Gränsfors Bruks – Wildlife Hatchet:
It was time to give my buddy a bit of care. So it got a treatment on the wet stone. Now its close to razor-sharp again. Sorry I would have made the tomato test, like with kitchen knifes but no tomatoes available.

How to start this story about the ultimate outdoor companion?
Ok about 10 years ago I got a hint from a good friend about this company and their axes. A research in the net showed me some addresses and I decided to buy it at Lauche & Maas because they are a real down to earth outdoor company. A call there and the guy on the phone told me they are out of stock because it is winter. What ? He explained to me that the blacksmith hammer at Gränsfors is driven by water and in winter there river is frozen up in Sweden, so no axe. This really fixed me to get hold of one of their axes.

Every axe/hatchet has got the smith mark on the head and comes with a lifetime guarantee (MM for this one). My one, the wildlife hatchet has got a tough grain leather sheath and a hickory handle. It is about 26 cm long in total and weights about 700g. The size and the weight is just perfect. While weekend Rambos with their Bowie knifes are getting blisters by carving their marshmallow sticks, you have already cut town a tree with this hatchet. A serious tool, and probably the biggest danger on our trips when late at night and after some red wine someone goes away from the campfire to chop more wood.

Ah and not to forget, due to it sharpness it is great as a rough tool for shaping wood before you use chiseling tools and start carving.

Just found a guy who filmed his visit at Gränsfors Bruks.