Then and Now

What's all the hoopla about the Gransfors Bruks axe? This is a question I often ask myself. I have a forest axe out in the shop that was given to me by a disgruntled owner, user. I had sold and given him several axes and one day received a phone call from him to say, I am sending you an axe I want you to try and I want you to let me know what you think. I looked it all over and immediately spotted a major design flaw. I gave it a limited test because that was all it deserved. It basically failed miserably. The cheeks were forged much to shallow. If you looked from the back of the head to the cutting edge, it reminded me of a hollow ground blade. It was useful for cutting bean poles, if you didn't try to cut a pole to large in diameter. It was useful for limbing, if you didn't try to cut to large a limb. It was useless for splitting. If you couldn't cut through your target in a swing or two or tried to slit something more than a few inches in diameter, it stuck miserably.
So why all the hype? I believe there are several reasons. Number one, it's been praised by one or more of the Gurus, although I can't figure out why. Number two, it is forged from some of the best or maybe the best steel available on the market today. Number three, most axe users today don't know how to use an axe or how an axe is supposed to perform. The sad part is these people will never truly learn to use an axe partly because of the frustration caused from the limitations imposed by design flaws. It will just be easier to use a saw or collect small wood, or just use a gas stove.
So, was it always this way? NO! I have a few old Gransfors Bruks axe heads that are forged perfectly. Very useful tools. Afew years ago G.B. produced a short run of American Felling axes. These axes were extremely functional but alas, haven't been produced in several years. I keep hearing rumors that they are coming back but haven't seen it happen.
What's the cause? I believe it is demand. When axes were used every day and a part of every home, people demanded a good product. They wanted a product that would take an edge and stay sharp and they wanted a product that would function well across a broad spectrum of uses. Years ago, I'm going to say in the 60's, just for the sake of argument, that all changed. More and more people heated with oil and more and more people moved into the cities. The axe just wasn't used much anymore. Around this time life sped up and people started demanding that things take less time, like the sharpening of an axe. I also noticed that possesions became expendable and people started treating things with less respect. It was around this time that Snow and Neally stopped stamping their name on their axe heads. The old stamped Snow and Neally's have a much better temper than the new. I talked with someone once who had called Snow and Neally and asked them why they changed the temper in their axes. The answer was, customer demand. The customers wanted an axe that was easy and fast to sharpen. I believe, that if researched, you will find that the quality of Peavey Company axes dropped at about the same time.
So how do we reverse time? At this point I can only see two things to do. Number one is, stop buying inferior products. Buy the old axes and treat them with the respect they deserve. Number two is, start demanding a better product from the manufacturers. Write, call, and whatever else you can think of to let them know you want a better product. They have the technology to build a better axe than we've ever seen before but the demand has to be there.
Below is an email from a customer in Alaska that uses an axe more days than not. I sent him a stamped Snow and Neally and receive a phone call or email at least once a month. The axe is always mentioned.


don-good talking with you today-will do something on your website regarding
the snow and nealley, every time i use it i say thanks to you-its just
amazing and so useful a tool-and will also comment and give feedback on the
new design sheath-i especially like the thoughtful way in which you place
one or two of the rivets ahead of the stiching to protect it from the blade
and limit blade travel in the sheath-here is where details really matter for
durable products that are fully functional-i also appreciate the heavy grade
leather-better than i have ever seen before-and i increasingly notice other
subtlies-such as how you grooved the inside of the leather to make it fold
around the back-also, the adjustable buckle is very important as leather
streches with use and this allows adjust for the life of the product-if one
either spends alot of time in the woods or just really cares about quality
tools-then the thought and effort and trouble you go to are worth it and
much appreciated-thanks gary