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Finnish/Earlier Scandi axes - Kirves
- Thread starter Agent_H
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I hadnt seen that thread before now. There are some pretty interesting tool walks here that are kind of hidden outside general searches through the site.
Watched the video all the way through. Very cool and interesting axes.
The axes are that square-bearded in shape say rough building/shaping to me. Beams and joints. The ones in the video handle juggling and then hewing to make a nice beams. The two axes here seem like they would shear wood fiber using them to drop-cut and not so much lateral cutting for something like felling a good-sized tree. Guess that is obvious though lol.
http://www.arctandria.no/author/jan-tore/page/2/
https://culturecrafts.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/img_20120418_205256.jpg
These are from the following Norwegian site worth a scroll with Google translate:
https://tekniskbygningsvern.wordpress.com/tag/oks/
Here's a neat site as well that has pictures of traditional Norwegian building axes and tools:
https://hoveloghage.wordpress.com/tag/oks/
Pjål
Watched the video all the way through. Very cool and interesting axes.
The axes are that square-bearded in shape say rough building/shaping to me. Beams and joints. The ones in the video handle juggling and then hewing to make a nice beams. The two axes here seem like they would shear wood fiber using them to drop-cut and not so much lateral cutting for something like felling a good-sized tree. Guess that is obvious though lol.
http://www.arctandria.no/author/jan-tore/page/2/
https://culturecrafts.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/img_20120418_205256.jpg
These are from the following Norwegian site worth a scroll with Google translate:
https://tekniskbygningsvern.wordpress.com/tag/oks/
Here's a neat site as well that has pictures of traditional Norwegian building axes and tools:
https://hoveloghage.wordpress.com/tag/oks/
Pjål
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I am still curious about the axe mfr in the video "With a knife and an ax" (by Sakari Pälsi?). This is the closest I have found so far:
I have followed this thread with interest and have started collecting information on Finnish (and other scandinavian) axes. So far I can only find a couple of Kellikoski branded axes with two marks above the name while I have only found Billnäs heads with one mark. Certainly not proof. I can't find a frame in the video that shows the head clear enough to positively identify. Oh, well.
Bob
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edit: photos reposted here (for now: 2/26/2025):
Those are really neat pictures. Thanks for posting.
For some reason I felt like matching these images:
These images are the only ones I have found (so far) of Finnish heads with flag decals/labels.
I also wonder if the Finns needed a lit cigarette in their mouth to properly examine an axe?
Bob
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I am still curious about the axe mfr in the video "With a knife and an ax" (by Sakari Pälsi?). This is the closest I have found so far:
I have followed this thread with interest and have started collecting information on Finnish (and other scandinavian) axes. So far I can only find a couple of Kellikoski branded axes with two marks above the name while I have only found Billnäs heads with one mark. Certainly not proof. I can't find a frame in the video that shows the head clear enough to positively identify. Oh, well.
Bob
Bob, you got me looking at the Kellokoski story and it seems it was owned by several people, burned down several times. It kind of looks like the older ones were marked Marie-fors Bruk with their Crown, then at some point the stamp was replaced with the Kellokoski name mark. Maybe there was a time when the name Kellokoski was stamped with the Marie-fors crown and the model number? Maybe a shorter transition period in ownership or production?
Great screen capture! - Think it would be safe to assume that it is a Kellokoski? The second mark could be the Marie-fors Bruk crown, next to the model number. I dont personally know any Fins old enough to ask but after seeing your picture there that is what I think when I look at what you posted.
Those are really neat pictures. Thanks for posting.
For some reason I felt like matching these images:
These images are the only ones I have found (so far) of Finnish heads with flag decals/labels.
I also wonder if the Finns needed a lit cigarette in their mouth to properly examine an axe?
Bob
Maybe it causes a squint that is similar to using open sites on a rifle and ideal checking handle grain alignment lol.
