Gransfors Burk Axe

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Oregon Knife Guy

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Mar 27, 2009
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Have any of you ever used the Gransfors Hunting axe? How does that compare to the forest axe which is the same size. I am looking for basically using it for chopping, and firewood gathering on camp trips. I can get a decent price in the hunting axe, but not the others.
 
Oregon Knife Guy said:
Have any of you ever used the Gransfors Hunting axe? How does that compare to the forest axe which is the same size. I am looking for basically using it for chopping, and firewood gathering on camp trips. I can get a decent price in the hunting axe, but not the others.
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I'm no axe expert, but I've recently become interested in these as well. From what I've read, they're the shit. I would like the small forest axe as well. I believe the hunter and small forest are very similar in size/weight, but the hunter is designed for skinning game.

Not sure what kind of prices you've seen, but Lee Valley in Canada carries the full line:

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=20129&cat=1,41131,43408
 
I'll say this. I bought two Wetterlings (same owners now for both companies). One 25 inch and one 19 inch Hunters axe. I opted to try them because people said they're the bee's knees for the price. I bought them for $100 total, rather than the $150 I was going to toss into the GB originally. The price point enabled me to buy them both, and because I was intrigued by the 25 inch I wasn't set back $300 just to try it. I'm more than happy with the purchase. They came yesterday and I am totally impressed. Both hand forged. Fit and finish = A+, Quality = A+, edge = Solid B, total package = A. Just my .03 cents.
 
GB or Wetterlings. Both are great, but buy them in person so you can pick out the best of the bunch. I didn't have access to Wetterlings so I looked at GB and Husqvarna (which is a branded wetterlings) I didn't like the husqvarna as it was a bit too big so I went for the GB SFA. I did Tons of research before I bought (and I was wanting a GB or cegga for a few years now.)
 
Oregon Knife Guy said:
Have any of you ever used the Gransfors Hunting axe? How does that compare to the forest axe which is the same size. I am looking for basically using it for chopping, and firewood gathering on camp trips. I can get a decent price in the hunting axe, but not the others.
Click to expand...

The Hunting Axe, which my brother and a good friend have, is maximized for Hunting, and could do regular wood-work in a pinch, but they are not really built for that.

If price is an issue, you might consider the Wetterlings, whose quality has definitely went up. Or, you could look for an Iltis Ox Head, which will most likely be one of next axes I buy.

Marion
 
You might want to take a look at the modified Snow & Neallys at Off The Map Outfitters. I have a Hudson Bay Camp and have been really happy with it.
 
I believe the main difference is that the hunter has a rounded pole to help with skinning and some grooves in the grip area of the handle, other than that they are both basically the same size and weight head and overall length.
 
Eric Stoskopf of woodsdrummer.com uses this axe. You'll find some stuff bout the Hunting Axe here and there on his wesite. I personally would choose a Gränsfors Bruks over a Wetterlings any time. Though Wetterlings is good, Grönsfors is crafted much better.

If you are not hunting & skinning big game on a regular basis i woulg go for the Small Forest Axe, which is much more suitable for most camp and bushcraft tasks.
 
I have the hunters axe and the GB Mini the hunters axe cuts wood as well as any of the Gransfors axes if that is what you have your heart set on it will not let you down.
that being said the recomendations for the Snow&Neally
axes are dead on.both the penobscot axe or the longer handled hudson bay axe will serve you just as well as the GB AXES at about half the price. also last time I checked S&N axes come with a lifetime warrenty



We are proud to make “The Tools That Last For Generations!” If your Snow & Nealley tool ever fails you in the course of normal use, we’ll fix or replace it at no charge.

The best part is, after over 138 years in business, you can be confident that we’ll be around to do it!
 
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I have the SFA, but not the HA. If you can save some serious $, I would jump on it. You could try it and sell it if you did not like it. If you get it and decide its not for you let me know. The rounded poll will just require a bit more attention to accuracy if you wish to hammer with it. The grooves in the handle should be OK, as I have done this to my mini. I use a chainsaw file so as not to get sharp edges. I also do not do the front of the handle where it comes in contact with the softer flesh on the inside of the fingers.
 
Here are a few pictures of the Hunters axe, hope they help .

As far as I know it is identical to the Small Forest Axe with the exception of the rounded and polished poll for skinning, a different shape and grooves in the lower handle, and I believe a 1" in length.


IMG_0658.jpg


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I built a heavier sheath with a solid flap over the poll in case I ever wanted to pound stakes with it.

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You can chop down a tree in a heartbeat but the head is really good for finer "bushcrafty" type of work also.

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I have a GB Hunters.

It's a good chopper.

Axes that size seem to have wide support here but I like something longer or shorter.

If portability is no object then I'd get one of the larger GB axes. If portability is I like the GB Wildlife. You can use it with one hand.

I tried it for skinning but really I can get the skin off with my fingers and a really sharp knife way more cleanly.

GB quality at least the ones I have (4) are as good or better than most customs.

Like everybody here said thought GB's are priced as much as customs these days. I don't think the others mentioned are as high quality as GB but plenty will work great and save you a lot of money.

I think if I had to buy them today the only one I'd buy would be the Wildlife. To me that's the best one handed hatchet I've ever owned or tried.

I probably use the mini the most but there are cheaper alternatives to that one. But the Balance and weight and all that is perfect for me on the Wildlife.
 
hollowdweller said:
GB quality at least the ones I have (4) are as good or better than most customs.

Like everybody here said thought GB's are priced as much as customs these days. I don't think the others mentioned are as high quality as GB but plenty will work great and save you a lot of money.
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Probably because the GB axes are hand made. What initials are stamped in the head of your axe, that will tell you who made it?

KS Kjell-Åke Sjölund made the axe I pictured above. Here is a list of others.......


LP Lennart Pettersson.......... KS Kjell-Åke Sjölund
UN Ulrik Nilsson.................. RA Rune Andersson
CK Claudia Kowalek.............MM Mattias Mattsson
LE Lars Enander...................DG Daniel Gräntz
BA Bert-Ove Andersson....... JE Joakim Eriksson
US Ulrika Stridsberg
 
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