I think that anyone who is heading into the woods should take the tools that they feel comfortable with and trust to do their job : letting us come out of the woods. With the same number of fingers and toes as we had at the start, preferably. That said, I am getting back out into the wilderness after more than a decade as an apartment dweller. My “camp ax” is a 16 inch, 1 & a half pound hatchet that I bought at the local hardware store for $13.
i live in the woods up the hill from the factory. and i used these axes when i build the mountain bike trail in Yxbacken ( uplift skiing hill named after the Hults Bruk Axe factory. Best axes id use. along with some of Snickers work wear they have.
I picked up a husqvarna SFA maybe 6 years ago on sale for around $50 USD. The finish was a little rough and it needed some sharpening, but I put it side by side with a friend's Gransfors and can't tell any difference in performance.
I’ve been looking around for a good axe and didn’t want to pay the price for a Gransfors Bruk. These seem like excellent axes and will be excellent for my hurricane/survival kits I’m making.
Many MANY years ago I bought a gränfors bruk small hatchet, which cost me almost a weeks wages. I found I needed something with some heft in it but couldn’t stretch to a bigger Gränfors, so I decided to buy a Hultafors forest ace as a temporary measure until I could afford a “better” axe. It came with an awful suede like sheath which would never stay on! Roll on 18 plus (I’ve lived where I do now for 18 years and I bought it long before then) and I still have that axe. It sharpens well, has custom leather and is always in my pack. I never got around to buying a gransfors, but I still have the “cute” hatchet…….
When I was a kid in the late 1950's my dad bought an Agdor axe. I didn't know then but it was made by Hultafors. I still have it, new handle and cleaned up a bit, 900gm head about, now is 20 inch long. Really useful tool,lovely steel even if it was mass produced. Now also have Hultafors Stalberg which is brill for what I want and cheaper than the GB equivalent, and my haven't the prices gone up since you made this video. Thanks, great stuff as usual.
Great Video very informative but after doing my research I discovered 10% of the buyers reviews on eBay were disappointed with the quality of the Particular Hults Bruk axe I was looking at. I’ll pay the extra money for the Gransfors Bruk and their 20 year Warranty.
Really nice and thorough video. I can add that the H009 (and thus all axes in HB:s standard line) are forged - but likely not with as many stampings/beats as the premium axes. My 009 has clear patterns from the stamping press. And the description (at least in Swedish) of the axe says that it is forged.
You stated in this video that the heads on the axes were cast rather than forged, but the manufacturer clearly states that even the AGDOR line of axes; witch is the ones you showed, are hand forged. In truth they are drop forged with power hammers, but forged non the less. Earned yourself a new subscriber
Number one thing when buying an axe: Pick it up and see how it feels. All of the Hults I have looked at felt good in the hands. Number two thing..........Look for defects before plonking down your hard earned cash! I go to brick-and-mortar shops for my gear when I can, just for this reason. I picked through three different axes to finally find the best one they had. Hults Torneo Felling Axe. $99.00 at the store. My Almike Axe came from the same store and cost $75.00 for a second grade. These two axes and my Silky Gomboy 240 will process all of the wood I might need in the woods. I also own and use a Silky Ono, and a Terava Skrama 240. They each have their own usage and at certain times, I will swap them in for one or both of the Hults axes. These things are tools, people! You buy the best for the money, not the best money can buy. You chip your Gransfor, you will cry. I chip my Hults, I file it, stone it, and get back to work.
Hults aren't much cheaper than gransfors. I own a gransfors and its treated me right. But I'll admit I bought it based off reviews. My favorite line of axes are billnas. Own 2 of them and they are hands down the best axes for the money.
Great axes, like you said, sand the handles down and give them a sharpen, they're good to go! I like the slim handles on the Gransfors, but with a bit of elbow grease and various grits of sandpaper, you can slim the handles down yourself. Then there's really no difference, I almost feel silly for spending so much on gransfors and wetterlings in the past, but we've all done it!
