Husqvarna Traditional (Multi-Purpose) Axe Review

mtwarden · Jan 16, 2011

thanks for the review

, I think I'm going to add this one to my list- 25" is just about the right length of axe I'm looking for

rg598 · Jan 17, 2011

coloradowildman said:
Ross, now that you've tried 25"-26" axes from the "big three" (Gransfors, Wetterlings, and Council Tool- I count the Huskie as the Wetterlings), do you have an overall favorite?

Also, noticed your Fiskars review too. Been through 4 of them total and the steel is just not good on those as you noted. They will not only dent but also chip real bad as well. I recently spent hours convexing a new 23.5 Fiskars Chopping Axe to make a stronger edge but it lightly grazed a pebble while bucking and it took a large chunk out of the blade. I've actually hit a larger rock by accident with my Council Tool axe and it barely suffered any damage, much different results compared to the Fiskars steel.

As a cheap way for a beginner to see what a good axe performs like they are good, because they will chop great until the edge falls apart. They will also get destroyed from splitting, as pieces of wood lodge themselves under the plastic strap around the head (my 28" Pro Chopping axe had a chunk of plastic break off like this while splitting a piece of Douglas Fir). I would sooner depend on a cheap hardware store axe for my survival than a Fiskars knowing what I know now. I've gone completely over to Wetterlings and Council Tool but will also pick up a Gransfors eventually. Would never buy a Fiskars again.

To be honest, none of these designs (the ones I have tested) from the "big three" are my ideal design. I', a big fan of a well balanced Dayton style head, but have not been able to find one int he right size. As far as quality, I think Husqvarna is very similar to Grasfors Bruks. That being said, from what I've been able to find out, Husqvarna contracts with all the Swedish axe manufacturers for their heads, so you will see some variation in patterns and quality, that you will not get from the Gransfors Bruks. Council Tool falls behind those two in quality, although they are still a good platform from which to start.

http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/

coloradowildman · Jan 24, 2011

Ross, would you mind posting the total weight in ounces of each axe for a reference? My Wetterlings Scandavavian Forest axe weighs 46.8 ounces without the sheath and it is listed as a 1.87lb head and even has the weight stamped on the axe in metric (0.85). The Huskie is supposed to be a repro of the Wetterlings Scandi Axe and I'm real curious to know if the Huskie does indeed have a heavier head. thanks

rg598 · Jan 24, 2011

coloradowildman said:
Ross, would you mind posting the total weight in ounces of each axe for a reference? My Wetterlings Scandavavian Forest axe weighs 46.8 ounces without the sheath and it is listed as a 1.87lb head and even has the weight stamped on the axe in metric (0.85). The Huskie is supposed to be a repro of the Wetterlings Scandi Axe and I'm real curious to know if the Huskie does indeed have a heavier head. thanks

I just measured it, and it's 51 oz, or 3lb 3oz.

coloradowildman · Jan 24, 2011

rg598 said:
I just measured it, and it's 51 oz, or 3lb 3oz.

Thanks Ross, is that weight with or without the sheath? Also, would you mind also posting the weight of the Granfors Scandi Axe without the sheath? Much appreciated and keep up the great reviews, they are very helpful.

Leprechaun · Jan 25, 2011

Excellent review! I trust Husqvarna quality from using their chainsaws (swear by 'em), and am in the market for affordable, but quality cutting tools. The cheapo hardware store axes do alright but leave a lot to be desired. I think you've helped me to find my happy medium......I'll be ordering at least a couple versions of their axes in the near future! :thumbup:

rg598 · Jan 27, 2011

coloradowildman said:
Thanks Ross, is that weight with or without the sheath? Also, would you mind also posting the weight of the Granfors Scandi Axe without the sheath? Much appreciated and keep up the great reviews, they are very helpful.

That's without the sheath. The Scandinavian Forest Axe is about 42oz without the sheath.

Albin · Jan 27, 2011

Thanks for posting the direct link. I always enjoy your reviews but the Boring IT nazi systems here always blank out your excellent pics, but allow them on your site.

