This is my first thread so I hope its in the right place. Im just wondering if Granfors Bruks forest axes live up to their reputation and are worth the price, when I really like the look of the craftmanship and handles of the Hultafors Premium series. Id especially be interested to hear from owners of the premiums as this decision has been annoying me for days and havnt had a chance to handle a premium.
Swedish Axe choices
- Thread starter Nestor
- Start date
Hello,
There is quite a lot that has been written about this choice, both here and across the inter-web. Here are some useful sources and discussions.
www.landandwave.co.uk
bushcraftuk.com
bushcraftuk.com
bushcraftuk.com
Gransfors charge what they charge because they can, because there is demand. Worth is so subjective. Is a hand made knife "worth it" when a £20 Mora will do XX% of the jobs? You could say either yes or no and make good arguments for both! Are GB axes as good value for money as HB? No. Do they perform significantly better? Probably not for most people. Are they a little nicer than the HB? I think so, but that is just my opinion.
When two products appear very similar, when the list of features appears almost identical, but there is a significant price difference, if YOU cannot see why one would be worth more to you, then clearly it isn't worth more to you. It might be worth it for someone else, but that worth is unlikely to be distillable to quantifiable performance.
I bought my Small Forest Axe in 2003, cost £45, still using it, its been to Canada twice, Sweden and Norway. It has felled or helped fell ash, birch and spruce up to 8" diameter. It has also helped build bows and rough out spoons. I have been happy with it. I have an old Hults Bruk head on a longer handle, its a thicker edge, but I use it less just because of its shape, more splitter, less cutter. I have a Hultafors Premium splitting axe and have been happy with that too but I would have been happier with the GB splitting axe. I didn't feel I could afford it at the time, but now I kind of wish I had, partly because I think the design is better, but I think it is a nicer finished tool.
There is quite a lot that has been written about this choice, both here and across the inter-web. Here are some useful sources and discussions.
Gransfors Small Forest Axe VS Hultafors Felling Axe | Land & Wave
When did people in the woods start caring so much about designer labels?
www.landandwave.co.uk
Gransfors Bruks or Hultafors axes
Does anyone have experience of using either Gransfors Bruks or Hultafors axes; if so, what is your experience and opinion of both?
www.naturalbushcraft.co.uk
"Bushcraft" Axe Conundrum (Hultafors Classic Hunter vs. Gransfors Small Forest)
To the Axe-meisters out there... Torn between the everso slightly and head heavier (850g) Hultafors Classic Hunting Axe vs. The ubiquitous Gruffalo Bruks Small Forest Axe (680g) http://www.originalequipmentshop.com/knives__tools/classic_hunting_or_forest_axe/24764_p.html...
bushcraftuk.com
'Just get a Gransfors..' Axes, axes, axes!
Yeah, this one line keeps popping in my head every time I look at axes, old and new. I always check around in person and online for a nice used axe to fix up and keep as well as the various new (mostly) Swedish brands online but after these annoying, lengthy searches my summary is 'Just get a...
bushcraftuk.com
Hults Bruk - Hultafors Axes....are they any good?
As it says above....I have been using them for the last four years and here are my thoughts...enjoy Atb Neil
bushcraftuk.com
Gransfors charge what they charge because they can, because there is demand. Worth is so subjective. Is a hand made knife "worth it" when a £20 Mora will do XX% of the jobs? You could say either yes or no and make good arguments for both! Are GB axes as good value for money as HB? No. Do they perform significantly better? Probably not for most people. Are they a little nicer than the HB? I think so, but that is just my opinion.
When two products appear very similar, when the list of features appears almost identical, but there is a significant price difference, if YOU cannot see why one would be worth more to you, then clearly it isn't worth more to you. It might be worth it for someone else, but that worth is unlikely to be distillable to quantifiable performance.
