Got a Gränsfors Bruk Scandinavian forest axe - First impression
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- Опубліковано 17 лис 2014
- I've had enough of the gimmicky "tactical" axes with plastic handle and decided to try something more traditional, a wood handled axe made in Sweden.
This is the Canadian store where I bought it (with lightning fast shipping):
www.canadianoutdoorequipment.c...
What can I say, excellent tool, definitely lives up to Gransfors reputation. Chopping wood is a breeze with it, outright fun.
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![3 Great Camping Axes Compared - [Gransfors Bruk]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yl9WU51-Bko/mqdefault.jpg)
To me traditional axes are more aesthetically pleasing than most axes nowadays.
seconded.
MayhemCause Thirded.
Thirded?
1999Robur I just made up a word.
Oh sorry I didn't mean it that way,
I thought I was the first one to try that.
Guess UA-cam didn't update soon enough.
I thought I was making a pun.
Sorry if I came over cross.
I own 2 Gränsfors axes. One for chopping Wood, the other for my viking raids
+eye law That's good ! Best hatchets in the world :)
+eye law like everyone does
this guy!... he knows...he knows how shit is supposed to be
+eye law Like any sensible scandinavian.
true true ;)
Your viewers should also note that you were doing that test on a fallen timber in winter. First, dried wood is generally harder to split than new green wood. Second, in sub-zero weather, the moisture in the wood freezes which also makes the wood harder to chop through.
If you did that same test in summer on green wood - such as a standing tree that you were felling - that axe would be cutting even deeper than it already was in your test.
screwtape2713 Yes, absolutely.
+Skallagrim you should make a campfire in the spring and roast marshmellows
+Skallagrim ooh! you could roast some corn on a cob!
Truth. Winter chopping will put hair on your chest for sure.
Dried wood is much harder to cut than green wood. Frozen wood on the other hand is actually easier to cut.
Does anyone else find it kind of satisfying to hear and see that ax chop wood like that?
+Jesse GD its therapeutic man... best feeling in the world is chopping wood with a Scandinavian grinded axe.
+Jesse GD I have to agree
I actually began watching sword/axe/blade related videos because the testing on wood, chopping wood parts were always so satisfying
If I came across you at that time in the woods, I would hightail it the other way. A black, hooded man, chopping a log in silence. Scary.
TheCompute101 I don't know, a guy who keeps talking to himself while chopping is worse...
***** Hmm, have to agree with that.
Exactly my thoughts, the legend of the Hooded Axeman is born.
***** Black clad.
+Skallagrim "Mmm, yes. This cuts in deep"
3:01 I started laughing from this part. He looks like a dark dwarf or something, it's perfect how his nose is poking out from his hat and beard
Excellent choice of axe. It's the very definition of "no-bullshit".
Gränsfors Bruk axes aren't common around here, but local Billnäs Bruk axes can be found in practically every shed here, and many of them have been in use for 2 or 3 generations.
The axe looks good but how you use it is a bit odd... if the goal was to produce lots of small chips you are on the right track, but if you want to "cut through" then you are wasting 60-70% of your effort...
If you want to "break that trunk in half" then the strategy is not to hit the same spot at two angles, rather chose two plains that converge at about he other side of the trunk, and bite into those, I'd say that for that trunk and your accuracy they should be about 25-30cm apart (this would also depend on how dry is the trunk, but that's not to relevant here)...
Do not hit the same spot, try to make each cut overlap just a bit with the previous, and deep enough so as not to reach the handle.
If you do it right then in 2-3 cuts on each plane (4-5 total), should make a block separate from between the cuts, if it does not, help it by a strong hit parallel to one of planes about 1/3 of the way form it, between the cuts. When this happens, change the angle by about 15-20 degrees and go on.
In this manner you should go through that trunk in less than 10 minutes and almost all the "chips" will be big enough to be used to startup the fire ;)
Alex Naanou Now that is actually helpful feedback. Thanks for the advice. :)
***** too bad it's alot easier to show this than to describe it in text...
BTW, forgot to mention anther thing: there is another way to use your energy a bit more effectively with axes (should also apply to swords but to a lesser extent): try not to "swing" the axe with your hands but rather raise it strait up above you, and ”pull" it down, from a vertical position, slightly moving your hand back the closer you get to the contact point, applying most of your energy during the initial "pull" and 0 at contact... the idea here is for the blade to travel in as straight a line as possible and adding a bit of a "turn" (not quite a flick) in the last moment adding a rotational moment. this will effectively "focus" the energy in the blade at point of contact, negating the lever action... essentially you first pull then control, letting the axe do the work for you.
