Small Forest Axe or Scandinavian Forest Axe(Gransfors)

[fred gordon]

Great post mate - you have rep!

Red

I agree with you Red, but don't you just hate these people with all this fantastic kit.

 

[British Red]

Errm,

Not really in a position to criticise when it comes to axes :lmao

Don't have that exact trio Although I do have the working axe Mike put in his top post which is a lovely axe. To be fair I think I like the Wildlife the best in that particular trio since it looks like a lot of work has gone into that convex bevel and it seems to have seen some action!

Still love the heft of the scandy best but thats just me!

Lee Reeves is sending a present later in the month so we'll see if my top 5 changes

Red

 

[WhichDoctor]

I don't really have any business advising you on anything, since I have very little experience. But I do have the Gransfors Wildlife Hatchet and the Laplander folding Saw and with my very limited experience of carving a couple of spoons and one kuksa, as well as gathering and chopping small firewood on family holidays I've found the combination very effective. As I say I have no knowledge of any others but I thought I'd throw my two pennies worth in for the hell of it .

Good luck on your travels, you lucky sod .

 

[Bushcraft4life]

Thanks for the replies i appreciate everyones comments. :You_Rock_

P.S I have decided to get both. Mums a bushcraft nut . She is getting the SFA and i am getting the scandi.

 

[penvisser]

I would go for the small forrest axe, I have used them both bust for most tasks I prefer the small one.

A bit late perhaps......


Penvisser

 

[Bushcraft4life]

I would go for the small forrest axe, I have used them both bust for most tasks I prefer the small one.

A bit late perhaps......


Penvisser

Thanks mate . Still considering my options as most websites are sold out (outdoorcode ).

 

[mojofilter]

I have both and I would choose the Scandinavian every time as far as work is concerned, the only reason to go for the smaller ones is portability.

The Scandinavian really does have ferocious chopping power over the SFA.

 

[OzaawaaMigiziNini]

I have both and I would choose the Scandinavian every time as far as work is concerned, the only reason to go for the smaller ones is portability.

The Scandinavian really does have ferocious chopping power over the SFA.

I second that! By the way, sweet picture!

 

[Simon E]

I have what are probably the most common sizes, from 13" - 26"

The Wetterlings Limbing axe (#26) is by far my favourite. If I want a little axe the #13 Wetterlings is hard to beat.

Here is the #26 in a Nordic Trinity

Then from small to large
Wetterlings #13, #16 and the GB SFA

 

[Bushcraft4life]

Thanks to everyone for your info and help in deciding what axe to purchase :You_Rock_ . An additional thanks to making my life total hell trying to decide what one to get . And now Simon E comes in with a very nice looking wetterlings axe. Why do you have to do this to me . Pics were all a very big help and i will let you all know which one i get when i get it.


:You_Rock_

 

[oetzi]

Oh, Simon beat me to it
So how about this one:
http://outdoorcode.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_22&products_id=420
and here is a review about it in comparison with the SFA:
http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=71
with another review added just for fun:
http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=147
and some generell info on xes:
http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=18
No matter which one you will get, you will be able to work with it and it wont be the last one you purchase.

 

[Bushcraft4life]

Cheers oetzi. Thanks for the links they will be a great help. It probably won't be the last one i purchase but my mum won't let me get another one for a while me thinks .

Cheers everyone

 

[Hoodoo]

I don't know how much chopping you need to do over there but it's a rare situation for me that I need anything bigger than a Wildlife hatchet. Are you needing to lay in a lot of wood for a large fire or what?

 

[Bushcraft4life]

For me the other two are superior all rounders. Capable of doing most jobs. I would prefer to have a bigger axe and use a little more energy and know i can put it to most jobs than have a smaller axe i can only use for some. This is not a question i can really answer considering some people who have posted have four or five different types.

 

[Hoodoo]

For me the other two are superior all rounders. Capable of doing most jobs. I would prefer to have a bigger axe and use a little more energy and know i can put it to most jobs than have a smaller axe i can only use for some. This is not a question i can really answer considering some people who have posted have four or five different types.

Well, l don't know what you mean by an all-rounder. For most of what I do in the woods, I find the bigger axes fairly useless and I own a good pile of both gransfors and wetterlings, including the Small FA and the Scandanavian (and the felling axe, and the splitting axe, and the mini and the carving axe) . But I rarely carry the bigger ones unless I have a canoe and then I let the canoe carry them. Again, unless you need something to really lay in the firewood, I would get a Wildlife. You will find it a joy to use one handed, especially for any wood carving projects or small shelter building. If you want to use a bigger model for woodcarving, they will be handy for building your muscles up in your forearm. Of the two you list, I would lean towards the smaller, simply because it's easier to use one handed. For instance, if you want to carve a canoe paddle in the wilds, you will often hold with one hand and chop with the other. The Small FA is good for this, the Wildlife better imo. Even the Swedish Carving Axe is a handlful.

Now if you are cutting and limbing large trees, then the Scandanavian is a better choice, but carving with it can make for a long day.

I think the real question is: what will you be doing with it? Guys like Nessmuk and Kephart did quite well in primitive camping situations with a small hatchet.

 

[Simon E]

I think you should get the #13 Wetterlings to start with. This has nothing to do with novice, cost etc, it has to do with, you are going to get a hatchet of this size anyway as its one of the must have items so why not get something that will not be a waste (or possible waste) of money?

The #13 is very reasonable cost wise compared to the GB and its a little sturdier. Now, since the handles are the same and the steel the same and the only thing you are paying for really with the GB is the F&F (Fit and Finish) all the Wetterlings needs is a little dressing up.

I hand rub the heads all the way up to #2000, on a small hatchet if you are careful not to get black crap ground into the handle and you remove all of the rust and scale it will take about 45 mins. Before that it you will need to do a little filing to round off a corner or remove a small bump, but this will only take about 30 mins.

Make sure to mask the handle properly, especially round the head where there will be a lot of black dust coming off the head that can easilly get into the grain of the wood.

Once the head is done you can strip off the varnish and linseed oil it. That first coat of oil on the handle looks great and all the care and attention you too really pays off.