Gransfors Bruks Ray Mears Wilderness Axe

  1 of 124

  Some time ago I had held the Scandinavian Forest Axe and the Small Forest Axe. Neither felt right. I wanted something with a length that was in between the two and with a heavier head. I searched and searched with no convincing options. My jaw hit the floor when I came across this axe - Ray had designed exactly what I had pictured in my mind. I open the box. I couldn't believe my eyes. The handle is beautifully, naturally two toned - almost perfectly at the half haft mark. A gentle transition point separates a dark lower haft from lighter upper. Surely this is a gift from above. Of course the quality is what you would expect. The head weight is and bit thickness is perfect. Wrapped it up in a strike guard and Woodlore sheath. My great grand children will know this axe  

  Tristan

  2 of 124

  This is my second purchase for this axe model. A favorite all-round axe for light to medium felling, bucking, and splitting any kind of wood harder or softer. Balance and feel in hand are so good that it swings and cuts like a natural rhythmic extension of myself. I own and use other very good axes. This model, however, like my other GB axes, has perfect fitment. Other axes serve well meeting designed purposes from heavy splitting to camp and hearth. This superb midsize axe pairs with my saws to keep the campfire going and the dutch oven supplied with cooking coals.  

  Rick Cox

  3 of 124

  Received the axe in record time from the UK to here in CA. Axe came in perfect shape and was really well packed. Inspecting the blade I found a couple nicks but luckily they were easily sharped out. Using the axe I found its tends more on the splitting side and not so much on the chopping abilities. The blade doesn't bite as much as I was hoping for, but there's lots of material to work with and thinning the cheeks down a slight bit would be easy enough. Using the axe I found it was well balanced, the blade is heavy but not so much to be cumbersome. Breaking down big branches and brushing out small trees it felt great. The market in this style of axe is pretty full, lots of options for 'boys axes' from all sorts of manufactures are available. The quality, fit and finish was excellent as expected. Pure performance wise, my $40 Fiskars axe cuts and splits with equal ease as this axe but lacks the refined timeless build of a Gransfors. I use it daily now for splitting firewood and making kindling. Overall I'm very happy with the new axe, its a real pleasure to use!  

  Merlin Sabo

  4 of 124

  LOVE THIS AXE My small forest Axe has been my constant companion for 15 years and I've not really felt the need for a larger axe until now- I recently went on a winter trip to Canada and decided to treat myself. I knew we'd be needing to process a large amount of firewood and that is what this axe was designed for. It would be too heavy for me to use for fine work- I use my SFA for carving all the time, I think this would be too heavy for me to use in that way. However, for sectioning large logs, limbing and splitting it is a real workhorse. The added weight and longer helve makes a huge difference and it really feels as though it 'wants' to cut. It made the job go a lot faster and powered through hard Northern timbers. If you're thinking about getting one of these, do it. I did refinish the helve of mine, with a London gunstock finish. That's just personal preference, but it does keep the handle in good condition in damp conditions and I'd say it's well worth doing.  

  Sarah Day

  5 of 124

  Great feel to this axe and surprisingly well weighted in comparison to the small forest I’ve been using for a few years - effective without adding too much bulk - my only concern was the quality and finish of the handle was not up to the usual standard I’ve come to expect from Gransfor Bruks so dropped a star there  

  Darrel Singh

  6 of 124

  This is the third Gransfors Bruks Axe I have bought from this site, the first one being bought 10 + years ago which was the Small Forest Axe and later a Large Splitting Axe. They all are quality axes. This one falls in between the two, slightly heavier than the Small Forest and slightly different shape, splits wood with ease and can be used with one hand if needed. Quality kit that will last a life time. I like putting a few coats of boiled linseed oil on the handle before I use it and then a coat a year.  

  Ian Patterson

  7 of 124

  The Wilderness Axe is simply superb. Perfect handle fitment in eye and grain alignment. Great balance and swing feel. Cuts and splits very well. Razor sharp. Good multipurpose edge geometry for my uses. I can let it swing easy and do the work when working with the size trees for which it is designed. My favorite axe in its size range. It will always have a place of honor in my Gransfors Bruk family.  

  Rick Cox

  8 of 124

  Due to the rather heavy head and mid length handle this axe is a good compromise between a full axe and a hatchet or small axe. For long trips with the rucksack maybe a bit to heavy. For camp use great. Good quality. I'm satisfied with it...  

  Boris W

  9 of 124

  I ordered my Wilderness Axe and during the wait '14 days' I saw a few negative reviews on fit and finish, so I was somewhat on guard when I received my axe. I opened my box and examined the axe and it had EXCELLENT fit and finish! Sharp enough to shave with. I have 5 other Gransfor's axes/hatchets and this one was every bit as high quality as my other axes! Beautiful! Can't wait to take it out and go camping! Beautiful craftsmanship, excellent quality! It met and exceeded my expectations! Get one, you will love it!  

  John Cox

  10 of 124

  Great axe that will last. My first of this kind. You totally can feel the quality of the craft in hand. Reasonably priced too.  

  Denis