If you do it correctly the handle should come to a full stop without any "blowback" or vibration and you will notice a substantial increase in power.
This is a bit easier one handed, and works better if the balance of the axe is shifted toward the handle... yes, this does sound counter intuitive ;)
Also, with this technique you will definitely feel a difference between, razor sharp, sharp and a dull edge... and yes I am talking about an axe ;)
P.S. edge alignment is *very* critical here, if you are off just by ±5° you could kill the edge in 2-3 hits.
Alex Naanou This advice is so similar to how one hits a faster or more powerful shot in racket sports like tennis and squash. Especially the "energy during the pull, 0 at contact" part. Also the fact that it's easier with one hand than two, and more weight at the handle than at the top making it easier. I suppose it has something to do with the regular bio-mechanics of the human body.
Somewhat relevant, a coach in a racket sport would instill this into your mind by saying "use your big muscles, not your small muscles". Referring to the muscles in your arms being the small ones, and the muscles in your legs and torso being the big ones. Essentially using the arms to guide the tool (in this case a racket), you would get more power because you're using your legs and body to start the momentum, and less of a chance for damaging the ligaments in your arms because the arms are more relaxed.
I imagine that this sort of advice can apply to any type of hand tool which requires the use of extreme speeds of the head of the tool.
J Ty well, this mechanic would apply to anything where innercia is a factor, anything from swinging a chain (though hitting with a chain could be the hardest on this scale) to sticks, rackets, maces, clubs, bats, hammers, axes, etc.
It's all about balance and energy transfer ;)
Saving technique, thanks
He's a lumberjack and he's OKAY. He works all night and he sleeps all day!
First Last he's a lumberjack and he's alright, he works all day and he sleeps all night. :-)
He cuts down trees, he skips and jumps and he goes to the lavatory
After watching a few of your recent videos, I must say I've had enough of the impractical "tacticool" axe designs as well. There is a reason that almost all of the axes you see at a good hardware store are variations on the design shown here: _It works_, and has worked for centuries. A lot of the designs you see at sporting goods stores, on the other hand, seem to be designed first and foremost to look cool, with actual functionality in a rather distant second, if considered at all.
To someone with experience with axes, they often look rather silly, like those goofy-looking fantasy-inspired blades on those dorky knives and swords.
Damn Skall, if I were to come across you in those woods, I'd run in the other direction. Big, hooded guy, manically chopping away on a tree with an axe without saying a word...Jeez.
I wouldn't worry too much about that happening; you sound afraid to even leave your house.
I think it's quite common for someone in canada chopping wood.
lol
Skeletor Jopko
He's joking. You know that, isnt it?
Skeletor Jopko
When we're already idiotically jumping to conclusions: you dress up like a priate so you must also like to pillage and raid ships?
Seriously though, you can't really take a joke, can ya?
Absolute respect to you for pronouncing the name perfectly! And for choosing quality over gimmickry. Each of the axes in the range are designed to excel at a particular task, and are beautiful pieces of hand-made artisan functionality that are made to last for generations, I wish I could afford to buy them all.
now that you've got yourself a proper man's axe, only thing left to do is build a little log cabin
*PROVE YOURSELF*
Lmao funniest shit ever
If you ever find yourself in Sweden, you can actually visit the forge, meet the people behind the production and see the axes being made/crafted.
Gränsfors was founded in 1902 and builds upon more than a century of experience making axes. Much like you say in your video these lads produce REAL axes for REAL use. Practical tools without all the "gimmicky" or "cool" stuff. Basically I'd bet anything that people 100 years ago knew much more about what makes a good and usable axe than the upstart, Battlefield-playing producers of today.
If you DO make it to Sweden at some point there are numerous forges and the likes to visit all over the country.
Wow! What took my step-father all day when I was a child, you did in a matter of minutes with that. I'm _very_ impressed with that humble piece of hardware.
the test videos are probably the most enjoyable skall videos to watch
Thank you for your video. Let me giving you a little advice, don't try to give more force to the axe, leave the weight do the work. When you work with an axe, precision is the key. If you need more power in your swing, get a bigger axe, if you don't want more weight, get a longer handle.
Remember, precision precision precision, eficiency is the rule. A misaligned swing or a head grabbed in the wood are a waste of time and energy.
Jon Ugalde I know. So far I haven't done a lot of axe work, so I'll just need more practice for better precision.
indeed... I can 1 hit most pieces of wood with one hand.. all is technique.. Swing it with one hand and try swinging it in a wide motion for more power..
