I like your video! Nice review and strong points! I think that these axes have two different purposes. The curved edge, should bite deeper. The flat edge will bite wider but not as deep. On smaller timber the small axe with the curved edge will fly through. On larger trees the curved edge will sink in too deep and be a struggle to manage back and forth. The wide flat edge will chip larger trees better with a more controllable depth.
10:00 the shape of the grind being "shallow" on the edges and "deeper" at the middle gives the blade a narrower, deeper cutting profile... the blade is ground more from a "single, flat position"... this results in the grind pattern you find on the Hults Bruk...
I think an Akka/Aby from HB/Hultafors would be a more fair comparison with your GB, as the handle length and edge straightness/edge grind is more similar. My main problem with GB is the edge thinness, since chopping wood isn't the only thing I do with my axe and I feel like Hultafors Aby really fills my uses better due to its geometry and overall head design. Nice video.
I have the same 2 axes. The Gransfors is mine the HB is my wife's. Both do great job at everything I've thrown at them. Gransfors came a bit sharper though. I don't think you can go wrong owning both of them. My wife just wanted a shorter handle than my GB, so HB is what she got.
My HB is better than myvGB at splitting by far. The GB is a great felling axe,but I like my HB Aneby more. I hunt back deep in swamps and bogs in Northern Michigan and have used it often to camp overnight. It's great for camp work and felling as well. Both worth the money.HB has been around iver 300 years. If any other business today had that longevity .I would put my faith in them as well
Just would like to point out that hults bruk has been making axes for almost 200 years longer than gransfors bruk. that being said there's probably a reason why they chose the grind angle and shape that they did.
Just because you have made something for a long time doesn't mean you make it right. I am not trying to say HB doesn't know how to make a tool, but this blade shape is not the best.
The shape is because it's a hunting axe. You can use it for light wood cutting, carving, or skinning animals. The curve mimics the curved edge of a skinning knife. For those that don't want this, HB sells other small axes with a straighter edge more similar to the GB.
@@AlaskanFrontier1 gransfors is overpriced and of poor quality. I've seen more videos where gransfors failed, or flaws were found...they are nice axes, but hultafors is better quality. that's a fact.
The Husqvarna is made by Hults (I believe), so You can get one of those for about half the money and put the lit and finish on it the way that you like.
I bought the HB. It's beautiful and really nicely crafted in the feel and weight. It's not cheap though you are right. Ha Ha I can't figure out how to tie the cover on like I got it! It would be nicer with an easier system there but it's still pretty great. I never had a camping axe before. I'll be careful!
A have a few Gransfors and Wetterlings and one Hults, the Akka. It's a good axe. I hand picked mine so it has perfect grain, it came sharp as a razor, fitment and grind is good. I'd say it fits right in quality wise with the Gransfors and Wetterlings. I'd say better fit and finish than the Wetterlings for sure. All in all you can't go wrong with any of the 3, but for a pure survival axe that is virtually indestructible and surprisingly good I'd take the Fiskars X7 hatchet over any of them.
Forgot it again, but remember a few, 4 GBA axes are made by the former Wetterlings company Splitting Maul and Outdoors axe, the 2 others might be 2 other splitters, but again, can't remember.
I still haven’t stepped up to a fancy axe. So far my Fiskars axes and hatchets have been bomb proof year round. But, I wouldn’t turn a nice traditional tool down! Take care.
I have a Gransfors wildlife hatchet and a Fiskars X7. I like the Fiskars better, it just plain chops better, you cant hurt it and you can buy 5 of them for the price of one GB. The steel is on the soft side but it lasts long enough to get the job done, doesn't chip or roll and takes a couple minutes to get back to a razors edge. It's a very underrated tool IMO
Correct, it's a hunting axe and they intentionally round it just like a skinning knife. In their catalog, they even mention this fact. They also make other small axes with a straighter edge that are not made for skinning duty.
Wilderness Way here on the Kenai is still stocking GBA. But I would look at Council tool as they have really stepped up in the last few years in their offerings. Northern Knives in Anchorage stocks them.
