Wetterlings vs Gransfor Brux

C

cz75b

Joined
Aug 4, 2004
Messages
329
Guys,

I'm thinking about getting a small wood axe. I've come across some nice Wetterling axes (small hunting axe and wildlife axe). The price is right, but I just can't find much information about Wetterlings. Looks like the general opinion is: Get a GB?

I need my axe for shelter building, and some small bushcraft tasks. It has to be small, because I'll be taking it with me on my hiking trips.

So is Wetterlings worth the money, or should I get a Granfors instead?

Thanks!
CZ
 
Beneral consensus being that "you get what you pay for". So a GB probably.
But some members here have said that if you are willing to put in some hardwork the wetterlings can be modded for better performance saving you some money. But if you dont want to the GB comes perfect.
 
Wetterlings is definately worth the money. I own two Weterlings axes and a GB axe. I like them all and they all work exceptionally well. The GB was little better finished, the initial edge was a little better, and the sheath was better. However, it was also much more expensive than a Wetterlings. With a half hour of shaping and sharpening using a diamond sharpener, the Wetterlings had just as good an edge as the GB and works just as well. The bottom line is that they both make high quality axes. The GB is more refined, but the Wetterlings is a better bargain, last time I checked. You will not go wrong with either.
 
I have and like both 3/4 axe sized offerings from Wetterlings and Gransfors. The Gransfors handle is nearly perfect while the Wetterlings is a sorry club shaped affair. After spending a few hours on profiling you will need to spend some time thinning the handle of the Wetterlings as well!

To me though both are too thinly profiled for all-round use and they are better as limbers. I use one of my dad's old Michigan style axe heads fitted to a 3/4 handle and profiled to release from felling cuts with a nice bounce and useful for splitting as well. Try to split with the swede axes and you will soon be cursing them. They penetrate very deeply with little wedge action with their thin bits. They also have a tendency to stick when making powerful felling cuts.

Why not frequent a few flea markets and pick up some great old American or Canadian heads and hang them and profile them yourself? You'll have a better axe and learned a skill as well. Stay away from the new stuff though Snow and Neilly isn't bad.

here is agreat resource.
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/99232823/toc.htm
 
I ordered a couple of Wetterlings (the small ones) because they were under $30 each. I don't really have a need for them but was curious and not willing to spend the money for the GB products. They will probably get stuck in the garage after I fool with them.

I don't make shelters or limb trees (carry a tarp and use downwood for fire) so they don't serve much purpose for me.
 
IMO the Wetterlings will do everything the GB will do. You may have to do a little bit of work on it. I feel most people who post on this forum would actually enjoy learning how to sharpen an axe.

If I may ask cz75b, What will you be doing with the axe? you mentioned taking it on your hiking trips. What actual tasks do you think you will use it for? Then ask yourself what the Wetterling won't do that the GB will.

I have 2 Wetterlings and they are fine for me. This is just my opinion of course.

Paul
 
valcas1 said:
If I may ask cz75b, What will you be doing with the axe? you mentioned taking it on your hiking trips. What actual tasks do you think you will use it for? Then ask yourself what the Wetterling won't do that the GB will.

I have 2 Wetterlings and they are fine for me. This is just my opinion of course.

Paul
Click to expand...

Paul,

I'm going to use it for shelter building, and getting firewood. So it will not be long hard work (felling a complete forrest). Just things that a knife can do, but an axe can do a lot better, with less effort.

Probably get a Wetterlings.......if I read all the comments......

CZ
 
Is the GB worth it? I can't answer that.

However, I paid $60 for my GB Wildlife Hatchet. I plan on using it at least 20 years
so that comes out to $3 a year (not counting any possible handle replacement costs
down the road.)

$3 a year for a GB vs $1 a year for a Wetterlings... There isn't much point in arguing
the price at that rate.

Some of you who drink pop/cokes out of a machine (I don't) could skip four cans of
pop this year and say you have paid for the difference in the GB and Wetterlings for
one year.
 
Hmmm... Yes prices have changed. Looks like the GB Wildlife Hatchet is now $80
and the similarly sized Wetterlings is $30.

So, $4 a year for the GB vs $1.5 a year for the Wetterlings.

Of course, the real answer is to get one of each. :p
 
I haven't seen that hatchet (the littlest GB) for under $127. I doubt it's five times the hatchet the Wetterlings is.
 
I personally prefer the Wetterlings - the profile is more of a wedge which does more, better, for me than the extremely thin GB, which I find to be more of a pure limbing axe.

I like the handles on the Wetterlings - good and thick for my hands! But that's a personal thing that I am sure varies for each user.

I don't spend a ton of time chopping up stuff in the bush - only deadfall, and then only into sections I can drag around, usually. Sometimes I buck it up a bit to make a small parallel fire. I find the Wetterlings, once tweaked a little, is great for that.

For getting my truck through deadfall on trails I mostly use a 3/4 Agdor Bruks.
 
I have many versions of both brands, and like both of them. The GB is overpriced IMHO, but I still pay the $$, because I love this stuff. Houdini hit the nail on the head, and I agree with him. But as I like to hike myself, I now leave the axes at home. For what you want to do, a saw works better, is lighter, and is safer. Many are collapsable, and some are very compact. Just something to think about.
Dave.
 
CSG, if you are referring to the GB Mini-Hatchet, yes the common price is $127
(but is available for $115 here.

However, I have the Wildlife Hatchet which is just a little larger with a 13.5"
handle and I feel this is a more useful size. It is available for $80 here.

I don't anything about how Oso Grande is to deal with. I got my GBs from
Knife Outlet and Lee Valley.
 
I am tempted to give the GB American felling axe a go. Looks like they spent some time getting it right. A bit heavy for camping but might help keep my stove fed. Chainsaw not working again.... I hate technology at times!
 
I've got both. Either one will serve the need. IMO, both are well made.
Scott
 
I've handled both. They are both worth their price and some!
There is a greater variability in quality in the Wetterlings I have seen: grain orientation, bits sometimes skewed, bevels not ground symmetrically, but there are many Wetterlings which are just perfect.
If you can hand select or choose based on actual pics (shot from several views), go with the Wetterlings. The Wetterlings also have a somewhat bigger and rounder handles. The bits of the Wetterlings are more of the typical hardwood axe profile, so they would be better suited to both chop and split hardwood (beech, oak, maple, birch). The thin bits of the Gransfors Bruks are well suited to chop both hardwood and conifers, but are better for splitting softwood than hardwood.

Your choices could be based on the following aspects:

1.) What kind of wood are you going to cut/split?

2.) What is your primary task? Chopping and whittling thinner timber or splitting thicker (4"/20 cm and larger diameter) wood?

3.) How much wood do you really need?

The Wetterlings and the GB lines are similar but not completely equivalent in size, so you have quite a variety to chose from.

GB Mini : great for whittling, chopping, light splitting, great portability - a true pocket axe.

GB Wildlife hatchet: its strengths are chopping, whittling, mainly softwood splitting, hardwood is OK with thicker edge. Slim and light, easy to carry.

Wetterlings Wildlife hatchet: 1/4 lb heavier head than the GB Wildlife, even though slightly shorter - better splitter than the GB Wildlife, especially for hardwoods, but not so good whittler. Very good carry size.

Wetterlings Small Hunter: quite strong, the same head as the Wetterling Large Hunter but with a 4" shorter handle.

Wetterlings Large Hunter: it is more or less equivalent to the GB Small Forest Axe, but has more splitting oriented bit and a less curved handle.
 
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