Gransfors Bruks

B

Bryce Haley

Joined
Mar 24, 2020
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52
What do you guys think of Gransfors Bruks? They seem really well made. Ive been looking at the Small Forest Axe.
 
Well regarded as excellent quality but expensive and not exactly the magical wonder axe YouTube videos might lead you to believe and I wouldn't buy one.


I say rehabbing a vintage American axe is the way to go but if you want a GB a GB is what you need.
 
Bryce Haley said:
What do you guys think of Gransfors Bruks? They seem really well made. Ive been looking at the Small Forest Axe.
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They do seem well made, yes. Although I do not own one, I can suggest an axe of that size/length isn't going to get much wood chopping done. Something to think about, your intended use of the axe.
 
Go to Wranglerstar on YouTube and hear what he has to say about the GBA SFA. I have one and love the feel of it, the fit, the finish, and the balance. BUT, I've never cut anything with it; it's way too pretty to actually use! I got my mint SFA from a friend for $20! My user is an Estwing 19 inch with the blue rubber handle (also cost me $20) that does everything I need. It's your money; you decide if the GBA logo is worth the extra investment. T-A
 
I have had GB's and still have a couple. Great ballance, nice hard steel. Intended use is everything though and how the axe fits that and the user. I can tell you that most users resort to swinging the SFA with two hands on such a short haft, it's painful to watch.
 
They’re EXCELLENT axes!

Snag that SFA - you won’t be disappointed.

(And as mentioned above, take a peak at what Wranglerstar on YouTube says about GB axes)
 
crbnSteeladdict said:
Do not forget to buy the stuff Wranglehack is hyping using his affiliate link!!!
I cannot wait for seat covers with GB logo for my Rolls-Royce; I strongly believe in W-star marketing abilities (being sarcastic)
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He had a how to hang an axe video out at one time showing him driving the haft out of the head in the wrong direction. I don't know if it is still up but I can't watch that kind of content.
 
garry3 said:
I can't watch that kind of content.
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I try to take everything I see on the great www.whatever with a grain of salt. I've learned a lot from WS and found some of what he says and does to be, imho, just goofy. But, for me, it's all part of the conversation. And he certainly knows how to make a short story long! And, while he raves about the SFA, he also recognizes its shortcomings ie price, and he has featured less expensive tools that might perform just as well for most casual users.
So watch, listen, and learn, and, if you want to, you can cuss me out for wasting your time.JPEG_20200504_214805_1691707420086943762.jpg
$7 vs $170...your choice! T-A
 
the-accumulator said:
I try to take everything I see on the great www.whatever with a grain of salt. I've learned a lot from WS and found some of what he says and does to be, imho, just goofy. But, for me, it's all part of the conversation. And he certainly knows how to make a short story long! And, while he raves about the SFA, he also recognizes its shortcomings ie price, and he has featured less expensive tools that might perform just as well for most casual users.
So watch, listen, and learn, and, if you want to, you can cuss me out for wasting your time.View attachment 1337918
$7 vs $170...your choice! T-A
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I'm am pretty selective about who I choose to "watch, listen, and learn," from, and disinformation is just that. But I won't be cussing at you. ;)
 
Wranglerstar is what he is - definitely take with a grain of salt, just like anything else. That said, a quick internet search will reveal that GB axes are VERY highly regarded - especially the SFA. :)
 
garry3 said:
He had a how to hang an axe video out at one time showing him driving the haft out of the head in the wrong direction. I don't know if it is still up but I can't watch that kind of content.
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I'll bet he still hasn't figured it out. ( and forget the video where he shows burning a haft out )
A lot of people immediately grab a drill and waste a bunch of time driving a cut off haft out the bottom of an eye because they don't realize they should just cut it off flush and easily drive it out the top.
 
GB axes are OK for certain bushcraft tasks. But they can't hold a candle to a vintage American axe. They have a great heat treat on moderate steel (similar to 1055). The geometry is completely wrong for chopping or spliting tasks. The flat cheeks stick badly. For any real work you'll want convex cheeks.

Many of their axes are sold with handle lengths in the "no-mans land" for axes, that dangerous length from 20" to 24" that is perfect for chopping your shin but little else. Too long for one-handed use and too short for two-handed use.

One nice thing about them is that they usually come sharp from the factory. So if you can't sharpen your own axe that will be an advantage for the first use. I'm not sure what you'll do after you dull it, perhaps spend another $180 on a new one.

If you tell us what you want to use it for we can give plenty of better suggestions that will do the job better and for less money.
 
I have the GF American Felling axe . The craftsmanship on mine is very good . I looked around because my first instinct is always try to buy American but I went with the Gränsfors because it was the best quality axe I could get locally .

I have been really thinking about getting the GF Splitting maul but after hearing Square Pegs review I am going to hold off for the moment and research more .

But first and foremost Im on the hunt for an old Crosscut Saw to buck firewood like they did 150 years ago .
 
I have a GB Wildlife hatchet. I paid $120. It is a tool that will last a life time. Compare it with a traditional pocket knife costing the same and it seems a bargain. It can chop, hammer, and is sharp enough to perform most knife tasks.
 
marsturm said:
I have a GB Wildlife hatchet. I paid $120. It is a tool that will last a life time. Compare it with a traditional pocket knife costing the same and it seems a bargain. It can chop, hammer, and is sharp enough to perform most knife tasks.
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Thanks. Comparing it to knife prices gives interesting perspective.
I just took price of 1904 top of the line, Kelly Columbian axe and adjusted it for inflation. $1.40 comes to $40.50 in 2020.
From historical price point GB seems like waaay overpriced luxury item, but than again, I do not wear Patek Phillippe watch or drive Lamborghini.
 
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