I bought my Small Forest Axe in 2003, cost £45, still using it, its been to Canada twice, Sweden and Norway. It has felled or helped fell ash, birch and spruce up to 8" diameter. It has also helped build bows and rough out spoons. I have been happy with it. I have an old Hults Bruk head on a longer handle, its a thicker edge, but I use it less just because of its shape, more splitter, less cutter. I have a Hultafors Premium splitting axe and have been happy with that too but I would have been happier with the GB splitting axe. I didn't feel I could afford it at the time, but now I kind of wish I had, partly because I think the design is better, but I think it is a nicer finished tool.
What do you hope to use it for, what do you expect to use it for?
How often will you use it? Prepared with kit for sharpening?
Who makes the size, weight and designs to suit those needs?
How often will you use it? Prepared with kit for sharpening?
Who makes the size, weight and designs to suit those needs?
I ain't no expert, but kind of agree with Mr Claycomb.
I have a ray mears small forest axe from back in the day, a GB one. Well made, clearly hand made to some extent. Arrived super sharp, no complaints, nice axe.
Some yrs later I ordered a HB axe, similar to a GB forest axe in size, bigger and better for my current use that the old small forest axe. The difference in look and feel is obvious, the HB one is mass produced, details on side are etched in etc, arrived not as sharp as the GB, no mask, handle not as well finished. But after sharpening, buying a nice leather mask and re finishing the shift, they're just as good at the job, both seem very similar underneath!
I have a ray mears small forest axe from back in the day, a GB one. Well made, clearly hand made to some extent. Arrived super sharp, no complaints, nice axe.
Some yrs later I ordered a HB axe, similar to a GB forest axe in size, bigger and better for my current use that the old small forest axe. The difference in look and feel is obvious, the HB one is mass produced, details on side are etched in etc, arrived not as sharp as the GB, no mask, handle not as well finished. But after sharpening, buying a nice leather mask and re finishing the shift, they're just as good at the job, both seem very similar underneath!
Are the Hultafors axes and hatchets made in Sweden?
Some of the Hultafors tools seem to be designed in Sweden but are made in Asia
The bushcraft knife Hultafors OK4 for example is made in Taiwan as far as I am informed right.
Some of the Hultafors tools seem to be designed in Sweden but are made in Asia
The bushcraft knife Hultafors OK4 for example is made in Taiwan as far as I am informed right.
Here you can see a few axes and hatchets which are made in Germany.
BISON
bison1879.de
KRUMPHOLZ
www.krumpholz1799.de
OCHSENKOPF
And I would also like to mention here the in Finland made FISKARS axes.
The X7 hatchet is what I usually recommend for usual bushcraft and wild camping use.
Pretty light, very effective, relatively cheap and not so easy to break in normal weather conditions.
BISON
universal axes & hatchets // BISON 1879
For universal purposes in forestry and gardening. Universal Hatchets | Universal Axes | Hunting Hatchet | Oberharzer Axe
bison1879.de
KRUMPHOLZ
Forstwerkzeuge - Krumpholz-Werkzeuge - Hochwertige Gartenwerkzeuge und Forstwerkzeuge
Werkzeuge für echte Forstarbeiten Krumpholz-Werkzeuge hat eine lange Tradition im Fertigen von hochwertigen Forstwerkzeugen. Die Äxte zum Spalten, Fällen und Ausasten werden aus erstklassigem Kohlenstoffstahl handgeschmiedet und mit einem ausgewählten Hickory- oder Eschenholzstiel versehen...
www.krumpholz1799.de
OCHSENKOPF
And I would also like to mention here the in Finland made FISKARS axes.
The X7 hatchet is what I usually recommend for usual bushcraft and wild camping use.
Pretty light, very effective, relatively cheap and not so easy to break in normal weather conditions.
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I really like the look of the black forest axes by Helko Werk, which are made in Germany, Erbswurst. . Do you have any experience of them? Il take a look at the others as well,Im a big fan of tools made in FInland also. Thanks for the links, C Claycomb, and that helps put things in perspective. Its mostly going to be used for firewood with quite a lot of shelter/chair/camp furniture building stuff as well and will get a lot of use.
Im not sure where Hulta fors axes are actually made, its been a real hassle to find out much about the premium range at all. Im leaning towards paying a bit more for a known quantity in the granfors with all this info.
