HB Hatchet Find

J

jswillems

Joined
May 17, 2016
Messages
2
Hello everyone! I'm new to the forum, though I've been lurking here for a while now. I first got interested in restoring axes after finding an old, rusted head at work. It's nothing special, but will be a good all-purpose axe. Anyways, I came across this hatchet at a local antique store for $15 and had to have it. I've been able to figure out it's a Hults-Bruk, but not much else about it. There was some blue paint remnants on the head. The handle is in good shape with a great patina, but I don't know if it's original or not. I was wondering is anyone had an ideas as to how old this hatchet may be? It's in pretty good shape, so once I get it cleaned up and sharpened it should be a great little camping axe!

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Square_peg said:
I would guess 1970's.
Click to expand...

I might go a little earlier (my dad bought me a Swede Sandvik in about 1963) but 1950 to 1980s was the era of these n. American pattern Swede axes and 60s-70s was probably the heyday for sales of them. Handle looks to be original and it's a shame it's split, coming out of the eye, in such a way that it's not likely to safely stay together for very long when you start using it.
You are probably aware that the 0.7 and 1 1/2 stamp are head weight in kg and lb.
 
Thanks for the replies! that;s about what I was suspecting regarding age, but I hadn't been able to find much that was definitive. Yes, it is a shame about that one split in the handle. It's not very advanced, so I'll probably leave the handle on for now and just keep a close eye on it. The hatchet probably won't get a ton of use, to be honest, since I don't get out into the woods nearly as often as I used to.
 
I am not sure about Hults Bruks but some of the stuff that came out of Sweden in the70's was heavily ground and did not have the really nice geometry that axe shows. I think it is an older one.
 
Hi JS

I have a Hultafors Bruk hatchet like yours, which I recently picked up. The poll was a bit mushroomed, which I addressed with a bastard file. I repurposed an axe sheath to fit, and picked up a spotted gum replacement handle. The handle that came with it was flat and has no palm swell. The foot looks like it was cut short.










The handle at the top of the eye appears to be fixed with some epoxy. My next step is to drill that out and replace the handle.

 
I had a bit of time this afternoon, so I spent a few minutes with a flap disc on the angle grinder.

From this:



To this:



When I get a chance, ill continue with some sandpaper, then correct the blade profile and fit a new handle.
 
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