TOP 5 axe makers

[Globetrotter.uk]

I would like to know what the best 5 makers of axes are for bushcraft use. I am always looking at old tools etc and would like to have the knowledge of good tools at hand

 

[British Red]

Best three makers whose work I've handled are
Cegga
Lee Reeves
Goran Enocksson

In terms of factory brands I would steer away from Wetterlings since there QC has lately has been dire so add

Hultafors
Gransfor Bruks

Red

 

[Bushcraft4life]

Cegga is god, i pray to the Bushcraft gods everyday that i will one day have one of his Axes

But for Factory or Manufactured axes i would say Gransfors are superb.

 

[grumit]

gransfor rocked until i got a cegga but they are still realy good axes just the quality and finish on the cegga is awesome

 

[Chainsaw]

My mouse finger is also poised for the last cegga/BR Hunter GB, but I know I'll miss it!!

I've got an outstanding birthday present to buy myself and SWMBO has consented to getting me a nice new axe to replace my current gerber which even after extensive reprofiling is still carp! I'd love a cegga/BR Hunter but am thinking about the Alan Finlay one shown here with a GB SFA as the last option, bit worried about the helves on the SFAs though seems like there's been some QC issues there too.

so here I sit, mouse finger poised...

Cheers,

Alan

 

[robin wood]

I would like to know what the best 5 makers of axes are for bushcraft use. I am always looking at old tools etc and would like to have the knowledge of good tools at hand

It depends on what you are looking for, for a large felling axe I don't think you can beat an old Elwell and it will cost less than £10 for a head to handle yourself, for smaller axes the ones everyone is mentioning all work well but if you like old tools and are prepared to put a bit of time in to renovating them I like old English made Kent pattern axes, there were lots of makers hand forging axes in the UK up to the 1930's Greave's, Brade's, Gilpin, Staniforth and those axe heads are now available at car boot fairs for a few pounds each. This sort of thing.

I like the look of this though ebay is not the cheapest place to buy. This is a proper felling axe, not a pack axe, more than twice the weight of gransfors small forest.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/REALLY-VERY-O...ryZ39729QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem