The Gransfors Bruk Hand Hatchet - a useful lightweight camp axe?
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- čas přidán 3. 07. 2024
- Hello friends, here's the video you've all been waiting for, 20 minutes of axe action. I've been using this small axe for a while now, mainly for carving but since I fell over and landed on my pack axe and cracked a rib, I've since just carried this small axe on my belt. I've used it for limbing the tops of felled Scots Pines and it's worked fine. I thought I'd give it a go and see how it would perform on basic camp duties such as tent pegs and firewood prep.
It's definitely a dangerous axe due to it's size and sharpness but used with care I reckon it's a useful lightweight axe for those 3 season bushcraft trips.
Cheers folks!
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Good review and great points use and safety.
Great help and very useful safety advice.Thanks
Thanks, really nice video and good to see safety being talked about well.
Great video on use and capabilities 👏🏼👍🏼
Thanks for sharing 🙏
I have a GB hand hatchet that I've been using for green wood carving for several years. It is a great tool for spoon and bowl carving. For general camp usage its small handle is a bit of a problem. For camp chores I use my GB small forest axe, which excells at that kind of work.
great reveiw there, handy little tool that.
Cheers Nell 👍
Great safety tips! I learned a lot from this video! Greetings from across the pond.
Greatly appreciate you review. I’m waiting for mine to arrive, mainly for carving use, but seeing your outdoor application of it, makes it even more versatile. 👍
It's a great axe! Since I made this video I have used the axe extensively for prepping kindling, limbing branches, carving, woodwork and cutting food for the campfire 👍
Great video. I loved the talk about safety and I loved seeing the techniques.
Cheers Joseph! 👍
I'd suggest on the big pieces, that once you have the axe entered--you turn the log and axe upside down and swing the poll of the axe down onto the chopping block and let the weight of the log do the job.
Excellent safety advice. That could realy save someone from serious injury.
Great review, thanks mate!
Cheers James 👍
@@Adventure-Outdoors let’s hope they ship to Australia!
Thanks so much, I learned a lot..
Can't go wrong with Swedish steel, handy size get what you pay for, always liked your choice of kit.
Cheers Roy 👍
Excellent video sir! I really like your style :)
Thanks! 👍
For my needs, if given this hatchet, I would immediately fit a handle that was five or six inches longer. My favorite hatchet is/was a double bladed ax-- its handle fractured.
I have a Fiskars/Gerber that is about this size. I find it is only useful for removing elk/deer horns from the skull. That's about it.
Great vids. Thanks for taking the time.
Cheers Jay! I think this is just a carving axe and nothing more, but I'll persevere with it. Gransfors do make a double blade axe too, they call it the throwing axe, it costs the earth but looks like an awesome tool 👍
I've been bitten by the double bit addiction lately myself. It was something I'd always wanted and now I have... 6 of them, all vintage heads. Rehafting them isn't hard, just a bit time consuming. Go slow and have patience. I rehafted my first two using nothing more than a vise, a four-in-hand rasp/file and sandpaper. It's worth the time and effort to bring these wonderful old tools back to life.
nice tool ,like you say lightweight and packable. could not agree more with your comments on knives they should be the tool you use last for processing wood , protect your knife so its there when you need it.
Great video demonstrating the importance of using the right tool for the right job. I've never understood the knobends who baton the shit out of their bushcraft knifes.
Well its a good skill to know about but not something good to do on the regular.
That's a funny looking hatchet! 🤣
Interesting video!
I’m about to order my first axe, a small forest GFB so it’s nice to see what the smaller options are capable of as there’s no doubt, in time there’ll be a collection of axes 😁
Good choice! The Gransfors axes are very high quality. The small forest axe will be perfect as an all round axe for Bushcraft 👍.
Owned the small forest axe for roughly 6 years I adore it mate. Every camp trip it’s with me. Awesome on the canoe trips 👍👍
Another thumbs up for the small forest axe. I've had one for a number of years as well. It's a superb tool.
as men, we just genuinely appreciate a good piece of sharpened steel.
For the bigger piece of wood I'd expect using the axe to carve wooden wedges would likely have given better results. Then just score along the top of the wood with the axe to get a gap for the wedges and baton them in, instead of the axe.
That would've been the sensible option, I also think it might've been more successful if I'd took the time to make a heavier baton/mallet 👍
@@Adventure-Outdoors Possibly, although I suspect you would likely still have run up against the snagging issue before the axe head had gone deep enough to split it, even using a heavier mallet.
