Gransfors axes questions

[Arierep]

Hi guys
I'm trying to choose an axe to complement my Fallkniven F1. I like the Wildlife Hatchet and the Small Forest Axe. The problem is that the SFA seems too big to carry all day long. Is that true? How do you carry yours? I'm not attacking big trees, so I dont need a chop machine.

 

[sandbender]

Hi guys
I'm trying to choose an axe to complement my Fallkniven F1. I like the Wildlife Hatchet and the Small Forest Axe. The problem is that the SFA seems too big to carry all day long. Is that true? How do you carry yours? I'm not attacking big trees, so I dont need a chop machine.

Hi Arierep, welcome to the forum.

The SFA is of a good size for carrying in your pack, you would certainly find it easier to work with than the Hatchet, check out this post about lightweight axes here...

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31892

...my SFA packs inside my smallish 47 Liter pack easily.



Completely off topic but how easy is it to get out and do the 'Bushcraft' thing in Portugal? I would imagine the summer heat will preclude open fires etc? What about land access etc.

 

[spamel]

I carried my F1 and SFA today, and it was fine on the way in. Coming back with three stones worth of wood, on the other hand, was not OK! I have used the SFA in British and german woodlands and have not had any cause to complain about it. It performs well for limbing duties and chopping of wood, so long as you're not trying to tackle anything too large. I have split wood with it, carved spoons with it under the expert tuition of Robin Wood and have got on with it in every task I have put it to use for. I don't go out felling giant redwoods so don't need anything more than an axe capable of taking down dead standing wood of arm thickness or a bit more, splitting the timber and pointing off stakes for tent pegs and wagan stick supports.

 

[fishy1]

I use a scandinavian forest axe which is larger, and it fits in my 35l pack easily. Not difficult to carry at all.

 

[NatG]

not hard to carry an SFA at all, fits inside my 45 liter pack, but also spps nicely on the outside in what i am lead to believe are ice axe slings

 

[Arierep]

Thanks for all the help!
I'll go with the SFA, since the price diference is so small and it fits in my pack. I've done a few tests today, and I would be able to put the 50cm axe inside the pack or outside, on the ice axe loops.
About bushcraft in Portugal, it really depends of the region. In Tras-dos-Montes there are some good areas. On the summer you should not make any fire, that can be dangerous.
Overall, I would really like to live in UK.

 

[spamel]

Overall, I would really like to live in UK.

Be careful what you wish for!

 

[Bernie Garland]

Overall, I would really like to live in UK

Funny everyone here wants to be somewhere else.

Bernie

 

[Arierep]

I went there a few times, mainly to the west midlands region, and I really like the people, streets, countryside, everything.

 

[Bushcraft4life]

I went there a few times, mainly to the west midlands region, and I really like the people, streets, countryside, everything.

I'll swap countries with you

 

[Arierep]

You REALLY don't want to do that

 

[sharp88]

Go for the small forest axe. The wildlife hatchet is too light, you dont get the weight behind it that you need.

Iv got the Hunters axe. Its got a nice weight and feel, but Im not keen on the poll. Might come in handy in my later travels though. It was all I could get at the time.

 

[rancid badger]

I rarely carry my S.F.A. now,because the wildlife hatchet, combined with the laplander saw, does "the job" quite adequately
if you don't need to cut down tree's or chop anything bigger than say, 4 inches, you really don't need a S.F.A.
What do you actually want to use the tool for?
I can rough out spoons and other carving projects with the S.F.A. but I can also easily make feather sticks with the hatchet, among many other finer, lighter jobs which are a bit heavy and tiring with the larger axe.
It all boils down to personal preference in the end
best wishes and welcome
R.B.

 

[Fin]

I don't think an axe the size of an SFA is too big to carry all day long - I wouldn't even regard it as a base camp tool - it sits inside or, outside a day ruck easily and is probably the most versatile axe in terms of length to weight.

That said, as the varying answers to your question show - it is horses for courses. I think that the SFA is commonly recommended as one of the best all rounders - especially for a first axe.

As for wanting to live in UK...Like most places, if you're in the right place, on the right day, with the right weather, with the right people - then there is no finer place on Earth. I've just returned from France (working) - Provence et Alpes plus a weekend in Fontainebleau which is surrounded by the most enormous forest. The weather was glorious, the people were glorious and Le Nature was glorious. On returning to UK, I couldn't help thinking "why on Earth do I keep coming back to this overcrowded, ill mannered,wet, dirty s**thole." - hopefully my next trip out will reaffirm my faith - even as the second rubbish summer in a row is turning my thoughts to abroad.

 

[sandbender]

I'll go with the SFA, since the price diference is so small and it fits in my pack. I've done a few tests today, and I would be able to put the 50cm axe inside the pack or outside, on the ice axe loops.

Good choice I think.

I own both the scandinavian axe and the hatchet and find that I leave the hatchet at home most of the time, the SFA is just more flexible and less tiring to use if I need to prep a nights worth of wood in the frozen north

The Scandinavian Axe (IMO) tips the balance away from the portability factor, it is a much better axe for any serious work and is still light enough to strap to carry on my backpack but unless I planned to set up camp for a week or so I'd leave it at home.

I have watched someone carve a ladle with an SFA and it was a joy to watch, not something I've tried though.

About bushcraft in Portugal, it really depends of the region. In Tras-dos-Montes there are some good areas. On the summer you should not make any fire, that can be dangerous. Overall, I would really like to live in UK.

Thanks for this, my fiancee and I will be walking from Northern Galicia to Lisbon over the coming months and we had planned to sped some time in the Peneda-Geres park which I think is in the Tras-dos-Montes region.

How bad are the mosquitoes there?

 

[robin wood]

To me the most significant difference is the handle length. SFA long handle is better for felling and limbing and splitting firewood but the long handle makes it not as well balanced when you hold it near the head for spoon carving etc. It will do those things but the hatchet is better for fine controlled hewing because of the shorter handle. Depends which you want to do more of. They are both excellent tools. My personal favourite is the carving axe which is heavier and with a short handle but it is a lot more expensive.

 

[sandbender]

To me the most significant difference is the handle length. SFA long handle is better for felling and limbing and splitting firewood but the long handle makes it not as well balanced when you hold it near the head for spoon carving etc. It will do those things but the hatchet is better for fine controlled hewing because of the shorter handle. Depends which you want to do more of. They are both excellent tools. My personal favourite is the carving axe which is heavier and with a short handle but it is a lot more expensive.

What he said

Here is a pic of the 'Scandinavian', 'Small Forest' and 'Mini Hatchet' side by side...

The Carving Axe is a fabulous tool, which I've avoided buying... so far

 

[fishy1]

To me the most significant difference is the handle length. SFA long handle is better for felling and limbing and splitting firewood but the long handle makes it not as well balanced when you hold it near the head for spoon carving etc. It will do those things but the hatchet is better for fine controlled hewing because of the shorter handle. Depends which you want to do more of. They are both excellent tools. My personal favourite is the carving axe which is heavier and with a short handle but it is a lot more expensive.

Personally, I quite like a long handle. I think the scandinavian forest axe is pretty good, even better though if the handle was 4" longer. I don't really do spoon carving and other delicate work, the small things I do with my axe are things like cutting a notch, putting a spear point on wood, and carving feather sticks, all of which the scandinavian does superbly.

 

[Arierep]

Mosquitos aren't really a big worrie, unless you stay longer near the water.

 

[sandbender]

Mosquitos aren't really a big worrie, unless you stay longer near the water.

Cheers

:You_Rock_