-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
It followed me home (Part 2)
- Thread starter Steve Tall
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2016
- Messages
- 1,927
it's got all the markings. they're pretty worn though. only the top 3rd is legible. i didnt bother to take a picture because there wouldnt be much of a point
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2017
- Messages
- 762
Sorry for the late post but this did follow me home a while back.
This is a picture from google.
This is a picture from google.
Cute little fella! Epoxied eye sets the manufacture date as 1987 +/-. I don't know if you have the same problem I do; I don't have the guts to be the first one to put an NOS stickered tool to use.found this little gem online, looks so tiny, almost like a toy when compared to a fullsize Agdor
Yes indeed, plus the painted heads give a hint about year of production, I spoke to an old fella at Hultafors which said that they stopped painting the axe heads in the early 90's, don't quote me on that tho, my memory is good but short.
Unfortunately the handle has come loose, I buried the axe in a choppingblock and wiggled the handle around. All epoxy has come loose too, and beneath the broken part of the label there is a bead of glue from the bottom of the eye, I guess this was to prevent moisture and dirt coming in to the eye of the axe. Or maybe the epoxy from dripping out the bottom of the eye.
Anyway, I think this axe will need a rehang and a new edge, then it's off to work! I bought the axe because I didn't have a small belt hatchet or whatever you wanna call it, but for sure it will see some work during camping and fishing trips in the summer. For winter time I always pack a boys axe or larger. It seems every camping trip I go to in the winter, I need to split large amounts of firewood, and I believe this little beauty can't stand up to the task! A Summer-axe it is!
Good attitude to have regarding a low point in time for Swede axe manufacturers. I was asked to rehang an Agdor last summer and the epoxy popped out of the eye (tapping forward) without any effort at all.
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2016
- Messages
- 1,927
here are some better pictures, i had a chance to clean'm up better today, it's been raining for 3 days straight
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2017
- Messages
- 762
That is a great specimen. Some people would say the stamp isn’t good enough but I think it adds to it. The RJ is kinda unique too. Shows it’s age.
Looks like "1990" on the stamp, the rest seems unknown to me. I think it had a spur at one time, but someone removed it. The edge is a little bent, the poll is crazy warped and ugly, but it does got the sweet ring sound to it. It's hung upside down on the most uncomfortable handle I've ever held. Will have to make a new one
I looked at the pictures that Tras Krom had linked in the Russian Topor Pattern thread, and I found this. Look at the no 77, last stamp. Doesn't it look similar?
Edit #2 : By the miracle of internets, I was able to make something out of that text. "Ижевск" meaning izhevsk.
It seems like it's made by the Izhevsk factory. Any corrections about this is very welcome!
I looked at the pictures that Tras Krom had linked in the Russian Topor Pattern thread, and I found this. Look at the no 77, last stamp. Doesn't it look similar?
Edit #2 : By the miracle of internets, I was able to make something out of that text. "Ижевск" meaning izhevsk.
It seems like it's made by the Izhevsk factory. Any corrections about this is very welcome!
Last edited:
You're right,Aikonen,it was made by a plant in Izhevsk,moreover,it's also from the "UPS" series(an abbreviation,in cyrillic,"Steel of Improved Strengh").
(None of which makes it any better,or even good or more than only barely usable,another piece of ugly soviet crap...).
(None of which makes it any better,or even good or more than only barely usable,another piece of ugly soviet crap...).
Haha, Hey Jake! I take it you don't like the soviet axe design.. Good to get it confirmed, too bad you think it's ugly ;-)
I feel, like for example a hultafors american pattern, works better out in the field. The slightly thicker blade makes it good for splitting, the топор I own are great carvers and choppers, but that's about all of it
When my mother talked about the Happy people documentary, I fell in love with the no nonsense lifestyle of the taiga, the axes - I like the way they look, but they are so different from the axes I started with, can't lie about it - it feels a little awkward using them sometimes.
Anyway I would rather have an ugly piece of soviet steel with me than nothing at all!
Aikonen,see,the original design of this wasn't ugly...It was one or more of the regional Norwegian designs,and they were ok,decent,practical carpentry axes.
What makes it ugly Now is that throughout 100+year-old history that design has only been dumbly repeated,where that rotten State has not bothered to produce any decent,usable tools,letting their serfs get by with whatever was at hand....
So it makes for a kind of an ugly,morbid monument,like a piece of a concentration camp wire or something...A symbol of great dysfunction...
But you'll have to forgive me,i was born there,and have tasted the poison,and smelled that smell
...
As far as the Happy People go,that's a fair example of how your own Gov't can be your worst enemy,and complicate your survival scheme even beyond what a very harsh climate can throw at you!
...To where you can't even get a hold of a decent axe!
But yeah,i hear you,and bless you for not having there morbid associations yourself!
What makes it ugly Now is that throughout 100+year-old history that design has only been dumbly repeated,where that rotten State has not bothered to produce any decent,usable tools,letting their serfs get by with whatever was at hand....
