wow, I guess I'm a weirdo Swede. No one has heard of the Gransfors Kubben? What do you carry for small axes or hawks on your wilderness wanders?

 

gerber gator hatchet/knife combo is what i use.

 

gator knife combo seems like a great combo. I almost bought one but I went with the gerber hatchet with the longer handle. I forget its name. Its hard to beat the gerber axes with their seemingly indestructible handles.

 

would a folding saw not do the job?

 

Gerber makes a great folding saw I have. I can swap out the bone cutting blade or the wood cutting blade. Yet I find a quality hatchet more versatile overall.

 

In MY MIND,
I don't take any thing I can't afoard to loose .
For $10. that's ten bucks , you can get a hatchet , if you loose it , your only out $10. bucks .
I guess I'm just a little silly. I think it is utterly useless to have a gold plated revolver. your not going to want to use it , soon as you do the finish is compromised .
If you've got the big money to throw away on a hatchet , you must be loaded .
have to admit I spent about 45 or more for a hatchet knife combo , the knife fits inside the hatchet handle, which I though was cool .One can never have enough knives . Well maybe one could , but I know the way things are in the woods , and all it takes is some little distraction , like a bear trying to have you for dinner. Stuff does get left behind .
Or my favorite , some body is trying to help you , and borrows your stuff, and because they have nothing invested, it getts set some place and lost , they neither know how to use it, nor have the dicipline to return it , or tell you about the chip they just put in it, hacking a rock .
People who don't own their own , don't get to use mine either.
Been a mechanic all my life . Favorite phrase , " I'll bring it right back " NOT
In the bush one has to let others help with things but having expensive stff out there , not a chance. I have lots of alternates, thank you very much .
I have good stuff but i can afoard to loose it, and my day is not ruined.

 

arleigh, I hear ya. I'm poor, but like to buy quality stuff when money comes around. I really appreciate craftmanship when I can get it. I prefer to pass on plastic or cheap metal and stuff made in china or mexico. I dont have nor care to have many possessions, so I think I try to choose wisely. Not that its better or matters as I can see your point if you loose it your out just a few bucks. Thats a sound practice too. I appreciate the free market and low prices on imported stuff, but I just think is awesome that an old fashion company like Gransfor Bruks can exist in a world of Walmarts, Cabelas etc.

 

I haven't tried the kubben but I love the mini! I had one but sold it. Regretted it ever since. But I wouldn't shell out $160 for one anymore. But it sounds like the kubben has much of the beneits of the mini and taking care of some of the drawbacks (being limited size and tasks). I can see how it can be useful for increased control for small things. NOT cutting wood, but more of camp-craft and woodwork.

 

Here is a photo for people to look at:

 

I am sure that this is a quality tool. But I believe that a old plumb, collins,boyscout hatchet would serve the majority of people just as well and you could have a $100-125, or more dollars left in your pocket.

 

You'll get more responses from folks who would prefer to fashion their axe from a rock and some paracord than ones who'd believe there is ANY way a axe "should" cost that much.

That hatchet is nice, one I don't plan to get, too small IMHO. The smallest I have is the Wildlife... the perfect QUALITY "campsite" hatchet. The Scan. Forest, the Wildlife and the Double Bit... you are covered, IMHO.

 

13fox, I sincerely believe that the few folks that actually practice fundamental primitivism dont hang out on internet forums. I've attended Rabbitstick gathering and most folks there have little interest in computer chatting. We all seem to have an expensive taste for something. Some folks like to buy spendy clothes, shoes, electronics ect. I like quality blades and firearms. I almost went for the wildlife hatchet too, but I couldnt pass up the awesome GB Mini. Now that the Kubben has the same head as the Wildlife, but a more useable and compact configuration due the handle I justified the purchase. My slightly bigger Hunter and Scandinavian Forest models have heavier duty. Eventually I'd like to get the Double bit to complete the range of use.

 

I like quality blades and firearms.

Ditto. When it comes to something that may be called on one day to help me survive, I don't hunt out bargains, I hunt out the best I can get my hands on If I cant afford it, I save for it. My great-great grandkids will hopefully enjoy the quality that grandpappy left them.

Buy once, cry once.

 

So now I've had to take a look at info/reviews of the Kubben.
Thanks a lot psp7, I've been sitting here rationalizing another GB for the collection.

 

13 Fox, was that your MOS in the service? I was a 13 Bravo. As for the Kubben I'd like to tell ya more but my wife wouldnt let me look at it before she wrapped it up. So I'll have to wait until Christmas. I had my eye on the wildlife hatchet as a small local gun shop also stocks Gransfor Bruks and I was gonna go for it until I stumbled onto the Kubben youtube video the otherday. My guess is that it probably weighs the same as the wildlife as the Kubben handle looks thicker, but shorter. I really love the Scandinavian designed axes and knives. Maybe its the Swede in me?

 

13 Fox, was that your MOS in the service?

Yup.

13B, Sup Gun Bunny! 155's?

Oh well, can't have too many GB's.

 

Yep, 155mm cannon cocker. M109. That was in Germany and Fort Lewis, WA. It was a good experience, but not much for real world transfer skills.:

 

I hear ya, not much call out here for forward observers/fire direction specialists. Oh well, it was a fun job.

 

If its made by Gransfors im sure its fine. I myself own a small forest axe by Gransfors.