THanks,

Al

barry54 · Jan 27, 2011

Good reviews Ross. I weighed my 25 1/2" wetterlings forest axe on a coop food spice scale accurate to 1/100 of an ounce. Weight was 45.28 oz, sheath was 2.08 oz, total 47.36.oz .The axe head is stamped .85 kilograms or 1.87lbs. If your 25" long 2lb head GB forest axe weighs 42oz without sheath then my wetterlings is about 5 oz heavier than it should be. I also have a 14" Graintex hatchet Weight is 2.17 lbs with a weight of 1.25 lbs stamped on the head. I think the real head weight is close to 1.6 lbs. It is difficult to accurately compare the performance of two hatchets or axes when one has a head weight that is 3,4,5 or 6oz heavier than you think it is . If anyone has accurate weights for GB,Wetterlings or other axe heads then please post them.

coloradowildman · Jan 29, 2011

barry54 said:
Good reviews Ross. I weighed my 25 1/2" wetterlings forest axe on a coop food spice scale accurate to 1/100 of an ounce. Weight was 45.28 oz, sheath was 2.08 oz, total 47.36.oz .The axe head is stamped .85 kilograms or 1.9 lbs. If your 25" long 2lb head GB forest axe weighs 42oz without sheath then my wetterlings is about 5 oz heavier than it should be. I also have a 14" Graintex hatchet Weight is 2.17 lbs with a weight of 1.25 lbs stamped on the head. I think the real head weight is close to 1.6 lbs. It is difficult to accurately compare the performance of two hatchets or axes when one has a head weight that is 3,4,5 or 6oz heavier than you think it is . If anyone has accurate weights for GB,Wetterlings or other axe heads then please post them.

I'm starting to think the Gransfors Scandi Axe has the wrong weight quoted through some simple conversion mishap to US sellers a while back or the weight was changed by Granfors without updating the brochures\website.

Both of the Council Tool 26" 1.75lb head Hudson Bay axes I've had and weighed were both roughly 42 ounces without the sheath, which makes perfect sense as both my Wetterlings Scandi Forest Axe and barry54's Wetterlings SFA are about 4 ounces heavier, which I'd expect with the Wetterling's slightly heavier head (1.87lbs) and the beefier handle.

This head weight being an actual 1.75lbs on the Gransfors rather than 2lbs would also explain many things, including:

1) The ability of a 1.75lb Council Hudson Bay axe to outchop the supposed 2lb headed Gransfors after any amount of file work (see Ross's comparison review on this forum or at his blog)

2) The Husqvarna Multi-Purpose Axe to outchop the Gransfors, even though it's also supposed to be lighter, along with the head being noticeably bigger than the Gransfors

3) The Wetterlings SFA 25.5" axes also physically weighing more than the Gransfors SFA, even though the weight of the Wetterlings being proof stamped on the heads in metric as 0.85 (1.87lbs vs the supposed 2lbs for the Gransfors). This proof stamp weight is not done on the Gransfors.

It would seem to me that the Gransfors Scandinavian Forest Axe is actually a Swedish version of the American 1.75lb Hudson Bay Axes. The US Hudson Bay Axes are normally 1.75lbs and feature a handle from 24"-26" handle and it seems this would make sense if the Gransfors has the same general specs.

The Gransfors weight only makes sense as a 1.75lb head, so maybe someone needs to email Gransfors and ask them "what gives?"

trailbum · Feb 2, 2011

Thanks for the info, great review.

NothingCoherent · Mar 9, 2011

I just picked one of these up at a local place based on this review. I recommend doing the same if you have a Husqvarna dealer nearby. Just ask 'em to special order an axe for you if they don't have it in store.

Here are my initial impressions...

1. Amazing value. I payed $60 CDN for mine. That's half what I would of payed for a GB axe of equivalent size.

2. Fit and finish is only a tad under GB quality. The head is a bit rougher (shape / forging marks), and the handle isn't done quite as nicely as my SFA (not sanded around the lanyard hole, oil finish isn't as prominent, etc). It's barely noticeable though and in no way effects the performance of the axe. Quality is very high.

3. Overall quality (in the places where it counts), in my case, is actually BETTER than my GB axe. I'm shocked. The grain on the handle I got is the best grain I've ever seen in an axe; it's almost perfect throughout the entire length. The head is attached beautifully; perfect alignment and no movement. The head is balanced extremely well - not quite perfect - but a bit better than the balance on my SFA. And to top it all off, the damn thing came shaving sharp!

I'm very impressed. I purchased it planning for it to be my yard axe / trunk axe, but I have a feeling I'm going to be carrying it on backpacking trips... weight be damned!