Axe Newbie Purchase - Should I send this back?

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S7eve

Full Member
Feb 3, 2021
209
45
53
West Sussex
Hi all. I’m new to the forum and to Bushcraft really. I’ve just purchased an axe as present for a friend but not sure about quality of the finish and if it can be cured by a novice sharpener. I purchased it online so it came to me without me looking it over first (not that I’d really know what I’m looking for as this is the first axe I’ve ever purchased

The axe is a Hultafors HULHY20085SV Chopping Axe 850g Length 65cm. Their budget range as far as I’m aware. Cost me £42.

My concern is the grind on the axe. Should it it not be convex grind? Mine looks so heavily ground on one side it looks like an Earnest Emerson chisel grind? Is this normal? If not is it rectifiable with minimal sharpening tools? Might I damage the heat treatment if I try to equal up such a large portion of the bit. It’s partially worse at the Toe compared to the Heel...(I had to look the terminology up) OR should I just send it back and dig deeper in the pocket to get a better option?

Advice sought

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henchy3rd

Settler
Apr 16, 2012
611
423
Derby
Hi all. I’m new to the forum and to Bushcraft really. I’ve just purchased an axe as present for a friend but not sure about quality of the finish and if it can be cured by a novice sharpener. I purchased it online so it came to me without me looking it over first (not that I’d really know what I’m looking for as this is the first axe I’ve ever purchased

The axe is a Hultafors HULHY20085SV Chopping Axe 850g Length 65cm. Their budget range as far as I’m aware. Cost me £42.

My concern is the grind on the axe. Should it it not be convex grind? Mine looks so heavily ground on one side it looks like an Earnest Emerson chisel grind? Is this normal? If not is it rectifiable with minimal sharpening tools? Might I damage the heat treatment if I try to equal up such a large portion of the bit. It’s partially worse at the Toe compared to the Heel...(I had to look the terminology up) OR should I just send it back and dig deeper in the pocket to get a better option?

Advice sought

Pics
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Well, it looks like you’ve gone a bought a Friday axe there.
If you bought it new, I should send it back:
It only cost you £42.00 but that isn’ exceptable.
one thing I’ve found with Hultafors is you’ll have to finish the handle, which isn’t a big thing.
As an ex foundryman taking a closer look at the pitting & very rough fettling workmanship( if that’s what you can call it)I’d of got the sack for churning that out?
 
Last edited:
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Broch

Life Member
Jan 18, 2009
7,981
7,757
Mid Wales
www.mont-hmg.co.uk
As the others have said; the vendors/manufacturers are taking the micky.

However, IMO, £42 should get you a more than useful axe so don't go thinking you have to spend over a hundred to find something that will do a decent job.

BTW, yes, it could be cured, which is what you asked :)
 
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S7eve

Full Member
Feb 3, 2021
209
45
53
West Sussex
As the others have said; the vendors/manufacturers are taking the micky.

However, IMO, £42 should get you a more than useful axe so don't go thinking you have to spend over a hundred to find something that will do a decent job.

BTW, yes, it could be cured, which is what you asked :)
Thanks for the info Brach...sending it back...I’ve not got the skills to put it right. I’ll try again with a different brand.
 

TLM

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 16, 2019
3,092
1,624
Vantaa, Finland
Looks kind of weird, like the eye were not in line with the head and the blade seems to be bent. Maybe that head should never have left the factory.
 
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Erbswurst

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 5, 2018
4,079
1,766
Berlin
I would give seller and maker a second chance. That is Monday production of a usually appreciated quality brand, and the price is OK. Would it cost the double I would become angry about the faults, but because it isn't over priced I just would ask the seller for sending me a perfectly made one.

A few years ago I looked in a shop at a couple of these in different sizes and all had been good.
 

S7eve

Full Member
Feb 3, 2021
209
45
53
West Sussex
The replacement is world apart....(I think?) and twice (&then some) as expensive! A Hultafors Hunters Axe ‘Ekelund’ 0.85 Premium

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Erbswurst

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 5, 2018
4,079
1,766
Berlin
And who did pay the difference?
You ?
Or did they send you the better and more expensive one for the same price you already payed?
 

S7eve

Full Member
Feb 3, 2021
209
45
53
West Sussex
They refunded me for the first axe and arranged to have it collected by DPD so I incurred no cost. I decided to take my custom elsewhere to buy the second one as they didn’t offer any kind of incentive to try with them again. This axe was a gift for a mate who did me huge favour so I decided I’d dig a bit deeper into my wallet and get him a guaranteed nice one. I recon he’ll be pleased with it.

I don’t have an axe myself and I wouldn’t pay what I payed for this one for myself. It always seems such a risk buying online especially when you don’t have great deal of knowledge about what to look for. I recon the best place to get one would be a Bushcraft show where you can see what your buying and there are knowledgeable people around to guide you. Perhaps prices may be better to?
 

Sean Hellman

Tenderfoot
Apr 19, 2009
89
4
devon
www.seanhellman.com
For £42 and you are complaining! That is cheap, really cheap. I would never expect anything other than a basic grind on such a tool. If you want a tool that is ready to go then you are going to have to pay more. How they can make them for that price I do not know, they must be making many hundreds a week.
 

Mr Wolf

Full Member
Jun 30, 2013
707
169
Nottinghamshire
For £42 and you are complaining! That is cheap, really cheap. I would never expect anything other than a basic grind on such a tool. If you want a tool that is ready to go then you are going to have to pay more. How they can make them for that price I do not know, they must be making many hundreds a week.
Price is irrelevant....he wants an axe, not a chilsel on a stick.
If more people sent things back, quality would improve
 

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