Axes and Hatchets

Reviewed by Bentbrook

A small, hand-forged hatchet compact enough to pack and capable enough to make efficient work of camp chores. While the Almike has a beautiful, classic design that will please those who yearn for a satisfaction that transcends mere function, the Almike is plenty capable, too. If you are a backpacker, paddler, hunter, or bushcrafter considering purchasing a premium axe, the Almike is worthy of your consideration.

Overview The Hults Bruk Almike is a small, readily carried hatchet that is intended to handle—according to the Hults Bruk catalog—light chores such as “making kindling, doing light clearing and for any number of backcountry jobs.” It is part of a hand-forged premium axe line from the Hults Bruk Company, a company whose origins date back to 1697 in Sweden. As such, it might also be considered by some to be a piece of functional art, a handcrafted tool that comes from a forge established more than 300 years ago near Norrköping, Sweden.

Read more: Hults Bruk Almike review (1)

Featured review by BrianD

Handy trail companion. Bombproof craftsmanship and ergonomically excellent!

                  This handy hatchet has been used on a multitude of adventures and it has really performed flawlessly. Knowing from the outset that it is a hatchet, NOT an axe, is beneficial in helping keep expectations realistic. If you are looking to fell some trees or split some large logs, don’t expect the Jonaker to be your tool. However, if you need an alternative tool to help split some smaller pieces, make feather sticks, baton smaller logs, and process firewood, this 1.5 pound-piece of compact forged Swedish magic is the hickory handled magic wand you didn’t know you needed! The handle itself is designed to fit comfortably in your hand and immediately inspires confidence to use this tool in a variety of ways.

Read more: Hults Bruk Jonaker reviews (2)

Featured review by James Dean

Well-built little hatchet.

            OK, so first off I must say that this review is from Australia, so pricing and types of wood encountered are very different to a USA-based review. Firstly, as it is fully imported from the US the little Estwing here sells for just over AUD$100.   The second thing to bear in mind is a thing called the janka hardness scale, an international scale that determines the hardness of any timber globally.  Interestingly the number one spot is held by a native Australian timber.

Read more: Estwing Leather Sportsman's Axe reviews (3)

Featured review by Oliver Brotherton

An excellent general purpose hatchet capable of felling a small tree.

I thought long and hard about which axe to purchase but eventually settled on the Wildlife Hatchet, by Gransfors Bruk. I wanted an axe large enough to handle a range of jobs reasonably well but small enough to fit easily in my Savotta Saddle Sack. Weight was also a consideration, but as far as I can tell the axe heads do not vary as much as the length of the handles do. So far, I have been really impressed with it. Not all axes are the same—even if they look the same. Gransfors axes are hand forged in Sweden and each axe head bears the initials of its forger who journeys with the axe through the whole production process.

Read more: Gransfors Bruk Wildlife Hatchet reviews (2)

Featured review by ObiJohnKenobe

A decent light axe for minor felling, chopping, and splitting...but doesn't compare to a good HB or GB.

I bought one of these a few years ago, and have used it mostly around the house. I've found it's best for light limbing and felling, but the design of the blade is such that it really is a chopper, not a splitter. I'm surprised at how much better a smaller, lighter Granfors Bruk axe is at both felling and splitting.  Buy it if you want a fairly inexpensive and durable decent axe for occasional use around the house, or as a vehicle- or ATV-based camping axe. IMO you'll be better served to buy something else if you want a really good axe...from the less expensive Marble Camp Axe to the Granfors Bruk Small Forest or Scandinavian axes to the Hults Bruk Akka or Kisa axes.

Read more: Estwing Camper's Axe reviews (3)

Featured review by Chuck

The Gransfors Bruk Small Forest Axe is a great addition to my light car camp and canoe camp kits.

I had admired the Bruk axes for some time and always thought I would like to have one. They have a very good reputation and are a thing of beauty to look at. I finally settled on the Small Forest Axe as my choice for style and size. It fits between other axes I already own, a 1.5lb hand axe and a 2.75lb "boys axe". I was looking for an axe I could process arm sized wood with as well as for roughing out shapes for carving spoons and such. It has done exactly what I wanted and hoped it would do.

Read more: Gransfors Bruk Small Forest Axe reviews (4)

Reviewed by Tim Wetherald

I have had this axe for going on three years now and it hasn’t let me down! The curve of the handle and the length are perfection! The carpenter style axe head make carving a breeze and this thing chops like none other! Great axe and would recommend to anyone.

Read more: Hults Bruk Akka review (1)

Featured review by Joe

USA made lightweight axe, also called a "boy's axe." Great for when you are on an extended camping trip and more than a hatchet is required for wood procurement. I'd recommend this axe for those who are less concerned with weight but don't want to carry or don't need a full sized axe.

I ordered the axe from Omaha Knife with a couple of options. First, hand picked for appearance and grain alignment. Second, sharpened beyond the factory edge. Through doing these things, I saved myself some time on sharpening and made sure my axe was twice inspected before it came to me. These two options cost an extra $10. Of note, the axe is literally shaving sharp and comes with a standard cover — the cover is very much needed when you're placing this thing in your pack! It's a finely made piece of equipment; no long term reports yet but the construction of the head cover and axe itself appear top notch at first glance.

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Featured review by Brent Mills

Small enough to fit in your pack/on your belt. Perfect for splitting firewood or limbing downed trees.

I bought this a while ago for longer canoe trips. It has since become one of my favorite pieces of kit! CONSTRUCTION:  Gransfors Bruks is known for its attention to detail. This little guy is no exception. The construction of this little hand hatchet shows every bit as much care as my fully sized American Felling Axe. The hickory handle feels smooth and is attached using a traditional wood-wedge instead of epoxy.  The sheath is made from vegetable tanned leather to give you plenty of protection when not using your hatchet.

Read more: Gransfors Bruk Hand Hatchet reviews (2)

Reviewed by Dario DiGiulio

EASE OF USE: This is a very capable axe, and in the hands of someone who is comfortable and confident using it, there is little it cannot do. The blade shape is perfect for a variety of tasks, from chopping to splitting, and it comes with such a razor sharp edge, you can even make feather sticks with it. FEATURES: The 26-inch handle has incredibly consistent grain structure, and in exactly the right direction. The head is not actually held on with a metal pin, as the above picture shows, and is instead perfectly welded in with a chemical bonding agent.

Read more: Wetterlings Scandinavian Forest Axe review (1)