Hultafors Classic Hunters Axe

I love Axes. Not that I use them as much as I should but there is just something of the archetypal woodsman about them that means every bushcrafter should at least own a couple.

We are all familiar with the Swedish axe train of thought that states the best Axes in the world are produced there, and especially the rivalry between certain companies in Sweden.

Gransfors Bruks makes the Axes Ray Mears uses and as a result their prices have sky rocketed, this puts people off.

Hultafors, however, have a line of Axes that rivals the GB ones and it's called their classic line, I recently treated myself to the hunters axe.

Here it is straight out of the wrapping. Hultafors can be hit and miss, if you get a bad axe it's infuriating but if you get a good one it's wonderful, this one is superb.

Weighing in with a head weight of around 2lbs and a helve of 20 inches it's a lovely midsized pack axe comparable to the Gransfors small forest axe

The helve was oiled but not heavily so I did need to add a little linseed oil to it but regardless it's beautifully made

Wedge was an excellent fit and wonderfully finished

The grain was tight and of the correct orientation and the edge of the bit was a polished razor.. very impressive indeed.

It's a little heavier than the Gransfors and just a tad longer but to me feels better in the hand, more of a man's pack axe while the Gransfors is more of a woman's axe.

And the two in comparison, with the hultafors on the left.

This axe should last many years and at half the price of the Gransfors, for what is basically the same axe, is incredible value for money.

I can see this line of Axes fast becoming the woods man's favourite.