Gransfors Bruks Bearded/Gothem Axe

B

Brody R.

Joined
Jan 27, 2005
Messages
360
Hello, i've been looking around lately for a viking style axe that is tough enough to take out in the woods and prepare for bonfires, basically chopping up large branchs, occasionally felling a tree, and occasional spliting. I ran into the GB bearded axe not too long ago and loved the look of it, also i've heard nothing but great things about the company so i'm sure they make very tough axes, however it says the axe is meant for "paring, shaping, joinery and finishing work (not to mention looting & pillaging)". My question is do you think that it will still work well enough for what I need and also if anyone has had andy experience with GB. Thanks.

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I have several Gransfors axes (7 plus the wedge), and while they are of very high quality, they are also quite specialized. I would say that this axe is an early style of shipbuilder's or broad axe, and as such would not be very well suited to the tasks you propose. I'm not saying it doesn't look cool, it certainly does, but I will say that it would look very bad with half of the beard snapped off due to a full power mis-strike into a piece of knotty oak. Far better to do the lion's share of the work with a different axe, (a Scandinavian Forest Axe or a Double-bit Felling Axe if you like, both from the same company) then drag out your Beard Axe right before every one gets there for some small task while everyone is watching! Others may have a different opinion, but if you get this axe, be sure to let us know what you think.
 
Hmm, interesting... yea bearded axes were used back in viking times to build ships and houses mainly and I suppose where taken into war if it was the best thing a man owned. You're grim comment about snapping the beard on a miss strike has made me think about the purchase seeing as it is an expensive axe (the cheapes I found was form England the rate came out to $252 total).

I had considered the double bitted felling axe but I wanted to get something more medieval. Right now I do most of my work with a Collins Double Bit Michigan style axe I think it is? It's not bad but I doubt anywhere near GB quality.

Actually a few years back when I first started going out in the woods for some proper bonfires I went to the hardware store and me and my buddy ended up buying dull splitting mauls, not knowing much about axes and the store having a slim selection, and we felled some trees with them (it just took a long time and was exhausting) I later bought a Paul Chen bearded axe which was somewhat sharp but not really and used that in the woods a lot. The axe head held up except for a minor bend in the beard probably from prying it out of a stuck log but I soon snapped the ****** grained handle and have yet to get around to making a replacement. Perhaps if that held up the GB bearded would, but on the other hand do I really wanna spend $250 on a axe not suited to what I need. Then again a viking axe handforged in Sweden would be a pretty cool thing to own. I dunno i'm gonna have to make a decision. Any other opinions/suggestions would be appreciated.
 
jcole said:
...but I will say that it would look very bad with half of the beard snapped off due to a full power mis-strike into a piece of knotty oak.
Click to expand...

For one no matter what axe you got you hit a knot and it'll do damage! second thing is I've used bearded axes for ALL work immaginable, my dads old felling axe has a VERY prominent bearding to it, good for squaring off logs, and the FACT is a norsemen wouldnt be carrying 8 or 9 axes for every little job, it was utilitarian as I mentioned to Brody on axeforum. one thing I do notice is the bearding will be quite thick, then with the edge only being hardened it makes for a shock resistence.

I have no doubt this would hold up for all tasks...
 
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