Anyone bought Uncle Ray's Gransfors "Wilderness" Axe

[JonT]

Just wondering... SFA or this?

http://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/814-Gransfors-Ray-Mears-Wilderness-Axe/


Kit addict, I'd apologise but I know I'm in good company

 

[British Red]

Definitely Wilderness axe. The 18" helve of an SFA means you cannot use it properly two handed - which makes it basically a heavy one handed axe. Fine for carving and light work - but for serious cross grain cutting or splitting you need a longer helve for mechaincal advantage, balance and precision. If you want a one handed axe, I'f go lighter than the SFA, for serious work you need at least a 24" helve.

 

[Shewie]

A true kit addict would have both

 

[JonT]

Made I larf Shewie.

Anyone know if somewhere, other than Ray himself, stocks these but perhaps at less of a premium or has he got sales of his axe sewn up?

J

 

[Chris the Cat]

THIS axe is his in terms of supply and demard I think Jon.
His design I think?
best.

C.

 

[northumbrian]

any good ?http://www.militarymart.co.uk/index.php?_a=product&product_id=2270 i know is sold out but at that price any comparisons ?

 

[dave53]

same thing as the tablet saga above cos its ray mears its overpriced regards dave

 

[JonT]

Thanks all - any other views on this axe welcome by the way.

 

[British Red]

Why not get a Scandinavian forest? Or a nice Hultafors? Plenty of 24" helved axes around that will do the same job for less money

 

[Twodogs]

I agree I have the wilderness axe as I wanted better splitting action than on a Scandinavian forest axe but the Scandinavian forest axe is far nicer to use .

Twodogs

 

[bradleybuckman]

I have one. It's nice,but you'd probably be better served with the SFA as it's quite a bit cheaper.

Here it is beside a Council Tool Velvicut.

 

[vizsla]

Iv not used the wilderness axe but I did have a sfa which I sold, although it was a lovely axe it just didn't suit my needs I'd rather carry a smaller hatchet except in winter were il take something larger and I found the sfa didn't fill either needs

 

[dwardo]

Why not get a Scandinavian forest? Or a nice Hultafors? Plenty of 24" helved axes around that will do the same job for less money

Love my Scandinavian forest axe and had it a long time now. Use it to rough out all my bows, carving, splitting even felling. Processes dead wood with ease.
Is there that much different between em?

 

[British Red]

Yep, the Small Forest is a good 6" shorter and more obtuse in the head grind - the Scandi is designed as a limbing axe with a very acute cross cutting grind. Its one of my favourite axes (the Scandinavian). 24" is about the minimum for a full sized man to get a proper two handed swing in my experience

 

[sandbender]

Another vote for the Scandinavian, I have an SFA too, which is lighter for a few days in the woods or a longer trek but if you plan to get any serious work done, the bigger axe wins out.

 

[JonT]

This is going into an FR Isle Royale Jr pack so I don't want anything too long but ling enough to be a decent all rounder... an extra 10cm on the wilderness being weighed up against the SFA - both of which I'd hope would fit nicely into the axe sleeve...

 

[Imagedude]

The 850g, 600mm Hultafors has to be the best bang for the buck out there...

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88740&highlight=hultafors

 

[Squidders]

Scandi here too... took me a few axes to get to the scandi but I have stopped looking now.

 

[Everything Mac]

The 850g, 600mm Hultafors has to be the best bang for the buck out there...

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88740&highlight=hultafors

I wholeheartedly agree on this one.

The hultafors is an excellent axe and cleans up very well. I polished up the edge on mine and its a real hard working tool!


Ive not played with the RM axe but I have no doubt it would be quite nice having played with the scandi and the sfa.

Andy

 

[Tiley]

Just wondering... SFA or this?

http://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/814-Gransfors-Ray-Mears-Wilderness-Axe/


Kit addict, I'd apologise but I know I'm in good company

Go for the Wilderness axe. I have one and have used it for a good while now. Makes me wonder why I ever bothered with a SFA. They are very good at all those tasks for which an axe is necessary.