Who ownes both Gransfors and Wetterlings?

[KarlMaldensNose]

Although it is a great tool and beautifully finished, I'm not entirely happy with my Bark River Camp Axe, so I'm looking at picking up either a Gransfors Hatchet 13.5" or Wetterlings Wildlife Axe 13" (or GB Small Forest Axe 19.5" vs. Wetterlings Small Hunter Axe 16") for my camping/hiking/canoeing trips. I know this topic is old and tired, but I was hoping that someone who actually ownes both or has used both could weight in on some issues.

I'm interested in which actually chops/splits/cuts better, which is shipped sharper, and which has better fit and finish... also any other differences between the two (same stock sheaths? same handle wood? same treatment/finish of wood?). I'm trying to determine if the differences, if any, are worth the ~$25 difference.

I'm also considering a Bark River Customized Wetterlings 18" Axe. It sure is purdy (I like shiny things).

 

[omniviking]

I own both a GB and a S.A.W. hatchet in wildlife models, 13 inches. I got my Wetterlings before Gransfors bought out Wetterlings and it only cost me $25 to 30 US then. GF show ups shaving sharp great better finish, but the blade of it is just off a tad of being inline with the handle. The handle is nice, butI like the way the Wetterlings fits my hand better. but I am 6 foot 8 inches tall and have kinda big hands. The Wetterlings is a bit more coarse on the forged finish But this might have changed after the buy out. It showed up with a good working edge which I was easily improved, never got it to shave, but I have nicked my hands with it and noticed some dripping now and then GF thinner edge may shop better, Wett. little thick, chops good may split better than the GF. Both will slice right through a n inch or so sapling and not even feel it, made my girl so marsh mellow roasting sticks, besides other things. Used the Wett. in some dirt shopping right through some 2 inch roots ( only hatchet I had with at the time) so now it need a little touch up, no chips or ding but not at slicing sharp, but thats dirt work. I got both off E ><bay, may be why the blade is just off a pinch on the GF.
If you can handle both check on this, but it still works great for me. Don't know if Wetterlings is a bargain only 25 or 30 dollars cheaper, but I like my Wetterlings better than the GF for the feel of handle in hand, more secure, less slippy when swinging. Although now they may both have the same handles. I don't know any current changes made. Iwould say if you have a place or friends that you can inspect them yourself you could fell which one you like better.

Pat

 

[jurisprudence]

As you well know, both are hand forged. Any generalizations about such products are just that, generalizations and may or may not accurately describe any individual product. With that disclaimer, I'll say, in general (still had to say "in general"), I have found that Gransfors are finished better than Wetterlings. I have a 19'' Wetterlings that is nearly flawless. It came very sharp, has an excellent handle (the grain is perfectly in line), and is finished nicely. Back to my broad generalization, the Gransfors I have all tend to be closer to that condition I just described. Also, I prefer Gransfors' sheaths to the sheaths that Wetterlings offers. The forging on some of the Wetterlings is not finished as nicely.

The working quality is there in all my Wetterlings. So, it depends on your preference and if you are able to handle them before purchasing.

Yes, the Bark River customized axes do look great, and I have a Bark River Mini (customized Vaughn mini axe). Bark River does excellent work and I am a fan. However, I have to question the value of the Bark River customized Wetterlings. For camping, at least for me, I am working with dried wood for the fire. Most dried wood is hard, and some is very hard, so the axe is unlikely to sink into the wood more than an inch to 1 1/2''. So, I wonder how reprofiling the entire axe improves performance that would be useful to me. For splitting, I have similar questions. I am no expert on axe design, but have seen a number of different mauls and splitting axes, and none had thinned bits. Perhaps the Bark River Wetterlings is good for batoning, as the thinned bit may more easily work through a round, but I would not expect it to be built for splitting.

 

[woodsroamer]

I own several GB and Wetterling axes, and while we're on the subject, I also own both the Roselli hatchet and axe. A lot of what determines which axe is "better" depends on the type of wood you plan to chop. Both GB and Wetterling axes are designed for the softer hardwoods of Scandinavian countries. One would think that the Roselli axe has the same function but it's much thicker profile makes it quite suitable for the truly hardwoods of the American Southwest and Texas Brushlands: Mesquite, TX ebony, guayacan, huisache, catclaw, chaparro prieto etc., and for the very hardwoods to the north along the Red River like Osage orange. The GB and Wetterlings will stick (since they are thin in profile) when used against those extremely hard woods that have specific gravities ranging from the mid 0.80s to the high 0.90s.

As for finish: Yes the GB tends to be better finished but not necessarily so. I've have several Wetterlings that are finished as well as any GB axe. Still, the primary criteria, in my opinion, for what kind of axe to buy depends as much on the type of wood you will be working on and what your intended project is; for example, if you're just chopping wood and nothing else then your needs will be different from someone who is carving with an axe or who is making a selfbow.