I am about to receive my ordered GBSFA. Thank you for sharing your video on how to use the GBSFA properly and emphasize safety. Because of your instructions I begin to respect my axe. Blessings.
You did a great job with this video. Thank you for taking the time to explain some axe safety tips, that was truly appreciated. If you put out videos like this, just of you out camping and teaching stuff, you'd get 100k's of subs man. Honestly, I believe in you dude, the most important thing is to put out videos regularly. Do it!
Is due to electricity, right? If I remember correctly Swedish use electric energy to purify steel, and get the cleanest possible bonds, I don't really think a lot of countries do that, too expensive. Right?
When I was a kid and teenager one of my best friends growing up split firewood as one of his chores. They used a wood stove to heat their house. My brother and I would hang out with him splitting wood for hours at a time. It was great. We'd take turns. I was the eldest by a year so could hold my own pretty well. We never hit ourselves with the axes and hammer, usually using a big 5 pound mull and wedges. I guess it was long enough where it would drop down to the dirt more if we missed. The motion was more like swinging over and then aiming the drop into the logs, not swinging down toward ourselves. These days I like caring a hatchet but have had a couple close calls with it. Cheers.
Very nice video! Safety tips and all in one. Greetings from finland. My axe is from finland, billnäs. Over 50 years old and still going strong. Swedish axes like this is also awesome! 👍
I've had my small forest GB axe for about 13 years now and it's still my go to. I also use a GB carpenters axe and a GB large forest axe. All good but the small forest axe is the most useful - great video.
Is the large forest axe the same as the Scandinavian forest axe? I always hear people referencing the large forest axe but have only seen the small forest axe and Scandinavian forest axe for sale
I have a Wetterlings small hunters axe. Amazing tool. I primarily use it for fatwood harvesting and processing along with wood prep in camp. I find myself using the axe far more often than I reach for a larger blade knife. Good video on versatility of the tool, add in fatwood and soup with sausage...... good living m8. Be well.
I just bought a Small Forest Axe and a Silky BigBoy Curve Outback, and they make a very competent and capable pair of wood processors, and are nicely matched in size (with the Silky folded, obviously!). I'd have been inclined to use my saw as it would have used less energy and taken less time. I was particularly impressed that your first point was that of safety! My SFA was shaving sharp as recieved and is capable of inflicting terrible injuries if misused, the same applies to the Silky Saw.
Now that’s an excellent pair! I recently picked up a Silky Bigboy Outback and I can’t wait to use it. Oh absolutely! When not reviewing an item I take a saw to be more effective in wood processing. However, this video was a test to see what the axe could do by itself. I had never taken it that far with bucking and was thoroughly impressed with what it was capable of. I try to be safe when I’m out in the woods and encourage others to do the same. No one needs the medical bills that are associated with poor use of tools in the woods. 👍🏼 Oh yeah, I now own 6 GB axes and they all came shaving sharp. Not a tool you want to cut yourself with! Thanks for the comment 😁👍🏼
Nice review and good tips for usage. I just ordered one of these after discovering that none of the axes I can buy locally are worth owning. I had a difficult time finding the GB SFA, but a place in Canada had a few left in stock.
That was actually the very first axe I ever bought. I wanted the Forest Axe so bad but couldn't afford it at the time. I've put my Husqvarna 26" through the ringer lol It's a fantastic axe for the money. That's a great idea about the comparison. I try to work that in :)
It’s great seeing your testing and usage of tools. Very practical. I notice your valuations (#/10) and I wonder ‘compared to what?’ I know you wouldn’t compare an ax to a surgical blade (being extremely obvious) hence wondering compared to what. Thanks! Great soup and fire prep too!!! Maybe a video on building your own bowl and spoon? :)
Thank you. I try to use them as practically as I can. The values are truthfully arbitrary. That’s why I don’t use them anymore in my videos. They are really just a comparison to what I think would be best I suppose. For sure on the bowl and spoon. I definitely need to get better at my carving abilities lol
Yes indeed. A saw is a much better tool for the job of making manageable firewood. However, it is a review of the axe and how is handles different task. 👍🏼
That's brilliant! I wish I would have thought about that when making. Not to mention if I would have had my cast iron on me, it would have been even better. Great idea for next time though, thanks!
