why do you buy these?

F

FULMTALJKT

Joined
Feb 25, 2006
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108
Over the past year I have seen several post where people have damaged or broken off parts of the Granfors Bruks mini hatchets blade, saw another one today. Several of these post have included pictures. Is there a problem with the design or materials or are they being abused? I havent heard of these problems with the Wetterlings, or the other popular small axes Vaughn, Barkriver ect. Don't get me wrong I have one and haven't broken it yet and it will probably not break if I use it for its intended purpose of say light cutting. But it seems to me that in a survival situation you want the the best you can get and least likely to fail. So why do the mini Bruks seem to be at the top of the list. They are cute and handy but are they really the best choice?
 
Much the same way alot people buy the high end knives, high end vehicles and pure bred dogs things that have cache don't necessararily work the best. A Gransfors axe is a Wetterling with sex appeal, not better just flashier. Axes should be easy to pack, sturdy and easy to sharpen. I believe there is a magical realm where camp hatchets of various size and shape roam at under 30 dollars, each capable of chopping wood, building shelter and lopping a game animal into four pieces. Its name? The local hardware store.
 
I have to agree with the hardware store ax ive never had a problem with my 20 dollar home depot POS hatchet. Routinely use it to dig in the dirt to whack roots. some tools there is no sense spending tons of cash on when a cheep one works as well as if not better then the high performance model
 
I always have several hatchets and axes in my arsenal of tools. Most are Craftsman branded, usually made by Vaughn, Estwing, or another premium brand manufacturer. Ever since Sear's Col. Tom Dunlap set the standards for Craftsman branded tools back in the 1930's, they have stood for quality backed by unconditional warranty.



Yes, you can return a thirty year old hatchet for a free replacement, but Axes and hatchets, like sledges and picks, are perfect candidates for new handles. And other than a broken handle, what else can go wrong with a properly used chunk of forged, tempered steel?

In today's disposable society, people will sell a hatchet with a broken handle, or even a loose head for a few dollars. I used to buy sledge and drilling hammers this way, fifty cents to the pound. Axes and hatchets, splitting wedges for seventy five cents to a dollar a pound, depending on how much work they needed to be refurbished. I think maybe Joe Nimrod might buy a hatchet for that once in a blue moon hunting trip, or to trim the limb hanging over the sidewalk, and never use it again.

I did learn long ago not to buy the older Chinese stuff like Buffalo Brand. Poorly tempered tools used for striking can shatter. Maybe the newer Pacific Rim tools are better, but they lost me as a customer many years ago.
 
Me and Codger are tending to agree a lot lately:thumbup:

You can find great axe and hatchet heads at swap meets and flea markets for very cheap. Are they as good as a swedish handforged? I have no idea :confused: but they chop and split just fine for me. Here is my current favorite that I bought with no handle for 2 dollars. Chris

Picture701.jpg
 
You guys are funny. So you aren't recommending the $100 hatchets or axes. Darn. I was almost ready to buy one. My plumb axe stays in my truck though and I just bought a Fiskars hatchet. Still have not tried out the hatchet yet. It seems a bit light for anything other than trimming limbs,
 
Hell yeah I am recommending a 100 dollar hatchet, if you can afford it, if you can afford two send me one.

But, like knives, I don't think the very expensive ones cut that much money better, than my cheap ones.:o Chris

EDIT: With my 12" ontario machete, opinel, 13OT, Old hickory butcher and the hatchet you see, I will hold my own and get my meat in the freezer, and all together they cost less than one gransfor bruks anything.
 
I have a G.B. wildlife hatchet, It is one of the best tools I've ever owned.
the bits are forged thin so they do require a bit more sharpening but it only takes a second with a puck, I filleted a walleye with mine last summer, try that with hardware store axe.
 
wayne37 said:
I have a G.B. wildlife hatchet, It is one of the best tools I've ever owned.
the bits are forged thin so they do require a bit more sharpening but it only takes a second with a puck, I filleted a walleye with mine last summer, try that with hardware store axe.
Click to expand...

That's silly, I chop kindling with my hatchet, I filet fish with a knife, I don't want tree sap on my filets now do I. Chris
 
Wayne,
I am yanking your chain a bit, the gransfors are fantastic tools, there is just something about me that I can't pay that much money for a hatchet.

Also my flea market hatchet is very sharp and cuts better than you may think, it also has a thin bit and from what I can tell decent steel. It doesn't have the sex appeal or the name but don't discount it. Chris
 
Yea I know, I don't discount any axe they are the handiest tool of any woods wanderer. I picked up a canadian boy scout hatchet at a yard sale a feww years back for 5.00 ata yard sale , beautifuly designed bit with original handle
and logo on handle when sharp it will cut just as well as my GB.
 
wayne37 said:
Yea I know, I don't discount any axe they are the handiest tool of any woods wanderer. I picked up a canadian boy scout hatchet at a yard sale a feww years back for 5.00 ata yard sale , beautifuly designed bit with original handle
and logo on handle when sharp it will cut just as well as my GB.
Click to expand...


