035 Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet vs Outdoor Axe 

I am Japanese. I watched your video. I don't understand all the words. But I understand that he recommended wildlife. I want to thank you. thank you. I will buy the wildlife you recommended. The worries have been resolved.

I've never realized before just how much a Welsh accent sounds like a stereotypical Swedish accent :D

The moment you said „it could be my bias because i am used to it“ when splitting wood, i hit the subscribe button. That is a really honest and humble way to review two good axes. Many youtubers would not say it like that. I‘m peekin for a while now towards the wildlife axe, i‘m really close to buying it now.

Baton the wood with the hatchet is so wise. It is way better than taking several wacks to get nothing where with the baton your into the round right away. Very smart Mr. Welsh Woodsman.

Enjoyed the video. Not rushed, calmly narrated, and clearly shot. Very well done. Now I need a Gransfors.

Thanks for taking the effort to shoot this vid, fair verdict Scott, you both know what you're talking about using your tools

I'm new to using a hatchet so I sure appreciate the safety tips. Great video!

Great comparison of these two axes..... thanks for putting in the effort, it is appreciated. Cheers

Excellent video mate, glad we're on the same page with these.

Fabulous review I agree Wildlife Hatchet wins

Also loved that you batoned the hatchet… didn’t know other people did that! Found it helpful, I have.

Great safety advice! I'm inspired to carve a spoon after your demonstration. Your explanation helps me appreciate the value in a well made axe.

This was an excellent video, I found myself unexpectedly watching the entire thing at midnight. 😆 Thank you. Very informative. You know your way around edged tools.

I picked up a nice new skill from your video of using a baton with the outdoor axe, thats a wonderful application!

I was going alot back and forth between these two axes, and your video made it easy for me to decide mate. The way you show of how you use it in this video is key! Great stuff and really liked the summary at the end. Thank you so much. Cheers from Norway

Thanks for the vid! I’ve got an outdoor axe made by “TV” as well, and really like it.

Appreciate your tips. In this size range i am mostly concerned with packed weight. So for me I would be comparing these to a tomahawk and leaning towards the outdoor axe for nothing other than weight

*Thank you for sharing your opinion with long experience on these hatchets.*

Very interesting review, thoroughly enjoyed it, (Just a note:- I use a small piece of plastic milk bottle in the Mask where the axe tends to slice the leather on insertion)

Great safety tips as I am a new Axe owner. No more using knives for the work axes were invented for

Best explanation I've seen so far to why I would choose one or the other. Thanks!

I am of Welch descent. I have the Gran Fors Bruk Small Forest Axe. The Small Forest Axe will do everything a hatchet will . You are right a chainsaw will cut wood faster than any axe. My personal preference is Stihl and my favorite toting one is my 021 Stihl. It is not quite as light as my MS 170 but it has an 18” bar and .325 chain and not that 3/8 LP butter chain. My Small Forest axe makes a good wedge banger for felling wedges, but I also usually carry my 40 year old True Temper Boys axe for those time that I need a big banger to help move a leaning tree in the right direction.

I have, and love, the GB Outdoor Axe. It is a tree processing machine... I can limb, buck, and split a 4" tree very quickly. You are right, the Outdoor Axe profile is a fantastic splitter. The phrase you're looking for is 'performs well above its weight.' I carry it with a 7" folding saw, use the saw for cutting just more than halfway through for felling and bucking, then a couple of whacks with the Outdoor Axe chops the rest of the way through. I am not much of a carver and the little I do is done with a knife. I can see how the head profile of the Wildlife Axe with its thinner profile and handle shape may make it better for carving. This video makes me want to look at the Wildlife Axe, and the Hults Bruk Almike. Every axe is a compromise... larger axe heads cut deeper, lighter axe heads carry better. I carry a big axe when car camping but throw the Outdoor Axe on my pack when I'm hiking.

I Really love my GB Wildlife hatchet, my daughter bought it for me years ago when I was just getting started in bushcraft stuff. Great comparison and well comunicated!

Swedish axes have something special not many people understand I have an old Säter Banko carpenters axe and the quality on that head is beyond this world. The edge retention is outstanding. Love your accent!!

Thank you for the video. I enjoyed the content and just as much, I enjoyed listening to your accent.

Thanks for taking the time to review both axes. I like you have the wildlife hatchet and have been using it for all uses for years now. I think the smaller axe will be on the list for smaller jobs and for teaching the girlfriend. You covered all aspects of safety and benefits of both axes . Battoning is a great idea it has to be said. not all axes are the same also but there is always a use for a small axe.

great video! youve helped me a lot in my decision to not go for the outdoor axe, definately gonna go for the wildlife hatchet now. diolch!!!!!