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Here is the 1922 catalog (at least the 10 pages that I can find but they relate to axes)
Cover
Catalog shot of the ironworks/facility
Pricing and weights
Models 3, 5, 6, and 7
Models 8-11
Models 12, 13, 14, 16
Mariefors Model 14.1 (per poster - looks more like the Model 16.x to me)
\
Model 17.2 (not shown in the scanned catalog)
Models 20-23
Models 15, 25, 26/x
Models 27-30
Mariefors Model 32.1 (Per poster)
Hammers
Kellokoski catalog 1940 only one page of axes (p.51). Several models listed but not the variety found in earlier catalogs.
That is a good video. Here is a screen capture of the axes in his house there:
These look a lot like the same set at Jake Pogg posted in another thread.
Cover
Catalog shot of the ironworks/facility
Pricing and weights
Models 3, 5, 6, and 7
Models 8-11
Models 12, 13, 14, 16
Mariefors Model 14.1 (per poster - looks more like the Model 16.x to me)
\
Model 17.2 (not shown in the scanned catalog)
Models 20-23
Models 15, 25, 26/x
Models 27-30
Mariefors Model 32.1 (Per poster)
Hammers
Kellokoski catalog 1940 only one page of axes (p.51). Several models listed but not the variety found in earlier catalogs.
That is a good video. Here is a screen capture of the axes in his house there:
These look a lot like the same set at Jake Pogg posted in another thread.
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I would not.
I see what you mean. Also, sorta gives them an authoritative/expert critical eye look that they wouldn't otherwise have.
Bob
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In that video by Marcus Lepola he does some comparisons between a new Roselli Axe and a used Billnäs 12:3. At about 16:54 he mentions the cost of each. The new Roselli about 119 euros, while the Billnäs head was 10 euros. I don't know the age of the video, only that it was published on Nov 2, 2015, or when he bought the Billnäs.
Now, where the hell can I get a Billnäs 12:3 head for only 10 euros ($11.19)?
Bob
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Over seas I'm sure the billnas heads are seen as Collins, Kelly, or plumb heads over here.
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I have no clue. They go for that on Huuto.net which is a Finnish domestic Craigslist/eBay. The sellers there weren't receptive to shipping overseas when I contacted them before bidding.
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I am fairly certain this one is a Billnäs Model 12.1. I am thinking 12.1 based on the pattern and it weighed 3lbs 5oz. So it weighs more than a fresh 12.2 and it was worn.
It was obviously used as an axe before I got ahold of it. The poll is knocked down a touch from use. If you pick one up that is something to keep in mind as it seems that when the polls are used hard like that it isnt just the poll that flattens out. It also can create a little bulge in the eye not a big deal but you have to compensate for it in the back of the tongue.
The handle came from quarter sawn hickory but after cutting the initial blank out a crack showed up. I wood glued it and used small gauge fishing line to poke it in there deep and clamped it. Left it for about 4 days. That was after initial material removal but before final shaping - I figure if there is a break in the handle I dont think it will be there. It only shows about a .25 the way though the swell. Definitely not the quality of wood work found in the Fin Army pictures.
The handle is 27 and was fun to shape up but it took me a while to get it fitted properly. I did try to get the better aspects of the handle plans I found into one handle. Defined drop to the swell, overall oval shape, shoulder slimmed so it just slips into the eye, thinner in the belly and back than the shoulder/grip. I was going to do more of a pronounced knob but given the crack thought I should leave it a bit big. Maybe a couple of inches shorter maybe next time wasnt until about half way through that I realized I was unintentionally shaping it like an American axe - might have been I didn't have a cigarette going
The edge still needs a little attention but it split a couple of the fir rounds I had here for a pit fire this weekend.
They seem like they would make for nice compact axes but I havent really put it to any real test.
A Model 7 on a 22-25" handle would make for a fine tool as well.
It was obviously used as an axe before I got ahold of it. The poll is knocked down a touch from use. If you pick one up that is something to keep in mind as it seems that when the polls are used hard like that it isnt just the poll that flattens out. It also can create a little bulge in the eye not a big deal but you have to compensate for it in the back of the tongue.
