so, im in the market for a new axe. ive had a fiskars since only god knows when, i got it probably mid to late 1990s. it has been a workhorse. ive used it for everything.
now, i dont have a woodstove at home, so, i am not splitting rounds or cutting firewood daily, but, it lives in my jeep, and has served as a tool for just about everyting, camping, off roading, hunting, fishing, ive found all sorts of uses for it.
its been going on 20 years or so and im ready for a new one.
as mentioned in my Helle Knifes post, i have a soft spot for Swedish in particular and Scandinavian steel in general because my grandpa was a Swede. ive had a few swede axes particularly Gransfors Bruks, and love my double bit Gransfors.
what do i need an axe for? camping, carving, wood working, building fires, cutting, hunting....
i have a wall tent with a cylinder stove, and have just purchased a titanium stove for a trekking pole tipi style tent, and am debating whether a tiny hatchet or saw would be better to carry around. from a weight perspective an axe in a pack is dumb, but, dang, last two trips, i sure missed having an axe of some sort. what can i say, im an axe guy. fiskars always goes with when i got the big tent/stove, but, with the small tent and stove, living out of a backpack with all my gear for a few days to a week or so... debating if its worth the weight.
if i get an axe and hate it, well, i got plenty of other uses, perhaps using it for kindling at my ski shack or use in the workshop as a carpentry tool.
im after something small to medium size, not an overly thick blade, good carbon content to the metal...
a bonus would be a traditional look
https://www.gransforsbruk.com/app/uploads/2013/02/4995-Gränsfors-Swedish-Viking-Axe.pdf
thats what ive always wanted, but, its out of production and i doubt i could ask the forge to make one just for me.
CRKT makes the Freyr, but, CRKT..... so hit or miss
there are a few other bearded style blades out there, but for the most part all seem to be wanna be weekend warrior armchair viking quality. why do i like the bearded style axe? well, i like the extra cutting surface, as it can be used for more than just chopping, and can be used almost like an Alaskan ulu knife
not dead set on a bearded head, as i saw the Hults Bruk blades the other day and i was impressed... admittedlty though, i am a fan of something with some flare. function over form, but, if i can have something with some good looks, why not
if i wanted to be totally realistic the Gransfors Bruks hand hatchet or wildlife hatchet, its about the size, and its bulletproof as far as quality, and i very well might just get one of those, however id still be curious to know whats on the market
