View Full Version : Gransfors, who made yours?
I postred this on britishblades, but figure more people here might have them.
Just got my new lovely Gransfors axe, it's signed MM and a quick look in the accompanying "Axe Book" reveals the maker is one "Mattias Mattsson", there only appears to be 10 axe smiths working for Gransfors.
Who made yours?
From the Gransfors Bruks website:
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We who work at Gränsfors Bruks Sweden
http://www.gransfors.com/images/yxbok/team1.gif
The people working at Gränsfors Bruks in Sweden are (from left to right): Mikael Sundberg, Rune Andersson, Mattias Mattsson, Lennart Pettersson, Lasse Eriksson, Anna-Karin Pettersson, Jan Elfström, Kjell Åke Sjölund, Per Henrik Bylin, Ove Sjödin, Jonny Mohlén, Paul Norell, Siv Lundholm, Gabriel Brånby, Mats Åke Järnberg, Gunnar Mohlén, Rune Ahlbom. (Yes, it was a dark and cold Monday morning when we took the picture.)
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I noticed the picture has been cropped too much. Going from the print version, the bloke on the back row, far left is Rune Andersson, on the front roww, in front of him with the bald head, is Mattias Mattsson - you can take it from there.
:lol: Yer I had fun with this game too
UN and KS here :wink:
..and an LP hatchet over here..... :-D
Ed
:lol: Yer I had fun with this game too
UN and KS here :wink:
Huh, dont see those initials - you got an older one, or some special edition or something?
UN = Ulrik Nilsson
KS = Kjell-Ake Sjolund
... according to my axe book :wink:
Ed
Mine's from MM - would an M&M one be easier to sharpen?! :lol:
He did a fine job
Bob :-D
LP on the mini, MM on the wildlife.
cheers, and.
qweeg500
20-09-2003, 23:12
I have a Small Forest Axe marked with UN. It has the most beuatiful 'red' handle.
I recently did a Woodsmoke Axe Workshop and was envied by all concerned.
queeg, did it come like that, or did you use a stain?
qweeg500
20-09-2003, 23:35
It came like that. The other handles I've seen have been yellowy. I'm given to understand that the red in my handle is from the heartwood of the hickory.
I don't think there's any advantage in having a red handle - it just looks really distinctive.
Well, I have a SFA too, and honestly I won't check who made it, because honestly, I do not care. The hand forged Gransfors are in the 200 - 300 Euro range, (including the eye) and they are the only oneds to be hand forged.
All the rest of the production is machine stamping forging, comparable to a semi drop forging.
This said these are good axes. they are slightly overated to my taste, as there are other axes of similar quality at lower prices (and higher too).[/img]
Well, I have a SFA too, and honestly I won't check who made it, because honestly, I do not care.
Ahhh, dont take it so seriously JM, I think most people recognise the limitations of the production process, you're not breaking any news there. It's just a bit of fun. ;) :D
Hi Martyn,
No worries, just stating my ground ;)
I have been told the Wetterlings are excellent too.
I also own a Roselli, which I like (though more expensive).
Hiya
I also heard that Wetterlings were a good brand (and indeed stand up as an alternative to the Gransfors). I had been trying to find one for a while only to find that a friend of mine is now a UK distributor for them.
The company is Woodland Organics (www.woodlandorganics.com) but his online store isnt finished yet (and I'm the one to blame for that as I am building it for him!). If you're interested in having a chat about axes or anything else give him a buzz - ask for Jack.
Jamie
Hey, interesting, would he ship over the channel ? I would not mind getting one to test on my site.
Hey JM
I dont see why not.....If you go to his website you can get all his contact detailsn www.woodlandorganics.com and as I said his name is Jack.
Good luck!
Jamie
gurushaun
23-09-2003, 02:26
Hi all
MM on the SFA, and on the New Shape Wildlife too, as an aside the Minis are all made by Lars (according to the guys at Light My Fire anyway :lol: ).
Love 'em both.
Cheers
Shaun
yep.... the mini is Lars' pet project... his design ..... he makes them.... I wonder if the other smiths have little pet projects in the pipeline?
Ed
Just ordered mine! An SFA! Im like a giddy schoolkid waiting for it. Im going to have justify all this outlay by going on one of these courses. The nearest one to me is over in the lakes. [About an hours drive] Has anyone been on the axe workshop course offered by a company called Woodsmoke? It looks like a good company from theie website.
www.woodsmoke.uk.com.
Also what kind of people go on these things? And would there be many like myself, going by themselves? [First timers?] And whats the average age of the people?
Any info would be appreciated... :notworthy
P.S. The fellow i bought mine from only charges £37 for them.
