Which Gransfors Bruks that actually chops?

Macchina

Macchina

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Apr 7, 2006
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I currently have a 13" Wetterlings hatchet that is great for hiking, but leaves me wanting a bit more when I have to segment 6"+ logs for a campfire (the small stuff is always taken by some of the campsites where I hike). Is the Gransfors Bruks 14" Wildlife hatchet an improvement (more efficient) over the Wetterlings? Would I have to go up to the 19" Gransfors Bruks to notice a difference?
 
I'm a BIG fan of the 19" hunters axe. It works for the large stuff I chop up. I don't really go over anything 12" in diameter with it though.
 
the two larger forest axes. Oddly enough, this came up today Talking to CBryant when he came by to visit the shop. He's got both the larger ones and I've got the ... Scandinavian Forest Axe? Anyway, both are large enough to do real duty.

But honestly, really, truly, if you want to try things out on a bit of a budget, the Colling Boy's Axe is a good in between and cheap enough you can mess with the bevels and tweak a bit.
 
The GB Wildlife is an impressive chopper. More than a lot of khuks and than a ~9" chopper blade. It chops much better than Fiskars 14". I just got a 19" Wetterlings, and it does do a better job than my 14" GB. And it should, given that it's got almost 6" on it and a much weightier head.

If you need that much 'chopping power' I'd just go ahead and move up to the ~19" class, and then decide between GB or Wetterlings.

Another fantastic option is to get a modified Snow & Nealley from Brian Andrews. It's heavier, but a helluva chopper.
 
If a 13" hatchet is a little undersized then going to a wildlife hatchet won't be much of a change even if the wildlife is a better hatchet (I don't have a wetterling but do have a GB wildlife). The GB small forest ax would be a better choice for all around wilderness duty unless you need to split tough rounds of wood, then get the S&N as they are better log splitters.
 
I agree with the spooky one!
My small forest axe size Wetterlings, works as good as the GB I have had. YMMV...
be safe... Ted
Ya know the newer Cold Steel trail axe (I think that is what it's called) and the Condor axes aren't bad either!
 
I have the Small Forest Axe, and it will go through 6" stuff easily.

To really make tracks, take a decent 24" bowsaw, and cut your time by 50% or more.
 
I love the 19" range as well, I've used a 19" wetterlings large hunters axe for two years now and it has worked great. I prefer the head shape on the wetterlings over the GB, but I might try a GB one day for the hell of it.
 
michaelmcgo said:
Is the Gransfors Bruks 14" Wildlife hatchet an improvement (more efficient) over the Wetterlings?
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I have one major point to consider before making a decision.

The quick answer to this question is yes. But probably not all due to the reason you would expect. The longer axe will of course increase chopping power, but the thing you are probably not considering is the edge geometry.

A GB will come with a properly setup edge (talking geometry, not just sharpness). Therefore in the exact same size axe (wetterlings versus GB) the GB will outperform it based on that alone. You would actually need to put a good profile on the wetterlings yourself, but it can be done.

I am probably talking in circles, but my point is that your comparison has more to do with size. As they come stock, it will be about a proper edge, and a not quite set up edge. Just something to think about.

Of course, I think there are better options than the two selected, but I am a bit biased ;)

B
 
I have to agree with Brian here. What kind of wood are you umostly processing? The geometry of the GB and Wetterlings are made for softer boreal woods. If you're chopping into hardwoods you'd do better with an American pattern. GB even has a pattern called the American felling axe but it comes with a 31"- 35" handle.

The big difference most people notice on the GB's is what Brian already pointed out in addition to the fact that they come razor sharp, but a properly set-up American pattern would do better IMHO.
 
hollowdweller said:
If you are not going to carry it in a pack then why not get a full sized axe??

Like this one:

http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerc...wetterlings&Search.x=0&Search.y=12&SKU=SAW32H

If you are going to carry it in a pack I think the 19" and even the 14" GB is too heavy unless you are going a few miles only.
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Hollowdweller has covered a LOT of miles, up and down, on rocky trails, and boggy woodland.

As an earlier post suggested, a cross-cut saw..Svea, or the like...is much more energy-efficient for large wood, and one heck of a lot lighter. It also packs easier.

Best wishes.


Kis
 
I agree with most that a good saw is better for bucking small dead standing trees, and an axe can then be used to chop that wood into half/quarter rounds. As far as size I think that will be dictated by your hiking ability, but I feel you should carry the largest axe you can safely carry and use. Of course I don't backpack, so if I hauled a 19" axe 10-20 miles over 2-3 days I may think differently.

As far as saws go, I have had my eye on this pack saw, it looks very capable, is USA made and has an old school charm to it:

http://www.poleandpaddle.com/saw.html

Bens backwoods also sells the same saw for (basically) the same price if you prefer dealing with them:

http://www.bensbackwoods.com/servlet/Detail?no=413


Also, I only have GB axes and they are top notch. I don't have anything in the 19" range, the smallest I have is the ScandiFA, which is capable of some serious work for a medium sized axe. I have handily split/chopped logs in the 6"-10" range with the ScandiFA, but I don't think that axe would fit into many packs. I would say that if Ray Mears and Mors K. trust the SmallFA with their lives, then it's probably a great choice.
 
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