My late father, the ole ‘Sea Captain’ used to say ‘most people know the price of everything - and the value of nothing’. It’s not just an axe, it’s an extension of yourself. VERY important for something that can maim you deep in the woods. Cheers from the West Coast.

I have a 1911 Swedish Mauser made at the Carl Gustav arms factory and each seperate part of that rifle has a Swedish Crown and the last 3 digits of the serial number stamped into it. The reciever, barrel, and bolt also all have the inspector's initials stamped into it as well. For being 111 years old, the quality, condition, and functionality are as good as any other tool or object I own or have ever owned. Stainless steel had just been invented a few decades prior, but the steel they used on that rifle is some of the best I've ever seen. So seeing that crown and the initials I didn't for a second doubt that this axe would be anything less.

My Gransfors Bruks small forest axe is my go to. They really are amazing tools when you handle them it just makes you happy inside. It’s hard to explain.

Kevin, great video. Do you have a small wheel with angle markers ? I ask because the edge you created looks like it is quite a bit thicker than 18 degrees. I'm willing to be wrong, I'd like to know. If it cuts it doesn't matter, you've created the right geometry but visually, I'm curious to know if I'm correct.

I am a forest property owner and I get intrigued when you talk about how many just use their axe for a bit of kindling and stuff like that. I only use the axe for splitting some kindling or some odd firewood and perhaps when I find the odd small tree I want to lop or cut and move out of the way. All jobs that make it worthwhile to start it, I use a chainsaw. What work are you doing that makes you use your ax a lot every day?

I have only broken my maul handle, and that's from overstriking. I think handles should feel comfortable to the user. Thinner is usually better but some guys have bigger hands.

Would you recommend getting this axe or the Hultafors aby/åby? I will use it as a bushcraft axe, some light splitting and stuff like that

For a quick touch up sharpening my Scandinavian GB, I use a diamond dia-sharp DMT stone. No water or oil needed. Plus it will sharpen harder steel better the typical wet stones in my experience. Razor sharp on my GB and Tuatahi.

I'm interested in the highly protective boots that I'll see in the second half, but will they protect me from unexpected ax attacks?

I did not bone the Gransfors Bruk logo off my SFA. I am not a bushcrafter, but I am an outdoorsman. I am going to buy the Scandinavian Forest Axe as my next acquisition. I have a shop full of axes, so I really do not need another axe. The hang on my SFA was perfect and would shave hair on my arm. It was made by Matthias Blitz, MB.

New sub here. Great video brother. This video helped me pull the trigger on getting my Scandi axe today. I’m probably gonna mod the handle pretty similar to what you did.

hey mate love your vid and liking your attitude too. if you had to choose 1 axe - would u go for this axe or the longer american felling axe? cheers

I just bought a Gransfors Bruks Scandinavian Forest Axe and the grain in the handle runs perfectly horizontal not vertical (opposite direction of the axe head/ opposite of the one you have)...is that normal for these axes? It's the opposite of anything I've ever known about how grain should run in an axe handle (except for a straight handle).

I’m not a bushcraft guy and realistically just split wood at campsites. The small splitting axe was the obvious choice for me.

Ive used the Hultafors Agdor chopping axes as they have a similar design head and grind but with a little centerline they are nice axes sadly that one was a friends I bought for him for camping and bushcraft. They are definitely a capable tool no matter what anyone says and a good contender (and its half the price) for the out of the box solution although admittedly I immediately insisted on thinning out the section near the throat like a Ball peen hammer like Steven Edholm did with his just to give it some more flex.

I think you’d be surprised what a the small forest axe can do. I have a hasqvarna 26 inch and the gransfors 19 inch and it’s just so much more handy and compact while still being a formidable little axe. Definitely use it much more just for the convenience, even if it’s not quite as capable.

I used to have a Small Forrest Axe by GB - had to let it go, was sticking in the wood too much, I see that this axe has the same problem. Cuts deep but get stuck with almost every swing.

Good point re: Power hammers - Believe the majority of axe production throughout the 1800's and early 1900's was usually by trip hammers powered by waterwheels. As soon as there was technology to make axe making more efficient people used it, that's what allowed axe production to be industrialised and expanded. Countless vintage axes were made this way. So I agree there's no place for misplaced modern axe snobbery IMO; Great channel Kev, keep posting : )

I am 13 and I use axes since I was very small. I agree with you in the handle breaking stuff, It won’t break for a long time unless its getting overstriked or maybe the quality is bad.

I like your take on things. I’m trying to decide between the Small Forest Axe and the Gransfors Splitting Hatchet for use on shorter backpacking trips (overnight trips). It will be used exclusively for splitting logs cut with a saw. Splitting hatchet seems like the winner, but it weighs 3.3 pounds.

