Why have these axes become so popular? Simple -- portability and versatility. A compact bushcraft axe is small enough to be used as a one handed hatchet, yet large enough to swing as a two-handed axe for more serious chopping and splitting tasks.
Using a Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe as a one-handed hatchet to shape wood
As popular as compact bushcraft axes are, not everyone is a fan. One of their biggest critics is bushcrafting legend Mors Kochanski, who feels that carrying an axe with anything less than a 23" to 25" handle and a 2 to 2.5 pound head is too light for serious bush work.
Also, in a review of the Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe many years ago on the Old Jimbo website, they found it "to
be neither fish nor fowl. It is too heavy for a backpacking or carry
axe that you will always have with you and not versatile enough as an
all around using axe. It is somewhat clumsy as a two handed axe and does
not cut as well as either of the larger axes. I found it fatiguing to
use for any length of time."
In general, I agree with these sentiments, but I still think compact axes have certain advantages over larger axes.
In general, I agree with these sentiments, but I still think compact axes have certain advantages over larger axes.
Why Carry a Compact Bushcraft Axe?
Since many consumers have limited budgets and are forced to choose between buying either an axe or a hatchet, but not both, a compact bushcraft axe represents a good compromise, since it can function reasonably well in both roles.
A compact bushcraft axe is also easier to handle than a larger axe, which means it will have a faster learning curve.
Finally, a compact axe is generally the largest axe you can carry inside a daypack, for instance. This is important if you want to carry an axe discreetly in your pack as a wilderness survival tool, or build a campfire on a day hike, without getting bogged down carrying a larger, heavier axe.
All three of the axes in this write-up easily fit inside my diminutive Kelty Redtail 30 Daypack.
What exactly defines a compact bushcraft axe? There have been many discussions on axe forums, but the general consensus is that it is an axe or a large hatchet with a 1.4 to 1.6 lb head and an overall length of between 17" to 21".
We would like to say a special thanks to Ben's Backwoods for providing the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe, and to Gerber Gear for sending us the Gerber Camp Axe II used in this article.
The Contenders
Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe
The SPECS:
Overall Length: 19.5"
Weight: 34.8 Ounces without sheath, 36.3 with sheath
Head weight: 1.5 pounds
Handle type: American Grade "A" Hickory
Steel- Hand Forged, Swedish Carbon Steel (composition considered a trade secret)
Steel- Hand Forged, Swedish Carbon Steel (composition considered a trade secret)
Country of origin: Made in the Sweden
Warranty: 20 Years
Company website
Price- $120.00, available from Ben's Backwoods
Company website
Price- $120.00, available from Ben's Backwoods
The Small Forest Axe, made by Gransfors Bruks in Sweden, is the compact
axe by which all others are judged. It was popularized in the UK by
bushcraft expert, author and TV personality Ray Mears in the 1990s and
early 2000s. When bushcraft gained popularity in the States during the
last decade, the Small Forest Axe became popular here as well.
Hand forged, and constructed using classic 19th Century American axe-making techniques, the quality, finish, and durability of these axes is now legendary. You can see a more detailed history of Gransfors Bruks and their approach to axe-making by checking out our review of the Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet here.
Hand forged, and constructed using classic 19th Century American axe-making techniques, the quality, finish, and durability of these axes is now legendary. You can see a more detailed history of Gransfors Bruks and their approach to axe-making by checking out our review of the Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet here.
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Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe
The SPECS:
Overall Length: 19.5"
Weight: 34.3 Ounces without sheath, 36.6 with sheath
Head weight: 1.5 pounds
Handle type: High grade American Hickory
Steel- Hand Forged, Swedish Carbon Steel (composition considered a trade secret)
Steel- Hand Forged, Swedish Carbon Steel (composition considered a trade secret)
Country of origin: Made in the Sweden
Gransfors Bruks' axes are constructed with greater attention to quality control and more expensive features, such as higher grade, beeswax-coated hickory handles, and more consistently forged heads. Wetterlings forgoes these subtleties and instead, focuses on creating an axe that is rough around the edges, but high on function.
This slightly lower standard of fit and finish usually means that a Wetterlings can be had for roughly $20 to $50 cheaper than an equivalent Gransfors axe, yet, performs as well as its more expensive cousin. This has led many to refer to Wetterlings as a "working man's Gransfors axe."
This cost to performance ratio has created a rabid following for Wetterlings, even in some cases rivaling the popularity of Gransfors Bruks.
