The Gränsfors Bruk Mortise Axe serves as a specialized tool for hewing sills and cutting notches in traditional timber joinery, featuring a long, narrow head design that reaches deep into joints where conventional axes cannot work effectively. This precision Swedish tool bridges the gap between axe and chisel, allowing timber framers to shape complex joinery with greater speed and efficiency than traditional chisel work alone.

Key Features:

• Long, narrow head for deep notch access
• Specialized design for mortise and joint work
• 50cm (19.7 inch) overall length
• 1.2kg (2.6 lb) total weight
• Hand-forged Swedish construction
• Designed for hewing sills and notches
• Each axe signed by its maker
• Includes vegetable-tanned leather sheath

Specifications:

• SKU: 485
• Length: 50cm (19.7 inches)
• Weight: 1.2kg (2.6 pounds)
• Head profile: Long and narrow
• Primary use: Mortise and joint cutting
• Sheath: Vegetable-tanned leather
• Origin: Sweden

Ideal for:

• Timber framers
• Traditional building specialists
• Log home builders
• Restoration carpenters
• Japanese joinery practitioners
• Heritage building professionals
• Green woodworkers
• Advanced woodworking students

Benefits:

• Reaches deep into joints inaccessible to standard axes
• Faster than chisel work for large mortises
• Narrow profile fits confined joinery spaces
• Hand-forged quality ensures edge retention
• Lightweight for precise control
• Reduces need for multiple tools
• Traditional craftsmanship guarantees longevity
• Leather sheath protects edge between uses

Specialized Geometry for Joint Work: The mortise axe's distinctive long, narrow head addresses a specific challenge in traditional timber framing—creating deep notches and mortises in large timbers where standard axes are too broad and chisels too slow. The elongated head allows you to hew far down into a notch while maintaining the leverage and striking power that makes axe work efficient. This design proves invaluable when cutting housed joints, scarf joints, or the deep notches required in log construction. The narrow profile means you can work within the confined spaces of complex joinery without damaging adjacent surfaces, while still removing material at a rate that would take significantly longer with mallet and chisel alone. The 1.2kg weight provides enough mass for effective cutting while remaining light enough for the precise control that accurate joint work demands.

Traditional Tool for Timeless Techniques: At 50cm overall length, this axe offers optimal reach for working on large timbers while maintaining the maneuverability needed for accurate cuts. The hand-forged construction by Gränsfors Bruk's skilled smiths ensures each axe receives individual attention to heat treatment and edge geometry, creating a tool that holds its edge through demanding work in hardwood timbers. With practice, the mortise axe becomes an extension of your intent, allowing you to shape joints with a fluidity and speed that transforms timber framing from laborious work into skilled craft. The vegetable-tanned leather sheath protects the precisely ground edge between uses while developing its own patina over time. Whether you're cutting traditional Swedish joints, working on log home construction, or maintaining historic timber structures, this specialized axe provides the focused functionality that distinguishes professional timber work from amateur attempts.