I'd forgotten

how great my Granfors Bruk small forest axe was to use until I grabbed it this morning to fix our mailbox frame.

We have a LARGE mailbox frame of 2x4s on 4x4 posts that allow for 2 large and 2 small mailboxes. It had been knocked partly over and needed to be righted (I assumed backed into by someone coming out of our driveway, but my buddy that works for the PO opined that mail carriers were as likely and with repetitive slamming of the mailboxes will "wiggle" a post loose).
I knew I'd need to remove some woody brush and that I'd have to hammer some stakes and might have to trim a stake so I grabbed the small forest axe to go with the post driver and the cordless drill and saw. I also needed T posts and deck screws that had to be picked up at Generic Big Box Home Store. I wanted the thing upright before that so I trimmed some stakes, cleared some brush and cut some vines and poison ivy and drove the stakes in behind the posts...all with the GB. It made all of those tasks so easy. What amazed me was that it cut vines and brush one handed and even could drive stakes one handed like a hammer. It was a delight to use because of the balance, weight and sharpness.

There are other good light axes out there I've seen, but not handled in the field.

One thing I've considered is getting a used hatchet head weighing close to the GB SFA, putting it on the grinder to slick it up and putting a longer fawn foot haft on it the same length as the GB to find out if this is practical as an alternative.

Here's mine -

Amazon is steep for these, but there are alternative sources.

$132 https://www.boundarywaterscatalog.com/gransfors-bruks-inc/small-forest-axe-5755

$131 https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/77512?page=gransfors-bruks-small-forest-axe https://www.smkw.com/gransfors-bruks-small-forest-axe

$130 https://www.jaxmercantile.com/products/gransfors-bruks-small-forest.-axe.html

Nice review with some production information - http://waldenlabs.com/gransfors-bruks-small-forest-axe-review/

Alternately

Council makes axes in the U.S. for real use instead of Generic Big Box products most folks see (poor grain ill fitting handles, fat edges, etc. The Council Boy's Axe rates relatively well compared to the GB SFA. It is considerably heavier with a longer handle, but with a touch up of the edge and their fine hickory handles they're good to start from (unless you want the premium Velvicut version for the price of a GB) . For the low price I'd shape the head down a bit to lighten and play with it. http://www.baileysonline.com/Forest...-s-Axe-2-2-lbs-with-24-Curved-Handle-22BR.axd

We used to buy a lot of gear from Forestry Supply and I remember the Snow & Neally axes we occasionally used in remoter locations where we needed to move wood out of the way. This looks nice and is much closer to the GB SFA (and less than half the price) http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/Products.asp?mi=25191

A less expensive Scanidi competitor (more than the Council) with a longer handle from Husqvarna (they don't make the axe, but they do use good Swedish forged axes) http://www.husqvarna.com/us/accessories/axes/traditional-multi-purpose-axe/576926202/

Jesse Heywood said:

Beautiful ax. Never saw anything of the brand.
Seeing this gave me thoughts of a small axe for a bugout bag. But it should be the next size smaller, and preferably take a little less scratch. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Click to expand...

See my post at #5 and http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/p...%20&%20Nealley%20Outdoorsman%92s%20Belt%20Axe