"The mystique of the Swedish steel is a (snobbish) legend" - I am assuming this is an opinion because its not factual. Swedish steel has been known as some of the highest quality steel for a very long time - not only because of their production quality but because of the purity of the iron ore found in Sweden. "Although it was not understood at the time, the Swedish ore contained very low levels of common impurities, leading to higher quality irons and steels from otherwise identical techniques applied to other ores" This is why many old Swedish tools are highly sought after. Why many American anvil producers used to promote the use of Swedish tool steel faces on their American anvils. For a very long time, sweden and the ore from there produced some of the best tool steel on earth. Modern techniques can now replicate what only came from specific ores, but sadly very few producers of this day and age bother to pay for that quality or do they pay to heat treat it properly. I do not want to inflame or insult - but that was plain incorrect and misleading.
I process and burn 6-8 cords of firewood a year - primarily birch, maple, cedar, spruce, alder and black locust. I heat with wood 6-8months out of the year - those months I need heat
. I use an axe nearly every day of my life. I have 11 HB's I have collected over the last few years. My first was given to me at 12 years old by my father - a 3.5# felling axe which I still use to this day. I have an assortment of nearly every brand of American axes from collecting and restoring over the years. I have rarely found one that is significantly harder if harder at all than the HB's. What I have found with the American axes is less consistency in hardness. I love old american axes, never enough rockaways for my liking
The problem is there is very little new of quality.
This is turning into an American vs Swedish axe debate which was far from the point. The problem is all there really is are old American axes of quality apart from council tool and even then only the premium line...then you are paying nearly GB prices for debatable quality. Mourn the decline of american manufacturing, I know I do.
I am just glad I live in Canada where we have HB's availible at a decent price. I hope you folks get the chance also. They are a very good axe at a very good price.
