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How To Identify And Date Gransfors Bruks Axes

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https://youtu.be/tOqb2eIJxe8

Identifying Swedish axe makers marks is notoriously difficult. With Gransfors Bruks  makers marks, the oldest are fairly easy to date. While others are almost impossible.

This is not meant to be a complete history. Rather this is meant as a reference for makers marks produced by Gransfors Bruks. I’ve covered the most common marks with estimated dates. I will also cover makers marks from both of their forges. Both the one in Gransfors and the forge in Bergsjo. For a complete history please see the company’s web page.  Unfortunately, even their own summary bounces around so much it can be difficult to follow.

Overall much of the information has been lost to history due to multiple changes in ownership, lack of interest, facility upgrades and natural disasters. I did try to confirm my information with Gransfors Bruks without much success.

A quick note on the GBA vs GAB makers mark.
[G]ränsfors [B]ruks [A]ktiebolag = GBA
[G]ränsfors Bruks [A]ktie[b]olag / [G]ränsfors Bruks [A][B] = GABAktiebolag = Trading company (eng. literally “Stock-company”), often shortened in Swedish to just AB, A.B., A-B etc.  You see it used by virtually every Swedish forge at one point in time.  Showing up in countless catalogs and print material.

This is one of Gransfors oldest marks from their Begsjo Forge. Estimated date of production would be 1902 – 1930. This pattern of axe is consistent with patterns from that time period. With collared axes being phased out around 1930. Although Wetterlings did produce collared axes until the 1940s.
1902-1930 Gransfors Bruk axe makers mark
This is a similar mark to the previous one. This time being produced at their main forge in Gransfors. Again, produced between 1902 – 1930. Being consistent with the patterns from that period in time.
The Record Series was most likely produced after 1917 when Olof Eriksson took over as managing director of the Gransfors Forge. As well as remaining in charge of the Bergsjo Forge. The Record stamp was discontinued shortly after. Probably around the 1930 as the focus shifted to export markets.
The modern Crown GBA Symbol is more tricky to date and again would largely be done using the pattern as a reference. It shows up from the 1920s as seen on the left, pre-1982 in the center bit stamp, all the way up to current production on the right.


Gransfors big move to export started in the 1920s with export to Russia then dropped off during the 1930s. With the 40s and 50s seeing a huge growth in export to South America and the US.

Most of the paper labels seen are on South American patterns from this period between 1940 and 1969.

This rarely seen Square G makers mark is more difficult to date. A huge variety of patterns were made with this stamp.  Yet it is rarely seen outside of the Gransfors museum.  Below you can see two such examples.  Including a nice, clear paper label.  Most likely from the paper label era of the 50’s & 60’s.
This “Gransfors” is another lesser known stamp. Showing up only on modern patterned axe heads. Likely from sometime during their boom years during 1970 to 1982.

The Gransfors Camping line w as made for the American market around the 1950’s. Another great stamp that is not very common.

“GAB.” This one is also a bit of a mystery. It’s another very uncommon stamp. With most people assuming it to possibly be a fake. Although I’m sure it isn’t. I haven’t been able to track down any kind of date. Other than the blue paint and pattern putting it sometime before 1982.


“AXE HEAD” with a couple variations. Definitely made by Gransfors prior to 1982. These always show up on large, modern pattern axe heads. I would assume they are relatively new production.

Finally the most elusive stamp to date. This Corona cat and crown showed up on one old Granfors Bruks axe. It actually turns out that this was an export product made for Thailand at least 40 years ago.  The heads were all “cast steel.”  Similar to crucible steel.
The Supreme G is another stamp from around the 1950’s. You can see a combination of the Square G and 1950s style patterns.


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Comments

  1. That “Corona & Cat” label illustration (with text) is a Thai trademark, Registration Number 9512, filing date 1950-07-19.

    http://www.wipo.int/branddb/en/showData.jsp?ID=THTM.15174
    Global Brand Database
    World Intellectual Property Organization

    There is evidently a similar label on a GBA axe head at the Swedish National Museum of Science and Technology.
    https://www.europeana.eu/portal/en/record/916118/S_TEK_object_TEKS0033743.html

    More photos of the “Corona & Cat” label and stamp are shown at the GransforsBruk.com forum:
    https://forum.gransforsbruk.com/forums/topic/corona-cat-brand/

    Reply

    • Thanks Steve. The one picture on the page is from the Gransfors Bruk forum. But I see now it also has a stamp. I’ll have to look at those other links more closely. They do still make similar labels for the South East Asian market but even the blacksmiths I know that work there don’t know more than that. So the Corona Cat could even potentially be a current label.

      Reply

  2. I have an axe with the same stamping that you show captioned as;
    “This “Gransfors” is another lesser known stamp. Showing up only on modern patterned axe heads. Likely from sometime during their boom years during 1970 to 1982.”
    I contacted Gransfors in 2008, with a very detailed description of the axe head, and received this reply;
    “Nice to learn about the finding of an old Gransfors axe.
    By your description I guess it was forged here at Gransfors Bruks, Sweden before the WW II, 1930-1939.
    Keep it with pride.
    Best regards
    Gransfors Bruks, Sweden
    Gabriel Branby
    Owner”

    I hope this info on the “straight stamp” name will help!

    Reply

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