ve not seen that yet. However the grain looks damn good. I’d sand & oil and let her buck.
 
The hunters axe has a slightly smaller eye. Might be that they put the handle intended for the hunters axe in your small forest axe.
 
I think the grooved handle is a norm on the Hunter's axe.
In this particular case the grooving has resulted in splinter formation.
I would just sand it a little, to remove the splinters.
Based on the many GB axes I have seen, this hang is also typical. It may not be the best possible but I think it is solid, and as I said, typical.
If you are concerned about moisture and grit getting into the small gaps in front and the back, you can seal them with a little epoxy.
I would be more concerned if the head would be asymmetrically ground, or hung crooked.
If everything else is fine I would keep the axes and just sand and oil the handle with the splinters.
 
One of my Ace hardware stores carried those a year or 2 ago. They looked better than yours. I should have bought one. DM
 
I think the portion of the handle that extends above the eye is intentional. The wedge swells that extension into a bit of a shoulder. My Small Forest Axe is the same way, and the shoulder is noticeable when looking closely. There is no way a head is coming off a handle put on in that manner. Also, all the axes in their photos are the same way and their instructions on handle replacement say to leave a few millimeters excess length.

The splintering part is not good but as others say, sandpaper and some BLO will take care of that.
 
Boattale said:
I think the portion of the handle that extends above the eye is intentional. The wedge swells that extension into a bit of a shoulder. My Small Forest Axe is the same way, and the shoulder is noticeable when looking closely. There is no way a head is coming off a handle put on in that manner. Also, all the axes in their photos are the same way and their instructions on handle replacement say to leave a few millimeters excess length.

The splintering part is not good but as others say, sandpaper and some BLO will take care of that.
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I never had an issue with the handle extending above the head, my issue was the extra long wedge and shim added to fill in the oblong eye.
 
Update

Grand Forest in South Carolina, an affiliate of Gränsfors Bruk, Has deemed the axe is not of proper quality is replacing the it.

I will post back with photos of the new one if anyone is interested, let me know.

Thank you for all the input.
 
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