Gränsfors Bruk Hunter’s Axe

Advantages after testing:

• The flay (or rounded) poll means you can easily pound the skin with axe where it connects to the meat without damaging the hide

• The thin grind can also be used in the skinning process

• Circular grooves on the hickory handle results in a better grip especially in wet or moist conditions

Disadvantages after testing:

• The blade can get damaged due to the thin grind if misused

Gränsfors Forest Axes are made to be used in the forest for everything from felling large trees to limbing small logs. The distinguishing feature of Forest Axes is a long, rounded edge, with a flat elongated axe head.

Forest Axes are specially designed to cut across the grain of the wood fibres, for example when felling and limbing, in contrast to log splitting, where the axe goes along the grain of the wood fibres.

The various Forest Axes are designed to suit a specific function, and many of the models have been developed in collaboration with specialists and professionals. Hunters, forest workers, fishermen, hikers and survival experts have all had their input into the product development of these axes.

Gränsfors Forest Axes come in different sizes, with a range of axe heads and handles. The smallest, the Gränsfors Mini Hatchet, is only 26 cm long and weighs 0.3 kg. This axe can almost be used as a filleting knife, as it has an extremely thin edge.

The largest, the American Felling axe, is 90 cm long and weighs in at 2.2 kg. This is used to fell really big trees. The choice of Forest Axe depends entirely on what you want to use it for.

All Forest Axes come with a sheath of vegetable-tanned leather and a copy of The Axe Book.