Im not sure where Hulta fors axes are actually made, its been a real hassle to find out much about the premium range at all. Im leaning towards paying a bit more for a known quantity in the granfors with all this info.
At the sake of playing an old record - I have many axes, I use one every day, and my favourite axe has been used to split firewood, make shelters and camp furniture, it's used for snedding hazel poles and ash logs, it's felled small trees, holds a good edge; it belonged to my grandfather and is English made in the early 1900's.
I didn't know Helko axes before and just called them know.
They forge together with Adler and Bison and finish the rough axe heads in their manufacture and also assemble them off course.
They mainly delivered under the own name during the last decades to the Japanese and US market, because Japanese clients appreciate high quality tools and US Americans often simply really need them.
On the German market Helko axes are mainly sold via the small German high quality spade maker Ideal under this brand. Ideal produces high end quality spades and shovels in Germany.
But nowadays Helko offers the products also under the own name in Germany.
Helko produces a light camping hatchet with 500g axe head and an ash wood handle because in their opinion this is strong enough for a hatchet but lighter than hickory, what they use in the bigger sizes too.
It looks like a strong competition for the Fiskars X7 and other camping hatchets.
I will buy and try it soon.
They also make some thing like the small forest axe and of course 600 g and 800g head hatches as well as various full size axes.
helko.co.uk
adler1919.com
www.adler-werkzeug.de
bison1879.de
They forge together with Adler and Bison and finish the rough axe heads in their manufacture and also assemble them off course.
They mainly delivered under the own name during the last decades to the Japanese and US market, because Japanese clients appreciate high quality tools and US Americans often simply really need them.
On the German market Helko axes are mainly sold via the small German high quality spade maker Ideal under this brand. Ideal produces high end quality spades and shovels in Germany.
But nowadays Helko offers the products also under the own name in Germany.
Helko produces a light camping hatchet with 500g axe head and an ash wood handle because in their opinion this is strong enough for a hatchet but lighter than hickory, what they use in the bigger sizes too.
It looks like a strong competition for the Fiskars X7 and other camping hatchets.
I will buy and try it soon.
They also make some thing like the small forest axe and of course 600 g and 800g head hatches as well as various full size axes.
Oudoor Hatchet
The 'Hudson Bay' is our entry level hatchet and is the perfect camp tool. The lightweight 500g head is ground and polished to a highly reflective finish that reduces friction when cutting and improves rust resistance, and stamped with the Helko Crown. The very nearly straight 35cm handle is of...
helko.co.uk
Adler The Rheinland Hatchet
An all-purpose companion in the wilderness or for managing tasks closer to home. Ergonomic US-hickory handle with unique anti-slip paint for better grip. The head shape is the German "Rheinland" pattern. Made in Germany with lifelong warranty.
adler1919.com
Forstwerkzeuge & Gartengeräte - Adler Werkzeug
Entdecken Sie Adler und Wagnum Werkzeuge: Forstwerkzeuge, Spaltwerkzeuge, Feuerwehräxte, Gartengeräte, Hacken, Hepen und mehr - seit 1919
www.adler-werkzeug.de
HUNTING HATCHET // BISON 1879
Hunting Hatchet – Light and very useable hatchet that will fit into any backpack. A favorite to bring on hiking or hunting trips. For regular purposes.
bison1879.de
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I mainly use a GB outdoor. It's large enough for most tasks i do in camp. If you want to fell larger trees you should look for another bigger axe.
Me too definitely- but I couldn't justify the extra cost - so went for the HB Agdor Trekker!
Sorry, missed this Nestor. No, in this case it's a Gilpin but I have old axes by Elwell as well as Brades, John Harrison and Sons, Cornelius Whitehouse, and even old S&J.
I was so close to ordering a helko but somebody told me they have had 4 of them and every one has come loose (but he kept getting them because they were nice otherwise) I think it'l be a granfors bruks first as a solid choice, then i'll buy another nice german one when i've saved up a bit more because i love the look of them
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