I couldn't find it, but there was a thread on here a while back about these axes. I'm in the market for a carving axe and considering the GB hand hatchet #413. It's $140 at CSP Forestry. Any comments?

What's your intended use?

I love GB axes and I have cut down my fair share of trees with their American felling axe but can't imagine spending that on a hatchet.

The husqvarna hatchet would probably be 95% the quality at 1/3rd the price.

CharlieBrown17 said:

---

What's your intended use?

I love GB axes and I have cut down my fair share of trees with their American felling axe but can't imagine spending that on a hatchet.

The husqvarna hatchet would probably be 95% the quality at 1/3rd the price.

---

Thanks for the reply. I've been wondering about the husqvarna. Will be used for sizing small logs for carving purposes, so need a smaller controllable hatchet or hand axe. Won't be felling any trees.

I have one of the husqvarna multi purpose axes (26" handle, 2ish? lb head) that has been great for making wood into campfire sized pieces or for clearing large brush out.

According to several axe/woodcraft forums the husqvarna heads are made by Hults Bruk which is a Swedish company like Gransfor

Disclaimer: this is probably the area of hand tooling I know enough to know I need to know more.

While I think a 413 would do what I think you want to do, it might not have the best profile/handle

Are you looking to make shearing cuts or splinter cuts? That is - are you looking to split along the lines of the grain or does that not matter?
Hardwoods of soft?
Green or dried?
Dealing with hand-sized work (e.g. spoons), joinery/furniture (chairs, table legs) or larger?
Working at a bench or out at "stump"?

GB notes the handle shape often is difference between similar models and one may be better for using to carve.

Might look also at the 473
https://www.gransforsbruk.com/en/product/gransfors-small-carving-hatchet/

Or the 474
https://www.gransforsbruk.com/en/product/gransfors-large-carving-hatchet/

Or the 465
https://www.gransforsbruk.com/en/product/gransfors-carpenters-axe/

CharlieBrown17 said:

---

What's your intended use?

I love GB axes and I have cut down my fair share of trees with their American felling axe but can't imagine spending that on a hatchet.

The husqvarna hatchet would probably be 95% the quality at 1/3rd the price.

---

I totally get where you are coming from but here it isn't as much about the quality/price but more the suitability for the job.

Felling trees is relatively low skill/brute force in the cutting wood realm and can take a "blunter" instrument and one I expect to have a relatively shorter lifespan than one used to carve. (Plus felling is a task a chain saw makes more sense to me as I want to get the task done efficiently because it's more often hot outside).

Plus - if you start cutting a board that costs more than the tool, or came out of your grandfathers wood rack and is destined for a heirloom gift, that difference might matter more than out in the pasture

But I hear you. I can't justify a GB for myself. But that is more a matter of my work and skill level. Plus, I am always open to getting an old tool if it is good.

(Quality hand tools are like good firearms. Both can be handed down for generations and be just as useful a hundred years later if properly taken care of.)

Yeah that's why I asked his use, there are definitely people on here that are more skilled and can get that extra 5% out of a tool.

The Husqvarna's are definitely a step above most other hatchets not named GB or similar though.


I hear ya on the old tools, my favorite axe is an old American made head that I rehung.

CharlieBrown17 said:

---

I have one of the husqvarna multi purpose axes (26" handle, 2ish? lb head) that has been great for making wood into campfire sized pieces or for clearing large brush out.

According to several axe/woodcraft forums the husqvarna heads are made by Hults Bruk which is a Swedish company like Gransfor

---

I have one of these as well, it's a beautiful tool, haven't really used it much yet but put an edge on it that you could shave with

also bought my dad the GB hand hatchet for christmas several years ago and we pretty much just use it for hacking shrubs and splitting kindling/firewood. Feels great in the hand though

It's also really easy to swing exactly where you want. I forgot that I also used it quite a bit inbetween inexperinced guys to keep wedges pretty without taking out huge chips.

Yeah what I have in mind is shaving round logs down to spoon blanks and that sort of thing, so ripping with grain on hard and soft wood. I've been a wood worker for 50 years and use to build furniture for a hobby. I'd just like to try carving in my retirement. I try to buy good tools because they will be passed on to my son.

https://pfollansbee.wordpress.com/2015/06/11/some-spoon-carving-hatchets/



Peter suggests this one as a starter:
https://wood-tools.co.uk/tools/the-robin-wood-axe/

aggiepublius said:

---

https://pfollansbee.wordpress.com/2015/06/11/some-spoon-carving-hatchets/



Peter suggests this one as a starter:
https://wood-tools.co.uk/tools/the-robin-wood-axe/

---

I ended up ordering the axe you linked at the bottom of your post. It got really good reviews and was a lot cheaper, even with a large shipping fee from England.

Cool! Let us know how it works out when you get it in.

aggiepublius said:

---

Cool! Let us know how it works out when you get it in.

---

Will do. And for one thing, I ordered it at 8:00am local time and at 11:00am I got an email from them telling me the order was fulfilled and was shipped.

Any update on the axe? Have you gotten it and used it yet?

NRD09 said:

---

also bought my dad the GB hand hatchet for christmas several years ago and we pretty much just use it for hacking shrubs and splitting kindling/firewood. Feels great in the hand though

---

I'm thinking about buying one of these but have been holding out for a Liam Hoffman hatchet, with no luck. It may be time to go ahead and grab the Gb.

aggiepublius said:

---

Any update on the axe? Have you gotten it and used it yet?

---

Yes I finally got it. It took 3 days from the UK to Chicago, and 20 days from Chicago to CS. Go figure our postal system. I've never owned a GB so can't make a direct comparison, but I'm highly impressed. I'm blown away by the edge on the thing. There's one old man in Sheffield England that does all the grinding by hand and he knows his stuff. At less than half the price of a GB it's a bargain. Just get one.

OPs Username does not check out for this thread.