Gransfors Bruks Hunter's Axe

[Cpl Punishment]

Does anyone have one of these that they've actually used?

I keep hearing it call my name, but I can't find anyone that wants to post about using it.

A few things I've heard are that the bit is thinner and may not be as good for axe chores, but if you stick to tomahawk rules (keep it to wood the size of your wrist or forearm at max), would they be fine?

The other is that you shouldn't pound stakes with the polished poll. I understand not pounding metal stakes, but since I make wooden ones on site, I can't see why that would damage the poll.

So how do they actually work for butchering and skinning? They are expensive, but if they work as advertised. . .

I was also thinking that if the bit really is thinner for the finer chores of butchering, it would make a better bushcraft axe for making notches, fuzz sticks and the like.

So, anyone want to review one for the Cpl?

 

[omniviking]

Not trying to yuck your yum, I don't have one. I would rather have a small forest axe. but if you are gonna skin a moose you may want one. the rounded poll is for beating the hide loose from the carcass. you do this by pulling the hide away and push at and swing through the connective stuff between the hide and body of the beast.

pretty much a free world if you want one and you can afford it, get one and tell us about it

All of the GB axe blades are much thinner than other axes they do finer work well.

Pat

 

[tknife]

I have one and have used it a few times. It's great like all the GB's, but for general camp a flat poll would be better for hammering. I know a guy who ground it flat for that purpose. Not sure how it works for it's intended purpose in skinning game though. PM me if you're interested, I'd let it go cheap if I could find a box big enough to ship it. I don't really use an axe too much.

 

[Brad "the butcher"]

As a former butcher I can't understand why anyone would want to use an axe for skinning unless they had to.
And pulling the hide back and beating it off (insert joke here) with the poll seems like a lot of work and sweat compared to a nice sharp edge.
I can chop onions with an axe but I am sure there is a tool more suited to the job.

 

[lukacsmihaly]

I actually wanted to buy that one instead of the Small Forest Axe I got recently. From what I saw and read they are about the same size and have exactly the same weight. What stands written on the official site is that you are supposed to hit with that thinner poll between the flesh and the hide.
Naaah, that don't make much sense to me either, so I can see your point there, Brad. :thumbup:
The explanation I read about them not advising to hit stuff other than hide with the poll is that it's made of a softer metal. Now, we all know that good axes have the body made of a softer metal onto which they forge the tougher cutting edge. Is this metal supposed to be even softer? To what end?
As for the price....yeah, they are quite expensive. They are about 100 Euros around here, but I'm guessing this price has more to do with the fact that this is a new design AND it already got a prize. Or maybe I'm just mistaking...
Anyway, after considering all that I've written above, I got the Small Forest Axe for almost half the price and I'm sure it'll do the same thing.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

As a former butcher I can't understand why anyone would want to use an axe for skinning unless they had to.
And pulling the hide back and beating it off (insert joke here) with the poll seems like a lot of work and sweat compared to a nice sharp edge.
I can chop onions with an axe but I am sure there is a tool more suited to the job.

Well, look at the environment it grew out of.
Scandinavian hunters, especially the Saami, might have been quite aways away from home when hunting. They'd have a Puukko, Leuku and their axe. The Leuke was for light vegetation and actual butchering. The Puukko a utility/eating knife. Everything else got done with the axe. You probably don't have the fine motor skills wearing mitten that you do with bare hands, so being able to grab a corner of hide and beat the skin free with your other hand, is probably a nice option to have.

As far as cutting and food prep and even bushcraft -- you're on the W&SS forum and haven't read, or read about the "greats" of bushcraft like Kochanski, Kephart, Nessmuk, Rutstrum? They all used their axe as their primary tool. A small knife did small jobs, and the medium sized knife (like the "Nessmuk", Leuku, etc) was specifically for butchering and such and didn't see much other use. The axe, especially the bearded Scandinavian axes (ever wonder why they liked bearded axes so much?), can be choke dup on right beneath the head, with a good portion of the cutting edge directly in front of the finger and used like an ulu for all kinds of chores.

It's really quite versatile. Those who "can't see it" just don't want to learn to use it like that -- and that's fine. But, when the old timers were asked what ONE tool they'd want to keep above all others, the answer was always the axe, not the little knife, as is so popular today.

