Gränsfors Bruk (Stocking Stuffers For Less than $30)

About Gränsfors Bruk

Gränsfors Bruk has been producing axes in the village of Gränsfors, in Hälsingland, Sweden since 1902. Gränsfors Bruk has dedicated itself to producing handcrafted, exceptionally made high quality axes in an environmentally responsible and sustainable way.

This is manifest initially through Gränsfors’ decision to make a long lasting, heirloom quality tool: by increasing the lifespan of their product, one needs less materials and produces less waste by having to replace worn, broken, or dysfunctional tools.

All of Gränsfors’ axes are forged by professional smiths. The proof of their professionalism is that they are able to forge axes with such precision that no supplementary work to hide mistakes in the forging is needed. Often times additional grinding, polishing and painting accompanies substandard forging when producing tools. This increases the materials, energy, and (in the case of painting) chemical footprint of the product. By forging the axes heads to such a high standard, not only is a better axe head made, but the environmental benefits increase also.

These benefits are also present in the choice of handle materials. By choosing wood (a renewable resource), the use and disposal of epoxies and solvents in the creation and production of synthetic handles is removed also, making for better working conditions (no more masks and ventilators), and providing product better end of life integration for the product. A Gränsfors axe is made of a steel axe head, a wooden handle, wooden handle wedge, and steel staple - that’s it.

Each Gränsfors axe comes stamped with the initials of the smith who forged it - this formalizes the connection between the maker and his product, and the consumer and the maker - thereby connecting each axe and axe owner with the craft and tradition at Gränsfors:

AM - Anders Magnusson
AS - Anders Strömstedt
DG - Daniel Gräntz
KS - Kjell – Åke Sjölund
LP - Lennart Petterson
MB - Mattias Blixt-Pettersson
MM - Mattias Mattson
MS - Mikael Sundberg
PJA - Paul James Alford
RA - Rune Andersson
TT - Tobias Thelin
UN - Ulrik Nilsson
TA - Tomas Andersson
EB - Erik Blixt
JH - John Hårdsten

All of Gränsfors’ axes come with a 20 year guarantee, and will provide a lifetime of precision, focussed, enjoyable use when regularly maintained and cared for.