New Axe

[Steve13]

I am looking at a new axe and quite like the GB swedish carving axe, it will be used for carving bowls and general green woodwork so looks perfect, I have used the small forest in the past but never the carving axe

Has anybody any experiance of this particular axe , any comments or observations or any alternatives for a general use all round bushcrafters axe

 

[Draven]

I recently got an axe by A. Finlay, and I've not given it too much use yet but it's doing great so far - good angles and a nice thin blade, so it bites nice n deep! There's a review on here against a SFA, just do a search in the review section for "Finlay" and you should get it. About £45 off the eBay store IIRC, but I bought it as a kit and was £30 excluding shipping. Carving and fitting the handle is worth the discount IMO, not to mention that it can be fitted to your personal preferences. The kits are on their eBay store but not their site, again IIRC. Might not be as recognisable or "impressive" (for lack of a better word) as a GB axe, but they're pretty good IMO and it would be supporting a local (Scotland) maker, too

No connection at all, just a satisfied customer.

 

[rancid badger]

I am looking at a new axe and quite like the GB swedish carving axe, it will be used for carving bowls and general green woodwork so looks perfect, I have used the small forest in the past but never the carving axe

Has anybody any experiance of this particular axe , any comments or observations or any alternatives for a general use all round bushcrafters axe

Steve, if you want an axe to carve with, buy the Swedish carving axe. If you have not yet seen the thread about our spoon carving, with Robin Wood up here at Chopwell, then have a look.
I currently have a small selection of axes; I started years ago with a "stick splitter" rescued from my father in law's shed, then about 7 years ago,I bought an S.F.A. and it was a quantum leap in quality and efficiencey. Then about three years ago; I managed to get hold of the Wildlife hatchet-great little tool.

And then Robin came up to do our spoon carving course. His standard axe for carving is the GB Swedish carver. I was a bit sceptical at first, to be honest, It seemed far too big and heavy to be used for any length of time without tiring the user.
I gave it a go and within 5 minutes was completely and totally converted
The shape, weight and balance of this tool makes it a joy to use. The thing is you can use it for splitting large tree trunk sections; maybe 12" long, in half, then half again and so on, until you have enough tent peg blanks to tie down a marquee
Robin had us knocking out tent pegs, very neat ones I might add, with just the carving axe. The weight of the carver is probably one its main assets although, without the well thought out design it would simply be a heavy lump with a sharp edge

Using the carver was actually less tiring than using the hatchet and sfa. I think because with the hatchet you need to impart more energy into the cut because of the hatchets light weight. The sfa has a little more weight but simply can't compare to the carver for ease of use.

Honestly Steve, if you want to get an axe which you intend to use for carving, at least as much as for general chores, in other words 50/50 I really can't recommend the Swedish carver highly enough.

I simply can't afford or rather; justify one at the moment; otherwise I would own one myself.

short version: Buy it
cheers
Steve

 

[Stanleythecat]

Well on that recommendation I'm going to order mine tomorrow! Thanks Steve