Gransfors....SCORE!

[Brad "the butcher"]

Went to Lee Valley today and picked up a returned Gransfors Hunting axe for 100!

A centimetre of the edge has rolled over maybe a mm and another cm a little more with not a scratch or blemish on head/handle.
Bottom 2/3 is as sharp as I have ever seen on an axe off the rack.
A quick fix for sure!

I love the clearance rack at that place, picked up a large kellie kettle for half price that had a dent in it a few years ago.

Now I will finally be able to use a gransfors to compare to my wetterlings thats about the same size without the polished poll.

 

[jpeeler]

If the edge is rolled, it might be a sign that the head was heat treated poorly. Others please correct me if I'm wrong, but keep an eye on it as you're using it. Otherwise, good pick.

 

[upnorth]

Cool. I didn't realize that Lee Valley had a clearance area. They carry some nice tools. Personaly I could care less if a cooking pot had a ding in it. I'd push it out or just use it. The stuff gets dinged up with use anyway. :thumbup:

 

[Brad "the butcher"]

If the edge is rolled, it might be a sign that the head was heat treated poorly. Others please correct me if I'm wrong, but keep an eye on it as you're using it. Otherwise, good pick.

No dude, I can tell the idiot that used it once had a rock or a concrete pad for a chopping block......top 1/3 damage. I have repaired enough axes for people camping for some beer enough to tell!

Upnorth I check the 2 lee valley stores I drive by for work about once a month for the deals.

 

[jpeeler]

Cool, good news! I've had to fix/reprofile a number myself for family and friends- it's eternally frustrating. What's so hard about taking care of an edge?

 

[300Six]

Most people assume axe heads to be made of indestructible material and most people have no idea of how to sharpen axes. Lucky for the mass manufacturers this enables them to make and sell new ones! Same goes for handles. Why would you fuss around trying to figure out how to replace a handle that costs $15 when an on-sale equivalent new and complete axe (and with a seemingly unbreakable plastic handle) can be had for $30? There aren't too many folks that actually use axes for a living anymore so a general dumbing-down of expectations by consumers is to be expected.
I don't use my very sharp Iltis axe very much only because I like to keep that blade well away from hard objects, whereas the Pulaski I picked up quite a few years ago gets an inordinate amount of use. Whatever they use for blade material on these is durable, a blunt edge is easy to maintain/works better for splitting, and whatever cutting I have to do is with a chainsaw.