Just purchased the wildlife for exactly those reasons .... great axe great review thanks

Those are both nice. I really like your detailed explanations of the two axes. I like the skinny handle one for in camp around the kitchen and butchering deer, pototoes, parsnips, and chopping in camp and I even use mine at home. I carrey the skinny handle one in my pickup truck, as well. I use my Wildlife handle for in the campfire wood chopping and cutting and processing woods for burning and I carry that one on my hip to when in the woods and when hunting in my pack or sometimes on my hip. I agree with you the Wildlife fits way better in the hand for processing wood, where the Outdoor is more of a detailed tool and I like it for PERSONAL DEFENSE as well. Both have thier place in my arsenal. I really enjoyed your video and watch it alot. I am hooked on listenting to your Wesch accent.❤

Nice video and I appreciate the skill involved...thank you

The GB Outdoor Axe does everything I need it to as a part of a system that includes my LT Wright 3v Outback in a saber grind, and my Silky Ultra Accel 240 curved or one of my Agawa Boreals(I have both sizes.) This is where it excels. It doesn't as a stand alone tool for long term endeavors. One has to understand the limitations of the tool b4 they blast it. I was a gear tester & did some r&d work with a few well known/well respected outdoor brands. Some who bash the Outdoor Axe remind me of those who take a 3 season tent out in mid February in the northeast US then complain because they are eating spindrift sandwiches the whole time.

Thanks for putting this very educational video together mate, cheers.

Just came across your channel after seeing the review on Rob’s channel (which I also just came across). Great review! 👍 Thanks for sharing. I also subscribed.

What a beautiful area and the natural work benches are abundant. Love your style. Thanks

Really good review. I've got both and yes you're right, for me it comes down to the handle profile.

Loved the video👍, I've learned a lot from watching you use the two axes. I own the wildlife and the small hatchet. I find that for my summer bushcraft outings here in Switzerland (lots of pine & windfall) I prefer the small hatchet. Weight & size is the main reason. For my purposes, feeding the bushbox, the saw is more important. I could just bring a large knife and chop & baton that, but those large knives create more nervousness in public transport than an axe, go figure! In the winter I used to bring a 1.6kg ~50cm Axe I bought used, but have recently treated myself to the small forrest axe 🤗. Let it snow! Apropos lanyard: thanks for the tip!

Very good in-depth review! Two first class axes so it's not easy to make a choice, but I think I prefer the wildlife...

Glad this vid was in my recommends, I was just looking at these two axes last night. The algorithms know!

Good video. Thanks. One safety tip, when feathering, avoid pointing your finger downward toward the wood. Bend it or point to the side. No fun getting a large splinter jammed under you fingernail.

Ur skilled. Ur not painful to watch.

That’s a hell of a camp you got there big bro. It’s quite nice .

Very much enjoyed the video. I appreciate the safety tips, always a good reminder. I have the Wildlife and Scandinavian axes, treasure them both. Thank you. Subscribed

Good points. I have the outdoor axe and have also come to the conclusion that the handle really holds it back.

The outdoor axe is a multi use combo axe / knife for finer work and splitting, best used in combination with a silky saw. The hatchet is better for mainly chopping timber work as it is heavier and a saw isnt necessarily needed. Swings and roundabouts depending on how you like to load out.

Very good job! I enjoyed the video. I liked the safety tips. Thanks!

I bought the whole collection as an investment as they hold there value and I always planned to build my own log cabin one day, but out of these two I find the outdoor axe my favourite as I have small hands and it works with me much better, but I love them both, I could modify the handle but I’m not brave enough. So I guess it is all down to personal preference, forgive me for not using the right terminology I’m a self-taught amateur, but I did use the wilderness axe as a project in my house, I have beams everywhere on the walls and ceiling and the axe was perfect to strip all the black stain and varnish off all off it, with the help from some chisels, it didn’t need to be perfect because it was very rustic anyway but I got the job done nicely I hope to have the carpenters axe one day. But because I have the whole bush craft collection if anybody needs a leather over strike I enjoy making mine so I would be more than happy to hook you up, ruff times at the moment and I’m stuck inside a lot so i would only charge for the Materials used ❤️ messages me here and I’ll lead you to my face book or something, give me something to do. Great video x

My Grandmothers maiden name was Welsh! Great video. Newfoundland Canada

Good video mate. I do love my Small Forest Axe very much and I find the extra weight is well worth it. The axe is the tool of tools in my opinion and if you "go heavy" on anything it's okay in my book to do it on an axe. These both look the goods but I'll stick with mine. * That said, I'm a all-year round cycle tourer, not a long hiker, that might influence my opinion as I don't really carry the thing.

Wow, very informative. subscribed and thumbs up.

I have the small forest axe, and am considering one of these to add. Starting to think the hatchet is the better choice since I already have the Small Forest.

Really like your field watche

This is a really great comparison! Thank you!

Great video, really useful stuff in here

The splitting shootout was fantastic. Nice selection of relatively equal segments from an unknotted section of a single log. The GB wildlife hatchet split its larger more substantial piece in half as many blows as the GB OD Axe. This decided me on the hatchet.

Been waiting for this thank you 👍

Thank you 😎

Great video, I'm now a subscriber.

A great choice either way. For light camp work, the Outdoor Axe would fit the bill nicely. IMO these tests are really expecting too much from the Outdoor Axe and its intended purpose.

