Hultafors mini hatchet - any good?

[Wildgoose]

Afternoon all,

I’ve been given some vouchers for my birthday and am considering getting a hultafors mini hatchet.
Having a 3 month old baby means most our future trips will be to holiday cottages, most of which feature a log burner but you seldom get an axe or similar.
I would like something compact and non offensive so it can slip in my bag.
Is the mini hatchet up to task? Any users on here?

Thanks in advance

Wildgoose.

 

[Janne]

I would get the next size up.

The Hatchet H008 or H009.

Have you thought about some other brands?

 

[Wildgoose]

I would get the next size up.

Have you thought about some other brands?

Thanks, I’ll have a look at the range.

Open to suggestions re other brands, I would like something good quality working on the rule of but cheap buy twice.

 

[Mr Wolf]

A bit more cash but I find the gb outdoor axe an excellent tool for its size and weight.
It’s great for splitting once you get your technique down.

I find anything smaller (hand axes) excel at crafting and for your intended purposes you may find a well built knife would be a better fire tool and safer to use

Anything would be a compromise and this is pure personal opinion

 

[Janne]

I would look into Fiskars axes.
OK, they look modern and not 'bushcrafty' but are cheaper and just as good ( if not better) than the likes of Hultafors and Gransfors.

I am partial to Swedish stuff, but I have to say that they make very good stuff in Finland too!

 

[GuestD]

Afternoon all,

I’ve been given some vouchers for my birthday and am considering getting a hultafors mini hatchet.
Having a 3 month old baby means most our future trips will be to holiday cottages, most of which feature a log burner but you seldom get an axe or similar.
I would like something compact and non offensive so it can slip in my bag.
Is the mini hatchet up to task? Any users on here?

Thanks in advance

Wildgoose.

great axe, although something slightly bigger may be better. Check out Husqvarna, as they are made by Hultafors, and there are often good deals to be had.

Example;
https://www.radmoretucker.co.uk/sho...MIwsDaoKb44QIVgoxRCh1VHQVgEAQYAiABEgL9qfD_BwE

 

[Janne]

Hults Bruk. Which is owned by Hultafors AB....

 

[GuestD]

Hults Bruk. Which is owned by Hultafors AB....

I used to sell them. Only time they ever came back was for a re-shaft. Horticultural equipment comes under a different "consumer" heading than bushcraft.

 

[Janne]

What is your view of the Fiskars axes?

Apart from the (relative) ugliness, I find their tools be extremely functional.

I have one mid size Fiskars axe, bought it in Norway a couple of weeks ago. Splits dried Birch logs very well. The handle is not comfortable imo ( personal view, I have extremely soft hands) but strong. Even when my aim was a bit off and I manged to hit part of the log on the handle - no damage.

 

[Robson Valley]

Mass matters. If the prime use will be to split firewood, small and compact will be too weak to get the splits going.
I have several "small" ones. Trying to split anything but cedar is a frustrating chore.
Next up would be 1kg or 1.5kg head ( can't recall), a Sandvik that is a great birch basher.
You won't approve as the handle is long enough for a good radius of swing.

 

[Wildgoose]

I actually have a Fiskars axe, think it is one of the first versions.
It’s a good enough axe, I did manage to roll the edge on a wood knot and splinters get caught between the blade and the handle.

It’s the axe I would lend out as it’s very tough. I’m looking for something a bit more traditional now.

I’ll have a look at the other axes mentioned too.

 

[Paulm]

Mass matters. If the prime use will be to split firewood, small and compact will be too weak to get the splits going.
I have several "small" ones. Trying to split anything but cedar is a frustrating chore.
Next up would be 1kg or 1.5kg head ( can't recall), a Sandvik that is a great birch basher.
You won't approve as the handle is long enough for a good radius of swing.

I would agree with RV as above. I've had a GB mini hatchet for some time but found the short handle meant of course greatly reduced swing and couldn't effectively deal with much but pretty small kindling, and even then was a bit unsatisfying to use. Used it for spoon carving too, but again just didn't feel right.

I swopped the handle for one of the carved GB red beech handles to give me better purchase and length for carving and other jobs, much happier with it now, transformed the feel and the functionality of it

The GB Outdoor axe is a favourite of mine for smaller camp chores, the longish (relatively) handle gives it a surprising amount of effective force, but it's still small and light enough to pack easily.

Other makes of hatchet size axes would be better and more usable tools too than a mini hatchet, as other folk have suggested also, and any small increase in size and weight is outweighed by being a lot more useful and functional, in my experience anyway

 

[Wildgoose]

I’m liking the look of the gb outdoor axe, wasn’t on the radar but is now.

 

[SCOMAN]

I know it’s slightly different but I have a GB Mini axe. Small, compact but good cutting power for the weight. There is a space for one if you’re not planning to do heavy work.

 

[Erbswurst]

For camping and small splitting I use the Fiskars X7 since 25 or 30 years.
The handle forgives faults and so it became old.

It is worth to have a look at Ochsenkopf and Bison axes too. They are made in (western) Germany and absolutely high quality tools, relatively unknown outside Germany.
Bison offers also axes which look similar to the swedish axes.

 

[Janne]

My GB is fantastic, but so is the Hults Bruk, and the other idiotic buys.
I have read on various for a including this one that sometimes you can get a less than perfect Gb axe, which is normal as they are largely handmade.


All axes I own are fantastic. I am the weak link. The least value for money is the HB though.

I am OK abusing all except the GB.

One more idea is to buy a derelict, old axe in a carboot sale or similar. Old axes, European make, were all superb.
Easy and fun to restore!

 

[Erbswurst]

The most cheaper axes with wooden handles I have seen in the last years hadn't been straight.

That's really dangerous in my opinion.

I think it is worth to buy a Hultafors, Gransfors, Fiskars, Ochsenkopf, Bison or Estwing axe or hatchet.

The last knife I bought from Hultafors wasn't made in Sweden by the way. But it's a good knife, no question.

 

[Janne]

Those are copies of the knives made in Mora. I think China made.
They are a little bit ( not much though) cheaper than the ones made by Morakniv.

If they used the same steel they would be the same quality.
Not much human input in making a Morakniv knife!

Husqvarna have axes made for them in Sweden, good quality too.

Handmade stuff has a +- quality. Us humans are like that. Not you Germans though. Pure perfection!

 

[Erbswurst]

But, aaahhh, pardon, Ochsenkopf and Bison Axes are absolutely übermenschlich!

 

[Erbswurst]

What's about Karesuando ?