Thanks for the review of this axe! Just curious, have you have started fires by using a ferrocerium rod and a knife before? I think everyone should learn to do such, because firecraft is such an important skill. Good content though man! Keep it up!
I sure have. It’s a great way to start a fire. I plan on putting out some bushcraft/woodcraft videos where I do just that. Thanks for the comment and encouragement 😁👍🏼
I completely agree with you. Those were rather short pieces and that's why I chose to hit near the top as it had the most contact with the support log, that being said you are correct. Typically in the past when I've used that technic, it's been on longer logs and I'm able to do exactly as you suggest. Thank you for pointing that out.
Underrated channel. Keep doing interesting stuff and it’ll grow (tho I’m no expert and don’t have a channel 😁). Just my opinion from a guy who watches way too many videos haha.
Thank you very much! I wish I had more time to make additional videos. I have a lot of outdoor gear to review, but no extra time. Hopefully, I can find time to get back to creating.
Nice video, i have the wildlife hatchet from GB and it is awesome, the silky outback 240 is also in the bag as a companion when building shelters, but havent tried it so much yet. I want this axe because of the woodsplitting capabilities and to take down bigger trees, and after this video i will definetly get it. May i ask where you got that sexy little pot? And the volume? Keep up the good work. Cheers from sweden
Thank you. The wildlife hatchet is also a great woods tool. I like using the hatchet as a primary tool when just using a firebox to cook with. All of the GBs I have are just fantastic. When I'm out camping I really like pairing the GB small forest axe or the Scandinavian forest axe with a Silky Outback Edition BIGBOY Professional 2000 360mm. That's a power combo for sure. I think for the size and weight you'll be more than happy with the small forest axe. Ah yes the Billy Pot, one of my favorite pieces of kit. That one is a Firebox locking bail Billy Can/Zebra pot with stainless steel handle clips, and it's the 12 cm version. It's basically just a Zebra pot that Firebox modifies. If you get one, make sure you get one with the stainless steel clips because the normal ones have plastic clips and they melt. I hope that helps.
That’s a great question. I have all three and if I had to pick 2, It would be the Small Forest Axe and the Wildlife Hatchet. That seems redundant because those two have similar profiles but I feel the WH outperforms the Outdoor Axe. That may just be the way I use them but that’s what I’ve found. The Outdoor Axe does a great job as a packable axe that splits/batons very well. However, I don’t do a lot of heavy splitting with an axe that size. If that’s the job, I’ll bring the SFA. Now, if I could only pick one of the three it would be the SFA hands down. 😁👍🏼
Quite Alot of expenditure of energy. A saw would have destroyed that lumber in half the time. It's a good choice to have both axe and saw. Australia was built on the axe and saw.
Honestly, I change knives regularly. It mostly depends on what I’m going to be doing. Did you have a specific task in mind for a knife? If so, I can tell you what I carry. I don’t always carry the Green River I made but I do find myself using it a lot lol
Agreed. I don’t typically do that. It was mostly for beginners. People I know that watch my videos that don’t know much about axe safety. When I’m out using an axe I usually bury it into a log in between uses. 👍🏼
@robertlane5388 is correct. It’s to avoid accidental strikes to any part of your leg. If you can’t tell, the advice in this video is geared to people who are new to axes. I have friends who watch my videos and they don’t know much about axes or how to use them safely. I’m glad you’ve not had any accidents is 20+ years, but some people aren’t as adept with an axe. These tips are for those people. Not to mention the length of the GBSFA is not well suited for upright bucking. 👍🏼