First thing I noticed was bare hands. Banging your knuckles is a much more likely occurrence when using a hatchet for chopping than when using an axe. I use light leather gloves except when making feather sticks or carving.

Love your videos and love your knowledge. We'd love to meet "the boys"

Great Review! WH for purpose, OA for splitting ... My 2 Cent 😉

I have the wildlife one and I love it👍

Fantastic video. Thank you. Love the accent ;-)

Thanks Dude, love the content

If you have a lanyard it is usually wraped over wrist. Best way put thumb through lanyard, then over the back of the hand, 2rap around the hand and grip axe. 5his way it locks your hand in. Just adjust the length to fit. If you let go of axe it will drop straight down. If it is around the wrist putting the hand through the lanyard and you let go it swings everywhere, and is dangerous to you.

Just watching this video helped me learn some wonderful splitting safety skills. Thank you!

The lanyard is to wrap around your thumb and back over your hand to keep the axe from slipping out of your hand. Keeps the hand tight around the axe handle.

I'm assuming there's a polarization of viewpoints here but I'll risk it: Why choose an axe to carve over a knife? Splitting wood I can see the obvious answer, but carving? The only thing I can see is hatchet for meat, (bulk of wood) and knife for fine details.

I’m grad you made this video. I was interested in the outdoors axe because of the collar for over strike and the slightly longer handle but I think the head is too small for what I am looking for

It goes to show, these hatchets are for working with small sections of timber around 2 to 3 inches wide. The sections you are splitting, one blow with a small splitting axe, and you are done. Right tool for the job. When you are in the field, these small hatchets are just for kindling. One of these with a small splitting axe and a saw. You are then made up. As for the weight, it is not much difference if you are carrying a large axe and saw in weight. That's why the small forest axe is popular. Again, they start splitting logs far to big. Again, right tool for the job. Thanks for showing both of these hatchets. The wildlife hatchet is also the small carving hatchet, with a different handle. They remind me of my old pocket hatchets. You are right, a knife is far better for detail work. And when you go out, each carry the right tool. Do you have the small splitting axe from Gransfors? The one from Husqvarna is very good. A good beater tool! Thanks for showing!

I have a lanyard but it’s always wrapped around my wrist.

Excellent video!

Good review!

Brilliant video, just subscribed! Also you remind me of Robert Deniro. Be safe and thank you for the video.

Good vid Have you tried the Gransfors Small Hatchet for carving The handle is shaped the same as the Wildlife, but smaller very comfortable to use It is lighter to hold so has superb control and balance

lol everything in the world is twice the price now, its crazy. still a fairly recent video as far as axe technology goes

Never tried carving with an axe, must get a small one and give it a whirl one day.

Cool Video 👍 Thank U for the Info and the testing 👍 U got a new subscriber...

Great review. The spoon carving was a pleasant surprise. Sounds like I need to get both:) Is that a wool shirt? What is the brand?

This answered my huge problem I was having.. thx. Now that pullover you're wearing I love it.. homemade? Brand?

Nice one.

£125 for the Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet in Sep 2022 😲

Rob told me to ask your opinion on a budget camp hatchet until they are back in stock:) they are both hard to find stateside!

Bit slow to the party but thanks for the comparison

Cheers Mate!

wow, i had to adjust a bit in the beginning with the accent, i was thinking why the english title for a norwegian video? crazy how similar the acccent is.

I have a GB Mini Hatchet and a Wildlife Hatchet (and a SFA) and I find myself preferring the Mini Hatchet and a Silky saw (because I'd rather saw easily and rapidly than chop!). There's not a great deal that can't be achieved with a Mini Hatchet, as the Old Jimbo videos proved with remarkable results! The Mini Hatchet is far easier to carry and a Silky F-180 saw weighs virtually nothing, they are ultralight and very capable indeed.

To me it seems, the axes are easier then an knife to feather splinters.

Hej, great vid... Question, if I wanted one axe to take bushcrafting with me (backpacking, camping, trekking.) which would you chose between the Outdoor, Wildlife, and the Small Forrest Axe? If you had to pick one? Thanks!

i like your accent

Nice video. I had both axes and Wildlife is far better mini axe

Great video. Interesting accent :o Almost sounds like there is some norwegian mixed in with the welsh(?)

Then it is the self defense aspect of a light axe/hatchet as well. The Outdoor axe wins this one. Cus of the smaller head and longer handle. I will be trying to put a even longer and a straight handle on the OA, very tomahawk like

Hey there! Great video! If you had to pick one of these to use as a survival axe, which would it be? Or would you pick something else entirely? Thanks much from Phoenix Arizona! 👍🏼

great review of the axes! Q: did you sharpen them before use or were they factory sharpness for the testing?

Great review. ¡'ll be back. ¡'Ve subscribed.

Love it!!

If you could only have the one witch one would you have for camping and woodcraft

Great Video 👍🏻💪🏻 Good Review Nice shirt, is it a wool one? Make it yourself.