My mother is Swedish, my father Irish, but I was raised in USA. Growing up, every couple summers or so, we would visit my grandparents in Sjorfarden, near Gnarp. I recently bought this axe, and I really like it. I had no idea it was made in a village so close to where I spent so much time in the woods and on the beach. +++
Picking up this axe up for the first time after unwrapping it, I felt that I immediately understood what all the fuss was about! It felt like an immensely capable extension of my arm!
Bought this AXE today from Partioaitta Finland. Price was 90EUR = 95USD. It was the final one they had. Gonna go test it out today to the barbecue hut. Thank you for the review. Checked the review actually after the purchase. God bless! ,)
Päivä. How did you like it? Been thinking of getting one for multi-day backpacking trips but I'm unsure since I probably will split more wood than I will chop.
with the stock sheath, if you hold it by the top where the blade comes in contact with the leather and just pinch the sides in slightly when you put it on the axe head, it doesn't even come close to the leather
Daughter and I split and processed some wood yesterday. We have the wildlife hatchet, scandi axe, small forest axe, and helko rheinland hatchet. Splitter is the gb large splitting axe 27in model. Somehow.....(sarcasm) she ended up wielding the sfa and that was by and far her favorite. Its my fave too so now we got a real dilemma going on.
A couple of years ago, I used your measurements to modify a 40 dollar, 21" axe from a hardware store. This particular handle had excellent grain, but the company itself has virtually no quality control. A few years back, I had seen a Gransfors-Bruk Small Forest Axe at Lee Valley and was aware of all the good reviews. The head appeared a bit light to me. For my modification, I used your measurements, along with photos by Ross Gilmore (Wood Trekker), but left the head slightly heavier and thicker than the Gransfors-Bruk Small Forest Axe. (Angle-grinder, some files, a wood rasp, linseed oil, wood-swell, wood glue) I'm very happy with my customized hiking axe. Anyway, thanks for listing those measurements, dude.
Eugene I really enjoy watching your videos and the sheaths made by your father are fantastic. And most of all I am grateful for you glorifying God through your channel.
I have always used axes that I have sourced from bootsales in the UK and restored them, they have served me well on my bushcraft trips and still are... however I have just purchased this beauty although it was bloody hard to find a UK stockist. thumbs up man, a laymans review
I'm saving for this tool. Anyone who says this isn't really hand forged is just being picky; prolly to support the brand they like better. Can't wait until this is strapped onto my pack!
Hello sir, thank you for the nice video. Could you give me the length and thickness of the poll? The back part of the axe? Thank you and have a nice evening. Cheers.
Eugene, I recently purchased this small forest axe. I have no problem with the sheath provided. Should that change I will check out a new sheath. Thanks for the review.
Ok folks. I own several Gransfors Bruk axes. Sure, I use one for my Bug Out Kit but the others I collect for collector value. So I ordered an Axe sheath from the website. Earlier I complained that the website wasn't up to speed, but now it is. :-). So a couple of days ago I ordered A black Sheath via the website. Before the day was out, I received an email confirmation and that morning a USPS notification. That was Saturday. Today is Monday and it arrived in my mailbox. I must say that this Sheath is an incredible piece of work. It looks so awesome and the fit is absolutely perfect. The quality is the best leather work I've ever seen. The black leather with the white perfect stitching is stunning. The rivets are also perfect. It gives me pleasure just looking at it. This sheath really accents the quality of the Gransfors Bruk Axe and yes, I will buy more. Be well. Bob.
What would you choose for hiking into camp? This or the Wildlife Hatchet? Weight is important, main use is for processing firewood. Will be accompanied by a Sven saw and 3.5-4” scandi fixed blade. Thanks!!!
Thank you for the Small Forest Axe review. I’m just getting into axes myself and just purchased one of these. Do you need to use a leather strike guard for this model? Cheers!
Please help me decide . I’m deciding between the small forest axe and the outdoors axe. I hike up in the mountains so weight is a consideration. I have a Silky saw so I use the axe mainly to split wood. Im leaning towards the outdoors axe but is the Small Forest Axe just as good at splitting?
Just got one from amazon from a reputable seller. Little disappointed that the axe came in a plastic bag No metal wedge I hear they stopped doing the metal wedge is this true? I love it though I’ve wanted one for a while
Thanks for the nice review. On the sheath, I like the workmanship of the one your dad is making...however I"ve heard one advantage of the pull string design vs snap is longevity and disability in the field. Any thoughts on that?
I just received my first Gransfors Bruk axe, mine didn't come with the metal wedge in the head? IS this a problem? Did I get duped possibly or is it discretion of the smith on the need or not? Thank you for any insight... All marks seem to be in the right place otherwise.
