Axe Reviews Part 3 - The Wetterlings Hudson is IN

Operator1975

Operator1975

Joined
Sep 24, 2010
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Showed up today - Sent from Wetterlings to me for review - here are some pics, I put in my BMC Black Donald for size comparison pics as it is a more traditional HB, so you could get a better idea of size, etc.

Taking it out this weekend for chop chop chop review.

From the Wetterlings website -

HUDSON BAY AXE BY WETTERLINGS #180

The Hudson Bay Axe by Wetterlings of today is forged by Rikard Jansson, one of the skilled blacksmiths at Wetterlings Axe Forge in Storvik, Sweden.

The axe is made of Swedish Carbon Steel and the bit is hardened to 57 Rockwell C. This is harder than most Hudson Bay Axes on the market.

2 ½ pound head, total weight 3 pound with handle, hickory handle overall length 60 cm (about 23”). Delivered sharpened and with a sustainable leather sheath.

More info on their web page as well.

PICS -
































I am very excited and privleged to get after this one, and see what it can do.

Initial thoughts are -

Its feels heavy. Head should be 2.5 lbs, same as the BMC, but it feels substantially heavier, perhaps due to the next point.

Its short. 24 inches, I'm not used to that, which means nothing.

Its thick. Hello splitter. Better or worse for use? We will see.

Grain is good.

Its sharp, in true Euro fashion. No issues there.

Sheath is nice and functional overall.

Wedge job looks good. No metal wedge, which doesn't matter to me. Quite a bit of haft over the eye, almost a 1/4 inch.

Well that's it for now - we will see what it can do this weekend. Can't wait!

Thanks!
 
Re weight, I thought the CT HB head used by BMC was 2#. 2.5# on shorter handle will feel heavier.

The wetterlings does look almost perfect in execution. Interested to see if the thickness makes it a splitter only or if it works well all around.
 
BG_Farmer said:
Re weight, I thought the CT HB head used by BMC was 2#. 2.5# on shorter handle will feel heavier.

The wetterlings does look almost perfect in execution. Interested to see if the thickness makes it a splitter only or if it works well all around.
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Our first point of discussion. Council Tool HB, per the website says 2 lb head. Best Made, per the website, says 2.5lb head. I will find out. Good catch though!
 
I got mine in this week too. It was sitting in customs for over two weeks. I purchased mine from a Finnish website. I agree with everything you said about it. I haven't had it out yet, and probably won't until after the new year. The handle is the exact same as my Wetterlings Foresters fine axe. The Foresters fine axe, which is no longer listed on Wetterlings website, only has a 1.4 lb. head. That size to me is more of a typical Hudson bay size axe. This new Hudson bay has a convex bit (edge, not cheeks) where the Foresters fine axe has the typical Swedish flat ground bit. This new axe is more substantial and is probably the heaviest in my Hudson bay collection. So far, I'm impressed with the quality. I'm looking forward to your review.
 
Update #1 - Black Donald head is indeed 2 lbs, not 2.5. So alas the Wetterlings will feel heavier for the obvious reason!
 
If it were me, I might be thinking about sanding away some of the extra material on the Wetterlings, probably towards more of a traditional wedge shape. I can't see for sure from the pics, but the metal around the eye looks to be a good few mm thicker than a lot of axes.

Looks like a very nice tool.
 
Operator1975 Wetterlings must have had forewarning or inkling of what you were up to because that's as nice a piece of wood (ash I suspect) as they (or anyone outside of a custom maker) could have come up with; AAA. Thick VS thin blade is going the test the user/tester more so than the axe since light weight HB's have never been known as wood splitters. Personal preference one way or another is not going to sway me, either. But these are two entirely different top quality axes that superficially look to be the same. And I trust you to know what you're doing.
Let the games begin! Gentlemen raise your axes...
 
300Six said:
Operator1975 Wetterlings must have had forewarning or inkling of what you were up to because that's as nice a piece of wood (ash I suspect) as they (or anyone outside of a custom maker) could have come up with; AAA. Thick VS thin blade is going the test the user/tester more so than the axe since light weight HB's have never been known as wood splitters. Personal preference one way or another is not going to sway me, either. But these are two entirely different top quality axes that superficially look to be the same. And I trust you to know what you're doing.
Let the games begin! Gentlemen raise your axes...
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Good questions.

They did know as I asked for the axe to review. The wood is hickory as it is labeled on the haft. My personal preference doesn't mean anything in a review, and any of my comments as far as what I like and don't like will be labeled as such so the reader knows that is my 2 cents and not reflective of any axes performance, style, quality, etc.

After a couple emails I swapped out with Wetterlings, this HB was made in the same style that Wetterlings made back in the 50s and 60s for export to USA and Canada. So it is a different beast than what we are used to seeing with the Norlunds, Collins, and maybe Snow and Nealys that were historically thinner and longer poll to bit. I have not run across these older HBs, but that doesn't mean anything.

I see no issues with the axe whatsoever so far, to the fact that I will have to try it out tomorrow, weather permitting.

Let the beating begin!
 
Am I the only one amused that a trade axe designed specifically to be cheap to produce in large quantities and possessing none of the qualities that make for either a good splitting or felling axe is being referred to as "top quality" and being marketed at a premium price point?