I’ve used my scandanavian GB for several years. I had to increase the cutting edge angle for use in hardwoods. Excellent axe but I prefer my Tuatahi trapper axe from New Zealand.

I was like you I didn't wanna spend the money but now I have 2x gransfors bruks, splitting wedges, splitting maul, felling axe, drawknife, 3 vintage double bit heads need to hang new handles. Cool you made this axe your own on the mods.

What is your per hour labor? If 30, or $40 dollars per hr and you spent 2 additional hours getting it ready, then you total cost is $80 more than 200 or $280

What’re your feelings about the LAMACA axes? They made the light forest axe as direct competition to this axe. They also make a cruiser as well. I will battle you on the hand forged debate.. another time though ;)~

What’s that magic stick you used to make fire

How do you pass on a double blade ax?

Is a 430 or a 434 Model?

What glove size do you use

I’ve hesitated pulling the trigger on one of these on more than one occasion. I will eventually break down and buy one, but it’s hard to justify spend $200+ on an axe when I can buy a vintage American axe and make a custom handle for it for a fraction of the price.

Do you have try the american felling from gba ? Its a good axe too

I have the same axe and the same complains. I got a blood blister with my after about 15-30min of use. The bit doesn't chop that well but is good enough for fresh trees and dried softwoods. Its unusable with dried hardwoods, the shock is very intense after just one swing. Does that mean the axe is bad? No its good but requires work which is not a bad thing since different people have different needs and there is a lot of material to work with. I will say the head is very hard and difficult to work with so that hard steel is not necessary a good thing.

I just came across your channel and I did subscribe.... so seeing how you get out and use your tools I greatly appreciate your opinion. I was going to buy a quality small chopping axe because I've always used the box store stuff but I'm older now and can afford it. I don't mind spending 200 or more. The problem i have is not having friends that own quality axes so after research and....lol....and youtube....lol.... good old interweb I came to the gransfors bruks Scandinavian forest axe or the council tool velvicut 24 inch camp axe. Could you recommend 1 over the other or something completely different thats quality. I'd like to stick with a head about 1.75-2.25lbs its just for camp processing small wood cutting some stakes....limbing branches.... THANKS FOR YOUR HELP

Did you move the lanyard hole much?

COOL Video 👍 Thank U for the Info 👍 U got a new subscriber... Greetings from Vienna

Hey good video. Are you located in the midwest by chance? I am a Hults Bruks dealer getting ready to put my first order in. Any suggestions?

A messer (German for "knife") is a single-edged sword with a knife-like hilt construction. While the various names are often used synonymously, messers are divided into two types: Messer Type Sword Service history In service c. 1300-1500 Specifications Mass avg. .96-1.4 kg (2.1-3.1 lb) Length avg. 75-113 cm (30-44 in) Blade length avg. 62-85 cm (24-33 in) Blade type Single-edged Hilt type Cruciform and riveted, with end cap or pommel and nagel A Kriegsmesser in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. Lange Messer ("long knives") are one-handed swords used by Bourgeoisie (middle-class civilians) for personal self-defence.[1] They were about a meter long and may have evolved from the Bauernwehr ("peasant's sidearm"). They are also known as Großes Messer (Great Knife). Kriegsmesser ("war knife") are curved weapons up to 1.5m long, used with one or two hands, and normally wielded by professional warriors of the 14th to 16th century, such as the Landsknecht.

That little fire blow pipe at 17:35 is pretty cool too

What are you doing hitting the exact same place each time you swing into the wood? That’s not the way I do it. I’m like lightning. I never hit the same place twice.🤨

o it's certainly not an Uncle Pimpys, but i like it (almost bought one once upon a time :) > thanks for another uniquely entertaining vid !

OMG, I needed a good laugh. THANKS hahaha

I bought that axe for my brother who does a lot of camping. It's a fine axe but not great in any area.

Better than a och iltis axe ?

Now you need to grow out a man bun and drink pumpkin spiced lattes! Haha.

Popular because they are quality 👌

It hurt my heart to see you shaving off the logo 😢

I would say my vintage $30 plumb would kick its butt any day😊

Wear gloves to keep down blood blisters and stay off Sir Donald.

And let's remember Council Tool's Pack Axe and Carver. They as well as all Velvicut axe heads are forged of 5160 steel that have unconditional lifetime guarantee. Best choice worldwide all sourced and "hand forged" here in the 🇺🇸.

Man i love your kindling splitting method! Notching a log and laying it in the notch is so much safer then free hand.

Did you happen to notice, when you were shaving off the name, that the company's name is Gransfors Bruk? haha

If you enjoyed Machiavelli and macro-politics/power, you might enjoy Yockey's Imperium.

The steel wedge is missing in the head

You get a "true chisel grind"? Chisel is flat on one side.

