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The axe is one of the oldest tools people have ever made, and it still comes in a remarkable range of shapes and sizes. That variety can be confusing if you just want something for the campfire or the woodpile. The good news is that every design exists for a reason. Once you know what each type of axe is built to do, choosing the right one gets much easier.
To keep things concrete, this guide uses examples from Gränsfors Bruk, a forge in the Swedish village of Gränsfors that has been making hand forged axes for more than 100 years.
Start with the job
Gränsfors Bruk puts it simply: the most important starting point is what the axe will be used for. Chopping firewood, working in the forest, carving and building with logs all call for different tools. An axe that works well in the forest is rarely suited to carving, and a carving axe is not made for splitting wood.
The biggest design difference is how the edge meets the wood. Some axes are made to drive wood fibers apart, while others are made to slice into the wood with control. Size, weight, balance and handle length then fine tune how each one feels in use.
Hatchets
A hatchet is a small, one handed axe. It is light enough to carry in a backpack and handy for camp chores like trimming branches, splitting kindling and preparing small pieces of wood for a fire.
The Gränsfors Wildlife Hatchet, model 415, is a classic example. The forge describes it as a traditional scouting and camping axe with the same head as its Hand Hatchet on a longer handle, which adds power. It is 35 centimeters long and weighs 0.6 kilograms. Gränsfors says it can lop off quite large branches or split small logs for the campfire, and its sheath covers the edge and top of the head so it will not cut into your pack.
Forest axes
Forest axes are made for work in the woods, from felling trees to limbing, which means removing branches from a fallen trunk. According to Gränsfors, they are designed to cut across the wood fibers and combine balance, reach and control.
The Small Forest Axe, model 420, steps up from the hatchet with a larger head and longer handle for more chopping power, while still being small enough to fit in a rucksack. It is 50 centimeters long and weighs 1 kilogram. Further up the range, the Scandinavian Forest Axe, model 430, is a traditional felling axe for professional forestry work. It is 64 centimeters long, weighs 1.2 kilograms and uses its longer handle for greater striking force and leverage.
For most people who camp, hike and do occasional work around a cabin, a small forest axe is the sweet spot between portability and power.
Felling axes
A full size felling axe is built for cutting down large trees. It has a heavy head and a long handle that turns a full swing into serious force.
The Gränsfors American Felling Axe, model 4341, is designed for felling very large trees, thanks to a long, broad edge of 11.5 centimeters. Its bit is forged to a curve, which Gränsfors says makes it suitable for cutting into fresh wood. It is 80 to 90 centimeters long, weighs 2 kilograms and, according to the forge, is almost twice as heavy as the Scandinavian Forest Axe. This is a tool for experienced users doing real forestry work.
Splitting axes
Splitting axes are designed for a single job: splitting firewood along the grain. Gränsfors explains that their shape and weight drive the edge into the wood, then force it apart.
The Small Splitting Axe, model 441, is designed for medium sized firewood. Its head is forged and ground to a concave profile with a relatively thin bit, so it cuts quickly into the wood, then the wider part of the head pushes it apart without getting stuck. Because splitting puts heavy stress on the handle, it has a protective steel collar below the head. Its hickory handle is 60 centimeters long, and the axe weighs 1.6 kilograms. Gränsfors warns that it should not be used to strike splitting wedges or as a wedge itself.
For bigger rounds, Gränsfors also makes a Large Splitting Axe and a Splitting Maul, which put more weight behind each swing.
Carving and building axes
At the specialist end of the range are sloyd axes and broad axes. Gränsfors describes sloyd axes as made to slice into wood for detailed carving and shaping rather than splitting it. Broad axes have a wide, flat blade for squaring logs and shaping timber in log building. Gränsfors also makes adzes, where the edge sits perpendicular to the handle for shaping and hollowing wood.
What to look for
- Length: shorter handles give more control, longer handles give more power and reach.
- Weight: lighter axes are easier for detailed work and long sessions, heavier ones are better for big wood.
- Handle material: Gränsfors uses hickory, which it says offers a secure grip and good shock absorption.
- Steel: Gränsfors forges its heads from recycled Swedish high carbon steel.
- Sheath: a good leather sheath protects the edge and you. Gränsfors sheaths are vegetable tanned leather, many from the Swedish tannery Tärnsjö Garveri.
- Warranty: Gränsfors backs its axes with a 20 year warranty, and each one ships with the company's axe book.
Why hand forging matters
At Gränsfors, each axe is signed with the initials of the smith who made it as a guarantee of quality. The forge says much of the feel of an axe depends on the experience and skill of the individual craftsman. Around 30 people work in production and sales, and about 80 percent of production is exported to 30 countries. The company's roots go back to 1868, when scythe smith Johan Pettersson set up a forge in Gränsfors, and in 1902 his younger brother Anders formed Gränsfors Bruk.
The final word
Choose a hatchet for light camp jobs, a small forest axe for an all rounder, a felling axe for big trees and a splitting axe for the woodpile. If you want to start with one, the Gränsfors Small Forest Axe or the Gränsfors Wildlife Hatchet are both versatile picks. Whatever you choose, use the right axe for the right job, keep it sharp and it will last for generations.
Building an outdoor kit? Read about the Morakniv Companion, the Buck 110 Folding Hunter, the Leatherman Wave Plus, the Kelty Low Loveseat and our guide to Snow Peak camping gear. For more, browse our buying guides.
