Husqvarna Hatchet??

jeremy1517

jeremy1517

Joined
Sep 11, 2012
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Is anyone familiar with the Husqvarna Hatchet?

Good buy? Yay or nay? Is it a good affordable hatchet or is there another, sub $50, hatchet that you all would suggest?
 
I've got a Husqvarna carpenter's axe that I like quite a bit.
 
Take a look at the Council axes. I got a Hudson Bay recently ($30) and it's great. All their axes are made in the USA!
 
I have had one for a few years. It hasn't seen a lot of use but from what I have seen it is a great little hatchet and excellent value for money. I think there are some reviews on here from others who know more.
 
I think they just changed models in the past year or so. I just ordered one, so we'll see how it is. I'll keep you posted. I literally just ordered it via amazon and it says it will be delivered by "Wednesday, January 29, 2014 - Tuesday, February 11, 2014" .... lol that's over a month.
 
I don't have much good to say about mine.
Here is mine next to a GB and an vintage hatchet. I much prefer the GB for most of my needs compared to the Husky. The vintage hatchet out does the husky in everything. Not just this particular hatchet but vintage in general. That GB has great balance and is nice for carving. I would never buy a little husky hatchet again.
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garry3 said:
I don't have much good to say about mine.
Here is mine next to a GB and an vintage hatchet. I much prefer the GB for most of my needs compared to the Husky. The vintage hatchet out does the husky in everything. Not just this particular hatchet but vintage in general. That GB has great balance and is nice for carving. I would never buy a little husky hatchet again.
P1010001.JPG
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Fairly evident from the pictures which one has more inertia behind it, presuming no one head is considerably thicker than the others at the eye. The poor old G-B appears to be way off-kilter from being square. Just looking at handle/eye contact on all three heads makes me wonder why Scandinavians bother with all the stylized dips and doodles which only serve to reduce the handle contact area. I know very few users that twist sideways so as to take advantage of those generous 'ears'.
May not be politically correct but if I really had to depend on one of these for rough work it would be the clean line domestic. If it was a fashion statement it would be the G-B.
 
300Six said:
Just looking at handle/eye contact on all three heads makes me wonder why Scandinavians bother with all the stylized dips and doodles which only serve to reduce the handle contact area.
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It's similar to a Hudson's Bay style axe. Reduce the depth of the eye and allow the user to choke up for more control at carving/bushcrafting work. But you sacrifice heavy chopping which will loosen the head. The ears add some contact area but it's of little consequence on the sides the haft.
 
300Six said:
Fairly evident from the pictures which one has more inertia behind it, presuming no one head is considerably thicker than the others at the eye. The poor old G-B appears to be way off-kilter from being square. Just looking at handle/eye contact on all three heads makes me wonder why Scandinavians bother with all the stylized dips and doodles which only serve to reduce the handle contact area. I know very few users that twist sideways so as to take advantage of those generous 'ears'.
May not be politically correct but if I really had to depend on one of these for rough work it would be the clean line domestic. If it was a fashion statement it would be the G-B.
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Thats why it is not safe to presume, from a single photograph. The Husky is, I believe with in a couple ounces of the old Kelly.
From being square I would assume you are talking a more open or closed hang? That GB has more of a S shaped handle, and turned up toe.

The angle from the heel to the eye serves as protection for the knuckles in a chocked up grip. It also makes for a lighter cheek, usually resulting in in a better balanced head from bit to poll. No free rides though because it costs some wood to eye contact with the shorter eye. So we see ears or lugs.To help there.

A great hatchet design. I have used none better.
 
300Six said:
Fairly evident from the pictures which one has more inertia behind it, presuming no one head is considerably thicker than the others at the eye. The poor old G-B appears to be way off-kilter from being square. Just looking at handle/eye contact on all three heads makes me wonder why Scandinavians bother with all the stylized dips and doodles which only serve to reduce the handle contact area. I know very few users that twist sideways so as to take advantage of those generous 'ears'.
May not be politically correct but if I really had to depend on one of these for rough work it would be the clean line domestic. If it was a fashion statement it would be the G-B.
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The ears do seem to help Peg. Maybe because of the taper of the eye. Much better than a Hudson bay, IMHO.

I can't remember when I bought this hatchet, but it was before I ever heard the term bushcraft, or Gransfors became famous or designer. And I for sure didn't drop a $100 on it. But I thought it was expensive at the time.

You can see the way I have sealed around the head with bees wax. I have also put a heavy amount on the end grain by the head. It may not look like it but this little hatchet has been used from the wet climates of the Oregon Cascades and Northern Idaho to the dry and hot Owyhee uplands to the south and I have yet to replace the handle, or have it come loose.
 
