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I'm looking to get an axe for my girlfriend's father. He chops wood everyday. Mostly splitting logs and the like.

I don't really know much about axes, but I've been looking at the Gransfors-Bruks Large Splitting Axe. Any help or recommendations would be nice. Thank you!

Fiskars x27. Hands down

Janfrederik wrote:I'm looking to get an axe for my girlfriend's father. He chops wood everyday. Mostly splitting logs and the like.

I don't really know much about axes, but I've been looking at the Gransfors-Bruks Large Splitting Axe. Any help or recommendations would be nice. Thank you!

You can't go wrong with a "Granfors Bruks axe. From what I've been told by guys who really know their axes that Granfors-Bruks is truly a very well made tool. There is a sub-forum over at bladeforums.com that talks about axes and edged striking tools and any of those guys can give you great recommendations on an axe purchase. There is one USA company that I've personally had great luck with all of their tools that I've used in the past. I'm speaking of the "ESTWING" company who makes everything from carpenter's hammers to hatchets. They make a wide range of quality striking tools and I've never owned an ESTWING product that I wasn't highly satisfied with.

There is also a company out of New Zealand that is known for making superior quality axes and striking tools but I can't think of their name off the top of my head. But you certainly can't go wrong with Granfors-Bruks or Estwing. Let us know what you decide on.

I split a lot of wood around here by hand since we only burn wood. And if splitting big rounds is what he's doing mostly, then something with the profile of the GB splitting axe would be the correct tool. Around here they call them "mauls, or some times "Go Devils."

If he desires to continue processing the wood smaller for kindling say, the maul is a bit large for that. I use an axe that's probably from the 60's, straight handled, pretty narrow geometry,but not so that it lodges itself in the wood instead of splitting it.

I own mostly vintage axes, but the one new american made axe I've bought is made by Council. It was a "boys axe." I was impressed at the quality at the price range it was sold at. The heat treat seemed spot on for an axe.

ginsuwarrior wrote:I split a lot of wood around here by hand since we only burn wood. And if splitting big rounds is what he's doing mostly, then something with the profile of the GB splitting axe would be the correct tool. Around here they call them "mauls, or some times "Go Devils."

If he desires to continue processing the wood smaller for kindling say, the maul is a bit large for that. I use an axe that's probably from the 60's, straight handled, pretty narrow geometry,but not so that it lodges itself in the wood instead of splitting it.

I own mostly vintage axes, but the one new american made axe I've bought is made by Council. It was a "boys axe." I was impressed at the quality at the price range it was sold at. The heat treat seemed spot on for an axe.

+1 for the splitting maul. We used to break fiberglass handles like once a season on these things. After a few of those we moved to a 12lb. splitter with a steel handle. That was 2 decades ago and it is still in use by my father. The weight will make a man out of you and can be a workout on the back, but the added mass along with good ol gravity caan make splitting easier.

Thank you all. I'm pretty set on the GB splitting maul. He mostly works on large rounds for firewood.

I went with the Splitting Maul.

That's a beauty :) !

It really is. Made by Anders Magnusson, as you can see stamped on the head.

Nice!! Should get the job done!! John

TRy this video https://youtu.be/Xq5vpqHug7s

There are some good comparisons on youtube.

Lovely axe! I would have suggested, had price been an issue, that you look at whatever Wetterlings had to offer in mauls/axes. But since you went large, GB is the best!

Janfrederik wrote:I went with the Splitting Maul.

That is one good-looking, quality tool.

There is another older USA company that I would also like to mention when talking of high quality axes and striking tools. The Collins Axe Company is no longer making USA made axes unless you get into their high up, competition line. But if you can find one of their older USA made axes they are hard to beat. I have splitt many cords of firewood with my 6 lb & 8 lb Collins mauls. Collins makes the best splitting maul that I have ever used>> now I've not gotten to use one of Granfors Bruks splitting mauls and I have heard that their quality is truly superior in every tool they make.

The US Forest Service has a free publication that they give away that is a gold mine of information on axes. That booklet and video are called "An Ax To Grind". I got the originals about 10 years ago and I've yet to find any other information source that has more to offer than "An Ax To Grind". The guy that did that book and video was on the Spyderco forum at one time but I haven't seen him here in a long time.

JD Spydo wrote:You can't go wrong with a "Granfors Bruks axe.

Completely agree. I have two of them. A long double bit and a short broad axe. Best axes I've ever used.

Janfrederik wrote:I went with the Splitting Maul.

Excellent choice!

Ken

Iltis Ox-head axes are beautiful tools. The axe head actually rings when you are chopping rather than just making a dull thud (the sign of a quality forged head). Lee Valley Tools sells the splitting axe for $94.

Janfrederik wrote:I'm looking to get an axe for my girlfriend's father. He chops wood everyday. Mostly splitting logs and the like.

I don't really know much about axes, but I've been looking at the Gransfors-Bruks Large Splitting Axe. Any help or recommendations would be nice. Thank you!

Fiskars makes good stuff.

Officer Gigglez wrote:Fiskars makes good stuff.

.... If you want an inexpensive axe that you use only occasionally. For heavy-use, their axes fall short.

Monocrom wrote:.... If you want an inexpensive axe that you use only occasionally. For heavy-use, their axes fall short.

Well, I can't argue, as I have not put it through heavy work yet, so I'll take your word for it.

Officer Gigglez wrote:Well, I can't argue, as I have not put it through heavy work yet, so I'll take your word for it.

Honestly, I realize that for the average person; the axes put out by Fiskars are fine for the job.