***** It's a pleasure to help one who deserves it. Axe competition is a classical and popular rural sport in my country. Here you have a video about a competition in my town. They have to lift up 25 times a 100 Kg stone, cut 14 beech logs and give 70 laps to a bullring. 07:20 and on you can see how to cut a log.
Informe Robinson, Duelo de Aizkolaris
We also have some crazy dudes who have cut cars with axes, sorry for the crude video,
Corte de coches con hacha en Pais Vasco
Wood is TOTALLY a fancy material. Composite cellulose fibre in a lignin matrix, it's what the modern materials are trying to match up to.
Yeah, wood, carapace, and bone are some highly efficient materials.
it most definitly is the best material as you can just chip a bit off to make it suit your hands like a glove, the feel is also just my personal favorite:D
You just helped me so much with wood chopping technique. Thanks!
Listening to the wood chucks hitting the ground after you swing the axe is actually quite satisfying.
that's so funny you got this, I just ordered the gransfor small forest axe but I have to wait till feb. to get it, well plaid on the axe you got great pick playboy! may it serve you well!
the axes are worth the weight in gold, hang tight:D!
Gasp, Tactical commenting on a Skallagrim video, my two favourite blade reviewers in one place, sick as fuck!
Actually a damn good thing you didn't use some plastic tacticool ninja axe thing, because one would not be able to make out anything but a rough shape from that video. It already looks like a death eater reviewing an axe at night.
Or a Viking Nazgul.
That sound it makes at 3:00 just feels so natural. loves it
That thing is a beast. Can't beat the tried and true methods
How ironic - in Australia the only Gransfors Bruk retailer is in Tasmania. Some of the finest wood axes in the world are sold in a state that doesn't allow logging.
Nope. Hippies.
trying to change human evil, with petty laws.
they should make rocks illegal too while they are at it.
same old, same old. damn shame.
Im from Sweden and you are the first non swede who was closest to gränsfors bruks
Very solid performance... the SCAXE2 version 2.0 is on of the only "composite" hatchets and axes I like now
That's what we all use in Sweden. In fact, We use them for cooking, changing dipers and even changing TV-channels! We have them hanging on our walls. 20-30 of them in each room. And remember: Bättre en back läsk i hallen än ett läskigt hack i ballen!
for some reason i kept picturing skal as a dwarf chopping that wood. His hat even looked dwarfy.
you cant get any better then the good old fashioned wooden handle axe
i salute you!
Nathan Vogelzang thank you =) sometimes old fashioned is better than new fashioned
Dominik Doherty i very much agree:) its actually one of the plausible sources where the saying tried and true came from:)
Nathan Vogelzang exactly =) like me i would prefer a quality crafted puukko knife than some shit churned out in a chinese factory by a five year old
Dominik Doherty thats so true that it hurts xD
Grest vid. My grandfather had one of these and still does. I use it any time im at the lodge. His holds and edge for such a long time its crazy. Well worth the price in my opinion.
I like Skall's axe videos. It usually has a clip of him chopping some wood, and I like the sound when the tiny wood fragments hit the leaves on the ground.
A Canadian lumberjack with his Nordic Axe out in the woods. Must be beaver season. :)
Just playing - after hearing about your luck with the S&W axe I decided on Windlass's Archer's Axe. Unfortunately I haven't been able to do anything with it because I put the edge my Agincourt sword in my leg. After sharpening it. *sigh*
Gransfors Bruks axes are superb axes! My absolute favorite axe is my GB Small Forest Axe. For a 19" axe it is amazingly effective! The only problems with Gransfors Bruks axes are their price and sometimes their availability. Just for the record, GB axes are well worth the money. Short of a $400 Autine they are about the best axes available on the market today, but there are other options that are also very effective.
First on the list are axes from S.A. Wetterlings. While they are less expensive, Wetterlings axes are not a great deal less expensive than Gransfors Bruks axes, but they are also of superb quality. Like GB, Wetterlings axes are also hand forged in Sweden. My favorite Wetterlings axe is my Forester's Fine Axe. It is a truly fantastic axe for camping & bushcraft!
Then we get to Husqvarna axes which are made for Husqvarna by Hultafors, or Hults Bruks, and, like GB & SAW, they are hand forged Swedish axes and of superb quality. The really great thing about Husky axes is the price. They run right around half of what a GB axe will cost you, and they are really, really close in quality to both GB & SAW. If there is a better deal in the axe world than a Husqvarna axe I have yet to see it. They are truly spectacular axes for the money! I have three, the 15" hatchet, the 20" Carpenter's Axe & the 26" Multi-Purpose Forest Axe which is very similar to the GB Scandinavian Forest Axe being reviewed here. I couldn't be happier with them, although I did sand off the finish that comes on the American hickory handles and replace it with a much more traditional & comfortable to use boiled linseed oil finish.