So it makes for a kind of an ugly,morbid monument,like a piece of a concentration camp wire or something...A symbol of great dysfunction...
But you'll have to forgive me,i was born there,and have tasted the poison,and smelled that smell
...As far as the Happy People go,that's a fair example of how your own Gov't can be your worst enemy,and complicate your survival scheme even beyond what a very harsh climate can throw at you!
...To where you can't even get a hold of a decent axe!But yeah,i hear you,and bless you for not having there morbid associations yourself!
I enjoy your posts very much jake, my mind often wanders beyond the words you are typing, and that really amazes me.Aikonen,see,the original design of this wasn't ugly...It was one or more of the regional Norwegian designs,and they were ok,decent,practical carpentry axes.
What makes it ugly Now is that throughout 100+year-old history that design has only been dumbly repeated,where that rotten State has not bothered to produce any decent,usable tools,letting their serfs get by with whatever was at hand....
So it makes for a kind of an ugly,morbid monument,like a piece of a concentration camp wire or something...A symbol of great dysfunction...
But you'll have to forgive me,i was born there,and have tasted the poison,and smelled that smell
As far as the Happy People go,that's a fair example of how your own Gov't can be your worst enemy,and complicate your survival scheme even beyond what a very harsh climate can throw at you!
But yeah,i hear you,and bless you for not having there morbid associations yourself!
its a new point of view for one with little insight of the states history, the history of axes and tools, and i thank you for sharing that.
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2017
- Messages
- 762
I went to purchase a firearm from a buddy of mine that owns a pawn shop in town this evening and stubbles across this little guy. It was sitting on the rack and when I saw the shape of the eye with a narrow pole I thought it was Swedish. After looking closer I found the mark. Not bad for $5!
The handle has been wrapped in electrical tape. I really hope it was a cosmetic thing for someone and not a crack because this handle shape is wonderful. It is very thin with a large swell at the bottom and slightly curved. If it is cracked I am going to use it for a template!! Thanks for looking!
The handle has been wrapped in electrical tape. I really hope it was a cosmetic thing for someone and not a crack because this handle shape is wonderful. It is very thin with a large swell at the bottom and slightly curved. If it is cracked I am going to use it for a template!! Thanks for looking!
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2017
- Messages
- 2,462
I went to purchase a firearm from a buddy of mine that owns a pawn shop in town this evening and stubbles across this little guy. It was sitting on the rack and when I saw the shape of the eye with a narrow pole I thought it was Swedish. After looking closer I found the mark. Not bad for $5!
The handle has been wrapped in electrical tape. I really hope it was a cosmetic thing for someone and not a crack because this handle shape is wonderful. It is very thin with a large swell at the bottom and slightly curved. If it is cracked I am going to use it for a template!! Thanks for looking!
Great find!
I hope that electrical tape was someone's idea of getting a better grip
Hickory n steel
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2016
- Messages
- 20,172
I went to purchase a firearm from a buddy of mine that owns a pawn shop in town this evening and stubbles across this little guy. It was sitting on the rack and when I saw the shape of the eye with a narrow pole I thought it was Swedish. After looking closer I found the mark. Not bad for $5!
The handle has been wrapped in electrical tape. I really hope it was a cosmetic thing for someone and not a crack because this handle shape is wonderful. It is very thin with a large swell at the bottom and slightly curved. If it is cracked I am going to use it for a template!! Thanks for looking!
Definitely a nice score for $5, am I mistaken or does it have convex cheeks ?
That really is a nice handle shape, hope the tape was just for grip.
The handle shape on this and the appearance of it having convex cheeks makes me think 60's or earlier but I thought most of the swedish hatchets were imported in the 70's - 80's, especially with the blue paint.
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2017
- Messages
- 762
Hickory, I was thinking the same thing! It has to be an older one because it does have convex cheeks. And yes the handle is a joy in the hand.
Miller, thank you sir I really hope so too! I have never been a huge Swedish fan boy like some people are. I love my American made axes. But if I see them like this one I pick them up. A family member gave me a husqvarna boys size ax for xmas a couple years ago. It was nice, made by hultafurs I think or however you spell it haha. The size of the cutting edge is so small on them though.
Miller, thank you sir I really hope so too! I have never been a huge Swedish fan boy like some people are. I love my American made axes. But if I see them like this one I pick them up. A family member gave me a husqvarna boys size ax for xmas a couple years ago. It was nice, made by hultafurs I think or however you spell it haha. The size of the cutting edge is so small on them though.
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2017
- Messages
- 762
The reason it was taped.... I will glue it up and it will make a great template though!
That piece of hickory laying by the bit will become the new handle!! I will post a pic after it is done!
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2017
- Messages
- 2,462
The reason it was taped.... I will glue it up and it will make a great template though!
That's a bummer Brian but I look forward to seeing you carve out that handle shape in the future.
I have yet to come across any Swedish axes myself but not for lack of looking