That said, I looking forward to the review for entertainment purposes. :cool:
 
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Operator1975 said:
Showed up today - Sent from Wetterlings to me for review - here are some pics, I put in my BMC Black Donald for size comparison pics as it is a more traditional HB, so you could get a better idea of size, etc.

Taking it out this weekend for chop chop chop review.


Click to expand...

The profile looks better than most Euros. Still, I'm betting on the Black Donald. If you swing them both hard I bet the Wetterlings comes loose before the BMC. But since HB's are made for medium duty I hope you test those abilities first. Choke up and carve with them. Fell some saplings. Buck an 8" log. Do some limbing. I can't wait to hear how this goes.
 
40oz said:
Am I the only one amused that a trade axe designed specifically to be cheap to produce in large quantities and possessing none of the qualities that make for either a good splitting or felling axe is being referred to as "top quality" and being marketed at a premium price point?
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You have to remember that an HB isn't designed as a splitter or feller but as a bushcrafting axe, something a trapper would use. It's suited to setting traps and building lean-tos. That said, I suspect this new axe might perform better at those splitting and felling tasks than expected until it comes loose.
 
Square_peg said:
You have to remember that an HB isn't designed as a splitter or feller but as a bushcrafting axe, something a trapper would use. It's suited to setting traps and building lean-tos. That said, I suspect this new axe might perform better at those splitting and felling tasks than expected until it comes loose.
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Do note that the eye depth is a little greater on it than usual. But that made me chuckle. :D
 
Square_peg said:
You have to remember that an HB isn't designed as a splitter or feller but as a bushcrafting axe, something a trapper would use. It's suited to setting traps and building lean-tos. That said, I suspect this new axe might perform better at those splitting and felling tasks than expected until it comes loose.
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Oh I get that, I'm just waiting for the $300 Boker Green River or the $500 Bark River French Trade to become de rigueur :D I love the hell out of my Old Hickory but I'm not going to endorse premium versions with micarta scales as somehow worth $100+. It's a cheaply manufactured knife that was specifically designed to be inexpensive to make, leveraging bulk steel buying and manufacturing processes that have been refined over the decades to the point the knife is pretty much the bleeding edge of dirt cheap and highly capable. Duplicating it but with inefficient processes and small production numbers doesn't increase the utility or inherent value, hence jacking the price for a boutique version that is essentially an identical item as that produced by OKC would be silly.

The trade axe was not a product of functional design, it was the Walmart trash of the day - cheap to make and transport - less steel equals less weight meaning less money in materials and more axe heads could be shipped for a given shipping weight. People used it because it was available and they could afford it, and it was superior to a stone or copper alternative. Not because it was the pinnacle of utility.

This is an equivalent or superior tool for the usage you suggest. Dirt cheap, ubiquitous, and benefitting from a few hundred years of development. Smaller, lighter, and more durable to boot. I've used one extensively and they are far, far better than their price implies. Will a Chinese maker someday sell these for $100-$200 as a premium product in any configuration? Would it matter if it came from Germany or Denmark?

The "hand-forging" technology of Swedish axe manufacturers had been improved upon by US makers over 100 years ago, so it's not like Wetterlings is somehow exercising a superior manufacturing process - they are simply using a cheaper machine befitting their lower volume. They don't make a better axe just because someone has to hold the chunk of hot steel while the hammer comes down. I'm not saying they make bad tools, I just think the whole Hudson Bay "premium bushcraft axe" is as logical as a tactical corkscrew. Certainly we can comment on the plusses and minuses of our tactical corkscrew but let's not even pretend it's anything but an affectation. Just saying, in all good humor.

Don't get me wrong - I know we aren't arguing :) I'm sure we all reach a breaking point with "look what I got" threads LOL
 
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FortyTwoBlades said:
Square_peg said:
You have to remember that an HB isn't designed as a splitter or feller but as a bushcrafting axe, something a trapper would use. It's suited to setting traps and building lean-tos. That said, I suspect this new axe might perform better at those splitting and felling tasks than expected until it comes loose.
Click to expand...

Do note that the eye depth is a little greater on it than usual. But that made me chuckle. :D
Click to expand...

I did too. Actually one of those rare times when LOL is actually called for :]
 
Well, arguably there are a fair number of functional design aspects to the pattern, such as giving a larger bit for the total head weight than most other American axes, and the fact that the weight reduction didn't just make it cheaper to bulk ship, but also light to carry in the field. But as you say it was intended to be economical to churn out in large volumes, much like a Mora knife is. Good quality materials, workmanship, useful and comfortable form factor...but made to be irreducibly simple to bulk manufacture. They were the product of the competing requirements of good minimum quality and very low cost.
 
I seriously don't understand people in this day and age. Try and do something to help others out, and people will try and piss on it. I just don't understand.
 
Buck up. It's tough all over.

You can't possibly think you are doing anything other than advertising luxury products.
 
I'm trying to do a service to people that would possibly like to, and have the ability to purchase products like these. Reviews are nothing new, especially with tools, axes, etc. I'm not advertising for anyone.

I've always found it humorous that people don't get nearly fired up over function of a product as they do the simple ability to own. It's classic and it will never change. Sad really.
 
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