If you've got the cash go ahead and get the Gransfors Bruks or the S.A. Wetterlings. You won't be sorry, or at least I've never spoken to a single GB or SAW owner that didn't absolutely love their axe! If, on the other hand, you don't have $120+ for an axe, get a Husqvarna. No, it's not a GB or a SAW, but it's darn close, and I've never spoken to an owner of a Husky axe who didn't love their axe either!
dude i have to confess that you understand when an axe is a good piece and you know how to swing it!!!
I own the small forest axe by Gransfor Bruk and it is a great axe. I did add a leather neck protector to mine. Note: from watching the impacts, you clearly favor the right side for accuracy. Thumbs up on the video
This is what i'm talking about. The only reliable axes are the traditional ones, or the fiberglass handled ones (called a pulaski) that forest firefighters happen to use. Those are arguably more indestructible than wood, but not as easy to repair.
The other thing is knowing when you need a chopping axe and when you need a splitting axe. totally different things.
black plastic be dammed , wood will always be my favorite material for an axe handle
Yeah. :D I have like 20 axes(of course for the wood-chopping purpose) at home, one had plastic handle, i bought wooden handle for it. :D
I acually prefer the plastic, while wood is good, there's already more durable plastic. Of course huge differences with manufacturers. Wood is more or less a known quality, with plastic you can do better... or far worse.
welp part of the charm of wood is of course tradition and wood will always look better to me than any tacticool firearm or tool
Once I get one of these, I will just get some wood stain and stain it ebony, personal preference of course, I like darker coloured woods than the light coloured ones.
maybe i'm alone in this, but there's always something very pleasant and satisfying about chopping wood. especially the sound all the little bits make hitting the ground.
I have been using this axe for over two years now and im very happy with my purchase. Its great for outdoors and at home when i need to get some timber for the fireplace it can split very well. Its cutting abilities are also very good even tough i prefer the Gränsfors Bruk American logging axe if i go to the forest with an intention to get wood.
I must say that the pronunciation is really good for someone who doesn't speak swedish
Gränsfors Bruk and Wetterlings are exceptional axes. After you've handled a proper axe you can't go back in my opinion. Next up for a review will probably be the Gränsfors battle axe, or am I wrong? Once you're in love with Gränsfors you can't stop. Look up the axe, it's amazing!
I can see you've been working on your techniques too, that's good. This is something different from that plastic crap in you other video. The feel to that handle is a whole different story in comparison to a straight handle with paracord wrappings.
you do need a solid feel in the axe if you want to put any any confidence in it:D
i used to have a wetterlings kitchen axe (wipes a tear) i love that little buggerT.T
Brilliant video mate, well presented and you are enthusiastic!
I've used my Sandi and small forest axes out in the swedish bush a lot and can testify that they are the best axes in the world and always will be. Simplicity, authenticity, durability and reliability. Great video.
Well of course this axe is a good cutter it's made to use it for a life time in a forest to chop wood ,not to sell it to people who imagine fighting with it .It's and actual tool not a prop.
Just like Dragonslayer huh? :D
I'm pretty sure you could use it as a damn effective weapon, if needs must ;D
***** What's dragon slayer?
Toryu Naminosaki yes definitely but axes for killing people specifically are made lighter.
Ramekenas seriously? :D its the huge sword from your profile picture
Axe technology was perfected a long time ago. Lots of these modern things are just too gimmicky to be called an axe. Glad you have a nice chopper!
USMCTinkerer the boi's need new choppa's boss
I've got one and love it! Makes very short work of fire wood in camp.
That is a good looking axe, perfect example of something that's beautiful without being fancy.
I'm very impressed - It looked like a fairly short grip on that axe AND you are not even standing (which would give your swings more power)
considering those two that things bites
but please get something to protect your legs - not because you are doing anything stupid but because you can't give it a full powered swing like this xD
Trevanion Slips do happen, even to the very best.
A FMB You don't really need to use full-power swings anyway, that just tires you out more quickly. :)
***** Which made me notice that you are taking large, looping swings behind your head, maybe thats why your accuracy is a little off hahaha
It's great and all, but....... There is no pommel to throw at your enemies.
Right? How's he supposed to end someone rightly with it?
+MrConniption26 Well it's not a weapon so there's no need to end someone rightly...but there's still a tree to be ended rightly - Oh, the axe is scandinavian, you say? Then just throw the entire axe. Problem solved. Entire forest ended rightly :D
It's fine, if he really needs to end someone rightly he can exert an immense amount of force to get the wedge out of the eye of the axe to throw at his enemies.
