Gransfors Large Splitting Axe 445 w/ Collar Guard (Sweden)

This is my 5th Gränsfors Bruk product, 1st splitting axe.
Top quality right out of the box, razor sharp and ready to go to work. I put several coats of boiled Linseed oil on the handle before putting it into service.
The head was very tight to the handle and the collar guard is a nice addition.
With any tool, make sure you know what you are doing and this tool will give you years of service, it is a splitting machine. The profile of the head bites right in and doesn’t bounce like some traditional blunt faced mauls.
Buy with confidence and know you are getting a genuine Gränsfors Bruk product; fast shipping and good packaging.

Best axe ever

Was it all I'd hoped? Pretty much. I wanted a lighter splitter, specific to the task, the main task it would do. I don't fell trees or bushcraft, I need to split wood rounds and this is a beast. Excessively large rounds still require a maul and wedge, but rounds about 20" or so split fairly easily, at worst three strikes, but usually just one with fresh or tried wood - punky wood is punky wood, so it doesn't work miracles. I highly recommend splitting from a block or stump or something as this will cut thru rounds and you don't want it sinking into dirt and rock. I did nick the edge, but that was easily repaired - due to an overstrike, so again, use a large round as a base to split with. Razor sharp out the box, I liked the handle, very good grip, and the sheath was very functional. In the end, this is a tool than can be faster than a mechanical splitter. Work smart, be safe. Proper technique equals efficiency and safety - a great workout and a pleasure to swing.

Having read mostly good reviews on this splitting axe I spent too much money on an axe. It arrived in good condition faster than expect. It was well packed, no issues there.

The axe was exactly as expected and I rushed out to the splitting stump to give it a try. Pretty good but nothing really to write about. Later we went in to the woods to split some rounds rather than bring them out to split. I have a 26" diameter round, 20 inches or so long. Oak. Looking good. First swing at the 3/4 mark and it digs in but no "split". Second swing at the 1/2 mark and it starts the split. 3rd stroke at the 1/3 mark and the round splits in half.

For anything less than about 19" in diameter one swing and it splits. I'm taking 18-20 inch rounds, and in four strikes slabbing it into 3 sections, 1/4 left and right with one stroke, then the center with two.

The biggest issue is making sure that people don't get hit with flying wood when the pieces pop apart. We've had to use wedges on maybe 5 rounds that were part of a fork.

But this axe if you need to split wood. Faster and easier in many ways than using a wood splitter.