Couldn't agree more. I love my Hultafors Trekking axe. Keeps up with far more expensive axes. The sheath it comes with is utterly terrible but after I replaced that with a leather beauty off eBay, reprofiled the edge, 2 mins with a piece of 800 grit on the handle and gave it a couple of licks of linseed oil and it is hard to tell from an axe twice it's price; even after the cost of the sheath. 😀👍
Thanks for the review. As long as they are not made in China I'll consider either Hultafors or Granfors. My rule of thumb is, if I'm going to use it and it is comparable, I'll usually get the less expensive item. However if it's a gift for someone I'll go for the more expensive one as that is something most people will not buy for themselves. I purchased an Estwing axe for camping as I am an American and I like to support my country plus the fact that I very rarely use an axe so price was important. I use a knife all the time and I do like to support the handmade craftsmanship. I purchased a Helle over an Esee, because I wanted a camp knife that my kid might appreciate when I 'leave it for him'. Tough decision though as I think the micarta handle is more practical than the curly birch, but I couldn't pass on the workmanship of that Helle.It's rare but I think I choose art over functionality in this case.
I've been looking at the Hultafors Classic Hunting axe which seems to be very similar to the 850g chopping axe. The only difference I can see is the shape of the handle and a nicer looking mask. Just wondering have you any experience with this axe? Am I missing something? I'm thinking of buying the chopping axe as there is a difference of 40-50 euro here in Ireland.
Great vid..I've recently purchased one of these axes and would like to sand the handle to improve the feel (the size is ok)..could you please be so kind as to what grid of sandpaper to use for this procedure...Thank you..Rob
I just bought one hunting axe from Hultafors. Very good quality overall, but with massive fault: the axe head is misaligned with the handle. Is not little off-centred, so I can not understand how come it passed the QC. I must return it to the seller. I also have Husqvarna and Rinaldi axes(much cheaper) that do not have this kind of issue.
Great video Sir! Thanks to your advise I have bought the H009 model and I really love it. I have to disagree on one thing though - I don't know whether the ones shipped to UK are made in a different way, but normally those axes are forged, not cast.
Price quoted is optimistic .. Trekking axe is 100 euro plus ...?. Three year ago so prices must have increased....thanks for the video...it seems it may have contributed to the price hike.!?!
Whats the difference between the Hults Bruk Aneby Hunting Axe 20" and the Hults Bruk Salen Hatchet 20"? One is 131 us dollars to 84 us dollars. Both have the same length of handle. The website comparison I was on was very vague. I am trying to see why the one is more money than the other. Just getting started in bushcraft along with my son and want to buy a quality axe that he can pass down to his children someday.
I have a beautiful Hultafors axe that I use for green wood crafts and it is a delight to use. It will last many lifetimes. The balance and poise is perfect. I can place it exactly where I want it when making spoons. I have it honed razor sharp and it holds its edge very well. I have done everything from sharpen pencils to prepare food with it! You can't buy better.
I never knew there were so many [adult] boy scouts... I was teaching someone from the Swedish Craft School. She opined that Hults have a better rep in Sweden than Granfors.
Not really better reputation i would say but if both have the same style of axe the ones made by hults bruk are always a better deal with the same quality if sometimes not quite as refined. But i do prefer the hults bruk carpenters axe as it is heavier and larger than the gränsfors one that feels slightly to small.
Supercool! Finally someone paying Hulafors the respect they deserve. Oh. and besides. They´ve got 50 years warranty on their axe-heads. Though i do suspect that gränsfors are fractionally better seated/hung from the factorys side, as well as sharper out of the box - but not much. And the sheaths on the HUlta makes so much more sense than the button ones on Gränsfors. And one last note: Yess with a little bit of tweaking (filing of the hump on the back of the handle, f.x.) you will get a superb axe. Look at skillcults videos on axes.
I have a Hults Bruks small forest axe and Hults hatchet, and they are the best cutting tools I've ever owned!!! I'm saving up for a large felling axe in the near future!!! They are pure quality tools!!! Once you've ever owned and used a Hults Bruks, you'll never go back to any other company!!!