I'm from Sweden, and your pronounciation was amazing Skal! :)
Since the day I was four years old I owned an old Gränsfors Bruk Camp Hatched and well it took me about twelve years to mess up the handle.... Still didn't replace it. Should do this soon. Awesomly Awesomly well made axes and hatcheds.
Its like you jumped from Burzum album cover.
Your swedish pronunciation was actually quite good! :)
He probably is from the area originally. He moved to Canada after meeting his wife, he won't say for sure where he came from (because it honestly doesn't matter) but based on the accent it's pretty easy to say it's likely somewhere near there. Denmark, sweden, norway, etc.
Gr00mp He is not from scandinavia.
Gr00mp He sounds Swiss, to me.
I have used gränsfors axes for almost 20 years, got my first one for my fifth birthday, I still use the same axe today,the handle has taken its beating but it is as strong as ever and can hold an edge as sharp as the day i got it ^^ I use it almost every day and look after the edge every evening on a wetstone, best axes ever made! :)
I can't help but notice that, in all your vids, it is always the most simple and absolutely efficient stuff that just really draws to me.
I am drawn to it--rather.
Stupid question from an amateur weapons enthusiast, but what are some of the key differences between the wood-axe that you're using and one that would be used in historical fighting? I've seen a few with a 'spike' at the end which I can imagine is for armour, but outside of that and maybe handle length I am curious on how well they cross over (or dont). Are there some interesting things that work in a wood-axe's favour despite not being designed for combat?
Viking axes were actually quite similar to wood axes, but they were a bit longer encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRNJTZZlcNxHQTEIm3MX1K5_Lx3TpKsngViVnyv1s4wpWHQJPfb
This is also a Gransfors example.
These were used for combat, and a thin axe like in that video would actually not be quite bad for combat.
I think.
The axes with spikes at the end weren't always axes, mostly they had a hammer at one end, an axe at the other, and a spear-point at the top, but sometimes I saw just one side with a hammer, or a double sided hammer. Every weapon is designed to do different things, these were used in battles as far as I know, but a smaller axe like this one or the one I have the link for would be for more personal use.
I am not an expert, I am only speaking from stuff I know myself.
A fighting axe might be somewhat smaller and lighter.
Battle Axes are far lighter that wood axes - they need to be fast and agile.
The heads are far slimmer and lighter, and often also smaller than those of wood axes.
Even in the case of the two-handed poleaxe the head is noticeably small and slim (especially when compared to how it's depicted in movies, video-games etc.).
It doesn't need to be heavy because you're chopping people, which are somewhat less resilient than wood. ;)
And it needs to be agile because again, you're fighting people, and they tend to move around a lot, and sometimes even fight back. When they do have the courtesy to sit still, defenseless - like when they're executed, for example - you can use a wider, heavier axe (though still relatively slim) - see the headsman axe.
I noticed that the head on the axe you were showing is significantly taller than the wood chopping one in the vid. I am lead to believe that this is to increase the striking surface, but I am not sure.
I am a little curious on how the weight would be. To stay the same weight as the axe head on the one displayed in the video, it would need to be narrower, or it becomes heavier and after hearing about Skall's thoughts on the weight of a weapon that seems to start drifting into the realm of "Problems with Fantasy Weapons".
Just observation mind you, but thank you very much for your reply.
Battle axes are really thin.
where is the review on that greatsword? I want to see that baby so bad
Me too! Please show the Lowlander.
Nice Haruhi picture xD
And yes! I want this too, that thing was insane!
+1...
I for some reason really liked to watch him chop that tree. It was such a satisfactory noice from woodsplinters falling on the leaves.
That was the biggest shower of wood chips on any axe review I have ever seen! This is must. I need this axe now! Good chopping and great review! I enjoy watching this video thanks. Skal!
I live in Gränsfors.
If you're looking to find amazing chopping axes you'd be hard pressed to find better ones than Ochsenkopf, Osbourne Racing Axes, or Tuatahi. The Gränsfors Bruk you're using is great for it's size, but for a log as large as the one you used in the video, you'd be better served with a larger, competition grade axe.
***** I know, but I wanted a medium-sized axe that is versatile enough to use for light tasks, splitting as well as more heavy-duty chopping. Not ideal for large logs but possible.