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Gerber Camp Axe II
The SPECS:
Overall Length: 17.5"
Weight: 36.5 ounces without sheath, 39.0 ounces with sheath
Head weight: 1.6 pounds
Handle type: Glass-filled Nylon
Steel- Drop Forged, Medium Carbon Finnish Steel (composition considered a trade secret)
Steel- Drop Forged, Medium Carbon Finnish Steel (composition considered a trade secret)
Country of origin: Made in Finland by Fiskars
Don't let the synthetic handle fool you though. These "She blinded me with science!" axes are actually highly efficient choppers, splitters and fine carvers. The mad scientists at Fiskars certainly knew what they were doing when they designed these, as you'll see further down in the field review section.
For more information about Fiskars/Gerber X-Series axes, check out our reviews of the Fiskars X7 Hatchet and X15 Chopping Axe.
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Let the Battle Begin!
TEST #1- CHOPPING
(30 chops per axe on two separate logs)
(30 chops per axe on two separate logs)
WINNER- Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe
SECOND PLACE- Tied between the Gerber Camp Axe II and the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe
All three of the axes chopped great for their size, but the Large Hunting Axe ended up taking the prize. It consistently outchopped the Camp Axe II and Small Forest Axe by about 10%.
The Camp Axe II and Small Forest Axe were so closely matched that they finished in a draw.
Chop Test #1 (from left to right- Wetterlings, Gerber, Gransfors Bruks)
(click to enlarge any photo)
Chop Test #2 (from left to right- Gransfors Bruks, Gerber, Wetterlings)
TEST #2 - SPLITTING
WINNER- Gerber Camp Axe II
SECOND PLACE- A draw between the Large Hunting Axe and Small Forest Axe
For the splitting test, I grabbed a few well seasoned Ponderosa Pine logs that had been bucked with a saw. Each axe was tested by splitting one of these logs into four quarters on top of a flat chopping block.
In spite of it's short handle, the Camp Axe II's wedge-shaped head
clearly dominated this test, and was effective enough that it even made
the log fly apart upon striking it! The Small Forest Axe and Large
Hunting Axe, though not as effective as the Camp Axe, were still
competent enough splitters to get the job done, albeit, with an extra
swing or two. Neither the Large Hunting Axe or the Small Forest Axe felt
like the better splitter, so they ended up in a draw.
Profile shot of the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe (left), next to the Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe (middle), and the Gerber Camp Axe II (right). The Gerber's wedge-shaped head gave it a clear advantage in this test.
TEST #3 - LIMBING A TREE
WINNER- Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe
SECOND PLACE- Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe
THIRD PLACE- Gerber Camp Axe II
A dead, blown-down Douglas Fir Tree was used as the "victim" for the
limbing test. The longer handles of the traditional Swedish axes had a
distinct reach advantage over the shorter Camp Axe and so came out on
top in this test. The Wetterlings just edged out the Gransfors Bruks due
to it's slightly better chopping ability, which pushed it into first
place.
TEST #4 - FEATHERSTICKS
WINNER- Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe
SECOND PLACE- Gerber Camp Axe II
THIRD PLACE- Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe
In my experience using/testing lots of axes, I've found that an axe's ability to make a good featherstick is usually a good indicator of its ability to do other fine work and shaping tasks.
Out of the three, the Wetterlings really shined in this test, being the easiest to use to push-cut the wood into nice feathered curls. The Camp Axe II turned in a solid second place performance, and was nearly as easy to use, turning out a well-made featherstick.
The Small Forest Axe made the finest curls, but was the hardest to featherstick with, since it made push-cutting more difficult than the other two axes. This affected its ability to make larger feathers as well. I found this surprising, since my experiences with the Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet and Scandinavian Forest Axe have been the complete opposite.
TEST #5 - BALANCE
WINNERS- Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe and Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe
SECOND PLACE- Gerber Camp Axe II
Both the Small Forest Axe and Large Hunting Axe balanced perfectly in the hand, so they shared the winning spot.
The Camp Axe II, in comparison with the Large Hunting Axe and Small
Forest Axe, balanced poorly. Just after the photo below was snapped, the
heavy-headed/light handled Gerber nose-dived out of my hand towards the
ground. Had I not "Used the Force" and caught the handle in mid-flight,
the Camp Axe would have hit the snow with a big "ker-plunk!"
Gerber Camp Axe II
Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe
Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe
TEST #6 - OVERALL COMFORT
WINNER- Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe
SECOND PLACE- Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe
THIRD PLACE- Gerber Camp Axe II
In terms of overall comfort, the Small Forest Axe was the clear winner in this test. In my opinion, Gransfors Bruks makes some of the best production axe handles out there, rivaled only by Council Tool's excellent Velvicut handles. The design of the Small Forest Axe handle makes it feel very secure and comfortable in the hand.
The Wetterlings' handle, while also very comfortable, feels just a bit too thick by comparison.
