Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe 19 Inch, 420

1st, the handle does not come covered in varnish that you need to remove. It's perfect as is, with good grain direction and excellent shaping. The bit was paper-slicing sharp and the cover is very well made. The poll drives wedges easily as well. This is the perfect size to strap to a pack or hang from a belt for removing branches or prepping a campfire. I wouldn't want to take down a mature tree with it, but for light duty or to accompany a chain saw, it's a perfect axe.

For the record, I am not an expert on axes. As a matter of fact, this is the first time I have swung an axe since high school. I wanted to buy a good camping/backpacking axe to add to the tool collection, just in case. So I took to the internet and started searching for good axes. GB's name kept coming up over and over, and there are plenty of Youtube videos from people who seem to know what they are talking about (and certainly know more than me) giving them glowing reviews. I was torn between just grabbing an Estwing from the local Home Depot for $30-ish dollars, or this one. Even though the price was scary, I couldn't get past so much good word of mouth, so I bought it.This axe looks like something from 100 years ago, and I love that about it. Yes, it has a handle that could eventually break, but it is also fixable. The head shows all the working marks from the smith that forged it, adding to the old school look. And when people say that it comes razor sharp out of the package, that is absolutely true. I could easily shave hairs off my arm with it. Very impressive. The wooden handle did have a bit of a rough texture to it, but about 10 minutes with some fine steel wool worked that out. The handle is long enough to easily get two hands on it while being short enough to make it very portable.I have chopped down two small trees with it so far. Both were very soft wood, just some of those crap trees that grow up around fence lines, and these had been allowed to grow for a couple of years. They were probably about as big around as a soda can. The GB tore through those trees with zero problem.I did experience two small nicks in the blade after cutting down these trees, but those will easily work themselves out after just a routine sharpening or two, and I imagine for a blade to hold this kind of edge it would almost have to be somewhat prone to small chips. I don't see this as a negative, I only mention it because I want people to be realistic about their expectations of this axe. It's metal, not magic.Do not let the price tag dissuade you. If you have an appreciation for old school hand tools that really work, you will love this axe.

Shipped fast well packaged, probably the best small ax I’ve ever purchased.

Review of Gransfors Bruk Small Forest Axe:How often can you say that something so simple of a design (2 parts, really - 4 if you count the bit shim and retainer!) is worth every bit of $100 bill and change? Fast shipment from ImagineGear, and I had it in my hands within the week.Solid, stout, thoughtful design in this axe, and the reviewers are right - it is SHAVING sharp, so be careful with it. The handle is smooth, very nicely contoured, and I can see using this extensively for camping, trail clearing, and general duty around the house. It's small and light enough to be handy, not too big that you won't take it with you, and the bit is sharp enough not to glance off of what you're cutting into - which makes it safer to use. I used it to shave some 2x4's with rough edges, and it can even double as a carpentry axe if you're careful. Fine enough bit angle and weight that you can grasp it right at the poll and use it as a heavy knife. Flexible, and who wants to carry more than one axe in the field?I will say that purchasers should be cautious of a smaller haft on an axe, as a longer axe is safer if you're not wielding one on a regular basis. Keeping it sharp will also be safer, so it cuts in instead of bouncing out.When held in the hand, it exudes quality, and I'm not just saying that because I shelled out a chunk of $$$ for it, either! Quality costs, and I was leery about spending that much on an axe, but when you know it comes with a 20yr warranty and will likely outlive me - that sways the logic. Buy once - cry once, comes to mind, and I'll be enjoying this purchase for some time.

I've wanted a Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe for some time now and did not want to spend more than $200-220 as I already have a larger Liam Hoffman axe and a smaller LH hatchet (lead time is now 6-9 months and cost almost double), so wanted something 'in between'. The axe is beautiful, as is the handle; handle grain is perfectly aligned, unlike other axes/hatchets I have purchased over the years, whose misalignment can lead to splitting/warping. I would give the leather cover about an 8.5 out of 10 for quality. Not the 'best' leather workmanship I have ever seen for an axe cover, but high quality; the edges were unfinished and not polished or color matched. But after a first coat of boiled linseed oil, who cares. The rivets are high quality and properly spaced. As for the metal quality, one of the best I have ever seen and contrary to a few other reviews, here on Amazon and elsewhere, the axe came sharpened to a 'Wicked Sharp Edge'. I have a small 1/2" puncture mark on my left palm to prove it: when applying oil to the handle, I barely touched my left palm with the upper edge of the axe and it cut me.I have yet to use the axe but will extensively on an upcoming trip to the UP. This is a genuine GB axe and I would highly recommend this version and if you are already looking for a genuine GB axe/hatchet, these are genuine and not replicas.