Quality swedish axes/hatchets?

[jackelope]

Just picked it up at madsens in centralia, hand forged, Swedish quality, $80.  Damn nice tool....

Not bad, Jud. Thanks...

[257 Wby Mag]

Word has it they're made by hults bruks...

[Alchase]

Could someone explain the fascination or advantages of Swedish Axes?

Two years ago, I finally had to buy a new ax when I broke my piece of crap Fred Meyer special, and had to run into Twisp to pick up a new Fiskars splitting axe a couple years ago.
Dang thing is danger sharp. To be honest, I only chop wood in Deer camp or the occasional fire in the back yard.

[Bullkllr]

Could someone explain the fascination or advantages of Swedish Axes?

Two years ago, I finally had to buy a new ax when I broke my piece of crap Fred Meyer special, and had to run into Twisp to pick up a new Fiskars splitting axe a couple years ago.
Dang thing is danger sharp. To be honest, I only chop wood in Deer camp or the occasional fire in the back yard.

Steel quality, holding an edge. Probably also some hype, but they do take their wood cutting pretty seriously over there.

Fiskars is made in Finland, no?

In my experience I can get a cheap axe sharp. Keeping it sharp is another story. The head just gradually disappears.

[Alchase]

Thanks for the info.

[Smokepole]

Another difference is the shaping of the head for the type of work to be done.  My Gransfors axes are hollow ground.  They are good for splitting, and don't get stuck in a round of wood too often.  They chop deeply and chips really fly.  Hardware store axes are seldom shaped properly for splitting or chopping.  They look like an axe from a distance, until you start looking at them close.  I like good, traditional tools of all kinds, including brooms.  I like hickory wood, because it feels better in the hands than plastic or rubber.  Hickory and steel looks cool in my woodshed.   

[singleshot12]

Husqvarna quality is ok but now you pay twice as much just for the name

[Machias]

My favorite axe of all time is the Gransfors Scandinavian Forest axe.  It is the holy grail of my collection, anyway.  It is about the size and shape of a hudson bay axe.  I remember the first time I hefted a Norlund axe.  I was just a kid, and chopped down quite a few trees with it.  It was addictive to swing and chop.  The Gransfors feels even better, with a little more heft to the head, and a better hollow grind that really sends chips flying.   

That's the one I have, LOVE IT!!!!

[Machias]

My forest axe was made by Tobias Thelin.  Here is he, making them in the factory.

Same guy who made my axe!!

[Alchase]

That was cool!

[Night goat]

Could someone explain the fascination or advantages of Swedish Axes?

Two years ago, I finally had to buy a new ax when I broke my piece of crap Fred Meyer special, and had to run into Twisp to pick up a new Fiskars splitting axe a couple years ago.
Dang thing is danger sharp. To be honest, I only chop wood in Deer camp or the occasional fire in the back yard.

Steel quality, holding an edge. Probably also some hype, but they do take their wood cutting pretty seriously over there.

Fiskars is made in Finland, no?

In my experience I can get a cheap axe sharp. Keeping it sharp is another story. The head just gradually disappears.

Kyllä fiskars on suomalaista

means yes fiskars is Finnish

the reason why Scandinavian steel is so prized is because of unmatched ore quality with a very high carbon content, Scandinavian and German ore is some of the highest quality and purest ore in the world, and have a very long lineage of craftsmanship that goes back over a thousand years, part of why the Vikings took over europe and most of the known world was because of the quality of thiet steel, that and they were completley bathsit and extremely savy businessmen

[KFhunter]

I just bought an Eastwing campers axe.




I took my work sharp to it and made a new convex edge and it's a chopping fool now.  I had it sharp enough to gut a deer, but not hair popping sharp, I took it to a chunk of larch that's been dry for 5 years and hard as a brick.  Thought to see if I could roll the edge but it held, and it stayed sharp.  I got it to pop small limbs off logs and emergency tree across the road truck axe. 

Pretty happy with it, but you must put your own edge on it or it's not worth packing.  It's not a GB, but the handle will never fall off and it does hold and edge pretty good.  If you don't remove or replace the axe scabbard the right way it'll lay your hand wide open, so caution there.  I grab the top edge of the scabbard and slide it on with due care so it won't bite me. 

[jackelope]

Well I'm happy to report I finally pulled the trigger on an axe. Went with the Hults Bruk Akka.  It showed up this morning. I haven't taken it out of the box yet but I'm pretty excited.

This one:
http://hultsbruk1697.se/products/the-akka/

[tlbradford]

Well I'm happy to report I finally pulled the trigger on an axe. Went with the Hults Bruk Akka.  It showed up this morning. I haven't taken it out of the box yet but I'm pretty excited.

This one:
http://hultsbruk1697.se/products/the-akka/

Look at you Mr. Fancypants!    You and your kids should enjoy that.  Plus, at that price, you are certain to never accidentally leave it stuck in a stump while you drive home from camp.

[jackelope]

Someone asked for pics.







Sorry for the cheesy inside the jacket picture. It was either that or in the hay all over the back of my Jeep.


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