Hults Bruk for me. GB are overrated in my opinion. They are nice axes, but so many people claim they are the greatest axe ever made, but i can name a bunch of other brands and axes that cost way less that perform better than GB. And i just think for the price, i just cant justify a purchase, personally. (I'd happily accept any GB as a gift tho ;) )
The warning is not stupid on the company’s part. It clearly is put there to help avoid litigation liability. Also, having owned HB and GBA, the HB dheath is superior as it covers the eye of the axe, is made of thicker, more durable leather and adjusts easily to accommodate a strike guard. Overall I found GBA and HB premium axes to be of roughly equal quality, with some individual variation from axe to axe which is not surprising given that they are handmade. So the comparison of two axes - especially given the two axes are quite different models made for somewhat different purposes. The review/comparison is not worth much accordingly.
The warning could be on a removable sticker. Having it embossed into the wood makes the lovely hickory handle look ugly. It's not a big deal but I enjoy looking at well made tools and putting something like that on it ruins the aesthetic.
Really good in-depth look at the 2 companies. I’ve been debating which hatchet to get as a pure chopping and wood splitter. Don’t need to feather stick or carve since I’ve got plenty of knives for that. Are there other companies with similar design philosophy as gransfor you can recommend for those 2 purposes?
Wetterlings was sold to Gransfors. The only thing that Grangfors kept was the Wetterlings forge. You can still get Granfors Bruk in the USA. They are shipped from Sweeden to the US in batches so US retailers sometimes sell out before another batch comes through.
It’s funny because there’s another GB vs HB comparison that is almost the exact opposite of issues. The GB has head gaps and the HB is perfect. I have both and both are basically perfect. These axes aren’t mass produced off a line so comparisons of fitment and what not is almost impossible from axe to axe.
Good video my friend. Gransfors Bruks is still available in the US. My local Woodworking store carries them. They get what they can when they can they don't know what GBA will send them. Wetterlings I believe is defunct now and actually owned and controlled by GBA. Great axes. I'd suggest, if you can find one, get a vintage GBA axe head and then a replacement GBA handle and make your own. You can get yourself a $200+ axe for under $100 and have the same great quality. I actually use my vintage GBA head more than my newer GBA SFA. It's a 2lb vintage head I haft onto a 25" GBA Scandanavian handle and it's my favorite truck, ATV, woods carry and cabin axe. Just a thought.
New to axes so pretty informative thanks for your insight. As for blade grind and profile, is there a difference in what is desired for felling & chopping vs splitting? Seems like a chopping axe would be more thick wedged in profile and a felling axe a more gradual sharper grind? Hope to hear back, but am now interested and will look into it further, thanks.
Chopping and Felling axes generally have thinner longer bits for cutting cross grain through wood. Whereas a splitting axe will be more wedge shaped with a shorted but thicker bit
Husqvarna make the camp hatchet, it has a very nice handle. The grain is perfect! The edge needs sharpening to how you want it. Same hatchet has the Hults bruks. And is .ess than half the price. Get 3 instead of GB wildlife hatchet. And far better handle than GB! They are all made by the same forges. Seriously people. You don't think a small forge can produce enough axes for fhe world! Wetterlings forge made GB's axes. One company own them all!
90% of the time the wood was not dry enough when it was put in the axe...and it will start to wiggle over time...having those gaps will just add to that wiggle over time....you take out the handle and rehang it...you don't need a new one ;)
You cannot compare these two axes, the longer handle has 2 times more power at cutting , don't understand why people do that , it's like comparing bike wheels 700c vs 36C at speed 🤣🤣🤣
If I could hide your channel from my search results, I would. Every video I’ve seen that you have made has incredible faults. You’re comparing apples to oranges and, honestly I’m not sure you have a clue what you’re talking about. Don’t get me wrong, both of these companies are great. Your points are just garbage.
Yeah but after some time you have to buy a new one because of crap quality. A GB could last for 50 years of use easy. I use one from my grandfather, almost 50 years old.
@@DarkZtorm Amen brother... I'll spend the extra money for a quality product. Especially a handcrafted product. I just ordered my first HB and I can't wait to get it. Look at Bark River knives. They are the ultimate tool but they are also heirlooms.
