Axe Binge...

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PayetteRucker

Joined
Aug 4, 2009
Messages
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I took this month's gear budget and went axe-crazy. Just ordered a HELKO Classic Line Felling Axe, a Michigan Cruiser from Kelly, a 28 inch Hudson Bay from Council Tool, a 26 inch Sandvik and a Cold Steel Trail Boss. I also ordered a few really sleek axe handles from a wood carving shop online for my .85KG Wetterlings, my little Norlund Hudson Bay and a handle for a 14 inch Sandvik hatchet. I was debating over a Husqvarna carving axe but I guess I'll wait for Christmas money or next payday. Common Mr. Mail, be my friend this week!
 
Nice! As much as I love 5160 I think I'm going to splurge on the American Felling axe in the Velvicut line. I don't think a little Hudson Bay is going to need as strong of steel because I won't be swinging it in front of a 36 inch haft, and I already have some Wetterlings in the packing sizes. That should be the ideal bushcrafter's axe though! Nice snag.
 
Ben, please post pictures when you get your haul.
 
I got the 27 inch from traditionalwoodworker.com-real sleek classy looking handle. The hatchet handles I got from Aubuchon hardware, made by Forest King.
 
Should get the Swiss surplus woodcutter's axe tomorrow, according to tracking. I leave for Wisconsin on the 19th so I'm hoping to get to fondle some before I leave :) I really liked the small surplus Swiss Kitchen Hatchet so if it's anything close in design and quality I should be satisfied. If not, I'll have a designated beater for 25 bucks :)
 
PayetteRucker said:
I took this month's gear budget and went axe-crazy. Just ordered a HELKO Classic Line Felling Axe, a Michigan Cruiser from Kelly, a 28 inch Hudson Bay from Council Tool, a 26 inch Sandvik and a Cold Steel Trail Boss. I also ordered a few really sleek axe handles from a wood carving shop online for my .85KG Wetterlings, my little Norlund Hudson Bay and a handle for a 14 inch Sandvik hatchet. I was debating over a Husqvarna carving axe but I guess I'll wait for Christmas money or next payday. Common Mr. Mail, be my friend this week!
Click to expand...

that is a load. you must be insane.
a person should not have over forty axes or hatchets.
forty should be enough for any sane person, forty is a good round number unless you are going to outfit a cruising party?
if you are outfitting a cruising party please let me know...
when and where you plan to cruise, i have axes ready to go.; and i can leave on a moments notice. just let me know how many axes you want me to bring,

sounds good

you better get the Husky, i like the looks of these little cutters.
btw, found this on the bay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MUSTAD-c-19...ltDomain_0&hash=item4cfcc198d3#ht_3422wt_1185

looks a lot like a GB
i am having some fun here as axes and hatchets are my faves.

i'd like to hear what you really think of the Norlund Hudson Bay hatchet?

has anyone written a review of the Norlund?

buzz
 
It's beautiful. the norlund hatchet is very small and light, along the lines of a tomahawk. Incredibly well fabricated. The bit is very straight and the head is ground very symmetrical. The handle mine came with looked like a race axe handle but scaled down perfectly to 14 inches. Unfortunately the schmuk previous owner glued it in and after it got hard and dry and dehydrated, shrunk and the head came off-this is why I am replacing it. I don't think I'm close to 40 axes yet, but one day I promise you I will be.
You mean the Husky axe? or a pet Husky?

That Norway built axe is awesome, too bad it's so roughed up and I'm already spent out.

I got my Helko Classic Line today, it's not quite as much of a gem as I thought it would be. Beautiful mirror polish finish, but the nice Helko Classic Line script on the head is just paint, not engraved. I love the profile of the bit-I'll try to get pics up later, gotta borrow the roomate's SLR. It's like a Dayton with a slightly upswept edge-gives an extra inch or so of widened bit. Handle has really nice grain, but is covered in ugly thick lacquer and a bunch of painted garbage all over it-no cool engraved logos or anything. Lots of stickers too... gotta get out the sandpaper and linseed oil. Has one of these new plastic wedge deals, ugly as sin on a 'classic line' axe. Came with a latigo lace lanyard, nice touch. I'll get out to swing it this weekend before I leave for Wisconsin and let you gents know how it turns out. No sign of the other axes yet :(
 
