Gransfors Bruk Axe?

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barf

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Been looking for a nice bushcraft/survival axe with a wood handle. Came across this company. Anyone have experience?

gransforsus.com

Outdoor Axe | Axe Making | Axes For Sale

Our outdoor axe can be used to fell a tree, limbing a tree, for light splitting tasks, and as a large knife. It was developed by a Swedish survival expert.
gransforsus.com gransforsus.com



I guess this one was designed with the help of a Swedish survivalist and Army Parachute Ranger.

I’m looking for other options as well. Not too big. Sturdy. Wood handle. Included sheath is a must.

No experience with camping/bushcraft axes.

Thanks!
 
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GymB said:
They make great axes.
I haven’t used that particular one, but it looks like the size of a child’s axe, between a hatchet and an axe.
Click to expand...
A child’s axe? How long of a handle would you carry around the mountain for long treks?
 
Granfors Bruk is a top tier axe maker and priced accordingly.

Personally, I've have the hots for one of these...
iu

The made in the U.S.A. Gibson Axe was designed by James Gibson as a small, compact axe that will easily fit in a backpack. Gibson’s stated goal was a comfortable using tool that could do most camp chores, as well as being used as a carving axe. The Viking bearded head allows for close up work and the finger grooves / textured scales along with the swell on the end provides an excellent gripping surface when chopping. The 1095 high carbon steel frame is about as indestructible as you can get for an axe this size.
About the designer: James Gibson is a native east Tennessean, born and raised around the Great Smoky Mountain area. With a passion and love for the outdoors, he has studied and practiced bushcraft skills most of his life. James is the co-host of the Clinch River Knap-in and has been a flintknapper for 22 years. He is also a knife maker and obtained his Journeymen Smith Rating with the American Bladesmith Society (A.B.S.) in 2003. James is the lead instructor for Randall’s Adventure & Training Bushcraft School and also has his own school in Tennessee.


GIBSON AXE

The made in the U.S.A. Gibson Axe was designed by James Gibson as a small, compact axe that will easily fit in a backpack. Gibson’s stated goal was a comfortable using tool that could do most camp chores, as well as being used as a carving axe. The Viking bearded head allows for close up work...
eseeknives.com eseeknives.com

He has a matching Nessmuk knife...

eseejg5.png

ESEE-JG5

The ESEE JG5 fixed blade was designed by James Gibson and inspired by the "Nessmuk" knife carried by adventurer, writer, and early conservationist, George Washington Sears, who wrote under the pen name, Nessmuk. The JG5 bears a similar style to ESEE's popular PR4 and features a black oxide...
eseeknives.com eseeknives.com


You can scoot over to SMKW and look at them.
 
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I like the small forest axe better than the hunters axe. The only real difference is that the back edge is rounded off on the hunters axe to reduce damage to meat when using it to dress game.

Child’s axe wasn’t meant to be disparaging, it’s just the middle size and what you’d use to teach felling to a child. It’s a great all around size for hiking and camping.
 
georgel said:
Granfors Bruk is a top tier axe maker and priced accordingly.

Personally, I've have the hots for one of these...
iu

The made in the U.S.A. Gibson Axe was designed by James Gibson as a small, compact axe that will easily fit in a backpack. Gibson’s stated goal was a comfortable using tool that could do most camp chores, as well as being used as a carving axe. The Viking bearded head allows for close up work and the finger grooves / textured scales along with the swell on the end provides an excellent gripping surface when chopping. The 1095 high carbon steel frame is about as indestructible as you can get for an axe this size.
About the designer: James Gibson is a native east Tennessean, born and raised around the Great Smoky Mountain area. With a passion and love for the outdoors, he has studied and practiced bushcraft skills most of his life. James is the co-host of the Clinch River Knap-in and has been a flintknapper for 22 years. He is also a knife maker and obtained his Journeymen Smith Rating with the American Bladesmith Society (A.B.S.) in 2003. James is the lead instructor for Randall’s Adventure & Training Bushcraft School and also has his own school in Tennessee.


GIBSON AXE

The made in the U.S.A. Gibson Axe was designed by James Gibson as a small, compact axe that will easily fit in a backpack. Gibson’s stated goal was a comfortable using tool that could do most camp chores, as well as being used as a carving axe. The Viking bearded head allows for close up work...
eseeknives.com eseeknives.com

He has a matching Nessmuk knife...

eseejg5.png

ESEE-JG5

The ESEE JG5 fixed blade was designed by James Gibson and inspired by the "Nessmuk" knife carried by adventurer, writer, and early conservationist, George Washington Sears, who wrote under the pen name, Nessmuk. The JG5 bears a similar style to ESEE's popular PR4 and features a black oxide...
eseeknives.com eseeknives.com


You can scoot over to SMKW and look at them.
Click to expand...


The folks at Randall’s Adventure/ESEE are good people. We just took a land nav course with them. Their courses are very economical for what they give you and they have a non profit search and rescue organization that is low key but stays very busy. They use what they make with ESEE to subsidize the training and search and rescue.

Much as I like Gransfors Bruks, I’d probably buy the ESEE just to support what they do.
 
No experience with camping/bushcraft axes.
Click to expand...

As much as I like my Gransfors Forest Axe, I don't use it much for camping or bushcraft. A folding saw and a good bushcrafter's knife are far more useful. I use hatchets and small axes for making kindling at home, sitting on one upright log with another for the chunk I am splitting. I never need to do that when camping, so I don't carry that relatively heavy item.

