Hand Forged Swedish Axes by Gransfors Bruk

Each had forged blade carries the initials of its smith

The Southeastern Wildlife Exposition creates a productive mix of art, sporting guns, and animal exhibits that holds something for every outdoor enthusiast. Vendors from across the South come to sell their products, whether they have a new idea or an old standard. With the ice storm of 2014 bringing lots of limbs crashing to the ground, it was good timing to learn of Gransfors Bruk axes at SEWE, and to see their display of high-end axes with razor sharp edges.

            

Though Gransfors Bruk have been manufactured in Sweden for over 100 years, it was good fortune to learn that a company based in Summerville distributes them. I met owner Carrie Bovender at their booth in Brittlebank Park and she told me about Grand Forest Inc. and about their 20-year history. This local company has persevered some bumps in the road like a warehouse fire, and thrives using a small family of long time employees.

Size Comparison for Standard Wood Chopping axe,
Scandinavian Forest Axe and Hachet

The Gransfors Bruk forge is located just north of Stockholm and has been producing axes since 1902. Today, their products are designed into five categories based on different uses. They offer forest axes, splitting axes, double axes, ancient axes and carpentry or woodworking axes. These Swedish axes are prized for their durability and carry a 20-year guarantee.

Leather sheath protection is a classy feature

I chose the Scandinavian forest axe which is 25-inches long, putting it right in between the lengths of a hatchet and a splitting axe. The 2.5-pound forest axe is especially useful for the landowner that needs to carry a smaller tool in his truck to limb up debris in the roadway. It is especially nice that these axes come with a leather sheath that fastens to provide a measure of safety during transport.

The 3.5-inch face of the Scandinavian forest axe is curved just enough to make it suitable for cutting fresh branches, heavy with sap and resin. The mid-length hickory handle becomes an extension of one’s arm when chopping down on felled trees and branches. This stroke has been executed time and again recently as green pine limbs on the ground from the ice storm are encountered.

Limbing up of felled trees in the woodlands or across dikes and trails is also perfect for the forest axe. These are areas where foot traffic is all that is prudent during the wet season of late winter. With the spring turkey season coming into play the forest axe should be ideal for limbing up these same downed green pine tops in order to create a makeshift blind to hunt from. 

To read the feature article in the newspaper click on Charleston Mercury.

To view past blog entries about the 2014 Ice Storm Clean Up click here.