Gransfors Bruks Outdoor Axe with Collar Guard 425

A New Space Between Knife and Hatchet

I am now quite fond of this axe. It, like an iPad, opens a new cutting space between the larger fixed blade knife and the traditional axe.

Cutting chores and light weight are the intersection between this axe compared to others. Unfortunately, many who play with this axe in the store on on youtube have trouble imagining its potential compared to other axes. For me, after carrying this tool for 12 miles, I will have a different account when I need some small firewood compared to the lumberjacks who need 4lb chopping machines.

Not that there is anything wrong with large choppers, but we need to open our minds to that space between knives and axes. The GF Outdoor Axe fills that void, or at least narrows the gap between the parallel and the right angle cutting tools.

The GFOA is an exceptional piece of hardware that occupies the space between a survival knife and a full sized hatchet. For most, that space is not a necessity since often their forest woodworking activities are simple, few and far between.

This OA excels in the wood processing from feather sticks to kindling to limbing to small splitting and felling.

There are full sized heads on full sized handles, large heads on short handles, and in this case, small heads on short handles and in this case a small head on a medium sized handle. All of them have strengths and limits.

Ahh, the price. Yea, ouch. But the same price put on a survival knife would cause mildly raised eyebrows, but not a nose bleed. Your call. But if you need/want this then you need this.

The handle is smaller in diameter than most but well proportioned for the head size. The metal collar is more than decorative, it is important protection given the smaller diameter wood.

To wrap up, this is an exceptionally nice speciality axe that takes skill operate. The small head and longer handle with razor sharp bit will serve the user well as long as one plays by this axe's rules. No wild chopping, no misaimed swings, and especially careful operation given the sharpness and proximity to the user.

If I need to chop firewood, I'll choose one of my other axes. But for almost everything else, I will head out the door with this Gransfors Bruks Outdoor Axe on my belt. It really is that good!