Maybe flattening out one of the rounded sides of the log, using that as a base, and then trying to split it along its length a bit at a time, rather than starting from the end and trying to work through its entire length in one go, could have done the job. But it's just a guess as it is hard to say for sure without knowing what the wood was like in reality compared to just seeing it on screen. Plus it's more work, so may not even be worth the effort it would take for the amount of wood you'd end up with. Maybe worth trying more as an experiment than anything else.
@@Adventure-Outdoors i lay pieces down and split from the side to avoid the snagging issue. If needing to split large amounts of wood making wedges and a mallet would probably bee the rigth workaround. But i have never felt the need as the main job is to get the coffee-fire gooing.
Great video as always, great piece of kit would have been amazing for making the legs for my chair. Take care and have fun.
Cheers mate, aye it's a great tool for that sort of stuff. I bet you've got some snow up your way? Shame you can't get out for an overnighter (well, legally at least)!
@@Adventure-Outdoors there is lot's of snow it's great but can only go out for to the small shelter as it's within the range but my son is a policeman 👮♂️ so no overnighters otherwise he will arrest me 😁
@@Macoutdoors361 Best stay home in that case 😂👍
great reveiw
It's not just length. It's skill!
Good Day !Thank you so much for your video. Your advice on safety and insight on the use of the hand hatchet are amazing. I have the same hand hatchet. I'll put it practice what you have shared.
Looks like a larger baton would help. Nice demo.
I bought the hatchet for garden work and cleaning catfish. I agree knife is for light duty the hand axe is amazing for cutting okra or chopping vegtables.
Nice! I use the axe for cutting steak and vegetables as well as limbing small trees. It's a really useful tool as long as you're not hung up on an axe being nothing but a wood splitting instrument 👍
Nice technique
I've had the Hults Bruk equivalent model, the Jonaker, for a couple of years now. I did a little experimenting with it early on, then cleaned it up and packed it back in the box. To me it seems more like a small carving tool than firewood processor, not what I really need but the fit and finish are excellent and it came shaving sharp. I'm currently waiting on a Hults Bruk Akka (Forester's axe) to be delivered, can't wait to try it out. My next Swede will either be a HB Aneby or a GB SFA. Between the two companies, there isn't much price difference these days and Hults Bruk seems to be finishing their axes as well as Gransfors Bruks but HB carries a lifetime warranty where GBA has... *10 years I think? Not saying I'd turn down a deal on a GBA, they're definitely heirloom quality products and I'd be perfectly content to own models from either brand. HB does have a longer history though and I like supporting that.
*edit: Gransfors Bruk comes with a 20 year warranty, not 10.
Indeed, the axe is a fine carving tool. Although it has lived permanently on my belt since I made this video and I've started to use it a lot more for various jobs. All of my working axes are Hults Bruk and they are really good quality and excellent value. I think my next axe will be the GB outdoor axe, you can't have too many axes! 👍
@@Adventure-Outdoors
I do need to get my Jonaker out and give it more time in the field. Learning the tool takes time and I haven't given it very much. I don't hunt anymore since my back injury forced me to give it up but I suspect the little hand hatchets could be quite capable of small to medium game processing: squirrels and rabbits definitely, deer in a pinch - though the larger GB wildlife hatchet/HB Almike would be more suitable there.
I managed to find the SFA in stock at retailer yesterday, both that and my HB Akka should be in later this week. I'm curious to find out which one I find more useful. These Swedes are definitely addictive, i keep eyeing the GB Swedish Carving Axe and the HB Tibro (Carpenter's Axe).
Purchased one of those hatches a few months back.Have not used it yet except to oil the head for storage.Wow,is the edge ever sharp.Just nicked my finger with it.Did not feel it .But the blood. Yikes.Great demonstration on the hatchets capabilities and safety tips.Thank you .
Yeah they deliver them with a really sharp edge, easily as sharp as a knife. I’m sure you’ll enjoy using the hatchet 👍, cheers!
Almost refreshing to see a CZcams video where someone demonstrates outdoorsmanship skills with a tool AND a brain.
As far as someone chopping themselves with their ax...... they'll only do that once .
