I see the maker initials are also hard to make out. I would wager this is NOT common practice at GB. First I have seen of it anyways. Let us know how you make out.
Official Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet and Forest/Felling Axe Thread Pics/Video's
- Thread starter warman
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I see the maker initials are also hard to make out. I would wager this is NOT common practice at GB. First I have seen of it anyways. Let us know how you make out.
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- Mar 26, 2010
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And a Little old with the new, the small forest ax, with a Busse SCABS, and excelent knife in my opinion, on that trip I brought out three knives, that Busse, a Falkniiven F1, and a Mora Bushcraft, and the Busse was my favorite for making kindling, spoon carving and general Bushcraft tasks, was pretty darn sharp too after all that, and about 30 seconds on the strop got it back in business.
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- May 14, 2011
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Yes, I do have some news. I should be getting a replacement axe this week (I hope) and was waiting until then to update. Gransfors' US distributor has proven to be very helpful. They forwarded my photos and concerns on to Sweden for their opinion. Both the distributor and the folks in Sweden agreed that the axe wasn't fit for use. Thankfully, I was provided with a prepaid shipping label for the return to the distributor. It's been a few weeks waiting, but the issue should be resolved any day now.
The defective axe was the 35" version, which they don't have on hand at the moment, so I opted to replace it with the 31" instead of waiting. In my mind, the capabilities of the two versions overlap about 90%, so either will do. The slight loss of power and reach is offset by the increase in maneuverability etc. etc. I'm just an armchair woodsman though. Paul Bunyan might have a stronger preference.
Anyway, stand by for photos of the new chopper when she arrives.
I am glad to see GB stepped right up. I didn't expect otherwise. I am sure they will figure out the breakdown at the factory.
You will love the 31" plenty. I have it and love it.
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- May 14, 2011
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At long last I've received my replacement axe. The US Gransfors distributor customer service was very helpful. Although it took some time, they've upheld their guarantee. Also, it turns out that they were able to track down a 35" version after all.
The replacement axe head looks great, very even and symmetrical with a good eye. The handle-to-head fit is just as it should be, as you can see below.
The handle is fitted excellently, but the grain is a bit mediocre. It seems a perfect axe handle is a rare bird these days. As you can see, the grain orientation isn't ideal, especially at the business end. There's also a bit of heartwood in a couple of spots, but I'm more annoyed with the grain. In any case, it's time to use the dickens out of it and see what happens.
The replacement axe head looks great, very even and symmetrical with a good eye. The handle-to-head fit is just as it should be, as you can see below.
The handle is fitted excellently, but the grain is a bit mediocre. It seems a perfect axe handle is a rare bird these days. As you can see, the grain orientation isn't ideal, especially at the business end. There's also a bit of heartwood in a couple of spots, but I'm more annoyed with the grain. In any case, it's time to use the dickens out of it and see what happens.
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- May 19, 2009
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Not too much in the way of usage pictures here, so I guess I'll post a few.
I brought my SFA, Enzo Trapper and Laplander with me on my trip to the Philippines last month. I figured that while a large blade would probably be more fitting, getting one there would be a lot easier than a decent axe.. I ended up visiting a blacksmith and getting a left-handed bolo blade made up (bolos there tend to be flat ground on one side and convex on the other.. but in a manner fitting for right handed users)
I ended up making a handle for it myself out of guava. Heated the tang up, pounded it into a cut portion of guava, then did the shaping with my axe and knife:
And here's the finished product back in the US:
I brought my SFA, Enzo Trapper and Laplander with me on my trip to the Philippines last month. I figured that while a large blade would probably be more fitting, getting one there would be a lot easier than a decent axe.. I ended up visiting a blacksmith and getting a left-handed bolo blade made up (bolos there tend to be flat ground on one side and convex on the other.. but in a manner fitting for right handed users)
I ended up making a handle for it myself out of guava. Heated the tang up, pounded it into a cut portion of guava, then did the shaping with my axe and knife:
And here's the finished product back in the US:
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- Joined
- May 19, 2009
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- 1,161
Guess I'll also toss in some shots of yesterday's work. A limb on our cherry tree was partially rotten and needed to come down... so I did the most logical and completely safe thing by grabbing my GB Scandi, hopping atop a rickety wine rack and hacking away at the thing:
All sorts of stable:
Pretty decent sized limb - everything above that old woodpecker nest was rotten out though:
Checking the front cut as well as the back:
Then hacking away at the back. This limb was only about a foot away from the one behind it, so taking proper strokes without glancing blows required a good bit of focus and attack-angles that I didn't feel entirely comfortable with:
I believe the last stroke before it went down.. My friend, although at a safe distance, freaked when it snapped and crashed, and didn't get a shot of it falling:
A wee bit of collateral damage, but nothing that anyone cared about, hence why it wasn't moved. I guess I didn't waste any time getting down to limb the thing and section it out:
Flying chips - one to the forehead and another flying by my shoulder:
Having all sorts of fun:
Sadly, the rest of the work (sectioning the limb out) fell to my newly hung 32" 3.5lb Vintage Keen Kutter, so I'm not sure if I should be posting that part here..
All sorts of stable:
Pretty decent sized limb - everything above that old woodpecker nest was rotten out though:
Checking the front cut as well as the back:
Then hacking away at the back. This limb was only about a foot away from the one behind it, so taking proper strokes without glancing blows required a good bit of focus and attack-angles that I didn't feel entirely comfortable with:
I believe the last stroke before it went down.. My friend, although at a safe distance, freaked when it snapped and crashed, and didn't get a shot of it falling:
A wee bit of collateral damage, but nothing that anyone cared about, hence why it wasn't moved. I guess I didn't waste any time getting down to limb the thing and section it out:
Flying chips - one to the forehead and another flying by my shoulder:
Having all sorts of fun:
Sadly, the rest of the work (sectioning the limb out) fell to my newly hung 32" 3.5lb Vintage Keen Kutter, so I'm not sure if I should be posting that part here..
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