Dieter Schmid - Fine Tools
	Georg-Wilhelm-Str. 7 A - 10711 Berlin - Germany Tel ++49 (0)30 342 1757 - Fax ++49 (0)30 342 1764 Website: www.fine-tools.com

Dieter Schmid - Fine Tools Georg-Wilhelm-Str. 7 A - 10711 Berlin Tel ++49 30 342 1757 - Fax ++49 30 342 1764 Website: www.fine-tools.com

Overview Axes, Hatchets, Adzes, Drawknives, Nail Claws, Slicks

GRANSFORS BRUKS Axes, Hatchets and Adzes - Back To Basics For The Real Craftsman!

In pre-industrial times, axes were made in many small forges and smithies. A hugh variety grew up as the smith matched his skill to the use his customer wanted to put his axe to. The mass production that came with the Industrial Revolution brought a change to the shape and construction of axes. They all had to look the same, the surfaces were ground absolutely smooth and given a coat of paint - incidentally, a useful means of disguising poor quality. The small Swedish smithy, GRÄNSFORS BRUKS, has gone back to the original principle of hand production with the aim of putting on the market a sound, longlasting product. The company has worked with the designer Hans Erik Persson and developed axes that have traditional shapes and still meet the demands of those felling trees by hand today. The motto of GRÄNSFORS BRUKS is: "An axe is as good as the smith who made it". The forged surface, free of all disguise, is a guarantee of the smith's skill and the quality of the axe he has made. So it follows that you should know which smith made your axe. A clever smith is proud of his handiwork. Every axe from Gränsfors Bruks is marked with the initials of its maker, and the smiths are:

LE	Lars Enander
UN	Ulrik Nielsson
MM	Mattias Mattsson
MS	Mikael Sundberg
LP	Lennart Pettersson
KS	Kjell-Ake Sjölund
RA	Rune Andersson
CK	Claudia Kowalek
DG	Daniel Gräntz
BA	Bert-Ove Andersson

The steel is heat-treated in stoves at a temperature of 1200°C. When the right temperature has been reached - and this is clear to the smith from the red and gold colour - the glowing end is cut off and the work with anvil and swage can begin. The smith skilfully forms an axe-head from the square piece of metal. He then embosses it with the name GRÄNSFORS BRUKS and his own initials, inspects it closely and hangs it up to cool. When the cutting edge has been hammered and ground, the lower part of the axe-head is annealed - by heating it to 820°C and then quenching it rapidly in cold water. After that, the axes are tempered for 60 minutes in an oven at 195°C, to take out the stresses that arise in the forging and annealing processes. Then there is a test of the hardness. The shafter now gives the axe a handle, or helve. The prepared shaft is inserted into the eye of the axe with the aid of a hydaulic press. The axe is greased to protect it from rust. Every axe (with few exceptions - see item description) goes out accompanied by a leather sheath for the blade and the "Book of the Axe", which contains a wealth of practical information. To sharpen axes we recommend a Japanese Waterstone!

Wildlife Hatchet Order nr. 307305 Price € 59.90 A hatchet (short-handled axe) for trekking, easy to stow in a rucksack. The leather sheath stops the blade piercing the rucksack. This hatchet has a 36 cm handle and weighs only 0.7 kg. A reliable companion on all trips into wild country!

Hunter's Axe Order nr. 307306 Price € 84.50 A specialist axe for hunters. The front edge of the head is curved; the curve is not concave as in most hatchets, but convex. The shape of the curve follows the traditional line of the native American tomahawk. The neck is narrower than usual, and beaten thinner, slightly rounded and polished, for skinning animals. To "flay" game, it can be used as a tanning hammer. It is a hatchet that can be used not only for butchering game and splitting bones but also for hewing wood. There are rings cut into the handpiece to enable the hand to keep a fast grip even when wet and slippery. This hatchet was the first and so far the only one to receive an award in Sweden for excellence of design - from the Swedish Design Centre. Its length is 48 cm including handle and it weighs only 0.9 kg.

Small Forest Axe Order nr. 307307 Price € 65.90 Smaller than the splitting axes this hatchet is made for one-handed use. More force for woodcutting than the trekking hatchet has is given by the larger head and longer handle. This axe can still be quite well accommodated in a rucksack. It is 50 cm long including handle, and weighs 1.0 kg Scandinavian Forest Axe (Large Forest Axe) Order nr. 307308 Price € 71.90 Smaller than the splitting axes this hatchet is made for one-handed use. A true felling axe for people who want to do traditional forestry work. Outstanding for felling small trees and removing branches. Forged into round curves, it is well suited to work on fresh, resinous woods such as spruce and pine. Because of the long handle, it can be swung well. Its length is 64 cm including handle and it weighs only 1.2 kg.