Cheers! Thanks for watching 👍
Great and safe video. Off subject, can I ask what gloves you are using please
Cheers Daz, they are Olson Deepak leather work gloves from Amazon, they're about £10 👍
Ive just never found much use for hand hatchets, for around the same weight my fallkniven a1 pro does the same fuctions and tasks it feels like a better one tool option, but in bigger sizes of axe i find more specialized used, my gb small forest axe always gets paired with a silky saw and a mora garberg, it handles all my camp and bushcraft tasks, but for short 1 day hikes i use the a1 pro as 1 tool option. I guess its just something you have to get used to.
It's a carving axe.
👍👍👍
This is a cracking video on the strength of which I have just ordered the axe. Can I also ask you what the gloves are you are using please. New subscriber here 😊
Thanks! It’s a great axe, I’m sure you’ll enjoy using it. The gloves are just basic leather work gloves from Amazon, cost about a tenner I think. Cheers, Ben. 👍
@@Adventure-Outdoors Thanks for the reply Ben 😊
I’d just throw that big piece of wood on the fire as it was 🪵😂
😂
Question : did you put an oil on the wood ( protection for the wood of the grip ) or is that made by Granfors?
Hi, yes I put some extra boiled linseed oil on the wood, but it did come with a nice finish on it 👍
Excellent video. Thank you very much for yours observations and advices. i have one question: which hatchet would you recommend to me? Granfors Bruk hand or Hults Bruk Mini? below I leave the characteristics of both:
Axehead Weight:
1.3 lb (0.6 kg) GB
1 lb (0.45 kg) HB
Length:
9.5 inches GB
9.5 inches GB
Cutting Edge:
3.25 inches GB
3 inches HB
Ps: I intend to use the ax as you do for trips with little equipments, campfire and for carving. Your advice will be very important for make choice. Thank you for your attention.
See ya !!! :)
Hi mate, I've only used the GB hand hatchet so can't really comment on the Hults Bruk...but most of my other axes are Hults Bruk and they are fantastic, great quality axes. For the price, I think the Hults Bruk would be a really good buy, it looks almost identical to the Gransfors axe. Hults Bruk axes are also delivered really sharp.
The Gransfors probably has better attention to detail and really is a quality tool and excellent for carving, but in real world use for fire wood prep I doubt there would be any difference between the two axes.
So I reckon if price is no worry and you intend to carve a lot, get the Gransfors.
If you want to save some beer money, get the Hults Bruk.
I reckon you'll be happy with either! 👍🪓
All the Best.
Thank you very Much for youl help. :) see ya!
I would like this to chop up pallets and small logs for kindling. Where is the best place in UK to buy this?
Thanks for the review. Great little hatchet!
Btw... your hat... I love your hat... what's the brand?
The hat is made by the Swedish company Fjallraven, it’s the Woodsman Cap. Thanks for watching! 😀👍
@@Adventure-Outdoors thank you so much for the very quick reply. Have a lovely day!
Has this little hatched got a harden poll? As online I can’t find this hatchet like yours as yours in this video looks like it’s got a harden poll.
Hi mate, it doesn't have a hardened poll. I don't think many axes do these days, they used to harden the poll when softer metal was used for the rest of the head but the Swedish axes in particular use quality hardened steel throughout. I use this axe almost daily and it occasionally gets used to hammer in 1" posts and the odd camp tasks such as hammering in wooden tent pegs etc. I wouldn't use it for metal wedges or anything like that obviously but for normal tasks relative to the size of the axe you will be fine I reckon 👍.
@@Adventure-Outdoors ok cool I see. Yeah I have the Hult Bruk mini, I bought it because of its size just to put in my bug out/survival rucksack. I’ve not used it yet but wanted to know if these mini hatcheds be ok just to hammer tent pegs which it looks like it will be ok. Thank you on replying to me and letting me know.
Love the video but I have just one question, where can I purchase this little hand axe, I live in the U.S. and I have never seen it before in any store
Cheers! I'm not sure where you can buy it in the US as the company is Swedish but their axes are widely available in Europe. I just checked their website and they do seem to have suppliers in the States, here's the link 👍gransforsus.com/retailers/
@@Adventure-Outdoors thankyou very much, I believe that I have found a dealer and will soon have the axe in hand, with spring coming on I will be able to put it to good use on my trips out to the woods
@@johnrush7699 Excellent! It’s a great little axe.
This is my favourite tool ever!
