While talking with some loggers at a local bar, I asked what is the best axe/hatchet company in their opinion.

All three of the lumberjacks said Wetterlings and Gransfors Bruk hands down. I looked them up and found the below two hatchets. Anybody have experience with these blades?

The Wetterlings is probably going to get my business since it is about $50 cheaper.


Granfors Bruk Wildlife Hatchet

http://www.gransfors.com/htm_eng/produkter/new_prod/p_vildmarksyxa.html

Wetterlings Wildlife Axe

http://www.wetterlings.se/the/index.php?...4&Itemid=57

They are both owned by the same people, Gransfor Bruks being the flagship and Wetterling's being the value line.

From what I have read, they are both of great quality with the Gransfor Bruks models being better in the fit and finish department. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

If you're on a budget, get the Wetterling's and never look back.....

Or just use your 1311 as an axe! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Thanks, Farewell.

Seeing how I shop in Scrapyard and not in the Busse Combat store, I guess I'll be going with the Wetterlings then. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Dang JJ, you're gonna have so much steel it'll take you a week just to decide what to take with you!

Too much steel?!

Blasphemer! Heretic! Traitor!!!!

Lol I've bought 17 kin blades and it doesn't look like much

If you don't like the Wetterlings, you can give it to me <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Both are respected here. Hultafors is another Swedish axe maker also making quality axes.

I´ll be getting a Gränsfors, but I don´t have any reasonable causes to do so... Gränsfors might be a bit easier to find than Wetterling.

I use a Hultafors hatchet, and I really like it. It is very similar to the two you mention.
The shaft is more equal to the Wetterling, so from what I can gather, you will get a great piece of hardware in the Wetterling.

They are all very good axes. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
I say go with the cheaper one if the specs of the axes are the same.

I´d go for an axe with a little longer reach that I could use either one or two handed. But you´ve probably thought about your axe needs and chosen accordingly.

They are good axes, no doubt. But most of their designs are for Boreal forests and evergreen wood.
I really like council tool axes. They have more designs that were meant for American hardwood! They are cheaper axes price wise, for the most part, and will need some edge work, but they are excellent. Also, council has a velvicut line that is higher quality, made of 5160 .

I work for a tree service and if I bought any axe from gransfors it would be the American felling axe. Which is a big felling axe, that might be overkill for some jobs.

Hatchets are different, and council doesn't make any that I know of. I only like hatchets to pound wedges for tree work, and a lot of the time that is done with a full sized axe or sledge hammer...I climb trees and hatchets are useful to bring up in a tree, but other than that I think they are gimmicky. I would rather have a full sized axe or a big knife most of the time. Just my opinion.

Well said Hooplehead! I couldn't agree more....