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Vegetable-tanned leather
Our axes are protected by leather sheaths made from vegetable-tanned leather.
Every Gränsfors axe comes with a sheath made from vegetable-tanned leather. This traditional method preserves the leather’s natural qualities while avoiding heavy metals and non-biodegradable substances. By carefully choosing both material and process, Gränsfors Bruk ensures a sheath that is durable, functional and environmentally considered.
The Origin of the Leather
Gränsfors axes come with a sheath made from vegetable-tanned leather. Leather is tanned to prevent it from being broken down by bacteria. The tanning process preserves and improves the natural properties of the leather and can be carried out either using natural vegetable materials—such as bark from various trees, flowers and roots—or through treatment with chromium, known as chrome tanning.
Vegetable-tanned leather has been used for many thousands of years. In ancient river cultures, animal hides came into contact with bark, leaves or fruit and were transformed so that they no longer rotted in water and heat. Today, vegetable tanning follows the same basic principles, but with more efficient methods. Vegetable-tanned leather is free from heavy metals and is biodegradable.
FAQ
The sheath is designed to protect both you and your axe. By regularly lubricating the blade guard of your axe, you make the leather more flexible and water-repellent. The leather grease therefore extends the service life of the axe’s sheath.
During the tanning process, the hide goes through several treatments, including salting, stripping to remove fat and tissue, washing, re-wetting and pH neutralisation. The hide is then treated in a large rotating drum with natural tannins derived from plants. This process gives the leather a natural feel, dimensional stability and an attractive patina.
Gränsfors Bruk has deliberately chosen not to use chrome-tanned leather, as its environmental credentials are not considered sufficiently high. Chrome tanning was developed in the late 19th century as a cheaper alternative to vegetable tanning. Chrome-tanned leather commonly contains traces of chromium, which can cause allergic reactions and is not biodegradable.
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