Gransfors Broad Axe

C

cyc79

Joined
Feb 5, 2005
Messages
187
Recently I discovered this axe in a pawn shop in British Columbia with a price tag of $225 Canadian but managed to purchase it for $125 Canadian or about $95 U.S.
These are normally around $330 U.S. or more and run over $400 here so I was quite happy getting it.
The head needs a bit of cleaning up but is in very good condition with only light surface rust. The edge is chipped in places but it's nothing to be concerned about. Not much effort will be needed to sharpen it.
I'll refinish the handle and apply a few coats of boiled linseed oil.
I also have to pry the wedges out and refit the handle since it's loose. With a bit of pleasurable work I'll have a great axe.

Years ago I saw pictures of this model with the longer curved handle but can't find any recent photos of it so don't know when this particular model was discontinued. I believe only the current version with the shorter straight handle is being now produced.
All thoughts and comments are welcome!
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How long is the handle? Been thinking about putting a regular axe handle on mine rather than the standard one it comes with. Yours looks great with it.
 
Infi-del said:
How long is the handle? Been thinking about putting a regular axe handle on mine rather than the standard one it comes with. Yours looks great with it.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately I don't have the axe with me at the moment. It's at my cabin a days drive away and it'll probably be a couple weeks before I get back.
As soon as I do I'll measure it so please bear with me. I'll do my best to remember!
 
Infi-del said:
How long is the handle? Been thinking about putting a regular axe handle on mine rather than the standard one it comes with. Yours looks great with it.
Click to expand...
Well I finally made it back to my cabin today and as promised I measured the handle. Length from the end of the handle to the bottom of the head is 22 1/4" and from the end of the handle to what protrudes through the top of the head is 25 3/16". Hope this helps.
 
cyc79 said:
Well I finally made it back to my cabin today and as promised I measured the handle. Length from the end of the handle to the bottom of the head is 22 1/4" and from the end of the handle to what protrudes through the top of the head is 25 3/16". Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

I bet that’s a powerful cutter boy. Hell of an axe. Thank you for sharing.
 
They're available with a left or right grind or double bevel.
I believe they're also made with handles that are angled depending on the grind, or straight in relation to the head.
I haven't seen a curved handle anywhere for years either so I think they've been discontinued.
 
Wonderful Axes (a good broadhead axe). As a carpenter I'd love one for green wood processing.
 
cyc79 said:
They're available with a left or right grind or double bevel.
I believe they're also made with handles that are angled depending on the grind, or straight in relation to the head.
I haven't seen a curved handle anywhere for years either so I think they've been discontinued.
Click to expand...
Yours is the symmetric version as we know, versatile but maybe at some cost. I never have used one, only been present when they are getting used and held one in a shop but I think the skew in the single bevelds occurs in the forging, to the left, to the right, that is to say, in effect the eye is torqued, one way or t'other, Handles are, (the short ones) straight, longitudinally, with an upward sweep, and so interchangeable.
 
Yes, I'm anxious to put it to work but we've already had -30c temperatures here so everything is frozen solid!
Frozen trees aren't much fun to work with.
 
The impression I might have given is of corse incomplete, at least oversimplifies since the three variations are very different to include the offset not just turning of the eyes and all importantly, and to my view even excessively for the side axe versions, the sweep of the blades, (your double beveled having none of this, naturally). When you see the results of hewing with the side axe versions they are prone and maybe even intended to leave these typical faceted surfaces, suitable to the Swedish building style.
 
cyc79 said:
Yes, I'm anxious to put it to work but we've already had -30c temperatures here so everything is frozen solid!
Frozen trees aren't much fun to work with.
Click to expand...
Oh okay haha. I live in Australia and have never seen snow or experienced temperatures that low. I could imagine it wouldn't be good for the steel. You might as well live in your fridge, it would be warmer!
 
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