Gransfors Bruk Axes Guide | Which axe should you buy?

Chris delves into the range of axes from Gransfors Bruk including dissimilarities between splitting axes, forest axes, hunting axes and hatchets, shedding light on their unique characteristics and applications. Gransfors Bruk, a renowned Swedish brand, takes pride in hand-forging their axes in Sweden, ensuring exceptional quality with handles crafted from American Hickory. Each axe bears the maker's mark, adding a personalised touch. There is a Gransfors Bruk axe for most outdoor applications.

Presented by Chris Russell
Filmed and edited by Pat Ryan

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Chapters:
0:00 About Gransfors Bruk
0:34 Difference between splitting axe and forest axe
4:05 Which splitting axe should you choose?

[matthewhusk]

I have a few of these axes. The Outdoor Axe really is a specialist axe for small work in place of a machete and craft knife but is a beautiful piece. The small forest axe is an amazing all rounder that will go in a back pack and do a lot of work at a camp.

[tfre]

The splitting maul is an absolute delight to use. My tip: forego a splitting wedge and have a sledge on hand. Extremely formidable combination. The driest, knott-iest Australian hard woods have succumbed to this combo. Love it so much.

[kylebrooks]

U can split u decision down to 2 different paths...

1. If ur after 1 tool that will.
Fell tree.. Cut branches off. Split most sizes of logs.. use to make kindling. Use to pound in post. The GB felling axe by it will do most of the work a GB splitting maul can do.. bt not the other way around...

2. If ur after a tool for more of a hobbie then a work horse .. cause u will be useing it for bushcraft or hunting. Then the GB forest axe. Great for carving. Hiking cause lightweight bt good size an weight to still cut up ur fire wood.. pound in small to medium size stakes.. bt more dangerous cause of its short handle. So for splitting best be on yah knees or have a verry high chopping block...

As a self employed gardener i found the best axe for me is the straight handle felling GB axe. Its strong an reliable. An its a work horse for so many jobs..

That axe with a good hand saw an a great fixblade knife. Ur set for life.

[nnoddy]

Great description of the range.

Vote for the Small Splitting Axe - brilliant for around the house, processing kindling and also for camping in breaking down the larger, already broken down logs. Also fits nicely into the car.

[P--O]

Great well made and inspirational video!
Greetings from Östersund, Sweden (about 200 km northwest of Gränsfors Bruk)

[globetrotter]

Scandinavian works phenomenal for me.

- Light enough for me to de-limb whole trees without getting tired;

-Powerful enough to cut off big branches in one blow and to quickly fell small to medium-sized trees. Its power comes from its light head and its reasonably long handle, which helps the head travel very fast by the time it impacts the wood (kinetic energy rises proportionally to the object's mass but to the square of its velocity).

-Sharp enough to split even though its head is very thin (even if it doesn't have a lot of mass, it penetrates so deep into the wood thanks to its sharpness that it opens it up anyways).

I keep it around my camp so portability is not an issue. If I were more of a backpacker I'd get the Small Forest Axe. If I were stronger or if my cutting sessions weren't as long I'd get the American Felling Axe.

[MyMotorcycleObsession]

I just bought the one that you don't have, the American Felling axe. I also have the outdoor axe, I carry both in my pack.

[unitytira]

Thank you so much for sharing this video. Valuable informations on the use of Splitting and Forest (Chopping) ax. I am into carving so I bought the Wildlife and Hand Hatchets.

[grumpyoldwizard]

I got the GFB wildlife hatchet and the Scandianavian FA. It seemed a good combo.

[felixcat]

My first GB was the beautiful Mini Hatchet, some years later it was joined by the Wildlife Hatchet, and about three years after that a Small Forest Axe made it a trio.

This gives me the best tool for the whatever I want to do.

Great video, subscribed.

[funkydozer]

I have the large splitting axe and the outdoor axe. The splitter is a beast and can handle pretty much anything, the long handle provides a wider arc when swinging, which delivers more force than the standard splitter. Ideal for heavy homestead use, but way too heavy to carry if travelling. The outdoor is a lightweight general purpose axe that has a slight splitting profile for kindling and medium logs, as well as a protective collar like the splitting axe range. Being so light and well balanced it is also useful for fine tasks such as butchering and fine detail whittling, and the shoulder is small enough to be held in the palm of the hand, enabling the blade to be used effectively as a knife replacement. The best thing for me is it is compatible with the Fjallraven Barents pro trousers when worn on a belt, the handle fits perfectly into the small double ended tube pocket on the leg, keeping it from flapping around when on the move.

[dclocker]

Fantastic video and explanation! Thank you! I found it extremely helpful.

[gingebrien]

Yes this is a good question. No doubt the right tool for the job is always best. Thus I purchased several different felling axes and a splitting axe. But in a pinch my forest axe will do it all. 😁

[vadiromsombra]

Stopping short as not the full line up. Own a few and can say the small forest axe is a must in any atv, side by side, off road vehicle. Not a timber axe but one handed is easy...two hand a dream/overkill on anything a foot diameter or under.

[clintbillton]

Agree, Swedish axes are the best in the world, since over 1000 yrs agå.

[silverback]

I have the american felling, the scandinavian and the wildlife . 3 good axe but i think the outdoor is better for all around task than the wildlife . Thx for your video

[VsemBobra-wo]

it seems a small forest axe + some Finnish puukko or any other full tang alternative would be the best all-around choice. You would take a knife with you anyway. For a backpack small hatchet seems the best option.

[markrichardson]

Was after a gransfors in NZ and you helped me obtain a small forest axe. Great for around the campsite and simply for its looks and build quality. 👌

[ABCKorpi]

I've got a splitting hatchet and a small hatchet that I take with me whenever I go to the woods to have a barbecue.
The splitting hatchet makes easy work of anything uo to about 6 inches in diameter and below 4 inches in diameter you barely feel any resistance.
The small hatchet is an absolute darling for making kindling out of bigger pieces of wood.

[j.w.]

Very well done vid! Im in the market for a quality Gransfors backpack axe/hatchet. Thanks guys 👍👍👍