Friday, June 17, 2011

A Brief Look at the Gransfors Bruks Mini Hatchet

I was again fortunate enough to have the kind people at Omaha Knife agree to lend me one of their axes for this review. Considering the cost of the product, I would not have been able to do the review without their assistance, and for that I am very thankful. The axe in question is the Gransfors Bruks Mini Hatchet.

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Specifications:
Manufacturer: Gransfors Bruks AB
Axe Head Weight: About ½ lb. The total weight of the hatchet is 12.4 oz.
Axe Length: 10.25 inches
Axe Head Material: Unknown Swedish steel
Handle Material: Hickory
Cost: $160.00

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Without a doubt this is a very expensive axe, especially for such a small tool. I think that is part of the reason for the high price. Such a small hatchet must be quite difficult to manufacture.

Here you can see the Gransfors Bruks Mini Hatchet next to the Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet for comparison.

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Even though small, the handle is comfortable and well made. Similarly the head is of nearly identical shape to that of the Wildlife Hatchet, although noticeably smaller. No metal wedge is used in the attachment of this axe head.

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The head has a harsher transition between the bit and the eye than I would like, similar to that of the Wildlife Hatchet.

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Overall, the Mini Hatchet has a good feel to it, and all the elements work well together. The problem however is that it is just too small. It is fun to use, but has very little practical value. There is nothing that you can do with the Mini Hatchet that you can not do with a knife. Considering that the Wildlife Hatchet is much more useful from a practical stand point, and costs a good amount less, I see little value in the Mini Hatchet. It is very light weight, but in my opinion it is dead weight. If you have a mid size, or even a small knife in your pocket, the Gransfors Bruks Mini Hatchet will add little practical value to the outing.

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