Arvika 5 Star troubles

J

JoshBarrow

Joined
Apr 2, 2020
Messages
4
Hey there, I'm new here and I need the expert advice of axemen and enthusiasts alike. I recently bought an Hults Bruk Arvika 5 Star axe with a 32" handle and a 4.5lb head. Within using it for 10 minutes the head came loose and slid up the handle by 2 inches or so. I talked to the dealer and sent it back, the owner of the company said he would put a new handle on it himself. But when it came back, he had pinned it without asking me, and the axe handle seemed too small for the eye of the axe. There is an 3/16th to 1/8th gap at the bottom bit side of the eye, and I can see he tried to hide it by filling the same gap at the top with the wedge. I called him back saying I was disappointed, but he told me how competition axes are pinned and how he hand picked the handle out of dozens he had. He told me that Arvika has been producing their axes with the eye of the axe being equal sizes from top to bottom (he said he checked all of them with a caliper). But I can't help but think that he just did a poor job at hanging the axe, and the pin was a compensation to make up for it. But I am very new to the axe world, and I would really like your help and expertise. I'd like to think the best of this guy, but I feel like I'm getting the run around. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Ps. Unfortunately I can't figure out how to post pictures, so I can't show you. But despite that I'd love your opinion, thanks.

Josh Barrow
 
Josh,i know least of anyone here,and you don't have the photo up,but i'll go ahead and say some general things.
(and it sounds like to me that your guy is a responsible man and thinjgs vare brobably exactly as he says).
It's common to not fill the very front of eye,you don't really need wood there.
Especially the Swedish axes,whose eye is slit with a sharp slitter,and often remains a very narrow V.It's common to have the wedge fill it all the way on top,and for there to be a space at bottom.

Pin is used in competition,and some other tools.there's a number of reasons for it,and it certainly doesn't hurt anything.
Don't worry about the pin,or the minutiae of the fit,worry about how the head stays on the handle.
You didn't say if your supplier is close to you or very far.It's entirely possible the humidity differential can mean significant handle dimensional changes.

But,however ANY of it may be,the handle is not exactly a part of the axe.You bought the head,(of a very high quality,too),and the handle is your lookout.You'll be making other handles for it anyway.That head will last a number of generations,you will grow old, and this head will keep on being re-handled by someone.
When it first came loose that was the perfect moment to start getting familiar with your new tool.Find out why it gets loose,learn to keep it on there,figure out Why it all is.

That's the ageless intent of axe-ownership,and it's the most valid and satisfying in the end.

It's a very good,useful,quality axe.Add to it your own competent skilled ability to maintain the handle tight in it and your happiness shall be complete!:)
 
Thanks for taking the time to reply to me Jake, I really appreciate it! You are totally right about the V at the front of the eye being very narrow. I assumed the wood at the front would be the most crucial because it's the first part of the wood that takes any energy from the axe's impact, but I guess that's not the case. I've been so conflicted about it, but you definitely put my mind to rest. Thanks again!
 
I wish I could have seen the original handle. If it slipped down then it was likely never properly seated to begin with. Entering a dry (winter) climate would have exacerbated the problem. But it is likely that it could have been re-hung on the original handle to very good effect.
 
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