I know a fellow who uses a small hatchet to carve spoons!
 
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Hults Bruk is the other great Swedish axe maker, and since I discovered that they make Husqvarna’s axes, I bought the Husqvarna Carpenters axe. Prices on all axes have gone way up in recent years but the Husqvarna is still roughly half the price of the others ($98 vs $185).
 
I have a zippo that has the saw incorporated. It works well and holds an edge well enough. I have a puck stone with it to keep it sharp. It's a touch big for a pack axe but works great for car/kayak camping.
Amazon product ASIN B0753JL125
 
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Jerzsubbie said:
Hults Bruk is the other great Swedish axe maker, and since I discovered that they make Husqvarna’s axes, I bought the Husqvarna Carpenters axe. Prices on all axes have gone way up in recent years but the Husqvarna is still roughly half the price of the others ($98 vs $185).
Click to expand...

Did one of them absorb Wetterlings?
 
I know you specified wooden handle, but this tool has never let me down. I've abused it in unspeakable ways that I would never do to a nice Swedish axe and it just keeps on ticking.


I would be willing to bet I could outcut a large number of "outdoorsmen" with this versus their bougie boutique axe.

www.estwing.com

Camper's Axe (Long Handle) - Estwing

The 26″ Camper’s Axe is the ideal axe for camping, hunting and farm use. The 4″ cutting edge makes deeper, faster cuts and easier chopping. Each axe comes with a heavy-duty nylon sheath.
www.estwing.com www.estwing.com
 
Lots of options! Thanks for the input y’all!
 
cubrock said:
The folks at Randall’s Adventure/ESEE are good people. We just took a land nav course with them. Their courses are very economical for what they give you and they have a non profit search and rescue organization that is low key but stays very busy. They use what they make with ESEE to subsidize the training and search and rescue.

Much as I like Gransfors Bruks, I’d probably buy the ESEE just to support what they do.
Click to expand...
The only thing I own of theirs, right now is the Light Machete. Looking to add the Gibson Axe and maybe a Junglas and... so many choices.
 
yard mongrel said:
I know you specified wooden handle, but this tool has never let me down. I've abused it in unspeakable ways that I would never do to a nice Swedish axe and it just keeps on ticking.


I would be willing to bet I could outcut a large number of "outdoorsmen" with this versus their bougie boutique axe.

www.estwing.com

Camper's Axe (Long Handle) - Estwing

The 26″ Camper’s Axe is the ideal axe for camping, hunting and farm use. The 4″ cutting edge makes deeper, faster cuts and easier chopping. Each axe comes with a heavy-duty nylon sheath.
www.estwing.com www.estwing.com
Click to expand...
I dunno man. You have to narrow down this competition. When you say, "outdoorsmen", are you talkin' "bushcraft", 'fieldcraft" or the latest I've heard is "farmcraft"? If you can't chop and split kindlin' good enough for a Pintrest photo shoot, you may be in over your head....
 
I got these on sale from Midway USA. It's a large hatchet but perfect for carrying in the woods and I keep one in each of my vehicles.

Cold Steel Trail Boss Hatchet 4.5" 1055 Carbon Steel Blade 28.5" Overall Length American Hickory Handle Brown​

  • Product #: 653686
  • Manufacturer #: CS-90TA
  • UPC #: 705442007210
66Write a Review Q&A (2)
Cold Steel Trail Boss Hatchet 4.5 1055 Carbon Steel Blade 28.5 Overall Length American Hickory Handle Brown

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List Price:$49.99
Our Price:
$35.99$28.79
You Save:$7.20 (20%)
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Blade Finish:Black
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I bought one of those cold steel trailbosses from midway a few months ago and I was pretty disappointed with it.

Showed up with a twisted and warped handle. Looked like it would have been good if it weren't bad...

IMG_20221205_091633302.jpg
 
C-doodle said:
I bought one of those cold steel trailbosses from midway a few months ago and I was pretty disappointed with it.

Showed up with a twisted and warped handle. Looked like it would have been good if it weren't bad...

View attachment 587666
Click to expand...
did you send it back? Midway normally takes care of business and quick. Mine are perfect the the steel sharpens razor sharp. I also got all 3 for less than $25.00 each
 
I did not. I thought about it but I think it was on sale for just a bit over $33. Figured by the time I shipped it back I'd probably have lost most of it.

Maybe some day it will get a new handle. Or it will just rot in the corner. That's the most likely.

It would have been one heck of a value if the handle were a bit better.
 
yard mongrel said:
I know you specified wooden handle, but this tool has never let me down. I've abused it in unspeakable ways that I would never do to a nice Swedish axe and it just keeps on ticking.


I would be willing to bet I could outcut a large number of "outdoorsmen" with this versus their bougie boutique axe.

www.estwing.com

Camper's Axe (Long Handle) - Estwing

The 26″ Camper’s Axe is the ideal axe for camping, hunting and farm use. The 4″ cutting edge makes deeper, faster cuts and easier chopping. Each axe comes with a heavy-duty nylon sheath.
www.estwing.com www.estwing.com
Click to expand...
I have one of these and the smaller hatchet version as well. They have been good but I have seen them when they aren’t. My dad had one that separated where the blue piece meets the polished piece. From what I could tell it looked like two separate pieces that were joined somehow and the joint let go. Not sure if it was welded or what. In all fairness it was probably 10 years old when it happened.
 
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