Gransfors Bruk Small Forest Axe vs Council Tool Pack Axe Comparison 

It’s a very well made axe, I only wish I could have got the longer handle which would have made it almost perfect. I may have to rehang it at some point.

@@bundufundi I have the longer handle best small axe I have ever used Would not trade it for any other

It seems that the CT might be more reasonably priced in the States which would make it a pretty good choice but I think the longer handled version is most likely the better version.

I have had my SFA for about 15 years also inspired by Ray Mears but over the years I tended to find I would use the boy’s axe or large forest axe more due its overall utility. Thanks for watching Chris!

@@bundufundi Where did you get the leather protector from for the SFA

@@northernembersoutdoors1045 I actually made it myself. Send me an email with your address and I’ll make you one.

@@bundufundi hi mate, thanks for that, I'll email you tonight, how do we go about payment?

@@northernembersoutdoors1045 Hi Chris I sent you an email.

For anyone reading this down the road, absolutely true. The proprietary steel Gransfors uses is equivalent to the steel Council Tool uses in their sport utility / budget line. Almost every company that makes premium axes in the US uses better steel, such as 5160 used by CT on their Velvicut / premium line. For those of us in the US, you're way better off buying domestic than Scandinavian.

@@WeFightTheDark It isnt "superior". Steel is a tradeoff and has better and worse properties depending on what you want.

Thanks for the great feedback! I also have the Frost river and agree that it is very heavy and also really needs some sort of frame for support, a project I am currently working on and a future video! The rucksack I used here was a modern Fjallraven copy of the original Bergan or Ludwig pack used by the Norwegian military. The originals are very good but this copy has some flaws and I'm not sure they are still available. I will definitely do a video on some of my rucksacks and the pro's and cons of each.

CT are a great company, so glad they are still going strong and still manufacturing in the US.

Thanks!

In that case the CT is the winner hands down! If I was looking for a utility axe then the CT boys axe, red version, is very cheap and very good. I hope they are still making that line and not just the more expensive versions.

@@bundufundi they still have their value line of axes which are still very popular in addition to their premium line of axes. I have their pack axe and their Velvicut Hudson Bay axe. I prefer the pack axe.

@@erichill5206 Yes, I think they have a winning design there. It’s a bit different to most others in that size and weight and has obviously been thought through very well for its end purpose. I really enjoy using the pack axe and often pick it off the rack over most of the others when I head to the woods.

I think it was an older version of the Braemar.

$235! That’s crazy, there are definitely cheaper options available that are just as good.

I later replaced the handle with a 24", here's the video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-81QnjEY47Uw.htmlsi=bthY01irsxfSq7N9

I like the look of the camp carver and have been on the lookout for a while to try and get one over here. Looks like a great option.

Its a heavy head for a short handle and got tiring using it for a long time. Good steel and an interesting design though.

Thanks Tim, the cheap range of CT axes are very good for the money but they are not easy to get this side of the pond unfortunately.

Council tool is 40 bucks cheaper and it'll last a lifetime with maybe a rehang or 2 but that's not really hard to do so it's a buy once cry once type of deal. Not like buying a $200 milwaukee drill that'll last 5 years and need to be tossed out or expensive to repair...its definitely an axe for outdoor gear guys tho

Thanks Brett, in can be very picturesque when we aren’t covered in rain!

Out of the box these work better as general purpose axes but for a third of the price and some shaping of the handle and bit you could get pretty close. Also the husky has a longer handle than the CT which is definitely better for an axe over 1kg I think.

@@bundufundi that's pretty much what I was thinking, cheers. Still haven't worked out what to do with the husky.

The Large Forest Axe / Boys Axe size is the best utility axe size I think with the extra weight and handle length. Husqvarna or Hults Bruk have more reasonable offerings than GB. Pretty cool to be working for a bushcraft distributor, did you pick up some cool stuff from them?

Maybe! 😂

Definitely the HB is going to be the best option in my opinion. Those are crazy prices but I think CT is a lot cheaper in the states which makes it a good bet but only on the longer handle.

@@bundufundi agreed on the HB! The CTs are nice for sure though, there's a few different models I like the look of but no dealers that I know of that carry the sport utility line here. I've been tempted by the woodcraft 24 a few times!

Great choice Jason, I bought my SFA when they were cheap but would go with a Hultafors now due to the crazy Gransfors prices. Thanks for watching!

The camp carver looks like a very nice axe and I think it would be a good option. A longer handle would definitely make it more versatile and I agree the curved handles are much more comfortable to use in my opinion. Smedbergs do very nice replacement handles which is what I eventually put on my CT. I got the 24" option but you could try the 19" version for yours. I think they are the company that make the handles for Gransfors Bruk.

@@bundufundi That You so much for Your thoughtful answer !! I dont have decided upon an axe yet (except I have a 'long' Fiskars splitting axe). I like to think that my Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri Plus shuld justify itself instead of a hatchet/'small axe', so it all begun when I got intrigued by the scadinavian forest axe (longer model ofl the GB 'Small Forest Axe'). When EACH tool becomes a multipurpose; you still end up with more than one :-) " For small construction and hammering (hardened for), but still longer : I dont understand why the CT Camp Carver would not instantly become more than a competitor to the GB's regular Forest axe (that with a 19-20" curved handle). The curved 19" CT Pack axe is perhaps the solution. (The CT long version Carving, with strait handle looks off to me.). Purchase one, then send it to Smedbergs.. or ask them, ok.. I will look into that (!) but I'm not a user enough. Someone (You?) 'should' make a bundled order - fitted with clever leniard.. for resale... (Or I challenge myself to adapt a modified curved handle if the 'long' strait one is indeed not satisfactory). Again thanks for having 'validated' my first step :-) BTB any thoughts about the Sibbulat and Fenix axes?

That’s for sure, I have so much cool outdoor gear made in Sweden.

It is a ventile smock made by a company in Scotland called Hilltrek. This is the double layered version.

Thank you!

How so?

Thank you!

I made it myself.

That’s a real shame, the CT axes I have were all ok, but so often companies do this.

Thanks, I have since rehandled the CT on a 24” handle and it is one of my favourite axes now.

That’s the exact ax I’m looking at right now it seems really well balanced

Which Fiskars would you choose for a comparable axe? (I can't afford the others)

The GB axes are very well made and as you say, lovely in the hand. I also bought mine for much cheaper than they are today. Mine was £45 about 12 years ago which was not bad really. Thanks for watching!