People get all weird and conflated about the silliest things these days. If you're more worried about being that guy than not, then you might be that guy. 😅 There's a big difference between a production axe and an adventure/hobby axe and they have different uses. Even hatchets are great. Mall ninja tomahawks though... yeah. maybe not quite so much. I'm not knocking either (I'm also not saying that it isn't sometimes warranted), but there is a difference between a way of life and a life style. Cheers. 🍻

It's obviously a good axe, but at a $200 price point? IMHO, not, considering these alternatives. If one must have an axe with C50 "Swedish steel" (AISI 1050 equivalent 😆), then Hults Bruk is to be looked at. I bought their Torneo, now discontinued, as my pack axe. With a head weight of 1.75 lbs and 26" club handle its weight is 2.8 lbs. The retail average price of $110, I bought mine for $80 total. Same issues as Gransfors it needed sharpening and severe thinning that took me 12 hours to complete. Yes, both are good, but IMHO, NOT GREAT. There are other much less expensive options, namely the Council Tool line; my favored. Their Utility Boy's Axe. Head weight 2.25 on either a 24" or 28" handle that doesn't need thinning and weight of 2.5 and 2.8 lbs, though sharpening is still required for best performance. At $42-$48, I think this the best bang. CT's Utility line steel is AISI 1060 and their heat treat is second to none. At the Gransfors price I'd choose the Council Tool Velvicut Boy's Bad Axe. Though it weighs 3.6 lbs with a 2.5 lb head on a 28" handle there are the following advantages. The geometry is perfectly balanced for chopping and splitting and it's honed to perfection right out of the box. It comes with a full sheath with D-rings to attach a shoulder strap and priced $142-$171. If I had to choose a one only axe from the ten I have, the CT Boy's Bad Axe would be the one. Just my 2 ¢.

I still don't understand why you avoided it

P.S. Mods? I thought I heard you say it was ready out of the box. Count me NOT in the Gransfors or Hults Bruk fan club. Yeah, it's an axe, soooo....?

Lmao around 4:45 cause we gotta be pc now cause everyone will throw a tantrum if not

Me wondering why tf You Would basically ruin the handle. Now instead of a big palm swell you have none

The new iteration of Council Tool's Hudson Bay axe closely resembles this, save for the CT HB is more of a wedge and it has a tempered poll. Two handle length and you could buy the CT HBs for the price of one. Plus is the superior steel and haft of the CT HB. IMHO the whole line of Gransfors and other European axes is only perpetuated by it's cult following here in the U.S. Are you feeling me? If you haven't had another axe that was ready to chop out of the box, then it's a dead giveaway that you don't own any CT Velvicut. Enough said. I think you're wrestling with convincing yourself, but I disagree. You could have got more for less.

It's not a chisel grind kind sir. A chisel grind has a one sided bevel.

It is Drop Forged not Hand Forged

In a world with quality axes significantly cheaper than this and where anyone buying and using an axe should know how to tune and maintain it (and should expect to), GB just doesn't strike me as worth the money at all. Bad? Absolutely not. I just think there is quite the diminished return on all the extra dollars.

Wetterling is better. That is why Bruks bought them out and now Wetterling makes axes for them. Wetterling is much better and the seath way better then Bruks. No comparison. I have an original Wetterling Back country axe and a Burks Small forest axe and no comparison. Not only the axe but the sheath is not cheat looking and Bruks looks and feels cheap.I also have a Les Shroud Bushmans axe by Wetterling witch is awesome. They discontinued it.

I tried, but my writing skills are not sufficient to convey how I recently busted the handle on my 2.25kg Jauregi. I'm going to keep this sheath design in mind for the next one I make. I'm also apolitical as far as the false left-right paradigm is concerned, but I very much seek to know the truth of what is really going on in this wicked world.

Never use an axe to pry wood apart. You will weaken the handle.

BRUK BRUK BRUK BRUK it says it on the name print on the handle on every single one , NOT BRUKS . Why in the hell can no one get it right LOL

Good review enjoyed that - just subbed will check out your other vids 👍🏽 Check my work out not as serous but fun - atb

$200 for that AXE. You've must be drunked when you order it. Like you've said.. you just payed for the BRAND. 80% of it's worth. Now you can nail it to an wall as a reminder to never do a stupidity like that ever again.

I'm too poor to buy cheap tools

I still wouldn't pay $200

cheap axe handles are the worst. Husky's are a no-no

Get some work boots.

why!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comparing Nike, a global fashion giant whose products are largely made using near slave labor, with a tiny Swedish axe company which employs experienced professional artisans and is "popular" because they make the highest quality product in their category on Earth is ridiculous. That's like comparing a Ferrari F1 car to a Ford Fiesta.

if you think the wounds in your hands is from the axe,, no its because your not using an axe so often, no fault on tha grip...

The best axe money can buy? That's a joke, right? I bet all of GB axes against one of my axes!

Get to the point and stop all that circle ⭕️ talk. 😁