Wanted your advice on a good axe

I bought the Gransfors Bruks Hunter's Axe just after Christmas and love it.

It handles well and will be put to the test(s) this spring as I get out.

As a note, it shaved out of the shipping box and has a nice leather cover.

I bought it out of "Wow, gotta have that" and want to pass it on to my son when he gets old enough. It is high quality, seriously.

The feel and fit of it are great - it was well over $100 though and you have to get past that to get it roughed up.

I think all the posts in this thread are solid with suggestions. A couple I haven't heard of but will check out.

I'm looking for the 17" Fiskars Splitting Axe to put into a vehicle kit and I like the Wetterlings Hunter's Axe as well.
 
I Have heard aobut some quality control issues with the Wetterlings. I purchased mine from Ragweed forge, reason was that Ragner emailed me and we discussed him hand picking one with straight grainand good grinds. I would say that he knows his tools and that was something that was important to me. I believe that his name is important to him and he would not ship an inferior product. Just my experience.
 
I have used many of the production axes and have settled on the Iltis Oxhead Axes as my personal favorite. They have a German Forest Axe patter blade that is quite large and they have one of the most bomber attachments of head to handle that I have ever seen. On a winter trip in February, my felling axe did it all and came back for more.

The Fiskars are the best bang for the buck, the Gransfors will hold their value best but the Iltis are the real deal for true cutting ability and no nonsense performance. If you search "Iltis Oxhead" my review should come up with pictures and comparison photos.
 
valcas1 said:
I Have heard aobut some quality control issues with the Wetterlings.
Click to expand...

I have heard this too, and I agree. but...

IMO, Wetterlings axes only suffer because they have to stand beside Gransfors Bruks. Small "defects" ie forge marks, offset bevels are stuff that you wouldnt expect from a GB but common on a Wett. I dont think the functionalty of the tool is comprimised. I doubt there are many handles attached to Wett. axes that could be called faulty.

If anyone has any pictures of broken Wett. handles with poor grain structure I would love to see them.

I think, a GB is defintly a better quality axe than a Wett. But a Wetterling is a HIGH QUALITY axe. I doubt you will find many people that say they werent worth the money.

oh and the money, a Wetterlings is half the price of a GB.
 
One of the Wetterlings I was looking at today appeared to have a "hamon line" running diagonally across the bit. I'm guessing the piece of high carbon steel they forge insert for the edge got misaligned during the forging process, thats a very serious defect to get through.
 
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