Gransfors and Hults Bruk axes are handmade and quality tools that are meant to be passed down to your children. Walmart axes are typically Chinese imitations meant to throw away after they get dull. The Walmart axe will have hot spots that give you blisters if you use it all day while camping. The GB and HB axes have perfectly shaped handles with no hot spots and treated with boiled linseed oil to protect the wood while giving the perfect amount of grip. To each their own.
Yes, totally true. I just got a Marble hunting axe, 18” overall length, 2 pounds total. Brand new $16.66 + $3.99 shipping from: SMKW (Smoky Mountain Knife Works). It’s eventually going to get left outside, dropped, broken handle, etc. I see no reason to spend $200 for an axe. If it was a Japanese kitchen knife, then yes
I like your video! Nice review and strong points! I think that these axes have two different purposes. The curved edge, should bite deeper. The flat edge will bite wider but not as deep. On smaller timber the small axe with the curved edge will fly through. On larger trees the curved edge will sink in too deep and be a struggle to manage back and forth. The wide flat edge will chip larger trees better with a more controllable depth.
Thank you for watching! That is a great point I had not thought of, thank you for bringing that to my attention.
10:00 the shape of the grind being "shallow" on the edges and "deeper" at the middle gives the blade a narrower, deeper cutting profile... the blade is ground more from a "single, flat position"... this results in the grind pattern you find on the Hults Bruk...
I think an Akka/Aby from HB/Hultafors would be a more fair comparison with your GB, as the handle length and edge straightness/edge grind is more similar. My main problem with GB is the edge thinness, since chopping wood isn't the only thing I do with my axe and I feel like Hultafors Aby really fills my uses better due to its geometry and overall head design. Nice video.
Thanks for the feedback. I will look into them.
I have the same 2 axes. The Gransfors is mine the HB is my wife's. Both do great job at everything I've thrown at them. Gransfors came a bit sharper though. I don't think you can go wrong owning both of them. My wife just wanted a shorter handle than my GB, so HB is what she got.
My HB is better than myvGB at splitting by far.
The GB is a great felling axe,but I like my HB Aneby more.
I hunt back deep in swamps and bogs in Northern Michigan and have used it often to camp overnight. It's great for camp work and felling as well.
Both worth the money.HB has been around iver 300 years.
If any other business today had that longevity .I would put my faith in them as well
Thanks for sharing!
I have the akka foresters axe and i cant live without it
I bet it's nice!
Just would like to point out that hults bruk has been making axes for almost 200 years longer than gransfors bruk. that being said there's probably a reason why they chose the grind angle and shape that they did.
Just because you have made something for a long time doesn't mean you make it right. I am not trying to say HB doesn't know how to make a tool, but this blade shape is not the best.
@@AlaskanFrontier1 I'm sure they've made them the wrong way for 300 years 🙄
The shape is because it's a hunting axe. You can use it for light wood cutting, carving, or skinning animals. The curve mimics the curved edge of a skinning knife. For those that don't want this, HB sells other small axes with a straighter edge more similar to the GB.
@@AlaskanFrontier1 gransfors is overpriced and of poor quality. I've seen more videos where gransfors failed, or flaws were found...they are nice axes, but hultafors is better quality. that's a fact.
The Husqvarna is made by Hults (I believe), so You can get one of those for about half the money and put the lit and finish on it the way that you like.
Not a bad option to be honest. Even if it's made by someone else, they are pretty great tools.
Husqvarna axe is using the same steel as Hults Bruk. The finish on Husqvarna is ruffer.
I bought the HB. It's beautiful and really nicely crafted in the feel and weight. It's not cheap though you are right. Ha Ha I can't figure out how to tie the cover on like I got it! It would be nicer with an easier system there but it's still pretty great. I never had a camping axe before. I'll be careful!
A have a few Gransfors and Wetterlings and one Hults, the Akka. It's a good axe. I hand picked mine so it has perfect grain, it came sharp as a razor, fitment and grind is good. I'd say it fits right in quality wise with the Gransfors and Wetterlings. I'd say better fit and finish than the Wetterlings for sure. All in all you can't go wrong with any of the 3, but for a pure survival axe that is virtually indestructible and surprisingly good I'd take the Fiskars X7 hatchet over any of them.