I saw this axe (I believe) for $130 USD (LL Bean) and as high as $350ish USD in other places. Both said GF small Forrest axe #420. Are they really the same product and if so why such a wide price range? Or are they perhaps different metal grades on the heads? I'm just making sure I don't get ripped off by paying too much or by paying way less and getting poor quality. Thanks and enjoyed the review, really want to get one of these. And you've earned my subscription to your channel.
Can you tell me how comfortable this is to use with one hand for actual swinging hard? I am having a hard time deciding between the Small Forest Axe and also the Wildlife Hatchet. If I can get away with using the SFA with one hand comfortably, then I will likely go with the SFA.
+Bladesnstuff , you can use it with one hand, but if that's all you're going to do, it will be somewhat difficult. You will have much more control on the smaller Wildlife Hatchet with one hand.
Pro tip for the sheathing of the axe, pinch the top fold of the sheath as you slide the top of the axe in and it dosnt cut or contact the leather at all (or is very minimal contact at best).
Question for you; I purchased one of these axes from AGRUSSELL.com and after having been backordered for some time I finally received it. It looks authentic but came with only the wood wedge and not the metal spike to hold the axe head in place. Any thoughts?
It's authentic. The newer models doesn't have metal spike anymore because with glue being so strong these days, the wooden wedge will not come off so the metal spike is not necessary.
The biggest reason you might pay more for a legit Hand Forged Axe head vs a Drop Forge is the labour cost for the Hand Forged item - that's the premium you pay for bespoke anything. The benefit in difference between the two ( in real terms ) is minimal ... one is hand crafted and the other done 10 times faster. Contrary to popular opinion you get lots of poorly crafted hand made tools to this very day, with all manner of errors and imperfections! Hand made is no guarantee of quality ... only Labour. This is not to say that some hand crafted items are not of the highest quality with fine personal touches and details - there are certainly many of those also and you pay handsomely for the craftsmanship with a reputation to back the name. At the end of the day go for the product with a strong reputation - regardless of the means of production - it should serve you well. However, If you want to sniff corks ... well.
Great review...Thanks! Please could you do a Council Woodcraft 18in vs. Gransfors Small Forest axe vid? Haven't seen a head to head on RU-vid so far, it would probably get a good amount of views and I'd like to see it myself to see what your opinion is on which is better?
I have this axe and it’s a great axe but the Wetterlings is better it’s a bit broader and splits a bit better but they don’t make Wetterlings no more. A crying shame.
I just had a leather Loop holster put it on your belt then down the loop so easy to on person carry it in and out keep the edge protecter the same just have a cobler make a loop attach it to a piece of leather that your belt goes tgrough and bingo.
This comes directly from GBA. "We did make a change of the logo and took the “s” from bruk(s) away. (2010) There is no real explaining why we did that, I think it looked better in some way. So there are a mixture of handles with the S and without the S which causes unnecessary discussions." Gränsfors = a small village in Sweden Bruk = an old Swedish word for factory AB = Ltd / Inc In speech the company name it’s only Gränsfors Bruk, the “s” it’s only a link to AB so in English it would be Gränsfors Bruk’s AB."
Very impressed. You video was well worth watching. So much so you have a new subscriber in me.. keep up the good work you do an great quality videos.. have a blessed day thsnk you..
I looked on Amazon and it appears that they are steel rivets? Is that true? If so, will you be making any more with brass rivets? Thank you. I like you reviews and that you mention God in them. These seem to be wonderful hatchets. I have the GB Wildlife Hatchet ordered and can't wait to get it. I believe I will be also getting the GB Small Forest Axe as well. I am excited! :)
Anyone suggesting I praise God for His beautiful creation deserves a 'subscribe'. Romans 1:20. I was looking for reviews on this axe and came across this channel. Glad I did. God Bless!
That price is a ripoff. Google it and you will see a list of online stores at the top that sells them for about $130. Avoid Amazon, they sell them too expensive.
Think about outsourcing the sheath in Thailand, Mexico or China. Your Dad is skilled but probably can't keep up. If you lived in Southern California you could hire Mexican women to do the work. Not many are available in Spokane Washington. Also, set up a website independent from Amazon.. Keep Amazon but some people don't want to pay sales tax on out of State orders. Amazon charges tax, no matter what.
If they were to outsource I and many others would not be interested in purchasing. Made in the USA is worth more to me than any other third world crap.
It's a bloody tool! Husqvarna charge a 1/3 of the price and better axes, better handles. It will last several generations if like all the back yard warriors on RU-vid don't use !
Nice review ..but ..The metric system throws you off..Now nobody in Europe who would subscribe follows you in your measurements,.. just always for the profit of your channel put in metric .A small effort for a smart man.