I just got one of their axes this week and am very happy with it. The craftsmanship is first rate. I have the GB Wildlife hatchet already or I'd get the Husky hatchet.
 
Thought I would revive this thread, I bought a Husqvarna carpenters axe. And Im very happy with. Made in sweden, hand forged, decent leather sheath that wont fall off. Balance is good, and about perfect gain on mine, and the handle has a good shape to it. Blade was pretty good out of the box, but can be made shaving sharp, and edge retention is good edge. I looked at the Council Hudson bay 18 inch, but after you bought the sheath it's the same money, and I fell like the swed's know axes, and went that route. But $54 OTD I'm happy. IMHO this is the closest budget option to a GB small forest axe in head profile and handle shape, along with hand forged in sweden. Current rumor is Hultafors is make these right now for Husky. I held the Husky hatchet and it's a quality hatchet. Just a touch heavy to me, and fatter profile, more of a splitter than a cutter.
 
I just bought a Husqvarna multi-purpose axe, it's a quality piece made in sweden that looks very similar to a Gransfors. I'd say it's worth a shot for sure.
 
I own a GBA small forest axe and a Husk hatchet and its like comparing apple with oranges.

The husky gives you much bang for your buck but its not fun to swing, its brutish and clumsy altho it cuts very well and keeps a solid edge due to its quality steel. The handle, I dont like, but for 50 bucks? its a real good buy.

The husky hatchet feels like holding a small mace whilst holding the gba small forest axe feels like the extention of your arm, and im not overpraising gba, it just does.
i think its a matter of balance and handle shape. but they cost more than twice the price so i wouldnt have bought it myself, got lucky my GF gave it to me ;)
 
Remzy said:
I own a GBA small forest axe and a Husk hatchet and its like comparing apple with oranges.

The husky gives you much bang for your buck but its not fun to swing, its brutish and clumsy altho it cuts very well and keeps a solid edge due to its quality steel. The handle, I dont like, but for 50 bucks? its a real good buy.

The husky hatchet feels like holding a small mace whilst holding the gba small forest axe feels like the extention of your arm, and im not overpraising gba, it just does.
i think its a matter of balance and handle shape. but they cost more than twice the price so i wouldnt have bought it myself, got lucky my GF gave it to me ;)
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I have owned a few GB's. I am down to two now. An older model Wildlife hatchet, which is a bit better than the newer one and a Hunters hatchet. I know they say that the Hunters and the SFA are the same head weight but they do not feel like it to me. I think the Hunters is a few ounces lighter. It felt a little better to me at the time probably because it is so close to a rigging axe and the price was not that far off between the hunters and the SFA. It is now I see.

I hope to acquire a SFA still before they change it like they did the Wildlife Hatchet.
Does your girl friend have a sister?
 
garry3 said:
I have owned a few GB's. I am down to two now. An older model Wildlife hatchet, which is a bit better than the newer one and a Hunters hatchet. I know they say that the Hunters and the SFA are the same head weight but they do not feel like it to me. I think the Hunters is a few ounces lighter. It felt a little better to me at the time probably because it is so close to a rigging axe and the price was not that far off between the hunters and the SFA. It is now I see.

I hope to acquire a SFA still before they change it like they did the Wildlife Hatchet.
Does your girl friend have a sister?
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hhehehe can you speak french?

What makes you think that gba will change the SFA head tho?
 
Remzy said:
hhehehe can you speak french?

What makes you think that gba will change the SFA head tho?
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Tell her I am mute.:)


I guess I have lived long enough to see so many good things go. They got the SFA right for its purpose. I don't think they will make it better. They will try to speed
up production or increase profits and screw it up. Here is my old model Wildlife hatchet. It has a curved handle and a up turned toe, its kind of like a miniature SFA. Now they have straight handles and the up turned toe is gone. Most people don't even know this is what the Wildlife Hatchet used to be. They cut corners and screwed it up.


P1010007_zpsm9tkbjog.jpg
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garry3 said:
Tell her I am mute.:)


I guess I have lived long enough to see so many good things go. They got the SFA right for its purpose. I don't think they will make it better. They will try to speed
up production or increase profits and screw it up. Here is my old model Wildlife hatchet. It has a curved handle and a up turned toe, its kind of like a miniature SFA. Now they have straight handles and the up turned toe is gone. Most people don't even know this is what the Wildlife Hatchet used to be. They cut corners and screwed it up.


P1010007_zpsm9tkbjog.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
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heheh sooner or later you would open your mouth to talk about a sharp thing of sort and you would be busted!

You got that right about the hatchet, the new one looks way less elegant, dont know if it is a product of cutting corners or people asked them to change it. your old hatchet looks great, kind of like a shorter sfa with slightly different head.
 
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