Thanks for sharing your experience. The Fiskars are good for sure.
Isn't x7 plastic. Isn't x7 garbage? You are kidding right?
Look its perfect all Hultafors are like that an it will NOT LOOSEN UP
Forgot it again, but remember a few, 4 GBA axes are made by the former Wetterlings company Splitting Maul and Outdoors axe, the 2 others might be 2 other splitters, but again, can't remember.
I still haven’t stepped up to a fancy axe. So far my Fiskars axes and hatchets have been bomb proof year round.
But, I wouldn’t turn a nice traditional tool down!
Take care.
I can understand. It is a leap!
I have a Gransfors wildlife hatchet and a Fiskars X7. I like the Fiskars better, it just plain chops better, you cant hurt it and you can buy 5 of them for the price of one GB. The steel is on the soft side but it lasts long enough to get the job done, doesn't chip or roll and takes a couple minutes to get back to a razors edge. It's a very underrated tool IMO
One thing I forgot to mention.You stated the grind was rounded on the HB and not as deep.
That is purposely done so the axe can be used for skinnig.
Okay
Correct, it's a hunting axe and they intentionally round it just like a skinning knife. In their catalog, they even mention this fact. They also make other small axes with a straighter edge that are not made for skinning duty.
Love the sheath much better&more robust then GBAor SA
That was an honest in depth review thank you
Glad it was helpful!
That was helpful. Thanks for sharing. I have two GBAs, I guess I’ll keep them.
Definitely. GBA's Are amazing
In the uk gränsfors are pretty readily available but wetterlings aren't, not sure about the rest of Europe tho.
Thanks for letting me know!
Wilderness Way here on the Kenai is still stocking GBA. But I would look at Council tool as they have really stepped up in the last few years in their offerings. Northern Knives in Anchorage stocks them.
Can you please send me a link to Wilderness Ways website?
@@AlaskanFrontier1 Their website is not working but you can find them on Facebook @wildernesswayAK
@@Winchparts thank you!
Hults Bruk for me. GB are overrated in my opinion. They are nice axes, but so many people claim they are the greatest axe ever made, but i can name a bunch of other brands and axes that cost way less that perform better than GB. And i just think for the price, i just cant justify a purchase, personally. (I'd happily accept any GB as a gift tho ;) )
Interesting, thanks for the feedback
@@AlaskanFrontier1 thanks for the good content! Cheers
The warning is not stupid on the company’s part. It clearly is put there to help avoid litigation liability.
Also, having owned HB and GBA, the HB dheath is superior as it covers the eye of the axe, is made of thicker, more durable leather and adjusts easily to accommodate a strike guard. Overall I found GBA and HB premium axes to be of roughly equal quality, with some individual variation from axe to axe which is not surprising given that they are handmade. So the comparison of two axes - especially given the two axes are quite different models made for somewhat different purposes. The review/comparison is not worth much accordingly.
The warning could be on a removable sticker. Having it embossed into the wood makes the lovely hickory handle look ugly. It's not a big deal but I enjoy looking at well made tools and putting something like that on it ruins the aesthetic.
Really good in-depth look at the 2 companies. I’ve been debating which hatchet to get as a pure chopping and wood splitter. Don’t need to feather stick or carve since I’ve got plenty of knives for that. Are there other companies with similar design philosophy as gransfor you can recommend for those 2 purposes?
Maybe Council Tools?
GBA is available in Canada from Canadian Outdoor Outfitters. Maybe I shouldn’t of said anything.
We are coming for your GBA's
Wetterlings was sold to Gransfors. The only thing that Grangfors kept was the Wetterlings forge. You can still get Granfors Bruk in the USA. They are shipped from Sweeden to the US in batches so US retailers sometimes sell out before another batch comes through.
Thanks for letting me know.
It’s funny because there’s another GB vs HB comparison that is almost the exact opposite of issues. The GB has head gaps and the HB is perfect. I have both and both are basically perfect. These axes aren’t mass produced off a line so comparisons of fitment and what not is almost impossible from axe to axe.
