Gränsfors hunter axe

These axes, now famous, are forged by three smiths within the small company. The two initials in the head of each axe are those of the person who made it.

Exceptional demands and meticulous economy are the two principles (by no means mutually exclusive) which govern the manufacture of axes in the Swedish Gränsfors Bruk smithy.
Gabriel Brånby's smiths are satisfied with nothing less than materials of exceptional quality: a special alloyed axe steel and the best hickory wood. They are generous with regard to the time each smith takes to forge, harden, temper, align and sharpen the axe which they have made by hand from start to finish and equally generous when they polish, fit and secure the helve so that it sits well in the hand. They do, however, stay away from superfluous operations such as embellishing the axe in any way, shape or form: the axe head is not smoothed, primed or painted.
The result is a triumph in the art of omission: With its rough, unfinished head and its carefully processed helve, a Gränsfors axe is considerably more attractive - in its own special way - than others of its type. Anyone who uses them is amazed at how light they are and how well balanced they lie in the hand.

A tool which can hardly conceal its hunting origins: The polished neck, which is slightly narrower than usual, is used for skinning game.
We are not recommending this tool for this particular purpose - not that we wish to appear biased - but in the knowledge that we have insufficiently large game to warrant it.
So, as we said: A handy axe which can be used like any other hatchet, if one overlooks the fact that its round neck is unsuitable for hammering. In addition, it is the only one of its kind ever to have received a Swedish design prize. Its shape is based on the native American tomahawk, familiar to us through literature on the subject. The helve is made from oiled hickory wood, and the end has rounded notches, making it easier to grip even with wet hands.

Lush demands and meticulous thrift are the two attitudes with which the Swedish blacksmiths around Gabriel Brånby at Gränsfors Bruks make their famous axes. Lavish are the demands on the material (a specially alloyed axe steel and the best hickory handle wood), lavish is also the time each smith takes to forge, harden, temper, straighten, sharpen and polish the handle of his axe, add rounded notches for better grip, fit and secure it. (The two letters in the head of each axe are the initials of the one who made it). One after another the result: axes that are light and balanced in the hand and in a way not quite explainable clearly more beautiful than their peers.