GB Axes

[Hammock Hamster]

I know this is likely to get some stick because of the varying thoughts on these but I thought id add a pic of my axe collection (if you can call 3 a collection).

They are all GB axes - A small forest axe, a carpenters axe and a swedish carving axe.

Personally I love these axes and find they keep a sharper edge for longer compared to others I have used.
The workmanship is, IMO, top quality and they are things of beauty at the same time as being extremely functional.

If only i could afford a broad axe and one of their adzes id be in heaven.

Hamster

[Native Nathan]

nice collection there mate

[ToneWood]

Hi, Which do you use most/prefer? What grind did you get on your GB Swedish Carving axe (left-hand or symmetric by the look of it)?

[sandbender]

They are very nice axes, I have always hankered for one of their carving axes.

You have bits of string tied to the hanging holes, hopefully those come off when you use them?

[ToneWood]

Hi. Which do you use most/prefer? What grind do you have on the GB Swedish Carving axe - left hand or symmetric by the look of it - and how do you get on with that? (Very interested at the moment as considering purchase.)

[Hammock Hamster]

Hi Tone,

At the moment im probably using the carpenters axe more than the rest though i only really take the small forest with me when im out for a few days.

The swedish carver has a double sided bevel and as its my newest purchase im still getting to grips with it so may well become my new favourite.

Sandbender, the cord is for hanging and does indeed come of when I am out and about though it does stay on sometimes if im doing a bit of carving in the garden!

[Zingmo]

Ah! You can never have too much axe porn! (Drool!)
Z


Sent from my fondle-slab via tapatalk.

[Bundleman]

You know how in that thread about 'What dog would you take with you...' everyone just posted pics of their dogs?
Well after oggleling (?) another another mans axes i thought i'd post a pic of mine!
Mix of old and new, i used to have a lot more but thats another story.
C'mon lads get 'em out, lets see yours!

[ToneWood]

Nice adze! (I said adze) And I like the old Kent pattern axe with the funky handle - did you make that for carving? The others look well suited to a Viking invasion - do you get a lot of street violence in Suffolk? That one front right "sure is priddy" looks like the big big daddy to the GB carving axe - oh, it's a side axe with a side-curved handle! Did you make the handle? Do you use it for hewing planks from tree trunks?!

...You have bits of string tied to the hanging holes, hopefully those come off when you use them?...

You don't like lanyards? I don't have any but saw somebody (Ray Mears?) recommending their use while chopping on youtube - presumably to reduce the risk of low flying axes. Actually I like the idea of hanging the axes - saw a picture yesterday of somebody with a large collection hanging. I generally put them in my small "mornings wood" chopping block but there is no space left there - and it trashes the block.

[Bundleman]

[QUOTE=ToneWood;1052434]I like the look of that adze and the old Kent pattern axe with the funky handle - did you make that? The others look well suited to a Viking invasion . Do you get a lot of street violence in Suffolk*? That one front right "sure is priddy" looks like the big big daddy to the GB carving axe - oh, it's a side axe with a side-curved handle! Did you make the handle? Do you use it for hewing planks?!

The adze is a Gransfors i used to use for chairseats had to make a completely new handle for it. The double bitted is also Gransfors, (kinda won it in a competition!), when i got it though the handle was too thick so i shaved it thinner. The small side axe i use for carving and the larger one i used to use everyday but now only if i'm timber framing. Love them all!

[heath]

C'mon lads get 'em out, lets see yours!

Ok then:


I think I have a problem.

[sandbender]

"...C'mon lads get 'em out, lets see yours!..."

Scandinavian, SFA, and the ickle one is a Mini Hatchet, I used to own a Wildlife Hatchet but it wasn't getting much use so I gave it to my sister.

"...You don't like lanyards? I don't have any but saw somebody (Ray Mears?) recommending their use while chopping on youtube - presumably to reduce the risk of low flying axes..."

God no, if I were to lose my grip mid swing I don't want an axe to be attached to me or have a dangly bit of cord that might catch onto something, buttons, belts, pouches etc.

When I had a shed they hung from nails on the wall, now they are all locked away in a big box.

[vizsla]

some very nice axes, gb axes are top quality in my opinion i also have a swedish carver which is a great axe, but my favorite which in my eyes is the gransfors hidden treasure is the outdoor axe designed by lars falt, for 9 out of 10 trips it fulfills all my axe needs. il put pics up at some point

[British Red]

Just a few


New Axe Cover by British Red, on Flickr


all 3 by British Red, on Flickr


Nessmuk 1 by British Red, on Flickr


cegga singteck by British Red, on Flickr


Axe, mask and replacement helve by British Red, on Flickr


Kopia av vikinga 016 by British Red, on Flickr


Reeves Tomahawk by British Red, on Flickr


16) Maul from good side by British Red, on Flickr


23) Axe splitting by British Red, on Flickr

...there are more of course

[Shewie]

I'm down to just two at the moment, the daddy Wilderness and the junior Belt Hatchet, should make for a funny photo tomorrow

[ToneWood]

Perhaps we could form a self-help group for people with OCD related to axes?

