Hultafors Axes - Genuine Swedish Traditional Craftsmanship
Hultafors axes are hand-forged in the traditional way in Sweden, as they have been since the original axe brand was established in 1697. At Hults Bruk in Östergötland, the blacksmiths work with methods that ensure a quality only 300 years of experience can bring. The craftsmanship of Hultafors axes is of high caliber and completely unique, which has made them extremely popular worldwide. Hultafors axes are an indispensable tool for both professionals and outdoor enthusiasts.
Tools and axes you can rely on
Hultafors has spent the last 130 years specializing in professional tools. It all started back in 1883 when a young engineer named Karl-Hilmer Johansson Kollén invented and designed what we now know as a folding ruler. It was the Kollén family who later created the Hultafors that exists today. Today, Hultafors specializes in all kinds of measuring, marking, cutting, and striking tools.
Hultafors develops their tools in collaboration with professionals. For example, professionals help design and test the tools until they are completely satisfied with the quality and functionality. This ensures that the tools are highly reliable and always meet professional standards. This is the philosophy Hultafors works from: tools you can count on in every situation, every single day.
Powerful axe materials
Hultafors axes are hand-forged from Swedish axe steel of consistently high quality. Hultafors’ methods include hammering the axe steel up to 60 times until the steel’s density becomes so high that the axe achieves extraordinary strength. Compared to other axe heads, which are only hammered a few times, this is a long and costly process to create a Hultafors axe head. However, this process ensures that Hultafors axes have a unique hardness zone where the axe head can be sharpened without affecting its strength. This means that if you treat your Hultafors axe properly, it can last for many years, even several generations.
Choose the right Hultafors axe
Hultafors axes are available for every purpose. Whether it’s for the workplace, hunting, camping, or sports, there is a Hultafors axe ideal for the task. You should consider the weight of the axe and the axe head, as well as the length of the handle. If your Hultafors axe will mainly be used for smaller felling tasks, light firewood splitting, and small carving jobs, choose a small hand axe. A small hand axe is perfect to bring on trips, for example when making a campfire. Or choose a slightly larger forest axe, which can be used for bigger felling and splitting tasks, for example if you need to build a shelter. If you just need to split a lot of firewood, there is also a splitting axe with a nice long handle that ensures a good swing. If you need an axe for hunting, you naturally choose a hunting axe, which has a specially designed head ideal for cutting off and skinning animals. Or, if you need an axe for precision work, choose a carpenter’s axe, which is a very special hand axe ideal for carving and cutting tasks or for firewood, then it is a splitting axe / cleaving axe. Occasionally, we are also asked if Hultafors makes Viking axes, and we have to say no, they have neither made Viking axes nor role-playing axes :-)
No matter which axe you need, you can’t go wrong with Hultafors.
Hultafors / Hults Bruk VS Gränsfors Bruk
There is always a lot of talk about who makes the best axes. The short answer is that they are equally good. Both Hultafors, which owns Hults Bruk, and Gränsfors have been making hand-forged axes for hundreds of years and know what they are doing. They have both refined the art of axe forging over the years and created many types of axes, figuring out what works and what doesn’t. Of course, some will always say that Hultafors axes are better and vice versa. But for ordinary people, there is absolutely no difference if you look at the premium axes. Hultafors also has a line where they make cheaper axes, but these are still quality axes. Fun fact: Hultafors has also made throwing axes and still makes competition axes :-)
What about axe prices? Nothing beats a Swedish axe, not even a cheap axe from jem and fix, forget those axes :-) Once you’ve tried a Hultafors or Gränsfors axe, you’re sold for life. If we say something about price, Hultafors is the cheaper of the two Swedish axe brands, even on the premium models, and with Hultafors’ cheaper axe line, everyone has a chance to join in.
Both Hultafors / Hults Bruk and Gränsfors Bruk have, as mentioned, existed for many years, and therefore one axe manufacturer, Hultafors, has chosen to celebrate this with a small anniversary axe. The small axe celebrating Hults Bruk’s 325th anniversary can be found at the link. We think it’s a super cool little hand axe.
How to care for and store your Hultafors axe
Every Hultafors axe must be cared for and handled with caution. The edge of your Hultafors axe should be maintained and sharpened at an angle appropriate to the axe’s purpose. Most axes have an angle between 20-30 degrees. When sharpening your Hultafors axe, it’s beneficial to use a diamond file and a sharpening stone. The diamond file is used for the ‘rough’ work, such as filing larger nicks and irregularities on the edge. Then a sharpening stone is used to make the edge fine and sharp. The sharpening stone should preferably be used wet, as this protects both the axe steel and the stone. Afterward, you can apply some oil to the axe head. For the handle, natural wood oil is preferred.
If you use an electric sharpening tool, be careful that the axe head does not get affected by heat. If an area on the axe head starts to turn blue, it is a sign that the tempered zone on the axe steel is gone. If this happens, the axe head will lose its strength and durability.
Never store your Hultafors axe in a place that is too hot and dry. Dryness and heat can affect the handle by drying it out. If the handle dries out, the axe head can become loose during use, as the wood will shrink.
Never use your Hultafors axe for purposes other than what it is intended for. Never strike the back of the axe head with another tool, and never use the back of the axe head as a hammer. Only a hammer axe can withstand being used as a hammer.
If you take good care of your Hultafors axe, it can last you a lifetime.
Accessories for your Hultafors axe
To best care for your Hultafors axe, it’s a good idea to have the right accessories. A Hultafors leather edge protector is a great choice that will keep your Hultafors axe in top condition. Hultafors sharpening stones are also fantastic sharpening tools that will definitely be a good investment for you and your Hultafors axe. If you use your Hultafors axe for precision work and carving, you can also benefit from a Hultafors leather cloth, which can be placed over your leg to avoid cutting yourself while carving.
Try other exciting products from Hultafors as well, such as Hultafors outdoor and work knives, or Hultafors fire steels.