Hey bud enjoyed the video and hope you are doing well. I'm currently in the market for a good bushcraft axe that will fit in my ILBE RUCKSACK. Im looking at the hults and bruk aneby. Do you think that would be my best choice or would you go with something else. Be blessed
Thanks for commenting. I do not know that model or what your intended use would be. Any of the ones I reviewed here are suitable for the uses I explained. The little 600gm model is an excellent general purpose bushcraft axe for the uses things most people will do in bushcraft. For winter use, where processing firewood also is a major factor then the 900gm model is very good. Hope this helps
I bought a tomohawk/small axe in about 84. Paid a fiver for it at a garage sale. Brand? Its that common brand-fuckknows. 30 odd years, that and my granfathers "kelly axe" ( more about shape, again fucknows brand lol) and still goung fine, 1 handle later is all. Got another one ready to go to. Its in coduit pipe, been soaking in linseed oil for a few years along with a pick handel
Thanks for all your continued and informative work Neil. How did you reprofile the edge as I am interested in doing this to remove the secondary bevel. Just a sharpening stone or puck? Many thanks and keep up the good work.
Say Heah M8, a few years ago, around my B'Day, I recieved a e-mail on a Hultafors Bruks Agdor Hatchet. (17" Trekker Hatchet) I already had the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe. and I also had the Estwing Hatchet's and Axe, and the Adgor was right in the middle in size, and the price was right, I pulled the trigger. Today my Hultafors Bruks 17 Agdor Hatchet is my Fav's. Bushcraft Hatchet. It holds an edge retention, and it's still compact. I like it as much and it's as good as my G. B. mine came spot on and in no time it was as sharp. It's a bit heavier head but not by much, I think 1/4lbs. heavier, (G. B. is 1 1/2 lbs. - HB is 1 3/4 lbs.) which I like because that little more weight makes short work of processing firewood. I bought mine as a closeout when Hultafors Bruks was changing Ranges. So yeah, at a good price, I got me a great Bushcraft Hatchet. Dilly Dilly.,,.p
I dont own a hult for my self but I do own a gränsfors. I think why many people prefer the gränsfors is that one they often come far sharper, two the grain on the handle is straighter and three the heads are thinner, allowing a deeper cut, that is less likely to glance. I've also heard that hult is having a bit of a slip in manufacturing quality.
A few years back I heard something similar about GB. The grain on the handle - I have seen good and bad from both makes. The GB's are set up better for crafting I think, but the HB's I prefer pro processing wood.
Currently the "Premium" forest axe, the Akka from HB is $170 US listed on their site. The GB Forest Axe is $150. Why pay $20 more just to have to adjust the grind and refinish the handle? Edit: I don't own either of these particular axes but I do have the GB hunter's axe, fit and finish out of the "box" was second to none. Didn't need to clean up the handles or adjust the grind at all. It has served me well on many hiking trips several of which were a week or more. Not saying HB is bad, don't have any experience with them, but comparing your reviews of HB to my experiences with GB, I'm not sold, especially since the prices are about the same.
I recently picked up the 800 trekking axe and used it for the first time in the woods at the weekend. I was battoning some wood with an old Mora struggling away until I got this out of my bag. Very impressed just goes through wood like butter. Very nice weight and length of handle. Like you sanded it down and put a few coats of boiled linseed oil on it. very nice and thank you for a great review
You mentioned that the axe isn't forged but Hultafors state that even their cheaper line axe heads are hand forged on their website. Prices have more than doubled since this video was made but my income hasn't. Bought one anyway but wish I'd got one earlier.
Hi Neal, just discovered your channel and really like your approach. I have quite a collection of axes, the hultafors are my favourite. I also have three double bit throwing axes and none have ever let me down. Very underrated.
Mine weren't particularly sharp when I got them. But neither was my Snow & Nealy when I got it. You need to spend a bit of time "setting up" the edge for what you are going to be using it for.
Jason Burfitt I'm really glad you found the video of use. Have a look in the videos for a couple of whittling projects you can sit by the wood burner and do.
The Hults Bruk axe is very nice and I am sure it is very durable including the handle. I wish I had seen this video sooner before I purchased the Husqvarna 26" bushcraft axe.
I live in Texas also! Sell the Husqvarna, and get the Hults Bruk!! You won't be sorry!!! Hults Bruk axes & hatchets are real workhorses!!!! You'll love 'em!!!
That's quite disappointing! Just bought a Hultafors hunting axe from Bison Bushcraft at the Bushcraft Show the other weekend for £104.00! Have I been seen off?