Wanna put in that gränsfors makes other axes to. bigger, smaller. They got a wide range of different axes
They make several different models. While that log would call for a bigger ax, the Scandinavian is a little on the upper end of what you would want for a hiking/camping ax
***** And for chopping smaller pieces of wood, for campfire or wood stove, Gränsfors is superior
***** Gransfors are also making a larger felling axe. The american felling axe. Its also used by various competitors as well for wood competitions. : )
Damn man. That axe is nice. Watching the video you can see how much velocity it gets prior to impact. I'd not have expected (from the initial appearance of it) how seemingly easily maneuvered it is.
Okay... I'm really impressed with your pronounciation. You deserve a gold star.
Also, yeah I love the overall design of the Swedish axes, they have a really nice feel to them as well.
So lesson of the day: don't try to reinvent the ax.
We Sweds know how to make our stuff with quality :3
+Astrid Nipflake Swedish steel is some of the best in the world :)
+kjellturi
Hitler occupied my town in ww2, in northern Norway.
Exactly for the swedish iron ore.
Indeed the iron ore is considered to be of the best quality in the world.
Germany took my town to :P but no hard feels
+Astrid Nipflake My ancestors comrades took your town :( no hard feels right?
that grain orientation is perfect
I have the same one! Even from the same smith... I've taken down at least 10 trees with it and I can still cut paper perfectly after 2-3 strokes with the oil stone.. A marvelous axe!
Are we really looking at Skallagrim chopping a fucking tree?
+drabash Yes, because men that look like Vikings are enthralling to watch do anything, even chop trees.
Swell with swedish pride.
Best production axe I've ever used. I have the Gransfors Bruk Scandinavian Forest Axe and my wife has the Gransfors Bruk Small Forest Axe. One day I plan on getting the Gransfors Bruk American Felling Axe and one of their splitting mauls. I'll probably call it good fir my axe collection after that, if anything else it would be a Gransfors hatchet of some sort, but really the Small Forest Axe is about as small as I need. Amazing tools, I'd highly recommend them to anyone looking for beautifully made, high performance axe.
I have the same axe. I think its perfect and the quality is amazing. I use mine for winter bushcraft.
I don't get it. Why didn't you just punch the tree?
ofc we know how to make a axe in sweden:D
all thx to the viking
want a good axe for combat ? ask for a kvist yxa
HAHAHAAXD lol
lol? a short handed kvist yxa is far beter in combat
für Wotan!!
För oden!
if you want a great war axe www.gransforsbruk.com/produkter/historiska-yxor/gransfors-svensk-vikingayxa/
haha :D you win sire
It's nice seeing a good old classic axe.
Love the sound of the debris on the leaves.
The tacticool culture is getting really fucking annoying. It not only has sunk deep into the firearms community, but the blade community as well. I went to a gun shop the other day to buy a marlin Xt 22 and I swear, every pump shotgun there had a fucking vertical grip, picitiny rail forearm, a pistol grip stock or just a plain pistol grip( btw a pistol grip stock is disastrous on a Mossberg because of the location of the saftey). Every ar-15 there was 16 inches with a heavy ass quad rail, and magpull bullshit all over them( bad levers and so on), and when I finally found what I was looking for and going up to the register for purchase the salesman tried to sell me on a Ruger 10/22 takedown with all sorts of rails and shit all over it over my plain jane xt 22( a bolt action). I really hope tacticool obsession goes away.
Yes tacticool is annoying, however pistol grips are ergonomic on the hand over standard rifle grips. Your hand prefers to be verticle when holding something not angled like you are with a standard rifle gip. (Wow that can be taken out of context let's not be dirty now internet peeps) but I do agree, the rails and all that other nonsense crap is getting dumb. But someone with artheritus or any other hand muscle disability would need a pistol grip if shooting to not damage the wrist more than already is, which is understading but the other crap, nah. You don't need rails, especially on hunting tools or on older model firearms. Exception of maybe a flashlight on the rifle or shotgun if you're going after nocturnal game like raccoons, opossum, coyote etc.
Nithor666 I prefer a monto carlo stock( It does have a downward angle on it, just not to the extent of a pistol grip), because all of your appendages are more in line with the shoulder which is helpful when shooting 3 1/2 inch slugs out of a shotgun. A pistol grip is catastrophic on mossbergs because the safety is on top of the rear part of the receiver meaning you have to move your hand to disengage the safety instead of just taking it off with your thumb. But with 870s it comes down to personal preference and what kind of loads you are shooting, for me I also find a monte carlo stock to aim more naturally, mainly due to the fact I grew up hunting and shooting with those kinds of stock( some of the guns I grew up hunting with had what many today would consider a horizontal grip).
Edit: Oh yes, and a pistol grip makes for awkward reloads on pump shotguns because instead of just lifting your wrist up you have to move your arm in a strange position, but if you use your strong hand to reload that makes no difference. Great point on the wrist injury though.
