I got my first Gransfors, will a Wetterlings let me down?

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scouter27

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May 27, 2000
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I have wanted a Gransfors Bruks Mini Hatchet for as long as I have known about them. One thing or another has lead to me not having one until recently. Now that I have it, I am in love with its ability to work wood much better than it should for it's size. Now, I am thinking about getting a bigger axe with the same style. I am pretty sure I want one the size of the Gransfors Scandinavian Forest Axe, but the Wetterlings Swedish Forest Axe is just about the same in terms of size and weight. The cost is what's making it difficult, obviously, but I will shell out for the better tool, if there is one.

Keep in mind that I am not too caught up in the fit and finish of my tools (I am a Strider fan, after all ;) ), will the Wetterlings let me down in any way compared to my little Gransfors?

Thanks for any help.
 
If you are not too particular about the finish (it is brut de forge anyway), I think Wetterlings is a good alternative.


Ookami
 
If you took away the name stamp 90% per cent of people wouldn't pick the difference. Same steel, same rockwell, very similar designs, and as for fit and finish I haven't been that impressed with the Gransfors I've seen, though I think some of thier handles are a little better designed. If you can sharpen and reprofile your own axe get the Wetterlings and spend the money you save on more knives.
 
The only thing "more" I buy is food and kids clothes. Neither seems to last very long... :rolleyes:

I don't mind sharpening, but I don't really have the time nor the desire to reprofile a new axe. If the Wetterlings actually needs that much work to cut like a Gransfors, it might be worth the $50 extra, especially since I can hand pick it, or get free, basically overnight, shipping (since I'm almost convinced that a Gransfors doesn't need to be hand picked for quality, since it's likely to be there anyway).

One big draw to the Gransfors is I know of a semi-local dealer. I bought on eBay from him last time, and the shipping was overnight. That's when I realized that he was less than an hour away. If I could find a Wetterlings dealer nearby, that would help (worsen, maybe :confused: ) my problem.

In any case, thanks for the help guys.
 
Wetterlings is one of those where the quality is usually there, but there's a greater chance that things won't be quite as perfect. The handle grain may not be quite so perfectly aligned, the bit usually doesn't come as sharp, and may need work.

If you want an axe ready to go out of the box, GB is pretty much the best thing going. IMO they are worth the premium, as I'd prefer to maintain an edge than out one one. The real serious axe guys will tell you the opposite.
 
I have been using the Husquavarna stamped forest axe by wetterlings for about 3 years now and no problems as a hard use axe. It has limbed a lot of wood on my acreage up north and splits pretty well too.
Even if the edge was not perfect(and it was fine) I paid 48 bucks for it and 10 minutes with a file and 600grit diamond hone would have fixed it anyway
Use it, sharpen it and don't worry about the perfect edge on an axe........it won't stay that way

I have a wetterlings 19", husq small forest, husq small splitting axe and a husq splitting maul and have been very impressed with all of the husq/wetterlings
 
I have found the Wetterllings to be excellent. I have difficulty paying the additional money for a GB for little more than looks IMO.
 
My local wetterlings dealer has not one out of about 60 that I would buy. The grain on all of the handles are off, the handles are very inconsistent and the balance felt way off. I was really considering one but I was very turned off by them. If you want a cheap axe that needs work there are lots of cheaper alternatives. But if you want a very high quality axe off the shelf get a gb
 
I have 5 GB's and 2 Wetterlings, as others have said its quite a bit more than looks that make the difference, sure they both work but the GB are far nicer and ready to use out of the box, they are much more graceful IMO too. My Wetterlings issues are minor, some cosmetic some functionality, both mine needed sharpening out of the box, the side to side bevel was pretty lopsided, heads lacked the polish of my GB's and the handles and finish could be nicer. Both brands get the job done but the GB's are worth the extra money to me, these are lifetime tools if cared for properly so I don't mind the extra. Don't get me wrong, compared to some of the cheaper axes I have used and seen the Wetterlings are very nice, if fit and finish are not a concern as you said, and you can use a stone, you will be plenty happy with the Wetterlings.

I have not purchased a Wetterlings since GB bought them and the QC may be better now since the purchase, if you can go somewhere and hand pick one that would be ideal.
 
Some of the internet stores have a satisfaction guarantee on the axes they sell. Use one of them and if you are not satisfied when you get it, return it for a refund of your money.
 
Talk to Vince at Fort Henry Custom Knives. He was very helpful in selecting a Wetterlings from his stock with very acceptable grain, when I requested it. Great guy to do business with.
 
Arakiel, thanks for that site, I hadn't found it before. Sadly, he apparently doesn't have the axe I'm looking for in stock :-/
 
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