Last Updated on April 26, 2023 by Lisa Vargas
If you’re looking for a good bushcraft axe, you’ve probably started your research online and it’s ultimately why you’ve ended up on this website. As you’ve noticed, it’s not so easy to choose the best bushcraft axe. What you’ll also notice is many of the axes you find at places such as hardware stores are made from cheap steel and come from China where they have been mass produced.
In the old days, they used to make real axes with high-carbon steel. This is why you find many people searching for a good axe at rummage sales or antique stores. Ultimately, the most important part of the axe is the axe head. It needs it to be sharp enough to cut through logs, but thick enough not to chip or break.
Today we will look at a few of the top bushcraft axes on the market, look at their specific uses, and determine which axes have made it to the top of our list. Before you look at the best bushcraft axes, make sure to read our guide on how to choose the best survival axe. It will help you better understand that handle length, handle material and shape, axe head makeup, shape, thickness, and sharpness all play a part in selecting the best bushcraft axe for your situation. So let’s get started!
Axe Manufacturers
You’ve probably noticed in your first initial stages of searching for bushcraft axes that the Swedish manufacturers are the most popular. There’s a good reason for that. They are the best made, highest-quality axes you can find on the market. Not to say that you can’t find good axes in the United States, there’s just an undeniable history of excellence and craftsmanship behind the Swedish made products.
- Council Tool – Council Tool is a family owned operation that has been making axes since 1886 in America. They are a company that stands up to the quality and craftsmanship of its Swedish rivals and brings pride to the “Made in the USA” finished products. The company produces several products including axes; striking tools, forged bars for prying, pulling and digging; shrugging tool; pick mattocks and similar digging tools; wood splitting tools; and various specialty hand tools.
- Gransfors Bruks – When it comes to making axes, Gransfors Bruks is known to have the worlds highest-quality product being sold on the market today. The earliest beginnings of the company start in 1868, scythe smith Johan Pettersson (JP), aged 33, moved with his family and his brother Anders Pettersson (AP), aged 18, from Älvdalen to Gränsfors and set up Gränsfors Scythe Forge. As large scale logging operations increased in the late 19th century, the axe production began to multiply. Then in 1902, Gransfors Bruks AB was formed by Anders Pettersson who developed the company even more up until 1917 when Olof Eriksson took it over and became the managing director through 1982. Through all of the hard times, Gransfors Bruks continues to produce high-quality axes that have lasted through the test of time. The axes are now sold in 30 different countries and the children of the family now run the company.
- S.A. Wetterlings – S.A. Wetterlings is another one of the very few Swedish axe forging companies left. Like the others, they started in the mid to late 19th century. In 1880, Sven Axel Wetterling started manufacturing axes, broad-axes and bark shovels for the then-thriving forest industry. With their rich history, they did not go without challenges from the cheaper Chinese imports as well. Making it through that, they have gone through a few ownership and management changes but have ultimately come out still forging high-quality axes, and with only nine employees at the entire company. Also, from what I’ve read and researched online, Wetterling axes are better at splitting and Gransfors Bruks are for the finer jobs. A piece of Swedish’s industrial history, S.A. Wetterlings will continue to make axes for as long as they can.
- Husqvarna – Husqvarna is one of the oldest manufacturers dating back to 1689 when they first started their factory producing sewing machines, bicycles, motor cycles, and kitchen equipment. The funny thing about Husqvarna is they are better known for their chainsaws then their axes. They simply outsource their axes, and then stamp them with their brand. They used to be made by Wetterlings and now are being made by Hultafors Burks. This makes them a little bit of a “diamond in the rough” in the case of axes. They aren’t top of the line, but you can feel safe with this manufacturer.
- Hults Bruk – This Swedish company has over 300 years of axe making under its belt. Starting in 1697, it’s been producing some of the finest-quality products in the world. It started making iron bars, nails, and hammers and then expanded into making axes a little later on. When the Ekelund Family took over in 1820, they continues to refine the company and built it masterfully up until the owner’s death in 1928. Then in 1930, much of the exquisite axe products and improvement was done and still much of the company’s forgery comes from these early practices. In 1944, the company was sold to the paper company Holmens Bruk. In 1992, Hults Bruk was sold again to the present owner, the Hultafors Group, where approximately 20 people work to produce over 100,000 hand-forged steel head axes each year.
After reading the above, rich and proud history of the last of the Swedish axe makers, it makes you understand why you should not buy cheap, Chinese made axes. There’s nothing that feels better than owning a finely-forged Swedish made axe. After all, most of the companies have gone out of business, and these axes that are reviewed below may become a collector’s item someday because you won’t be able to find them anywhere else.
Our Top Pick
Council Tool Velvicut Premium Saddle Axe
- Extremely sharp flat grind on each blade for maximum versatility
- 16″ hickory handle
- Sheath included
- Lifetime warranty on the axe head
- Weight: approximately 2 pounds
- Forged with 5160 steel
The first thing you’ll notice about this axe is that it has a double bit which makes it a great multi-use bushcraft axe when you’re out in the woods. You can’t get much better quality than the Council Tool brand, and the size fits perfectly in a backpack, bug out bag, or in your camping gear. With its 16 inch American hickory made handle, you will love the feel of it in your hand and the grip it has when swinging.
The 32 degree right-hand blade was designed for notching, splitting, and more robust jobs and the 25 degree flat grind blade on the left-hand side was made for cutting, shaving, and carving. An exceptional, well-crafted, all-around great bushcraft axe that can stand up to any job with ease.
Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe
- 19″ handle (overall length including axe head)
- Vegetable-tanned leather sheath included
- Weight: 2.2 pounds
- Robust convex edge
- Comes with an ax guide on how to sharpen and warranty info
Wetter ling Outdoor Axe Knife
- Made for one and two-handed use
- Fits nicely in a large backpack
- Vegetable-tanned leather sheath included
- 20-year warranty included
- 19- 1/4″ overall length
- 1045 high-carbon steel
- Approximately 2.6 pounds
This perfectly hand-forged bushcraft axe makes for an excellent tool for anything from splitting small pieces of wood, to felling small trees. This type of axe would come in extremely handy in a survival situation where you needed to quickly construct some type of shelter in the woods. Please keep in mind that Wetterlings is no longer in business and was purchased in 2017 by Granfors Bruks.
The history goes far and deep with the Swedish axe makers, and unfortunately cheap Chinese imports has put a lot of pressure on the high-quality makers such as Granfors Bruks. With this Wetterlings axe, if you are going to buy it, but it soon, because they’ve already started phasing them out awhile ago. It could become a real collector’s item down the road.
Gränsfors Bruks Hand Hatchet
- Weight: 1.3 lbs.
- Length: 10.5 inches
- Comes with vegetable-tanned leather sheath
- Cutting edge length is 3″
Husqvarna 26" Wooden Multi-Purpose Axe
- American Hickory handle
- Leather edge cover included
- Weight: 2.1 lbs.
- Hand-forged steel
- Comes in a variety of different handle sizes if you want
The Husqvarna 26″ multi-purpose axe was forged in Sweden and designed for felling trees, chopping, branch trimming, log limbing, and clearing brush.
These heavy-headed axes will be shipped with a very light coating of oil that you can easily sand off if you want to use your own linseed oil coating. You’ll find a few people that don’t think the handle is the best, stating that “the handle is labeled “Hickory” but is a wide grain that is about 45° off from being perpendicular with the hatchet’s head.”
At the same time, according to Gabriel Brandby, retired owner of Gransfors Bruk, he says the grain orientation is not as important to the longevity of the tool as everyone thinks. Brandy states that, “To be clear, most people know and think that preferred wood grain in wood handled tools should run generally parallel with the direction of the handle. But, at the same time, all professional axe users know that the handle is merely a means of holding, aiming, and controlling the axe head.”
In the end, Husqvarna is a high-quality product that’s a little more affordable than your higher-end lines, but you still get an amazing product for your the money.
Hults Bruk Kalix Felling Axe
- Weight: 3.6 pounds
- Handle Length: 28 inches
- Linseed oil-treated hickory handle
- Comes with leather sheath
- Open drop forged with hand finishing axe head
The Hults Bruk Kalix Felling Axe is designed for felling trees as big as you have the energy for. Of course softer wood will make your job a little easier, but this 2.25 pound axe head brings superb force to your swing. I will say that this is definitely not designed for splitting logs or other large rounds because of the thin profile of the blade and can easily get stuck in greener wood. So try and use this with drier or already cut rounds to get the best performance.
The 3 -7/8″ head is the product of exquisite craftmanship. Keep in mind that because these axe heads are hand-forged, you may notice slight imperfections in the head of the axe. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, unless it really stunts the performance of your axe, which it should not. Because Hults Bruk doesn’t use any lacquer on their axe heads, just linseed oil, you can easily sand off the oil and use your oil of choice if you would like.
The handle is curved with a palm swell which makes the axe very comfortable to hold and swing. Again, this is a great felling axe for small to medium sized trees. It’s not as heavy as some axes of the same handle length, so it makes it a little easier to swing and takes up less energy. You won’t find the steel make up anywhere because it’s proprietary information, but most people say its closest to 1055 American steel. Made from one of the finest manufacturers in Sweden, you will not be disappointed.
Other Things To Consider When Choosing A Bushcraft Axe
There are some other things I want to mention as you are looking for a new axe to purchase because not everything is so cut and dry all of the time. If you haven’t read our article on choosing the right axe, make sure you do so here. It will provide some more details on the details of the axe. Some real quick things to consider when choosing your bushcraft axe are the following:
Skill Level
Getting used to swinging an axe can be difficult for some people just starting out. If you aren’t comfortable with using an axe yet, it’s easier to start with an axe that has a medium-length handle. Then as you get better, you can move to a longer handle. But at the same time, it can also make it a little easier for you to hurt yourself with. Always use an axe that feels comfortable to you.
In addition to this, swinging an axe with a lighter head, usually under 5 pounds, makes it easier to hit the target. If the axe head is too heavy, it will feel unbalanced in your hands and it will make it harder for you to hit your target if you’re a beginner.
Primary Use?
Will this axe used to chop trees, as a weapon, splitting wood, chopping kindling, felling trees, etc. Also keep in mind that the type of wood that you are going to use your axe on will determine the type of axe you need to use.
Splitting axes, for example, tend to be heavier so that more power and force can be applied to the logs it is intended to split. The longer the handles will give you more speed and power to the axe at the same time.
Where Will You Keep Your Axe?
Is your axe going to go in your hiking backpack, your bug out vehicle, or your bug out bag? These are important because it will come into play when determining the size of axe that you choose.
You also may consider getting two different axes. One that has a shorter handle for your bug out bag and that you can carry with you, and one that has a longer handle that can be stored in your bug out vehicle or a bunker somewhere you’ve got planned to escape to when the shtf.
Final Thoughts
Finding an axe that fits your grip and feels comfortable in your hands is the most important thing you to do. There will be good reviews about the worst axe out there, and there will bad reviews about the highest-quality axes as well. You will read online and learn many things that important about choosing the axe, but you will ultimately be the one who gets to use it.