The Gerber's handle, though comfortable, feels a bit cramped when using
it two-handed compared to its longer, wooden-handled rivals. However,
using it one-handed feels nearly as comfortable as using the Small
Forest Axe, since the overall shape of the handle makes for a
comfortable grip.
(Left to right: Wetterlings, Gransfors Bruks, Gerber)
TEST #7 - QUALITY
WINNER- Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe
SECOND PLACE- Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe
THIRD PLACE- Gerber Camp Axe II
As mentioned in the Small Forest Axe's summary,
it is the compact axe by which all others are judged, and this is not
by accident. Gransfors Bruks simply makes the highest quality production
axes in the world. These axes have been field tested by thousands of
wilderness enthusiasts since the early 1990s. Without a doubt it is an
axe built so well that you can stake your life on it. True to Gransfors
Bruks' well deserved reputation, the Small Forest Axe used in the test
was of impeccable quality, making it the easy winner of this category.
The Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe used
in this test has been my personal bushcraft axe for several years. I'd
rate its overall quality at maybe 85% of the Gransfors. I did have an
issue with the edge rolling about a year into ownership, but after
re-sharpening, the issue didn't return, and the axe has been a faithful
companion since. The steel takes a very sharp edge, and holds the edge
nearly as well as the Gransfors Small Forest Axe. The sheath is of high
quality and made of heavy, reinforced leather. Sadly, in their latest
models Wetterlings replaced these heavy leather sheaths with newer
sheaths that use weaker button snaps. Wetterlings informed me that they are currently in the process of fixing this issue.
The Gerber Camp Axe II (which
is a Gerber-branded Fiskars X-Series Axe), is of excellent quality for such
an affordable axe. Yes, the balance of a traditional wood-handled axe
is lacking, but for the money, it's excellent at chopping, excels at
splitting, and rivals the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe in fine
carving. The steel, once sharpened, takes a scalpel-like edge and holds
it well.
One issue
that I've discovered with Fiskars axes is that they have to be sharpened
BEFORE using them, or the edge will roll and dent when chopping
initially. Why? Because there seems to be just a tiny bit of soft, extra
metal leftover from the drop forging process that causes this issue,
but once sharpened, the edges seem to hold up as well as my American,
German and Swedish axes.
Sheath comparison of the three axes (Left to right: Wetterlings, Gransfors Bruks, Gerber)
And the winner is.......
First Place- Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe
Winning or tying nearly every performance test, with excellent balance, and quality approaching the Gransfors Bruks, the Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe was the easy choice in this "Battle of the Compact Bushcraft Axes" competition.
Yes,
the handle is a little on the thick side, the quality is a notch down
from a Gransfors Axe, and it doesn't split with the ferocity of the
Gerber Camp Axe II. But it's negatives were relatively minor in
comparison with it's awesome performance while performing various
bushcraft chores.
Second Place- Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe
Though it came in at second place, the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe still
comes out on top when it comes to quality and excellence in axe design.In spite of its third place ranking in the Featherstick Test, it is still a superb compact bushcraft axe by any measure, and one that gets grabbed as often as my Wetterlings when I head off into the bush. What the Small Forest Axe gives up to the Wetterlings in pure chopping and feathersticking performance, it makes up for with all-day comfort, dead reliability, and probably the best overall steel quality of any production axe.
A few minutes spent with a file and sharpening stone would probably improve its push-cutting ability, making it a top choice for people who prefer the higher quality of a Gransfors' axe over a Wetterlings.
Third Place- Gerber Camp Axe II
CONCLUSION
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Jason Schwartz is the founder and senior editor of Rocky Mountain Bushcraft, a blog that features articles, news stories, outdoor tips and product reviews written from a bushcraft and wilderness survival perspective. Schwartz is a former Red Cross certified Wilderness & Remote First Aid Instructor and has taught bushcraft and wilderness survival techniques to the Boy Scouts of America. He has also written for the The New Pioneer and Backpacker, including writing the "Tinder Finder" portion of Backpacker's "Complete Guide to Fire," which won a 2015 National Magazine Award (NMA). Email him at rockymountainbushcraft @ hotmail.com (without spaces)
About the author
Jason Schwartz is the founder and senior editor of Rocky Mountain Bushcraft, a blog that features articles, news stories, outdoor tips and product reviews written from a bushcraft and wilderness survival perspective. Schwartz is a former Red Cross certified Wilderness & Remote First Aid Instructor and has taught bushcraft and wilderness survival techniques to the Boy Scouts of America. He has also written for the The New Pioneer and Backpacker, including writing the "Tinder Finder" portion of Backpacker's "Complete Guide to Fire," which won a 2015 National Magazine Award (NMA). Email him at rockymountainbushcraft @ hotmail.com (without spaces)
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