" ...Handle has really nice grain, but is covered in ugly thick lacquer and a bunch of painted garbage all over it-no cool engraved logos or anything. Lots of stickers too... gotta get out the sandpaper and linseed oil"

" ...I love the profile of the bit-I'll try to get pics up later, gotta borrow the roomate's SLR. It's like a Dayton with a slightly upswept edge-gives an extra inch or so of widened bit"

looking forward to seeing this new cutter , the Heilko.
i think i had a page or two saved from their catalog. interesting some of the new ways they had of securing the heads to the handles.

thanks again for posting
kidding of course about having forty axe, maybe thirty nine would be about right.:eek:

buzz
 
i have two little Norlunds, one has the original handle,for the other i made a handle of straight grain Walnut.
i don't think the Walnut will stay together, but i wanted to practice some on making hatchet handle profiles, kinda tricky getting the sweep and butt and so forth right.

i am not completely sold on the Norlunds. they have a cool looking head and the steel [heat treat] is good, light weight ,handy to carry. they are just kinda difficult to use in the real world, at least around here in Mudzoory where we have so many hardwood species.

i'm getting off the track of your post.

all good
thanks for posting

buzz
"Old Jimbo" has a great web review of Norlund's

here is the link to Jimbo's axe page

http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/hatchets2.html
 
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I got my surplus swedish axe today... what a POS. The head sits canted on the haft, and I can all but pull it off entirely with my hand. The poll is beat to high hell and mashed in. There are dents and gouges all over the head itself. The handle design is beautiful but in rough shape, and again, is loose in the eye. Waste of 20 bucks. Could have done better on ebay.
 
PayetteRucker said:
I got my surplus swedish axe today... what a POS. The head sits canted on the haft, and I can all but pull it off entirely with my hand. The poll is beat to high hell and mashed in. There are dents and gouges all over the head itself. The handle design is beautiful but in rough shape, and again, is loose in the eye. Waste of 20 bucks. Could have done better on ebay.
Click to expand...

i have several thoughts on this junker Swedish pos. .... been there done that. argh.

i bought a very old beat up Swedish axe marked [SAW] at an antique store, poll mashed pretty good, rusty,
handle actually fell out. the only good thing

i re-profiled the bit to a semi Hudson Bay/carpenter's style. this axe was really abused, and not symmetrical . couldn't do anything about the asymmetry
the heat treat was questionable also.
but i only paid $3.00 for it.

i guess it is a live and learn scenario.
but when you work through a pos tool, you do gain some experience which will help guide you the next time.

buzz
 
Yeah I've successfully refurbished some really cheap Wetterlings axes. I guess you can't win every time. The worst part is I was so damn excited and then so let down. That and this axe handle is super ergo. I got a reply from the company within an hour, they'll take it as a return and gave me a prepaid UPS form, but I guess this axe was the bottom of the barrel. They're out. This is my first experience with Sportsman's guide and based on this alone, I really don't know if I should just keep it and get to work with a file, or return it and take 20 bucks credit to spend on some other piece of gear that might be just as big of a POS. I gotta get this thing out of my lap, this handle is too comfy... Grr. Back to Ebay I guess, gotta fill the gaping hole in my 20 inch Swedish bushcrafter collection...
 
markv said:
that is a load. you must be insane.
a person should not have over forty axes or hatchets.forty should be enough for any sane person, forty is a good round number unless you are going to outfit a cruising party?
if you are outfitting a cruising party please let me know...
when and where you plan to cruise, i have axes ready to go.; and i can leave on a moments notice. just let me know how many axes you want me to bring,

sounds good

you better get the Husky, i like the looks of these little cutters.
btw, found this on the bay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MUSTAD-c-19...ltDomain_0&hash=item4cfcc198d3#ht_3422wt_1185

looks a lot like a GB
i am having some fun here as axes and hatchets are my faves.

i'd like to hear what you really think of the Norlund Hudson Bay hatchet?

has anyone written a review of the Norlund?

buzz
Click to expand...

Yeah, thats what I say too.
 
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