 

[hollowdweller]

I have one.

I'd be happy to send it to you to fool with if you are deciding if one would suit you as long as you send it back.

I've chopped stuff 12" diameter with it, it takes time but you can do it.

I've also tried skinning deer with it but to be honest most of the time I can just use my fingers to get the skin off. I might use a knife blade 2 or 3 times in the whole skinning process (for a whitetail) Maybe something like an elk might be difft.

My main complaint against the thing is, for me at least it's not long enough for a really good two handed swing and really too long to be handy with 1 hand.

I have the mini also and the Wildlife and for me the wildlife at 14" is ideal. Most aggressive chopping hatchet of that size I've ever tried.

But like I say be glad to send it to you to let you try it before you decide to sink the bucks into one.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Thanks a lot HD!
I've agreed to buy tknife's, but thanks a lot anyway.

As far as length, it's 1" longer than my S&N Pen Bay hatchet, and yes, it is too short for a two-handed swing, but just about perfect for me as a one-hander.

To be truthful, it'll see more woodwork than anything. I doubt I'd use it much on deer, but I kill a lot more hogs than deer, and they give me more problems. They're more of what I had in mind.

As far as hammering and the rounded poll being a problem, About the only hammering I do is getting stakes in the ground for my tarp, so if the poll turns out to be a problem, I'll either use the flat or cut a big baton like when I'm using my kukri, and do my pounding with that..

 

[hollowdweller]

Good Deal.

Hey, maybe it's just one of those things I've heard people say but not true but seems I read somewhere GB didn't reccomend using the poll as a hammer.

I've used my mini and wildlife to pound nails for trail markers and posted signs though and no problem.:thumbup:

 

[Cpl Punishment]

I figure they were probably covering themselves in case of people pounding steel stakes or trying to build a house with one. No axe poll as far as I know is truly hard, usually high 48-54 on the Rc scale, and will get mucked up if constantly used to pound metal.

 

[Brad "the butcher"]

Well, look at the environment it grew out of.
Scandinavian hunters, especially the Saami, might have been quite aways away from home when hunting. They'd have a Puukko, Leuku and their axe. The Leuke was for light vegetation and actual butchering. The Puukko a utility/eating knife. Everything else got done with the axe. You probably don't have the fine motor skills wearing mitten that you do with bare hands, so being able to grab a corner of hide and beat the skin free with your other hand, is probably a nice option to have.

As far as cutting and food prep and even bushcraft -- you're on the W&SS forum and haven't read, or read about the "greats" of bushcraft like Kochanski, Kephart, Nessmuk, Rutstrum? They all used their axe as their primary tool. A small knife did small jobs, and the medium sized knife (like the "Nessmuk", Leuku, etc) was specifically for butchering and such and didn't see much other use. The axe, especially the bearded Scandinavian axes (ever wonder why they liked bearded axes so much?), can be choke dup on right beneath the head, with a good portion of the cutting edge directly in front of the finger and used like an ulu for all kinds of chores.

It's really quite versatile. Those who "can't see it" just don't want to learn to use it like that -- and that's fine. But, when the old timers were asked what ONE tool they'd want to keep above all others, the answer was always the axe, not the little knife, as is so popular today.

I know my history and am well versed and read on the oldies BUT

I bet the round poll is a fairly recent (100yrs) addition and a poll was seldom used as such, it makes a better hammer. They probably thought so too.

6 years of skinning trapline and hunting with dad and 14 yrs of hog/beef work is what I am basing this opinion on. ("can't see it" due to experience)

I will guarantee nessmuk did not use his double bitted axe to skin he used his NESSMUK SKINNER
I would bet that Korchanski used his fabled thousand strop mora to skin with as well.
Don't get so caught up in what is read, read between the lines.
The nessmuk, leuko and pukko all have great ergo's for skinning and were used as such. Skinning is part of the butchering process and these knives excel.
I am of Norwegian/German descent and saw how my family used axes and knives. We settled Michigan in 1842 and the next gen Saskatchewan in 1872.
Had a lot of oldtime knowledge slapped into my head, anyone with german relatives understands.....