 

I've been seeing them on eBay and they do intrigue me but for the life of me I cannot convince myself that they would make better choppers than my big knife. They just seem like an answer without a question.

I'm big on the GB Hunter's Axe, love mine. But unless I hit the lottery, or come across a really good deal, it'll be the only GB I own. I do own some others, including a Wetterling or two, but the GBs are too expensive for me these days.

BTW, the best prices for any of the good axes are on eBay - I hate shopping on eBay but you cannot beat their axe and hatchet prices.

 

Yup, I decided pretty much the same thing after almost pulling the trigger on the little guy. The Wildlife will remain my smallest. I REALLY don't need to add any more blades of ANY kind.

 

Ebay or any auction isnt a source I've ever dealt with. Naturally I feel if the price is considerably below what a clean dealer/store sells for then the item may be used, flawed, 2nds, stolen or some other undesirable attribute attached to it. As for justification of the Kubben I find lighter, smaller and more compact gear gets more time with me in the woods than say a larger axe like my Scandinavian Forest Axe or Hunter Axe. By having the stout performer like a Kubben it will extend the life of my super light Mini Gransfors. I'm of the opinion a knife has no regular business for chopping, so a good quality hatchet goes partner with a sharp quality blade like my Mora or Helle.

 

eBay is an outlet for many many brick and mortar stores these days - they are not selling seconds or stolen items. I'm always looking for a good deal and when it comes to axes, eBay is the place if you want to save between 10 - 25%. Your money - your call. It's not like we are deep in a recession or anything like that these days.

That little GB would not go with me in my ruck anyways - and it is too small for my horse, my ATV or my SUV so I have no niche for it to fill. It is a pound and a half heavier than my Gerber camp hatchet plus it has a shorter handle which gives me less leverage and thus less splitting and chopping power.

If there is going to be a lot of chopping done, then that kind of work is made for a Forest Axe or Hunter minimum imho, preferably larger, like a saddle axe, which is my favorite for a relatively lightweight camping axe. Otherwise the small Gerber and one of the big chopping knives works wonders. I do not plan on felling large trees or chopping or splitting logs when I am humping a ruck through the woods ... I let the fire do all the work.

 

Gallo, as an avid backpacker I dont have the luxury of a horse or motorized wheeled carriage to do my carrying, nor do I desire that option as they wipe away the wilderness experience. The Gransfors mini is just 12 oz and is a far more useful tool than any large cumbersome knife. A typical fixed blade bushcraft Scandinavian knife is generally around 3 oz, so the combo doesnt exceed 1lb total. I have the Gerber hatchet, 2nd smallest model (1lb 4oz) and its a good beater piece, little heavy, but the metal isnt of quality like the Gransfors as the Gerber metal is poured casting yet its a good value for around $35. Like you I let fire do much of the wood work when possible, but Its really useful carrying a fine, sharp, light and compact quality piece like the smaller Gransfors Bruks hand hatchet models when your carrying the house on your back deep in the wilderness.

 

I think GB is using something different for the Min-hatchet that explains the price increase. It did seem a little different when I looked at them. I settled on the GB Wildlife Hatchet after a careful look at a comparable Wetterling.

Quality matters to me. I hate junk. I prefer to buy things once. If you loose it in the field, what difference does it make... junk or jewel, it"s still gone. Take care of your gear. I have brought about 100,000 fish to my hand but I still have the same 10 G.Loomis rods that I first purchased to guide with in 1993. Never owned an Ugly Stik.

A good small hatchet does nearly everything you need to do. A knife is good and I am never without a folder but for the camp, I like a hatchet. A GB costs the same or less than as a good Benchmade or Esee knife.

 

I think GB is using something different for the Min-hatchet that explains the price increase. It did seem a little different when I looked at them. I settled on the GB Wildlife Hatchet after a careful look at a comparable Wetterling.
....

The Mini-Hatchet is the same materials as the larger one. It is just more labor intensive to create which is what causes the price increase I believe. I asked them a few years ago about that. They said the first few runs were lower priced because they were not sure if it would sell or not. But it is more work and different equiptment to make a smaller hatchet like that.

 

where do you guys get the money for this stuff? you know you can get one at walmart for 20 bucks and it is basically the same thing.

 

"Basically" is a relative word.

 

GB is good, but overpriced. If you want to spend less, I would go with the husqvarna hatchet. A lot cheaper, but still great quality and similar design.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390022874643#vi-content

 

Overpriced? Not possible. Overpriced, they wouldn't be selling them. Overpriced for some, as a nice new Benz is also "overpriced". A Chevy will do the vast majority of stuff the Benz will, right? Keep this rationale going down the line and you could end-up at WalMart buying some China pig iron. :thumb:

Pretty sure Husky are made by Wetterlings ... which of course is a good axe. Rough, not finished/forged as well, but by all means, a good product that will work.

I've read many say it'll require a few hours of edge prep, maybe some handle sanding and oiling/staining, is generally considered to be the "Poor Man's GB". I'd own one if price was my biggest concern.

I understand that since Gransfors bought them, the quality has improved.

 

When I got my mini about 7 years ago I paid $75-80, I recall. $160 is the price today. Maybe its that Swedish socialism::upsidedown: Gotta pay for all that free health care. Seriously though, theres no better axe made today than a Gransfors Bruks.

 

Maybe its that Swedish socialism:

Or maybe it's the USD taking a massive dump?