The handle came from quarter sawn hickory but after cutting the initial blank out a crack showed up. I wood glued it and used small gauge fishing line to poke it in there deep and clamped it. Left it for about 4 days. That was after initial material removal but before final shaping - I figure if there is a break in the handle I dont think it will be there. It only shows about a .25 the way though the swell. Definitely not the quality of wood work found in the Fin Army pictures.
The handle is 27 and was fun to shape up but it took me a while to get it fitted properly. I did try to get the better aspects of the handle plans I found into one handle. Defined drop to the swell, overall oval shape, shoulder slimmed so it just slips into the eye, thinner in the belly and back than the shoulder/grip. I was going to do more of a pronounced knob but given the crack thought I should leave it a bit big. Maybe a couple of inches shorter maybe next time wasnt until about half way through that I realized I was unintentionally shaping it like an American axe - might have been I didn't have a cigarette going
The edge still needs a little attention but it split a couple of the fir rounds I had here for a pit fire this weekend.
They seem like they would make for nice compact axes but I havent really put it to any real test.
A Model 7 on a 22-25" handle would make for a fine tool as well.
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Nice videos Hacked. I was interested how he went about the crosswedge.
Billnäs Ironworks - Billnäs Bruk: 30's, 50's, 80's films tools manufacturing
English:
Here are some of the stamps for Billnäs included with what I think of as kind of running concurrent with, then over to Fiskars ownership. Might give a general idea of the age of the axes (Billnäs and the older Fiskars axes) more or less a start at it at least.
DarthTaco posted an axe recently that came to mind with this 1897 Wetterlings catalog hope you dont mind me reposting it here. He mentioned it being a Finnish style Swedish made collared axe:
Wetterlings, Granfors Bruk, Sater Banko, and Ferro Forserum seem to have made those in that style. Im sure there are others - Just interesting.
Wetterlings Catalog
Cover
Cover inside
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Back cover
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Those are really neat pictures. Thanks for posting.
For some reason I felt like matching these images:
These images are the only ones I have found (so far) of Finnish heads with flag decals/labels.
I also wonder if the Finns needed a lit cigarette in their mouth to properly examine an axe?
Bob
I am still curious about the axe mfr in the video "With a knife and an ax" (by Sakari Pälsi?). This is the closest I have found so far:
I have followed this thread with interest and have started collecting information on Finnish (and other scandinavian) axes. So far I can only find a couple of Kellikoski branded axes with two marks above the name while I have only found Billnäs heads with one mark. Certainly not proof. I can't find a frame in the video that shows the head clear enough to positively identify. Oh, well.
Bob
Bob, that was sleuth. :thumbup:
Finnish Museum 12.3 NOS/near unused?
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Here is an interesting example of the Kellokoski model 12.3:
It's marked MB with the crown. I haven't found any solid info on Marifors-Kellokoski markings but it may or may not be as old as the one in the video we all like so much where the old fellow is shaping out a handle from scratch. The "Kellokoski" mark is further down on the cheek than the ones in the pictures that Bob captured and put together for us here.
This is it on my small scale:
2lbs 11 5/8oz or about 1.2kg. Interesting that both the Kellokoski and Billnäs catalogs list them at 1.1kg new little leeway on the heavy side?
Top down next to a 12.1 it does seem like the Finnish equivalent of an American boys axe same shape and proportions but just diminutive in scale. Seems like it would need a shorter handle as well. Thinking I wont misplace it with the color
Montage
It wants a handle and to be used.
It's marked MB with the crown. I haven't found any solid info on Marifors-Kellokoski markings but it may or may not be as old as the one in the video we all like so much where the old fellow is shaping out a handle from scratch. The "Kellokoski" mark is further down on the cheek than the ones in the pictures that Bob captured and put together for us here.
This is it on my small scale:
2lbs 11 5/8oz or about 1.2kg. Interesting that both the Kellokoski and Billnäs catalogs list them at 1.1kg new little leeway on the heavy side?
Top down next to a 12.1 it does seem like the Finnish equivalent of an American boys axe same shape and proportions but just diminutive in scale. Seems like it would need a shorter handle as well. Thinking I wont misplace it with the color
Montage
It wants a handle and to be used.
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