An Axe Becomes as Good as Its Smith

Gränsfors axes are forged by very professional smiths.  The proof of this professionalism is that they are able to forge axes with such precision that no supplementary work, to hide mistakes in the forging, is needed.

At Gränsfors Bruks, the forging craft is allowed to take its time.  The smiths do not work by the piece.  They take care and do the right forging from the beginning.  There is no need to stone or grind or smooth or paint the axes in order to hide or eliminate imperfections in the forging.

A smith at Gränsfors Bruks has nothing to hide and he is proud of his professional standards.  When he is satisfied with his work and has accepted his axe, he marks the head with his initials beside the company's crown label:

           LP Lennart Pettersson                     KS Kjell-Äke Sjölund
           UN Ulrik Nilsson                               RA Rune Andersson
           MS Mikel Sundberg                          MM Mattias Mattsson
           LE Lars Enander                               DG Daniel Gräntz
           BA Bert-Ove Andersson                   JE Joakin Eriksson

In 1990, Gränsfors Bruks' axes were awarded a prize in "Ecological Design" from The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation in cooperation with The Swedish Society of Crafts and Design.  In 1995, Gränsfors Bruks received another award from The Swedish Society of Crafts and Design for the "Hunter's Axe." 

Download the "Ancient Axe Book" PDF (1.3 MB) which is an interesting and informative history of the axe.

Download the GRÄNSFORS BRUKS "Axe Book" PDF (4MB) which describes the making of these fine swedish tools and informative text about the use and care of them.