LogicBeforeFaIth I am using 2 3/4 slugs my Mossberg 500 and 2 3/4 birdshot on my Remington 870, if I had to do it again, because I want to upgrade the stock on my Mossberg cause it hurts my hand due to muscle disability in the hand and slugs give the shotgun more of a kick, I would not have bought that Mossberg and another reason I had to take a break from hunting and shooting is because of that. I am looking at many different stocks right now to upgrade my Mossberg or Trade it in, and if anything I'd rather not have to trade in my first firearm no one should have to give up their first, so what would be the best to get in terms of ergonomic so I'm not bending my wrist so much when shoting, I do like the idea of pistol grip stock but again Mossbegs do suck because of the safety button being ontop and monte carlo stocks doesn't look like it would be right for me. So I'm very torn up about this.
Nithor666 You might just have to stick with a pistol grip, but with turkey loads, slugs, buckshot etc you are going to have a lot of muzzle rise because the recoil takes the path of least resistance, and on a pistol grip that means up. The best way I know to reduce muzzle rise is to add weight, and barrel length but that might also prove to be challenge if your wrist doesn't take kindly to weight. You also may be better served with a 16, 20 or 28 gauge(ammo is pretty rare for 16 gauge which is a shame since it happens to be one of my first shotguns and favorite shotgun caliber), they will get the job done I have slain many a dove and turkey with all of those calibers.
LogicBeforeFaIth yeah I am dealing with a 28 inch barrel 20gauge Mossberg with a Muzzle Break on it to help reduce lift on the firearm, the only problem is the stock I have, the Mossberg is strict slug only since the barrel is rifled, I'm just hoping its not too much of a hassle to deal with the safety mechanism, but so it becomes a tad slower to turn it on and off, its a minor detail in the long run. The Remington is strictly used for scatter rounds such as buckshot, turkey, etc. Being a skinny guy, I could not handle a 12gauge lol, and knowing the muscle problems in the wrist I wouldn't even try. So yeah, reason I had to argue there is some instances where the pistol grip is best, but shouldn't always be the go to at the start unless you know there's an issue as you shoot and realize the problem before any farther damage can be done. Always best to start with a small caliber to realize what you actually have to have on a firearm but I am 100% against people who just get tacticool just for the sake of it and not because of muscle problems, its all because its "Military look" there's a reason for military to issue pistol grips on the firearms because over time soldiers get strains in their wrist from shooting over time not because its tactical but to reduce stress in the hand especially if you have to unload a bunch of rounds in one sitting. People who just get it at the start really annoy me because they just want it because military has it. What really becomes my pet peeve on firearms is when gun shop owners force it down your throat to get tacticool, its best to observe first then upgrade when needed unless you are designing your firearm for a specific purpose such as nocturnal hunts or if you're going for collector status and getting old military firearms. Sorry about the long rant. But I had to get that one off my chest.
your the only person on UA-cam who can pronouns words in swedish right :)
That wood chopping is really satisfying to watch for some reason...
I have a small axe from Gransfors Bruks and I must say it is the best one I have ever had. Their axes are really top quality.
Not a fan of them to be honest. I prefer vintage american made axes. Good quality and far cheaper in price.
Trevanion
Yes but they don't stand up to the vintage american axes which are still easily found. Also, the reason American axes are not made anymore is lack of demand.
TheStonehammerFiles
My gran dad had old axe head in his front that was passed down to him from his deceased dad, the original wood broke and if if was replaced I had no doubt that the axe could still perform wonders today. The United state had to developed great woodaxes head because the early settlers quickly found that American forests wouldn't be tamed by anything less.
Trevanion
That's not entirely true. Not all stuff coming out of China is crap. It is mostly demand. Chainsaws replaced axes for the average american about 60 years ago. Besides, Case knives is 100% American made and still going strong. Despite Rough Riders (American owned and Chinese made) being of same quality and better price. For such tools, we'd pay the price if we can get american.
I don't think the region of witch the product came has anything to do with quality. There are groups who produce fine and or amazing products for us to use regardless of it being "American" or "Swedish". It's about who you buy it from not what country they operate in, all country's have their trades and something they create well. But to be fair an American axe is probably not much different from the one he is using, considering you know we we colonized by Europe. A truly "American"/ Native axe would be an axe made by the tribes who originally lived here before Europe came over, it seems many people who live in America (Including myself) have a very hard ignorance about outside tools and cultures. Sure we made some great things but without other peoples influence and Ideas we wouldn't have half of it.
