Norway axe maker - Mustad ???

[milius2]

Hi guys,
Today I went for a visit to a few local guys that build log houses for a Norwegian firm. They were using GB axe and I started telling them about the company and so on, I was very surprised with the axe as it was not any of the recent ones they make nor one of the replicas. Makers mark was different. On one side it said "Gransfors Bruks Sweden" and on the other there were no usual masters sign, but an odd leaf, something abstract. It must have been made years back when they were the old GB before re-sell. They told me, they got an axe head they found in Norway and would like to pass it on to me. It was just like the BG but a bit smaller. Let me tell you, when I saw the axe head I could not believe my luck! I got back home and went through the axe heads I have. And it comes out I have two of the same maker or maybe three axe heads! Here is the pic:

The big boy in front is the one I was spared and I sand blast it to have a better look. It has got O.M. & S. and A-5 stamped on it.
The middle one has got "MUSTAD" on one side and M-2 on the other one.
The last one is the "carpenters" axe I brought back from Norway in summer and is under reconstruction.

To me they do look like from the same maker. Mustad, but that almighty Google is scarce of info about this maker. All I get is that the maker now is making fishing hooks. And a lot of old axe heads photos. So maybe someone of you know any more info about the maker and axes?

More pics:

Big carpenters axe 2.2kg in weight

To me this looks like general purpose axe, the head weighs 1.1kg.

And this is typical carpenters axe, weighs 0.9kg.

So anyway, what do you think??




And the GB axe was something like this:
(different maker in the pic)
http://www.oeyo.no/default_english.aspx?pageId=73



Cheers, Andy.

 

[crosslandkelly]

Can't help you with the research, but they are great looking axe heads. I'm sure someone will be able to help you.

Atb
Colin.

 

[bilmo-p5]

I haven't a clue about the axes , but I bet they're keen.

 

[Jomo]

it looks like some of the heads have been in a fire?? or maybe its just the photos,I have some Mustad fishing hooks but had no idea they used to make axes!! if it helps Mustad are a very good quality fishing tackle company

 

[milius2]

It does look that way, but to my surprise it's only rust. I tried them with file and the temper seems to be superb! What I can make of it that it rust this way because of the steel. Can it be Sandvik? That would be awesome. About MUSTAD, I found out that it's a huge international company that makes fishing hooks and a range of hoofcare products including forging tools like anvils hammers and so on. I found a part of them in Sweden Mustadfors Bruk AB that is one of their forging companies and wrote them a letter. Lets see what comes up

 

[Tor helge]

Mustad (todays largest manufacturers of fish hooks) did make axes earlier. Together with ovens,nails/screws, margerine!!.......etc.
The company was established in 1832 in Gjøvik, Norway. They had factories all over Europe before WWII, but nowadays all production is moved to the far east.
The axes looks old and are most likely made at their factory in Gjøvik.

 

[tamoko]

Hans Mustad (1837 – 1918) was a Norwegian businessperson. He was instrumental in shaping the company O. Mustad & Søn.

He was born in Vardal as the son of Ole Hovelsen Mustad.[1] He was a brother of Kristian Mauritz Mustad and uncle of Sigbjørn Mustad;[2] both were jurists and politicians. Ole Hovelsen Mustad was a politician and businessperson who ran the company O. Mustad, inherited from Hans Mustad's grandfather Hans Schikkelstad in 1843.[3] Hans Mustad married Marie Heyerdahl in 1865.[4] She was a granddaughter of Hieronymus Heyerdahl,[5]

Hans Mustad started his working career in 1857, when hired in his father's company.[1] They specialized in production of steel wire and nails, and also ran a foundry and a sawmill.[6] In 1874 Hans Mustad became co-owner, and the company name was changed to O. Mustad & Søn, reflecting the new ownership structure. Under the involvement of Hans Mustad, the production was diversified. First, new products such as horse shoes, axe heads and fish hooks were introduced. In addition, the company expanded to other cities. In 1875 the company bought property at Lilleaker in Kristiania, adjacent to the Lysaker river. With a nearby waterfall at Fåbrofossen, this location had a history of industry stretching back to the nail works owned by poet Christian Braunmann Tullin, which existed from 1749 to 1830. From 1874 the lot was vacant, due to the explosion and subsequent move of the local nitroglycerine factory. In 1876 the production of nails and some other iron- and steelware was moved from Vardal to Lilleaker.[7] In 1886 a factory was established in Finland.[6] In 1889 the foundry was moved to Lilleaker, and the same year a margarine factory was established, entering a new branch of business.[7] In addition, the factory at Vardal started production of fishing flies.[6]

In the meantime, Ole Hovelsen Mustad had died (1884), leaving Hans Mustad as the single owner. His five sons became co-owners in 1905. These were Ole Mustad, Jr. (1870–1954), Hans Clarin Hovind Mustad (1871–1948), Halfdan Magnus Mustad (1874–1967), Wilhelm Martin Christie Mustad (1877–1961) and Nicolai Christian Mustad (1878–1970).[2] They subsequently inherited the company upon Hans Mustad's death in 1918.[3] By that time, O. Mustad & Søn was the largest industrial company in Norway, with 2,000 domestic employees as well as several factories abroad. The company eventually became the world's largest producer of fish hooks.[3] Despite the ownership change, the name O. Mustad & Søn was kept. However, not long after its 1970 conversion to a limited company, it was split into different branches. 1977 saw the split into Mustad Industrier AS and Mustad International Group BV, whereas the former was split into Mustad AS, Mustad Industrier AS and Mustad Eiendom AS in 1997.[7]

This is very typical Norwegian axe shape "Bila øks".

http://www.leif2.com/search.php?advanced=1&type=Tools&subtype=Axes

http://bushcraftru.com/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=422