Hey Dave
I'm off on the Woodsmoke 'Woodlander' course next May and really looking forward to it...not doing the axe workshop yet though :(
As a complete rookie at this I dont really know what to expect but they seem like a great bunch at Woodsmoke and they have already put me at my ease!
Hope this helps some...if not give me a shout!
Jamie
Just ordered mine! An SFA! Im like a giddy schoolkid waiting for it. Im going to have justify all this outlay by going on one of these courses. The nearest one to me is over in the lakes. [About an hours drive] Has anyone been on the axe workshop course offered by a company called Woodsmoke? It looks like a good company from theie website.
www.woodsmoke.uk.com.
Also what kind of people go on these things? And would there be many like myself, going by themselves? [First timers?] And whats the average age of the people?
Any info would be appreciated... :notworthy
P.S. The fellow i bought mine from only charges £37 for them.
Nice axe, where did you get it for that price? We are going to be putting up a review of the axe course from woodmoke, the chap doing the review went on it this year, he really enjoyed it and I am sure you will as well.
All sorts of people will be on the course and a lot of them will be going by themselves. Some of them will have no prior experience and I would say the average age will be between 25 and 40 but could be 18 to 80!!
Trust me, you’ll love it!
Justin Time
13-10-2003, 19:47
I went on Woodsmoke's Woodlander course last year, as a 40th Birthday pressie to myself. Loved every minute of it, even though it was a cold and wet June. Learned loads and found that I got a sound base to keep learning more. One tip though is that there's a lot to pick up so you need to just keep at it...If Ben says now would be a good time to practice your bow drill, he really means it and he's right!
The people on the course were mostly singles: one couple in their early 50s and the rest a good spread. There was a good mix of knowledge and naivety, each of us knowing something about some topics and being new to others. I would certainly have classed myself as a beginner. At both the Woodlander course and the Wilderness gathering this year I found that our common interests means that we all seem to get along fine.
Justin
i spoke to guy who went on the woodsmoke axe workshop, sounds like he had a great time. it seems they did alot more stuff than i'd have thought was possible.
they're a very good outfit, fantastic setting too.
cheers, and.
qweeg500
16-10-2003, 00:45
Hi Sargey,
that could've been me or Joe I guess (remember Abo'?).
Yep - the axe workshop was excellent - learnt loads and best of all I'm no longer a menace to myself and others with an axe in my hand.
I'm looking forward to the review too.
Roving Rich
16-10-2003, 10:09
Well I have a Elwell axe - Handmade(ish) in Great Britain out of the finest sheffield steel. A shame we still don,t manufacture to this quality.
I'd still like one of those tiny gransfors for my pack though..
Rich
hiya qweeg! are you back up to weight yet? :lol:
yeah, i think it was a bit of both of your comments. does this bring back any memories?
http://www.hunt101.com/img/063179.jpg
cheers, and.
qweeg500
16-10-2003, 21:36
Mainly the memory of my basha boat sinking and trying to dry my pants for the next 4 days. :-)
qweeg500
16-10-2003, 21:46
Roving Rich,
I think I've seen one of these Elwell's in a Kent Pattern with an ash handle. It had a very straight edge ideal for carpentry but maybe not so good for general outdoor use.
They have an excellent reputation and I'm always on the lookout for them. It's a pity they don't make them anymore.
Mainly the memory of my basha boat sinking and trying to dry my pants for the next 4 days.
yeah but priorities man! how's the knife? have the scales shrunk back to their former pristine proportions?
cheers, and.
qweeg500
17-10-2003, 01:02
The knife's fine. I've applied some veggie oil in case of future dunks.
Unfortunately the sheath is no longer as snug as it used to be - may need some attention.
Roving Rich
17-10-2003, 08:47
Hi Queeg, mine is curved edge and convex in 2 directions. They must have made a full range, I also have an elwell billhook and two handed splitting axe (well thats shat I use it for anyway). It works far better than my sandvicks wedge with all the ribs n stuff.
Cheers
Rich :wink:
Nice axe, where did you get it for that price? We are going to be putting up a review of the axe course from woodmoke, the chap doing the review went on it this year, he really enjoyed it and I am sure you will as well.
All sorts of people will be on the course and a lot of them will be going by themselves. Some of them will have no prior experience and I would say the average age will be between 25 and 40 but could be 18 to 80!!
Trust me, you’ll love it!
Got the axe from a bloke off ebay Tony, knows his stuff, and i gave him a link to this site. He has just joined, called Rob. He has some excellent kit for truly cheap prices. As well as the SFA, Im about to buy the gransfors sharpening stone in the rubber case for fifteen quid. [ten pounds cheaper than survivalschool.com] Whens the axe workshop review coming out?
Regards.
Dave
Whens the axe workshop review coming out?
Regards.
Dave
In a week odd, not long!