*****
When we refer to "American", we mean the country, first off. Secondly, The US innovated axes to a great degree, mostly due to regional variances due to the types of woodlands. There was a staggering array of axe patterns at the turn of the 20th century. So yeah, the US made axe differed greatly from the Swedish axe.
I own a Gränsfors Bruk hatchet, and I absolutely love it, I sadly haven't used it on wood or anything but a rose bush yet, but...It's very good.
Love that no-nonsense axe!
I am genuinely impressed by your pronunciation of gränsfors! The axe is impressive as well :p.
Glad you like the axes that were produced in the area in which I live. :) I've been to their forges many times since I lived in the area (which is amazingly beautiful by the way. Lots of forest and rivers) and let me tell you that the production process is just as fascinating as the axes themselves. They're all hand forged with power hammers, Each and every head is pounded at individually with the big machines which calls for quite some durability. The handles, I haven't seen made. They were made elsewhere I'm afraid. I never got to witness that while I lived there.
What an awesome axe! Bites real deep, but the slim blade won't get it stuck as much as the heavier, wedge shaped axes I see in stores around here. I also just love the simple, yet proven, manufacturing technique.
Finally a proper axe. Very good choice! It will last multiple lifetimes!
I like how you have chosen a hard wood that doesn't split well (such as Birch) for a demonstration :) I have one of these and have had it for years. It serves me well when I am out "Wild Camping." Nice one :)
my dad has one of those thats over 30 years old and we are still useing it to this day, original handle, originat axe head and have only been sharpend once, it's been heavily abused thruout the years, left outside for days in all kinds of weather and there is not even a crack in the handle and only tiny specks of rust on the head.
so that is deffinetly the type of axe you want if you have a need for a 2-handed foresting/camping axe
Thats quite impressive! cant beat an old reliable tool. i use an old fire axe that just needed a new handle, slapped that on and i use it to warm my house~
Great review! I will definitely recommend it to my friends!
I was going to get a gränsfors Burk axe but all ma mates that work out in the woods told me to get a hultafors classic axe and am glad I did as it is the best we axe you can get for the price
That is the kind of axe that makes chopping a small tree down look like not such a daunting task at all.. I was impressed at how much the wood flying off from the strikes looked so much like the kind of chips you normally see when using a chisel.
Could not agree more!!! Awesome review!!!
I have the Gränsfors Bruk small forest axe for bushcraft and I honestly wouldn't ever need to buy another axe, it's just the perfect size for my use, maybe 80% as effective as the fullsize but easier to stuff in my pack or strap to the outside.
It's just a joy to hold, they really know what they're doing when it comes to tools.
I own and use one of these Scandinavian Forest axies and it seldom fails to put a smile on my face. It is light enough to swing for a long time without fatigue, the handle length makes it feel like a larger axe than it is and it's easy to keep very sharp. The size of trunk in the video is probably a bit big for the axe, but shows its ability to bite deep.
These GB axes cost more than many of their competitors, but they are well made and built to last. With a bit of care and maintainance, I'll be passing my GB axes on to my grandchildren.
Back from the dead.
That thing is biting crazy deep, I just ordered one of these based in this video alone
I just got mine, it was much smaler than i expected!
My dad has a very impressive Finnish axe, but it's a bit heavier than this one. He sold some wood from our forest and I was doing the things that needed to be done after the machines were gone, and while using the axe I was impressed by how it cut multiple branches held together with a 90 degree strike, and the cut was clean all the way through. I've made a lot of firewood (to be dried) out of relatively fresh logs about 1m long and maybe 40cm in diameter with the same axe, and it dure didn't disappoint.
Certainly not, and I'm not even sure if the finish on the handle was original, because I remember it being some sort of white and then a blue paintjob at the tip (the area where the small whole is). In fact the handle was rather ugly. The edge must've been kept in a very good shape by my dad, though.
Fiskars?
No idea. Fiskars is of course a very popular one, but I've never done work with one (unless the one I talked about was indeed some old Fiskars, I couldn't even guess).
Could be Billnäs.
I bought one "Gränsfors stor skogsyxa" myself when i was 15, used it at least a couple of times every week for 3 years straight. Even the toughest wood was joyful cutting with this axe.
Sadly it got stolen in the end, but I will gladly buy another one to keep Gränsfors in business!
Some cool things about Gränsfors is also that you have a 25 years guarantee on the axe you buy (at least if you live in Sweden), they will repair your axe for free if it brakes in any way during this period!
They give you a brochure with information and pictures of all the smiths working in Gränsfors, and they stamp in the initials of the smith on the axehead so you know exactly who made your axe.