Gransfors Bruk Splitting Hatchet

A specialised axe for splitting wood. The axe head is designed for splitting down the grain rather than across, meaning a more efficient split.

Charles Rolls or Henry Royce said quality is long remembered but the price is soon forgotten. That is true of this axe. Whilst is it quite expensive, it is well made and does an excellent job of splitting wood for my wood burner.

The axe head has more of a wedge shape so that when it enters the wood along the grain it splits the grain more efficiently than a conventional axe which is designed to cut across the grain. The disadvantage is that it is only really any good at splitting wood. If all you need is a wood splitter then this would be ideal, but if you want to use an axe for a variety of jobs it would be better to look for one with a more conventional axe head.

Like all Gransfors axes, it is hand forged in Sweden and each axe bears the initials of its maker. The superior quality steel means it holds an edge for longer and the American hickory handle is about as strong as you can get.

In action this was ideal for splitting rounds of wood for our burner and I soon got through the delivery of wood thanks to the axe head design. It is a little shorter than the splitting axe and a good deal shorter than the maul but the rounds we have are small or partially split so a bigger tool would be unnecessary.

The axe that comes with the hatchet comes with the axe "book" which explains how to use the axe, how it was forged, and other axes in the range. It also has a simple sheath that can be attached to a belt for easy access.

The only concern is the price, but as Rolls Royce said, once you feel the quality, this will soon be forgotten. This is a tool well worth having if you split lots of wood for campfires. 

Background

I use it for splitting wood for our wood burner and for splitting larger rounds when in the woods for Forest School or Bush crafting.