Help identify this

Probably made for export to the UK or north America because it says made in Sweden in English.
Looks not too terribly old, probably 60's+.

GB , HB, Wetterlings, and Hultafors are/ were the main manufacturers in Sweden and it was probably made by one of them.
Other than that I don't actually know.

It doesn't say so I suspect the only way to know would be if someone has a complete example with name on either the handle or sticker on the head.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Probably made for export to the UK or north America because it says made in Sweden in English.
Looks not too terribly old, probably 60's+.

GB , HB, Wetterlings, and Hultafors are/ were the main manufacturers in Sweden and it was probably made by one of them.
Other than that I don't actually know.

It doesn't say so I suspect the only way to know would be if someone has a complete example with name on either the handle or sticker on the head.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that mate. I'll start there and look into it. :)
 
In the 60s and 70s Swedish axes were the "cheap import" axes. Not to say that they weren't great quality. But they had lower production costs and generally shiped mid-grade axes. I think of them as equal to a Kelly Woodslasher or Council's baseline axes. Still good - likely 1060 steel or something similar. But a step below a TT Flint Edge, Plumb Dreadnaught, Collins Legitimus, etc. Now Council's Velvi-Cut and Forest Service edition axes fall in this upper tier. Higher grade steel that is more difficult to forge.

I think of these 2 tiers of axes as homeowner axes and professional axes. If you went to a hardware store in 1968 you could buy a $6 homeowner's axe or a $10 professional axe. For most people the $6 was plenty good. Those old Woodslashers and Swede imports like yours are still head and shoulders above the current import axes.

A premium Swede axe of the time would have at least had the company name stamped on it.
 
Square_peg said:
In the 60s and 70s Swedish axes were the "cheap import" axes. Not to say that they weren't great quality. But they had lower production costs and generally shiped mid-grade axes. I think of them as equal to a Kelly Woodslasher or Council's baseline axes. Still good - likely 1060 steel or something similar. But a step below a TT Flint Edge, Plumb Dreadnaught, Collins Legitimus, etc. Now Council's Velvi-Cut and Forest Service edition axes fall in this upper tier. Higher grade steel that is more difficult to forge.

I think of these 2 tiers of axes as homeowner axes and professional axes. If you went to a hardware store in 1968 you could buy a $6 homeowner's axe or a $10 professional axe. For most people the $6 was plenty good. Those old Woodslashers and Swede imports like yours are still head and shoulders above the current import axes.

A premium Swede axe of the time would have at least had the company name stamped on it.
Click to expand...
That's helpful, thanks a lot.
 
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