Large Splitting Axe Order nr. 307309 Price € 82.50 A new generation of axes for splitting logs. Lars Enander, master smith, has developed an axe with the aim of making log-splitting easier and giving the tool a longer life. The result is to be seen here: a broad axe-head with a concave profile forces the wood apart with a minimum of contact. The handle is in high quality hickory and has been given a steel sheath to reduce the wear that arises when the handle strikes the log by mistake. The steel sheath is attached to the handle and head simultaneously, under a pressure of about two tons. Do not use this axe as a hammer or as a wedge. The splitting hammer is the right thing for that! This axe is 70 cm long including handle and it weighs only 2.6 kg. Handle (helve) sheathed in steel! Small Splitting Axe Order nr. 307329 Price € 75.50 as above, length of handle 60 cm, weight 1.8 kg

	Splitting Hatchet Order nr. 307328 Price € 75.00 Smaller than the splitting axes this hatchet is made for one-handed use. Weight: 1.7 kg Length: 48 cm

Splitting Hammer - Splitting Maul Order nr. 307310 Price € 86.50 Design features basically as those of cleaver, but considerably weightier to tackle heavy jobs. This splitting hammer is suitable for cleaving very coarse and knotty wood. The hammer end is very good for hammering in splitting wedges. Warning: Remember that when steel strikes steel, splinters can fly and damage your eyes - wear goggles! A number of users of this splitting hammer have reported with pride - and independently of one another - that they have managed to turn more than 8 cubic metres of wood into logs in one weekend. Its length is 80 cm including handle and it weighs 3.2 kg.

Splitting Wedge Order nr. 307311 Price € 42.90 Warning: Remember that when steel strikes steel, splinters can fly and damage your eyes - wear goggles! Protect the other parts of your body with heavy clothes! Keep other people off! Remove the burr that appears as a result of striking thoroughly with a file. Buy this tool only, if you are able to follow these rules! This hardened steel splitting wedge has a slight twist in it, to achieve faster splitting and at the same time reduce the risk of its jamming. It 23 cm long and weighs 1.5 kg. If you find this wedge too dangerous, we recommend our Ox-head Aluminium wedge for safe working

Carpenter's Axe Order nr. 307312 Price € 69.90 Carpenter's axes have a long, thin blade, giving a regular surface to the cuts it makes. The head is forged with a recess that enables the hand to grip almost immediately over the blade, increasing stability and accuracy. The poll of the axe can be used as a hammer; the handle is straight. The flat blade and straight line make it superb for chopping dry wood. The carpenter's hatchet is 51 cm long and weighs 1.1 kg, Cutting edge approx. 10 cm.

Swedish Carving Axe The scupltor's axe has a long, curved blade with a broad, straight, bevelled cutting edge to make light work of sculpting wood. The blade is bevelled on the right side. Its shape is the outcome of co-operation between Wille Sundquist, sculptor in wood, and Onni Linnanheimo, designer, who were inspired by ancient hatchets of the kind. The handle is "rugged" to give a good grip. Total weight: 1.0 kg Length of edge: 11 cm Length of handle: 37 cm Comes with a grain-leather sheath. Order nr. 307314 Preis: € 95.00

Swedish Broad Axe straight Order nr. 307315 Price € 165.00 blade sharpened on both sides, Over all weight 1.7 kg, length of handle 49 cm, over all length 54 cm, blade 18 cm Swedish Broad Axe for the left-handed! Order nr. 307316 Price € 195.00 helve offset to left, one side of blade sharpened (to the normal scissors-type cutting edge for work along the length of the wood) . The upper part of the hatchet ( poll and eye) is turned approx.10° to the left in the course of forging. The beam is to the right of the hatchet from where the joiner is standing. Swedish Broad Axe for the right-handed! Order nr. 307317 Price € 195.00 helve offset to right, one side of blade sharpened (to the normal scissors-type cutting edge for work along the length of the wood) . The upper part of the hatchet ( poll and eye) is turned approx.10° to the right in the course of forging. The beam is to the left of the hatchet from where the joiner is standing.

Heavy Broad Axe Mod. 1800 Order nr. 307332 Preis: € 315.00 Broad axe, model 1800, a traditional Scandinavian design. The enlargement shows clearly the marked increase in thickness near the cutting edge. This axe is suitable for cutting through trunks and for rough joint work; both sides of the blade are ground. Weight 1.85 kg, length of handle 50 cm, over all length 54 cm, blade 19 cm. Click on this picture and the following for an enlargement!

	Heavy Broad Axe Mod. 1700 Order nr. 307333 Price € 449.00 Broad axe, model 1700, head resembles that of model 1800 in cutting area but there is a wellshaped forged socket to protect the helve from breakage. Weight 2 kg, length of handle 50 cm, over all length 59 cm, blade 19 cm.Click on this picture and the following for an enlargement!

	Adze with curved blade and short handle Order nr. 307324 Price € 165.00 The best one for sculptors! Weight 0.85 kg, length 24 cm, blade 6.5 cm.
	Adze with curved blade and long handle Order nr. 307325 Price € 195.00 Boatbuilders like this adze. Suitable for general work! Weight 1.55 kg, over all length 64 cm, blade 8 cm.

