GB Hunter’s Axe

[sskyy]

Hi,
I am going on a trip to Lapland on Saturday and wanted to buy a Gransfors Bruks Small Forrest Axe, but they were not in stock. So I have ordered the Hunter’s Axe instead, after being told that they were exactly the same apart from the Poll, which is rounded.
Has anyone got any experience with the Hunter’s Axe, is it as useful as the SFA? Has it got any limitations? Any thoughts?
Thanks

 

[Schwert]

I do not have the forest ax but do have a Hunter's and a Scandinavian Forest Ax.

The only downside to the Hunter's ax is the polished and rounded poll. If you drive tent pegs you will miss the square poll, but everything else about the Hunter's ax is perfect in my view. I like the helve much better than any of my other GB axes. It has a slightly straighter helve with some roughness around the end that makes using this ax just a pleasure.

However, the square poll is a requirement for some, so do not compromise unless you will get another ax later. I would never trade my Hunter's Ax as it is my favorite of the lot.

 

[Snufkin]

Try these folks, I've dealt with them before with good results. Their prices are reasonable and they list 12 SFAs in stock .

 

[leon-1]

I am another that owns the hunters axe, my opinion of it echoes that of Schwert. It is my favourite axe of the ones that I own and use, I feel more comfortable with it is the only way to describe it.

I have used the SFA before and like it, I just prefer the hunters (as long as I am not trying to hammer in pegs). As Schwert has said the poll is rounded and polished for flaying, the bit has a slightly different shape to that of the SFA, however they do have the same length cutting area/edge. The helve has been lightly ribbed at the handlers end / butt of the helve and as Schwert mentioned is straighter than the SFA's.

The weight and length of both axes are the same, unless they have changed it I would say that the axe mask for the SFA is slightly better than that of the hunters axe.

The top axe is the hunters and the bottom the SFA


The same on this picture

I hope this helps a little.

 

[FGYT]

acording to the site the Hunter is 48cm and 0.9kg and the SFA is 50cm and 1kg
Gransfors website

Oh why did i look on that site i want one of them anceint axes now

ATB

Duncan

 

[leon-1]

acording to the site the Hunter is 48cm and 0.9kg and the SFA is 50cm and 1kg
Gransfors website

Oh why did i look on that site i want one of them anceint axes now

ATB

Duncan

To quote Gransfors Bruks themselves;

Small Forest Axe
Same size as the Hunter's Axe but a more traditional pattern and poll. The blade is thin. The handle is long enough to allow powerful chopping but not too long so it will fit into a rucksack, the back of a car or a boat. Practical for splitting small sticks for the fire or cutting small-diameter limbwood for starter fuel in a fireplace.

The axe has a 3 1/4" face and a 19" hickory handle and the head weighs 1 1/2 lb.
It comes with a grain-leather sheath.

Hunter's Axe
Specially made for hunter. The poll is forged thinner than normal and gently rounded and burnished to a Flay Poll to be used when skinning an animal. You pull the hide with one hand at the same time you hit with the Flay Poll of the axe between the hide and the flesh; and stroke by stroke the hide comes off. The axe is good for chopping, in wood as well as meat. The grip of the handle has circular grooves which gives a steady grip even if your hands are wet or sticky. This axe has received, as the first and only axe in Sweden, a design award from The Swedish Society of Crafts and Design.

The axe has a 3 1/4" face and a 19" hickory handle and the head weighs 1 1/2 lb.
It comes with a grain-leather sheath.

I should note that the Mask on my axe is one that I made and not the one that is provided by GB.

 

[Zammo]

Leon have you ever used the axe to flay?

 

[leon-1]

Nope I haven't. I would like the chance if anyone out there is offering.

It is rare for me to use an axe as a hammer either, I normally use a baton, but I do have a number of axes to choose from, I just prefer the hunters axe.

That may change in the future as I have a few heads to rehandle (@ $23 for 4 heads I couldn't resist), so there will be a Norlund, a Warren "Old Faithfull" and a couple of others to do.

 

[FGYT]

To quote Gransfors Bruks themselves;

was going on the pictures length weights on the index page

and to be honest your picture one does look longer than the other



ATB

Duncan

 

[leon-1]

Duncan, when the hunters originally came out the spec was exactly the same 0.9kg head and all the rest, the only thing I can think of is that they have changed the SFA since I bought mine seven or so years ago.

I know that my brothers SFA and my hunters are pretty much exactly the same size, the one shown in the picture is brand spanking, borrowed for the purpose of the picture and yes it is slightly larger.

The only thing that is a possibility is that they have updated thier main page, but not the detailed page for each individual axe as 19 inches for the handle is around the 48cm mark rather than the 50cm which they now say.

 

[FGYT]

i would guess so as they are now in metric and the detail page is in imperial

maybe they wanted to make a bit more diffence between the 2 . not being an Axe man i would have little idea what that would do anyway


ATb

Duncan

 

[oetzi]

acording to the site the Hunter is 48cm and 0.9kg and the SFA is 50cm and 1kg
Gransfors website

Oh why did i look on that site i want one of them anceint axes now

ATB

Duncan

Me too!
thank god they are too expensive for me

 

[British Red]

Does anyone actually stock the ancient ones in the UK (or can give special order prices)?

Red

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

I really like that twin bit thrower

 

[steven andrews]

Does anyone actually stock the ancient ones in the UK (or can give special order prices)?

Red

I bought my Splitting Hatchet from Greenwood Direct Ltd. They offer excellent service - and great prices.

They have a price list for the Ancient Axes:
http://www.greenwood-direct.co.uk/default.cfm/loadindex.18

 

[leon-1]

Does anyone actually stock the ancient ones in the UK (or can give special order prices)?

Red

Red have a look for the UK main importer or Distributor, otherwise try Bison Bushcraft or Weald Down or Nordic outdoor.

 

[British Red]

I can collect from Weald and Downland

Didn't know they had updated their pages....feel a visit coming on

Ta Leon!

Red

 

[leon-1]

Ta Leon!

Red

No Problems, I like me axes

 

[Snufkin]

Does anyone actually stock the ancient ones in the UK (or can give special order prices)?

Red

The link I posted show that they have one trade hawk in stock.

 

[British Red]

Now me I can take em or leave em

Mostly take em

Red