No, Roger's pricing is always good. Hultafors do different ranges and models (I list the ones I use in the video). That said even the basic ones have gone up in price since I made this video
thanks for the great video.dare I say smashing the gransfors myth.I like the 009 agdor about 52cm.great axes all.common man as dave Canterbury would say.
Hello from Russia! Thanks for the video, my friend. What do you think, what ax to choose if I want to buy only one. I need an ax for camping, but I travel by car. P.S. I have never had a good ax and I want to buy Hultafors.
Check out HATCHET H 009 SV. It's the largest hatchet from their standard line. It's still useful for carving, but has some strength for chopping and spliting. It's just in the middle between small axes for fine tasks, and large axes for heavy work, so it makes a perfect choice for this one tool
I think Hultafors is a different brand than Hults Bruks, so you can't say Hultafors=Hults Bruks. But Hultafors let produce their axe heads by Hults Bruks. The Hults Bruks axe, where the handle is branded Hults Bruks is very expensive, even if the head is actually the same as the Hultafors one.
Agree with you about the axes however I also went for the Hultafors and was very disappointed in the quality. I went as far as to order the trekking axe and when it came it was rubbish - poorly hung ,cutting edge was chipped the entire length and the mask was little more than chamois "leather ". Not one to give up I saw my local supplies shop had the trekking axe which delighted me no end; until I had it in hand again the same issues with the haft above the eye split and poorly finished. Coming in at nearly £60 I don't expect to re work a new axe ; didn't even come in a box.
Kenneth Murphy-Roud You're kidding aren't you!! I've had my HB for many years and I've never had a problem with it. It really is a work horse and holds an excellent edge. So does the HB hatchet!
Its a shame this is no longer the case, i just looked to buy a Hultafors classic trekking axe as it is in direct comparison to the GB small forest axe, but they dont make the range anymore. They have now renamed all of them with makers names the closest to the GB small forest is now calld the "Ekland small forest axe" but the difference is that the GB is as you say around £115 in the UK and the Ekland is around £100! (July 2020). So where i would always buy the Hultafors equivalent because i really like their tools and the lower price, for the sake of another £15 i mak as well have a GB. Gutted. Ive sent Hultafors an email, im not sure why they would price themselves out.
Try not going for the "classic trekking " , just go for the "trekking " , they are only £37. And these, budget ones are the ones I am talking about, great VFM, and workman-like tools
So hultafors bruks makes axes, hultafors also make axes. You can tell by the names, the one with classic in the name are actualy the value range, expect to pay twice as much for a hultafors bruks. For example search for the classic hunting axe and then search for the ekelund hunting axe. You will see the difference 👍👍
the premium hults bruk axes are basically the same pricing, the gränsfors small forest is SEK 1200 (USD 120 roughly) the similar size hultafors classic/hultån is roughly SEK 1000 (USD 100) so its not a massive difference in price. gränsfors is a northern company whilst hults bruk is southern, however hults bruk has a much longer history dating back to 1687 compared to 1902 for gränsfors bruk. I grew up and live in the city where hults bruk is located so i know what im going with.. :)
Personally I’ll spend the extra money and get the GB. I know I won’t have to sand the rough handle nor will I have to sharpen it for use. It will be ready to go out of the box and it will last the rest of my lifetime.
@@greencraft4783 I bought both my HB axe & hatchet on the internet and I've never looked back! I gave my old axe & hatchet to a neighbor!!! I'll stay with HB from now on!!!
Hi there nearly subscribed to your channel great video and willing for me to have just purchased for the first ex ever the first one you did the cheapest paid £45 last week May 2020.
An axe is an axe. Im 20, and dont need to cut wood for my fireplace and woodfired fuel stove in the kitchen for the next 50 years, so Id not pay for one of these. $20 chinese works fine, I split around 10 m cut into 30cm or so legnths for my bbq a few days ago. Ive done that heaps on my $30 axe thats 5 yr old. Only reason I bought it is because my 30odd yr old axe handle finally broke. To lazy to put a new one one
All axes made by GB as they own all companies! People get sucked in because they see it on tv and these firms know this and because GB could not keep up with production. They bought the other firms out.
Viola1921 I am not sponsored by anyone. My reviews are based on my own use while working & teaching. I don't review new stuff either, only kit that I have used for a good while (usually a year), only then can I form a proper opinion.