I beat the hell out of my axes literally here is proof:

picture199vk7.jpg


I literally this one everyday to train with clearing trees (pinon pine and whatever the local indigenous scrub oak looking things are).

This one is less than a year old. 30 bux at Lowe's with a lifetime garuntee. I would never spend a hundred bux to beat the hell out a GB.

I am firm believer that you get something and beat it mercilessly. If it takes it great, when it fails try a new one.
 
So back to the topic, has anyone broke their Granfors Bruks mini hatchet, or know anyone that has?
How about some pictures of the broken hatchet?
 
Well I started this so I guess I should atleast try to come up with a picture but for the life of me I can't find the one I was looking at the other day. I was able to find one posted by hollowdweller in 04. It shows the same kind of break as in the post I saw. This is supposed to be the link but I dont know how to attach it.
Try doing a search under Granfors Bruks go to pg2, go to the post that says something about "should have brought a khukri" the link is about half way down in that thread.
Good Luck
 
FULMTALJKT said:
I havent heard of these problems with the Wetterlings, or the other popular small axes Vaughn, Barkriver ect.
Click to expand...

There are a lot more Bruks in use from what I have seen so you would expect more problems to be reported. Did any of those individuals not have solid service from Bruks with replacements?

-Cliff
 
Runningboar, nice hatchet pictured.
I have one very much like that, handed down from my grandfather.

I love the fact that the hammer head is centered, and is a true hammer head, doubles real well for hammering needs.
I saw one of those heads (no handle) go for $6 on AuctionBay and kicked my own butt for not bidding.

I don't own any hatchets that I have purchased, so I usually skip over the "which hatchet" posts. I'm with Chris, you can pick up a darn nice hatchet at a YardSale, or even just a head and rehandle it.

If you have $100 to spend, don't deny yourself a new toy, but, for my money I can pick up the $5 hatchet head, reahandle it, and have myself a vintage hatchet for about $10. I'll use the other $$$ for more toys! :D
 
Codger_64 said:
I always have several hatchets and axes in my arsenal of tools. Most are Craftsman branded, usually made by Vaughn, Estwing, or another premium brand manufacturer. Ever since Sear's Col. Tom Dunlap set the standards for Craftsman branded tools back in the 1930's, they have stood for quality backed by unconditional warranty.




Yes, you can return a thirty year old hatchet for a free replacement, but Axes and hatchets, like sledges and picks, are perfect candidates for new handles. And other than a broken handle, what else can go wrong with a properly used chunk of forged, tempered steel?

In today's disposable society, people will sell a hatchet with a broken handle, or even a loose head for a few dollars.
Click to expand...

Wow! I am rehandling this same hatchet (top one) right now! I only used it a few times before the head started coming loose. I believe my father found it years ago at an estate sale for $5.00. Not a bad deal for such a handy little tool. Even though it is a Craftsman, I think the head alone is worth more (to me, at least) than a new Craftsman hatchet would be. (Codger, I hope you don't mind my editing your post).

I've often thought about investing in a Granfors or Wetterling. However, I then think about the pieces that I have, and realize that I really don't need to upgrade. I have nothing against the finer axes, and someday maybe I'll get one... Or two or three. For now, I'll stick with my TruTest axe and Swedish(?) fire axe, and Craftsman, Gerber, and Marble's hatchets.
 
hikeeba, your post illustrates the points I was trying to make quite well. Like runningboar and others, I have nothing against spending more money to buy a superior tool. But when I can find a tool that well suits my needs with either a lower initial MSRP, a "forever warranty", or that can be refurbished to as new working condition, I cannot see spending ten times that price just to obtain a tool with name cache'. And this particularly goes for forged steel tools, as I've mentioned. Also, being an old Codger, I gravitate toward American brands which are known to be of top quality steel and manufacture. I freely admit to this bias in my tools just as I am biased in my knives. For a person such as myself, change just for the sake of change doesn't make sense any more. If a tool or knife has shown me that it can last thirty years or more with normal care and maintenance, then I can reasonably expect that it will outlast what I can reasonably expect the rest of my lifespan to be.

Codger
 
Codger, I agree with you. When your axes have served their purpose for you and your family, they'll end up in another yard sale somewhere and someone else can enjoy them. If I dig around, I bet I have no fewer than 4-5 hatchets and a couple of axes lying around in my garage. Guess some day, they will also be headed to a flea market somewhere and someone can brag about the great little hatchet or axe that they picked up for $5.

A lot of the new axes you see at flea markets don't seem to be very good and I suspect they are coming out of China. But, then how good do they need to be when you use them a few times a year? No, I don't burn wood at my house and don't do much wood spliting except when I'm camping. Even then, it is pretty minimal and too much work. Burn them whole.
 
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