Hults Bruk AGDOR Axe - What do I have here?

Operator1975

Operator1975

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Sep 24, 2010
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Picked this up at a flea market today. I dont really know too much about HB or any other European axe manufacturers or axes themselves. So what do I have here?

On the head it says on the paper label -

AGDOR
Best Quality Swedish Steel
Hults Bruk Aby Sweden

Then on the head itself imprinted - HB Made in Sweden
Other side - 1,0 2 1/4

Then on the handle is a paragraph about how quality is tradition, on and on.

So was this a good find? First HB axe for me. Looks nice, though sometimes I look at it with its colors (blue head, blonde handle with red paint at the end) and it makes me think of a clown.

Any info?

Thanks.
 

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Looks like a keeper to me. A good substantial poll on it.
Ross did a recent review of an Agdor axe he had shipped from Germany.
Agdor axes are currently available in Canada, but not the USA (to my knowledge).
 
I have no idea how old this axe is. The ones I see labled as AGDOR look nothing like this one. Pretty much everything is different. So age is a question.

I will say in sitting down and just looking and observing, the axe is balanced really well. It just feels good. Head is proportioned to the handle very nicely. It feels like you could use that size of axe all day long. Perhaps a good "everyday" or "utility" size. Than handle has good grain on it, and the head is clean, and the steel seems like it would be able to do the job, though I can notice a quality difference between this head and the older heads, say like a Mann or Kelly.

Overall I like it, Im just going to keep digging on it I guess.
 
Maybe this will help.

Rodga manor is situated in the deep forest of Kolmarden, Sweden. Its history goes back to the 16:th century.

Hans Peter Hellwegh established a sailcloth factory at Rodga in 1670s. They produced sailcloth for the Swedish Navy for almost 200 years. Approximately 500 families got their income from Rodga. The factory closed down in the 1850s. Rodga was one of a group of industries manufacturing sailcloth, glassware and axes, all with one and the same owner. The glassware is still produced in Rejmyre 14 km NW of Rodga. The world famous axe, AGDOR (which is the word RODGA backwards) is still in our days manufactured at Hults Bruk about 7 km to the south from Rodga.

The main building is a timber house built in the middle of the 18:th century. It has of course undergone some changes during the years. But it still has a timbered ground floor from the 1670s and a single mansard roof from the 1750s

Rodga today is a Reproductive Centre for horses.
 
You have a good one there. It is not one of the new models because it still has paint on the head. Here is an example of a new Hults Bruk Agdor axe: http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2011/03/hultaforshults-bruk-agdor-axe-hy-10-09.html

They are made in Sweden by Hults Bruk. In 1988 Hults Bruk was purchased by Hultafors, so the axe you have must be pre 1988 since there is no Hultafors marking on it. I have some basic history of Swedish axe manufaturers here if it helps: http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2010/12/brief-history-of-swedish-axe.html

Overall, they are very good axes, and Agdor was a well recognized name. You made a great find. There are people on ebay that will pay good money for a Hults Bruks axe in this condition.

http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/
 
Thanks for the info. As stated I dont know much about the Swedish axes. This one feels really good though. Balanced, etc.

I figured the guy at the flea market didn't know what he had, especially for $15.

So I will cherish this one as a great find. Thanks again for the info.
 
Plinko said:
Steve, do you have any more info on availability in Canada?
Click to expand...

From a previous thread:

Steve Tall said:
Thanks for the review, Ross.

I know that some Agdor axes from HultsBruk/Hultafors are distributed in Canada.
These are from a Canadian wholesaler's list:

Item 31-28 AXE 2.5 LBS 28" MADE IN SWEDEN
Item 33-28 AXE 3 1/2 LB 36" HICKORY ADGOR ,SWEDEN MONTREAL PAT

http://hjukstrom.esamco.com/?act=search&cat=STOOL&subcat=79
Click to expand...

Again, the link goes to a distributor that sells to Canadian retailers in wholesale quantities.
Presumably, some retailers in Canada are stocking the Agdors.
I know a retailer in Canada who has an account with this distributor and actually got a quote on these axes, so they should be available items.
 
This is the email response from Paul at Bushcraft Canada after asking if they stock Hults Bruk / Hultafors products:


Hi,
No. For lots of complicated reasons, (even though we are
the Canadian distributors of hultafors) even we can't
get the axes.

My preference is for the wetterlings anyway, but it would
be nice to offer customers the option.

By the way, i do have one, small hultafors axe $70.00, unused
and boxed, if you want to try one out. Its the only one I
ever managed to get!!
 
Thanks for the info Plinko.

You know, I bet you this is just a super clever marketing strategy. Remember when on South Park Cartman did the “you can’t come to my amusement park” commercials, so then everyone wanted to go. :) It is turning into the same thing here. No one can get their hands on these axes, so we are all going nuts trying to find them.
 
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