Interesting
Good video my friend. Gransfors Bruks is still available in the US. My local Woodworking store carries them. They get what they can when they can they don't know what GBA will send them. Wetterlings I believe is defunct now and actually owned and controlled by GBA. Great axes. I'd suggest, if you can find one, get a vintage GBA axe head and then a replacement GBA handle and make your own. You can get yourself a $200+ axe for under $100 and have the same great quality. I actually use my vintage GBA head more than my newer GBA SFA. It's a 2lb vintage head I haft onto a 25" GBA Scandanavian handle and it's my favorite truck, ATV, woods carry and cabin axe. Just a thought.
New to axes so pretty informative thanks for your insight. As for blade grind and profile, is there a difference in what is desired for felling & chopping vs splitting? Seems like a chopping axe would be more thick wedged in profile and a felling axe a more gradual sharper grind? Hope to hear back, but am now interested and will look into it further, thanks.
Chopping and Felling axes generally have thinner longer bits for cutting cross grain through wood. Whereas a splitting axe will be more wedge shaped with a shorted but thicker bit
Go look at GB videos and you will see the same issues. It seems all of the forges push out stuff to fast and this stuff gets by.
Hmmmm...... That's unfortunate.
@@AlaskanFrontier1 yes it is, good bye.
Not my favorite review would like to see a one year review of the axe
Might just have to
Husqvarna make the camp hatchet, it has a very nice handle. The grain is perfect! The edge needs sharpening to how you want it. Same hatchet has the Hults bruks. And is .ess than half the price. Get 3 instead of GB wildlife hatchet. And far better handle than GB! They are all made by the same forges. Seriously people. You don't think a small forge can produce enough axes for fhe world! Wetterlings forge made GB's axes. One company own them all!
That is a point, though I am not entirely sold on my Husqvarna hatchets.
Ill pick gransfors all day long over hults bruk.
Same
I had this decision months back- a GBA wildlife hatchet or a Hults Bruks for about the same price... I found the GBA to be far superior to the HB.
Agreed!!
90% of the time the wood was not dry enough when it was put in the axe...and it will start to wiggle over time...having those gaps will just add to that wiggle over time....you take out the handle and rehang it...you don't need a new one ;)
Good trick
No contst between these two. HB does a better job on most of their Husqavarna axes in my opinion. They are all good but you cannot compare to GB
You cannot compare these two axes, the longer handle has 2 times more power at cutting , don't understand why people do that , it's like comparing bike wheels 700c vs 36C at speed 🤣🤣🤣
Dude do some resarch before making videos
If I could hide your channel from my search results, I would. Every video I’ve seen that you have made has incredible faults. You’re comparing apples to oranges and, honestly I’m not sure you have a clue what you’re talking about. Don’t get me wrong, both of these companies are great. Your points are just garbage.
They're axes. How can an axe be good or bad? What's the world coming to?
Its not one "good" or one "bad" simply breaking down the build quality in contrast to each other. Both companies honestly make great products
$ 149 for a hand axe is outrageous.
A $ 35 wall-mart axe does the same job.
You may be onto something.
Yeah but after some time you have to buy a new one because of crap quality.
A GB could last for 50 years of use easy. I use one from my grandfather, almost 50 years old.
@@DarkZtorm Amen brother... I'll spend the extra money for a quality product. Especially a handcrafted product. I just ordered my first HB and I can't wait to get it. Look at Bark River knives. They are the ultimate tool but they are also heirlooms.
Gransfors and Hults Bruk axes are handmade and quality tools that are meant to be passed down to your children. Walmart axes are typically Chinese imitations meant to throw away after they get dull. The Walmart axe will have hot spots that give you blisters if you use it all day while camping. The GB and HB axes have perfectly shaped handles with no hot spots and treated with boiled linseed oil to protect the wood while giving the perfect amount of grip. To each their own.
Yes, totally true. I just got a Marble hunting axe, 18” overall length, 2 pounds total. Brand new $16.66 + $3.99 shipping from: SMKW (Smoky Mountain Knife Works). It’s eventually going to get left outside, dropped, broken handle, etc. I see no reason to spend $200 for an axe. If it was a Japanese kitchen knife, then yes
You are not seasoned with axes& it shows from your videos
Who said I was claiming to be? Merely pointing out my observations.