I am trying not to get an axe obsession but as I posting on this thread - there might be a problem with that

Used my Gransfor's carving for the first time yesterday. I was finishing up a spoon and realised that I still had too much wood to take off with my Mora 106 carving knife (nice).
Despite the spoon shape being already well formed, the Carving axe was sharp enough and precise enough to make short work of it - like a big, sharp knife - a real joy to use. I stopped myself a couple of times from trying some slightly more marginal/dangerous cuts - that big sharp blade focuses the mind (thankfully).

I also got to try my new Lidls Poland/China/ebay axe (under £10 inc p+p) - seemed better value than most of the rusty, blunt old heads on offer. It came very blunt but shows potential I think:

The head weighs only 600g/1.3lb - so significantly smaller & lighter than the carving axe, but the long, curved up-turned blade/bit looks somewhat like the carving axe to me. I spent quite some time sharpening it. Being significantly smaller than the carving axe, it was handy for taking off a little more wood. It worked remarkably well and I think I will be using both axes together like this quite a lot in the future.

I love the right-hand bias on my asymmetric-grind Gansfor Swedish carving axe, so may adjust my "Lidl mini-viking hatchet" (my name, not theirs) similarly, gradually over time. The Lidl axe, although much sharper now than when it arrived is still not even close to the sharpness of the Gransfor axe -- I will work on that over time. I suspect it will never be as sharp but probably can become considerably sharper. (Most cheap small hatchets are sold for splitting firewood, so thick heavy, blunt blades seem all too common, this one is fairly slim but not as slim as a #2 Kent pattern axe of similar weight.)

Ok then:


I think I have a problem.

Is the shiny one a "pimped" Gransfor's axe? What's the one on the right for - carving?
Like the handle on the left one - do you use it choked up by the head for carving?

Do you still use the Kent axe - it looks a lot like the carving axe from a use/size perspective? (Maybe handy if you think a job might damage the carving axe?). I was tempted to buy a Kent this week but "stayed my hand" - I'd rather have a small focused set of tools rather than a huge collection, with most unused. But I can see the temptation - you want to try lots of things to see what will work best for different jobs. I can already see that axes are quite general purpose in nature but tend to do one thing well (e.g. splitting maul vs. carving axe vs. felling axe vs. splitting hatchet).


Double blade/bit axe heads (throwing axes?) just strike me as over-the-top and downright dangerous (ditto billhooks with a cutting blade on the back, as well as the front). What is the point? Is the idea to switch heads when the first becomes blunt? Or just to have a lot more mass in the head?

Nice leather sheaths/covers British Red - did you make them or get them made to fit? I love well made thick-leather goods - perhaps I should learn how make some. I came across a couple of old guys locally that work with leather at fetes/craft shows - I should probably get to know them. The Gransfor leather cover on my axe is nothing special to look at but smells great!

[southey]

The little shiny one looks like a Cegga axe, the one on the right is a rosselie, double bits can have two different grinds, one for normal use the other for working through knots or closer to the floor where damage is likely, though double bit throwing axes will have both the same they also feel a lot more balanced.

[TurboGirl]

Just.......Phwoooaaaaaaarrrrr!

I'm afraid mine are 20yrs+ and both bought new & cheap for the purpose of firewood chopping but I love 'em and they've not bitten me.... yet.... *touches wood*! I'll be keeping my eyes open for anything Elwell after seeing a freinds collection from 7lb down, I might not be man enough for the biggest but I sure would like swing with a smaller yard axe. HWMBO reckons every woman should have one for PMT outletting

[Huon]

....... HWMBO reckons every woman should have one for PMT outletting

I have to say that the thought is not a comforting one. Is HWMBO still above ground?

[TurboGirl]

Only for 3 weeks a month, makes hisself scarce the other 7 days as soon as he sees the oilstone come out Nah, as long as there are trunk rounds to take it all out on, everyone else is safe, particularly beloved menfolk bearing cups of tea

[Gill]

Here are some of mine i have more kicking about in the van shed and rucksacks lol.

[ToneWood]

... HWMBO reckons every woman should have one for PMT outletting

That would be insanely dangerous!

Nobody got a Kubben? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19ncMNDMl2E

[Chris the Cat]

I have a few, but fancy a Scandinavian, can it split as well as limb/fell or is the bit too thin?
Chris.

[British Red]

It is thin but it splits surprisingly well

[The Big Lebowski]

That Reeves Tomahawk is a stunner...

I always said I would never pay the price GB's command. I'll have my fourth on payday

[British Red]

It is - but I'm going to sell it shortly...to buy a misery whip!

[The Big Lebowski]

Mmm... To pretty for me, although it would look stunning on the wall!

Have fun with the whip

[bb07]

I see I'm not the only one that has a problem! Here's some

[HillBill]

Here are SOME of mine.

Since this pic was taken i've bought more, a lot more.

[sandbender]

Here are SOME of mine.

Since this pic was taken i've bought more, a lot more.

That is a nice looking saw (the human powered one).