Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe

Outdoors writer and survival expert John Fenna reviews the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe. This article first appeared in Gun Mart.

When I heard, from more than one source, that Gransfors Bruks’ axes were “the axes that all other are measured by”, “the top axes available”, “the only axes worth buying”, I became curious and decided to invest in one to see if they are as good as their reputation.

I chose the Small Forest Axes, an axe designed for splitting small sticks, cutting small diameter limb wood and general field work.

Of a traditional design with a 1.5lb head that has a 3.5” face and a 19” top quality hickory handle, the Small Forest Axe can be used one- or double-handed giving both control for fine cuts (such as starting a carving project) or powerful chopping (such as dropping small trees) and is small enough to fit in a rucksack, or even clipped to your belt using the strap on the grain leather mask that it comes with.

The quality of the axe is undeniable, the wood being oil-finished, not crudely varnished, and has a lanyard hole in the end knots. The head is forged from a special Swedish axe steel, forged by one smith who stamps his initials into the axe head (mine is by Mattias Mattson), and properly fitted and wedged onto the handle (no glue or resin used).

With no gluing, painting, grinding or other cosmetic work the craftsmanship in the construction of the axe can be seen, and the manufacturers are obviously proud of their products.

Each axe comes with a copy of “The Axe Book” which not only gives care and maintenance information, but a history of the Gransfors Bruks company (from 1910), a guide to cutting and storing firewood, limbing logs, making a fire (indoors and in the field), axe throwing, making log cabin logs, and the company philosophy (make it well, make it to last so as to reduce impact on the environment) as well as a 20-year guarantee.

Having tried the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe, is it as good as I was led to believe? It certainly is! The weight, heft, balance, shape – everything is just how a good axe should be and the blade cuts deep, clean and accurately every time. As close to perfection as you can get!

I think he likes it! In fact John still uses his Small Forest Axe, and given how many axes John has tried I think that says something.