Hults Bruk hatchet help needed....

O

Oida

Joined
Nov 11, 2018
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Gents -

Yesterday, my day ended on the happiest of notes. My wife had asked if I would accompany her to a giant outdoor "swap meet" style sale. About 50 kiosks of antique everything-under-the-sun were set up, and my wife was determined to see all of them.

Long story short, I discovered this little gem in the last kiosk. I asked, "How much?" And the reply: "Five bucks."

I kept my poker face, doing my best to contain my euphoria as I reached into my pocket for the money.

For more than a year I have wanted a HB hatchet. And today that "itch" has been scratched.

I cannot exactly identify the precise HB hatchet this is.

The stampings look like cold stamps.
One side "HB Made In Sweden"
The other side: "0.7 1/12"

I would be very, very thankful if someone can help me identify which HB hatchet this is.

Thanks a bunch!
Tom
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Thought I fixed it but apparently not. Right click on the ? and select open image in new tab and it will show up.
 
Yeah that trick works for me thanks A17 didn't realise you could do that.

I like the hatchet mate and for $5 what a bargain! Enjoy
 
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Ha!, I am late to the party, but in my defense, I was out of commission and missed this. If you go to Hults Bruk website, you will find a link to their vintage axe page at the top right. That will help.
Hard to tell from the pictures. If cold stamped, the hatchet would be pre-1988. If hot stamped, post-1988. I have a similar hatchet, slightly smaller, weighing 0.6kg (1.25lbs) with cold-stamped marks. They're fine tools and I am very pleased with mine.
IMG-4950.jpg

IMG-4947.jpg
 
DB_Cruiser said:
If cold stamped, the hatchet would be pre-1988. If hot stamped, post-1988. I have a similar hatchet, slightly smaller, weighing 0.6kg (1.25lbs) with cold-stamped marks.
Click to expand...

I would love to know how you tell the difference between cold and hot stamped? I am sure I have seen both but I don't know what the difference is in looks?

Would anyone be kind enough to post two images displaying cold and hot stamping that makes it obvious the differences? Thank you very much in advance.
 
Hot stamped will be deeper, sunken into the head. Cold stamped will be shallower and crisp.
Cold Stamped:
IMG-4947.jpg

Hot Stamped:
IMG-5073.jpg

Edited to add: In case it isn't obvious, cold stamping is done when the steel of the head is cool after forging. Hot stamping is done while the head is still hot, hence the more "sunken in" look.
 
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Thanks DB! Why would a manufacturer decide to choose cold or hot stamp? Would it be their personal preference, what they think is best for their product?
 
I wouldn't know for certain. My speculation is that perhaps in the case of Hults Bruk, this change may have occurred to help streamline the manufacturing process. Quite aside, cold stamps are more likely to wear away (as in my example above) due to use since they were made on cold hard steel and tend to be lighter marks. The hot stamped marks are much deeper and you would have to grind away a lot more material to fade them. In the end however, I think it is far more likely that the change was dictated by the fabrication process rather than marketing.
 
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