The Best Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe Review in 2019

Are you looking for a reliable and robust axe small enough to fit into your rucksack?

Do you need an axe that makes clean cuts and is like a hybrid camping and bushcraft axe? You are in luck as there’s an axe that fits your requirements in the  best Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe.

Now you may wonder if it’s strong enough for your limbing needs, as it’s a  small forest axe.

Gransfors-Bruks--Forest-Axe

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The best way you can get rid of any doubts and have any questions answered is by going through this Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe Review

Don’t get fooled by its name. It may be called a small forest axe, but it’s not as little as you may think it is! This is the best forest axe with a large head and thin blade, and a long handle that gives you enough leverage to make strong cuts while chopping wood. 

It renders the axe ideal for not only cutting limb wood but can also be used for splitting small sticks to make kindling.

Despite its length, this best gransfors bruks axe comfortably fits into a rucksack to take along with you on your camping, trekking, backpacking and hiking trips. The axe is powerful enough to make clean cuts and practical enough to use for cutting both large chunks of material and small 6-8 inches diameter lumber.

gransfors bruks small forest axe review (Top features)

  • Small but has a long handle measuring 19 inches
  • Lightweight at 2.4 lbs.
  • Comes in a vegetable tanned leather sheath
  • Compact in size, fits just right in a backpack
  • Can be used for both cutting limbwood and for splitting small sticks
  • Strong hickory handle
  • Its rectangular head is perfectly designed to tap in tent stakes

The Best Gransfors Bruks  Axe Buyer Guide

Razor sharp axe blade

The Gransfors small forest axe reaches you with a thin, razor-sharp edge, ready for immediate use. In fact, the blade remains sharp long enough to use for chopping trees and cutting limbs. It is also sharp enough to split firewood into kindling and has a sheath to cover it while you carry it in your backpack or belt.

While most other axes are mass produced using cheap materials, Gransfors still hand forges their steel for axes. The blacksmiths take the pain to individually hammer each axe head to the desired shape and make it unique by inscribing the initials of the smith who had made the axe. The axe blade is hit with a massive forging hammer for testing and is considered ready for chopping if it doesn’t chip or break.

Vegetable-tanned leather sheath

The leather sheath that accompanies the Gransfors axe is made using biodegradable leather that is tanned using vegetable products like flowers, bark, and roots. The primary purpose their sheaths are tanned is to prevent it from possible bacteria break down and to preserve the leather’s natural properties.

Gransfors Bruks doesn’t use chrome-tanned leather as it is not biodegradable and may trigger allergic reactions. Instead, all their leather comes from Tarnsjo Garveri, one of the few Swedish tanneries still producing vegetable-tanned leather.

Ergonomically designed hickory axe handle

Most of Gransfors Bruks axes, including the Small Forest axe come with an ergonomically designed handle providing a strong and comfortable grip even at arm’s length. The handle is made using strong and durable selected high-quality American hickory and not fiberglass as Gransfors Bruks prefers green wooden handles.

In fact, their handles go through an extensive procedure of soaking in hot linseed oil after which it’s left to drip dry. This ensures it doesn’t dry any further or shrink after turning. It is then covered with beeswax to keep dirt and water off.

Gransfors Bruks uses hickory for its strength and flexibility, created by its long, parallel fibers. The fibers are also instrumental in increasing the handle’s life which in turn is an environmentally friendly gesture as it reduces the use of natural resources.

Durable and reliable gränsfors small forest axe

The Gransfors Bruks small forest axe is just right to use for cutting relatively thick limbwood to start fires and for splitting sticks. It effectively makes cuts across the grain of both large logs and thin branches.

Its durability and superb build make it one of the famous axes in the world. It delivers excellent strikes when swung using both hands and is also useful for chopping wood with one hand.

Pros

  • Axe head attached to a hickory handle measuring 19 inches
  • Protected by an enclosed vegetable tanned leather sheath
  • Compact in size to fit into a backpack
  • Ideal for splitting small sticks and cutting limbwood
  • Lightweight but portable and powerful in design
  • Flawless craftsmanship

Cons

  • Some consumers complain of the gransfors axe not trademarked with the company’s seal or smith’s initials
  • A bit too expensive

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How often should the gransfors bruks outdoor axe blade be sharpened?

It all depends on your usage and treatment. It doesn’t need sharpening for six months if treated. However, if the edge gets chipped, then it may need sharpening a bit earlier.

Where is the axe manufactured?It is manufactured by the Swedish company Gransfors Bruks Axes in Sweden. Each axe is individually forged by an experienced smith who proudly stamps his initials on it.

How is the axe edge?

The gransfors bruks small splitting axe has a strong, convex edge that’s sharp enough to not only cut limbwood and process firewood but can also fell full-size trees.

Can splinters be removed by sanding the handle?

It’s not advised to sand the handle as there’s a purpose for the rough handle, which is to provide an improved grip. Sanding may only make the handle slippery with a higher chance of accidents. 

Final Verdict

This best Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe Review should convince you that this is a favorable axe to carry along on your next backpacking or camping trip. It is durably built with a forged steel axe head, and a 19” long hickory handle.

It is long enough to give perfect cuts with each swing, and compact enough to fit into a rucksack. Besides, each axe is uniquely inscribed with the smith’s initials on its axe blade. 

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