	Adze with straight blade and short handle Order nr. 307326 Price € 159.00 The best one for sculptors! Weight 0.85 kg, length 24 cm, blade 6.5 cm.
	Adze with straight blade and long handle Order nr. 307327 Price € 189.00 Boatbuilders like this adze. Suitable for general work! Weight 1.55 kg, over all length 64 cm, blade 8 cm.

American Felling Axe with straight Handle Order nr. 307367 Price € 115.00 A professional axe for working in the same way as the "fallers" of the old days. Hand forged out of a solid piece of steel and carefully tempered and sharpened. The American hickory handle is 81 cm (32 inches) long. The head weight is 2.1 kg (4.6 lbs), total weight is 2.3 kg (5.1 lbs), the blade is 115 mm (4-1/2 inches) wide.

American Felling Axe A professional axe for working in the same way as the "fallers" of the old days. Hand forged out of a solid piece of steel and carefully tempered and sharpened. Wdith American hickory handle. Axe with shorter handle 81 cm (31 in.) Total weight 2.2 kg (4.9 lb) Width of blade 115 mm (4-1/2 in.) Order nr. 307365 Price € 119.00 Axe with long handle 90 cm (35 in.) Total weight 2.3 kg (5.1 lb) Width of blade 115 mm (4-1/2 in.) Order nr. 307366 Price € 122.00

	Double Bit Axe Order nr. 307330 Price € 135.00 Double bit axe for wood-cutters. Length of handle 90 cm, weight of head 1.6 kg, total weight 2.4 kg. Warning: Only for skilled wood-cutters! This axe can be hazardous for untrained people! This is no throwing axe!

	Scandinavian Broad Axe (Danish Double Bearded Axe) Order nr. 307360 Price € 379.00 A lightweight is this Swedish "Bredbila". Weight 1,45 kg, handle 46 cm, Over all length 63 cm, blade 37 cm, comes without blade protection!

	Tomahawk "Dakota" Order nr. 307361 Price € 199.00 The Indian spirit! Weight 450 g, length 48 cm, blade 7 cm.

Scandinavian Bearded Axe "Gothem" A Swedish axe developed during the 7th century. The broad axe originally came to the Nordic countries from Western and Central Europe and was subsequently developed into two basic types: the two-lugged and the four-lugged. The two-lugged broad axe is characterised by two lugs below the eye and was often quite big and heavy. It had a short handle and a long extended edge. The beard axe was used primarily as a tool for woodwork and for cutting and smoothing planks, for example. This type of axe was an essential too used for boat building and in the construction of Viking buildings (skiftesverkhus) wich were built using horizontal planks. This replica, forged by hand, is based on an 11th century axe found in Gothem on the iland of Gotland. The original axe is exhibited at the Museum of National Antiquities in Stockholm. Order nr. 307362 Price € 279.00 Weight 2 kg, length 80 cm, blade 14 cm.

Scandinavian Four-Lugged chopping Axe "Skane" Order nr. 307364 Price € 269.00 A Norwegian axe from the 7th century which was developed into a western Scandinavian style. It is characterised by its four eye-lugs: two above and two below the eye. The axe has a relatively wide, curved edge. Archeological findings indicate that this type of axe probably formed part of poeple's personal equipment. It was used both as hatchet and as a working axe, but also as a weapon in battle before the actual battle axe was developed. This replica, forged by hand, is based on an axe dating back to the 9th century, and was found in Skane in the southern part of Sweden. The original axe is exhibited at the Museum Kulturen in Lund (Sweden).

	Froe Order nr. 307320 Price € 95.00 Weight 2,2 kg = 2-1/2 lb, length of blade 30 cm = 12", length of handle 45 cm = 18", without blade protection! Use a wooden mallet to strike the back of the blade!

	Mortise Axe Order nr. 307318 Price € 95.00 A mortise axe is used in joinery, specially loghouse building. Weight 1 kg, length of axe head 21 cm, blade width 6 cm, length of handle 50 cm.

	Sharpening Axes This Japanese waterstone is the ideal stone for sharpening axes and hatchets! With grit 250 (green) you can grind down notches and with grit 1000 (brown) you obtain a high grade of sharpness for your axe. Japanese Combination stone Grain size: 250/1000 Size: 205 mm x 50 mm x 25 mm Order nr. 309353 Price € 21.90
	As alternative we offer this Mini-combination stone with plastic handle - versatile and cheap, handle with hand-protection! Suitable for axes and sickles too! Note that this stone cannot replace a large stone, and sharpening takes longer. For tools which need precise angles such as chisels or plane blades this stone is not suitable. Grit: 250/800 Stone size: 80 mm x 30 mm x 10 mm each side Length with handle: 195 mm (8 in.) Order nr. 309357 Price € 12.50