Regards Cpl, don't want a flamed debate but simmered would be great, nothing personal my friend just personal opinions. Your it!

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Well, of Scottish/Norwegian decent here (a little Irish in the mix, and a Kraut slipped in 2 generations ago).

So, if'n we're going to skip the reading and go straight to the experience. . .

Before getting into kukris, I did use my S&N Pen Bay axe (18" long, Hudson Bay type head) for just about everything. Know what I used my little knife for? Eating. That's pretty much it. Making trap notches, fuzz sticks, you name it. Used a friggin Ka-Bar for butchering duty before I learned to use the axe right. Can't say I ever used the poll to skin (usually just rammed my fist under the skin to separate it).

I do like using the axe to break up joints and such, too.

I will agree the flaying poll is probably fairly new, but again, if I was skinning something with mittens on, I can see where it would be handy.

Either way, tknife gave me a killer deal, and if it turns out I don't care for the flaying poll, it won't take long to grind it flat, and will end up with a Small Forest Axe with a grooved handle.

OT: With our ancestry, I can tell we'd have great fun being obstinate and arguing into the wee hours of the morning over all sorts of booze, long after everyone else passed out.

 

[scotsmanspride]

I went with the wetterlings hunters/bushcraft axe. It has been nothing but fantastic for me. my wife bought it from www.bensbackwoods.com and it got here fast. I did reprofile the edge to a full zero convex but about 3 days after it got here a storm blew over a tree with a 7" trunk and it made VERY short work of it with little to no loss of the edge. The thing is razor sharp and so far I love the thing and cant beat the price being over half of what GB is.

 

[falnovice]

It was my admittedly very limited understanding that the Nordic peoples beat the skin off because the kill was often frozen or semi-frozen by the time they got it home. I know some of the posters on this thread are familiar with these countries, but to those that are not.....its gets really friggin cold. I think traditionally these people would be less likely to butcher on the spot because of the waste......nearly everything can be used if the whole carcass is brought home.
Having said that, I think the actual rounding of the poll may be relatively new. Their axes may not have been totally flat with sharp 90 degree corner angles, but were I suspect generally flat with rounded edges/corners....like a lot of hand forged axes will be anyway.
Just my thoughts.

 

[CC U]

Had a lot of oldtime knowledge slapped into my head, anyone with german relatives understands..... Har

And if slapping didn't work, there was the belt. In my case, a 2x4 up side the head my have knocked some of the stubborness out of me and helped my learing curve along.
But, I always had to figure out things for my self.

Butchering hogs and herfords with a axe was a great way to quarter, so they could be brought down to the cellar where the band saw was. But a knife, ithaca flat head skinner or ulu, was the norm for getting the hide off.

 

[Rick Marchand]

I have and use my GB Hunter's axe. I modified it by grinding the flay poll flat like the SFA. Now, it is smaller than the SFA but just as versitile. I really have no need for the polished poll, anyway.

Rick

 

[Bushman5]

As a former butcher I can't understand why anyone would want to use an axe for skinning unless they had to.
And pulling the hide back and beating it off (insert joke here) with the poll seems like a lot of work and sweat compared to a nice sharp edge.
I can chop onions with an axe but I am sure there is a tool more suited to the job.

long time ago, a lot of trappers would use their axes to skin out the tougher game, like elk, moose, bear etc. A rounded poll works great for hide seperation.

 

[Gaurdian_A1]

long time ago, a lot of trappers would use their axes to skin out the tougher game, like elk, moose, bear etc. A rounded poll works great for hide seperation.

I hunt quite a bit. I can say that the rounded poll does work really well! But i highly doubt that wetterlings or GB uses softer steel on the polls of the hunting axes as opposed to the normal hardness on the forest axes.

I have a wetterlings SFA and a wildlife axe.

-Gaurdian_A1

 

[Ravaillac]

GB recommands poll pounding for neither because eye ain't fully hardened. That say it is probably ok for "low intensity" pounding.

 

[petah]

I didn't want to read the WALL-O-TEXT but the reason you can't use a GB as a hammer is that it's not designed to be hit in reverse i.e. hammer. The cheeks are like 1/8 thick geometry ( from the Axe book ) says it's not a hammering axe. their steel is s7 I believe.