My kit is: mora 120, mora 162 (both for carving), Opinel saw 12, Marttiini lumberjack carbon, a Gränsfors Bruks Hand hatchet (all three for all around bushcraft stuff) an Opinel eff. 10 (for cooking) and an Opinel 8 (just because). And this is a great kit because it is not very expensive, you have specialised equipment when needed and redundancy just in case.
And I can’t praise the hatchet enough!! It’s very small but it does all the „tough knife stuff“ better and safer (when you know what you are doing because it is easier to control when you do the rough stuff) and it is small enough to be used for cooking or fiddling around if needed. I don’t make large log fires or build big shelter so I really don’t need an axe. I leave that at home for stove fire wood. And I completely get my carving done with the hatchet and the two moras (and the Opinel saw - although I don’t use it very often).
Like all tools you have to know/learn how to use it. And most people think they know how to use knives because they have used different types of knives all their life and assume that that knowledge/practise is enough for „bushcraft stuff“ … but they are only half right, I would say. And most people feel awkward with hatchets. But if you learn how to use them they are such an awesome tool!!! I wish more people would see that!
I’ve had the one with a slightly longer handle for about ten years, I always wished I’d bought a bigger one. It’s too big for knife tasks and not big enough for axe tasks.
I think Gransfors advertise them as 'good for making kindling' which is probably right!
Yeah, that’s all mine gets used for!
Good point. The small splitting axe is 10 inches longer and a pound heavier.
For your project 13:30: Id give the video by coalcracker „a simple trick everyone who carries a hatchet …“ a go. For bigger logs i think that is the only/most useful way. But, that said, in the end it isn’t build for that.
Does yours have a small secondary bevel?
thank you
Hi, no, there’s no secondary bevel on mine.
@@Adventure-Outdoors thank you
Nice review! :)
I'm curious, what was your reasoning to buy the Hand hatchet instead of the Wildlife hatchet? It's the same head on a slightly longer (say 5"?) handle.
The Mini hatchet (now called Small hatchet) is much smaller head on a much nimbler haft - but it's more like a big knife alternative than a hatchet.
Thanks! I bought it predominantly for carving, I think the wildlife hatchet would be more useful for camping though.
I really like the looks of it 😎 but honestly it’s not very useful tool 😅 it’s dangerous and what’s the point of having an axe but hitting it with a stick to chop wood ?
I don't think I would trust myself with that Hatchet despite loving to own one. I have my Hultafors trekking axe (which is a bit bigger) just the right balance of weight and size. Unlike myself now thanks to Covid!
😂 I know the feeling, I'm also running out of holes on my belt thanks to Covid, idleness and beer. The Hultafors trekking axes are great, probably the best value axe you can buy.
Is it okay to baton on the axehead?
Probably not, but some people do. I do occasionally but not too often.
@@Adventure-Outdoors is the main reason that, the axehead could break off?
@@stefan-D nah, some say that the force on that part of the axe can damage the metal, although personally I think this is highly unlikely.
@@Adventure-Outdoors so betoning on the Axe shouldnt take any damage with?
Your ears have grown since your last video 😂😂.
Gransfors are expensive but so are Lie Neilson woodworking tools and Snap on spanners. If you like it and its what you want, its worth it.
If you view everything with an "is it a need or a nice to have" attitude you'll never buy anything of quality!
Indeed! They are really good quality axes and I guess you have to pay for that. Plus these tools will last a lifetime if looked after 👍
@@Adventure-Outdoors they'll outlive us mate. I still have an axe i chopped firewood with for my mum in the 50s. God knows how old it is.
I recon is a way over priced
Yeah, for a carving axe I think it is worth the money, but for an all round hatchet, it's way too expensive 👍
@@Adventure-Outdoors for carvin better to use knife
@@peakycap4255 that's silly . You will be on your whole life making a spoon with just a knife.
You should never have the sheath on while pounding stakes or anything else. It will destroy your sheath and can chip your edge. Terrible advice telling people to put their sheaths back on like that.
Used my axes this way since I was 16; that was 30 years ago. I've never chipped an edge or destroyed a sheath yet but I suppose there's still time.
@@Adventure-Outdoors You know how you get an axe head to fit onto the handle snugly? You pound the bottom of the handle. It's the same principle, if you pound on the back of the axe you cause whatever is on the other side (the sheath in this case) to slam into the blade, which obviously can cause damage to both the sheath and the axe itself.
If your knife breaks from batoning, you knife sucks and I judge you for buying such shit xD