The New Hults Bruk Axes Are Here: Which One Is Right for You?

They're Here

A few weeks ago we shared that the new Hults Bruk axe lineup was coming to Canada. Well, the boxes have landed here in Langley, and it has been a real treat to unpack them.

There's something special about lifting a freshly forged axe out of its box for the first time. The forge-black finish, the smell of linseed oil on the hickory, the weight settling into your hand. These are tools made to be used hard and handed down.

With more than a dozen models in the Hults Bruk collection, the most common question we hear is a simple one: which one should I get? So we put together this guide. We've sorted every axe by the job it does best, so you can find the right one for your woodpile, your campsite or the person on your gift list.

Why Hults Bruk Axes Are Worth It

Hults Bruk has been forging axes in Kvillinge parish, Sweden, since 1697. That is more than 300 years of smiths at the same forge, and you can feel that history in every axe.

Here's what goes into each one:

• Hand-forged Swedish steel. Each head is forged one at a time using the open-die method, then hardened and tempered to about 54 to 56 HRC. That means a keen edge that holds up and sharpens well for years.
• Hand-ground edges. Every edge is ground and polished by hand before it leaves the forge.
• American hickory handles. Strong, springy and treated with linseed oil.
• The Hults Bruk stamp. Each head carries the forge's traditional mark.
• Greener steel. The steel is produced CO₂-neutral and is fully recyclable.

Every axe is named after a place, a person or a piece of the forge's history. The Ekelund is named for Gunnar Ekelund, who brought modern axe production to Hults Bruk in the 1870s. The Hultån is named for the stream that once powered the forge's waterwheels. It's a small detail, but it says a lot about how much pride goes into these tools.

If you're curious how they stack up against other Swedish makers, our Gränsfors vs Hultafors comparison is a good read. And for why a premium axe pays for itself over time, see The Real Difference Between Cheap Axes and Premium Swedish Steel.

Quick Picker: Which Hults Bruk Axe Fits Your Job?

Short on time? Start here. Prices are in Canadian dollars.

Axe	Best for	Head weight	Handle	Price
Ågelsjön Mini Hatchet	Hiking, the lightest pack	1 lb	9.4"	$199
Hultån Hatchet	Camp and hiking	1.1 lb	15"	$209
Pjältån Hatchet	Kindling, cabin chores	1.3 lb	15"	$149
Sätra Hatchet	Camp, garden, light chopping	1.3 lb	17"	$159
Åby Forest Axe	All-rounder, bushcraft, carving	1.5 lb	24"	$269
Getå Forest Axe	Canoe, camp or truck axe	2 lb	20"	$169
Ekelund Small Felling Axe	Felling and limbing on the move	2 lb	20"	$225
Jakobsdal Splitting Axe	Splitting small to medium rounds	2 lb	20"	$249
Rodga Forest Axe	Long days in the woods	2 lb	26"	$179
Qvarfot Felling Axe	Small-scale forestry	2 lb	26"	$235
Bråbo Felling Axe	Medium trees, heavier work	2.6 lb	26"	$189
Jursla Felling Axe	Large trees, experienced users	3.3 lb	32"	$269
Kvillinge Splitting Axe	Splitting medium to large rounds	4.2 lb	32"	$299
Arvika 5 Star Racing Axe	Timbersports, serious chopping	4.5 lb	32"	$329

Hults Bruk Hatchets for Camp and Trail

A good hatchet is the tool you'll reach for most. It splits kindling, trims branches and handles a hundred small jobs around camp. Hults Bruk makes four, and each has its own personality.

Ågelsjön Mini Hatchet: The smallest of the family, with a 1 lb head on a 9.4" handle. It's named after the lake that once fed the forge's waterwheels. Pick this one if every ounce in your pack matters.

Hultån Hatchet: A classic hiking and camp hatchet. The 1.1 lb head and 15" handle make it light, balanced and easy to carry. If you're not sure which hatchet to get, start here.

Pjältån Hatchet: The smallest of the new Yankee-pattern axes, with a 1.3 lb head on a 15" handle. It's comfortable in one hand and made for kindling, light carving and cabin chores. At $149, it's also the friendliest price in the lineup.

Sätra Hatchet: The same 1.3 lb head as the Pjältån, on a longer 17" handle. That extra reach gives you more chopping power while still feeling like a hatchet. A great pick for the campsite, the garden and the woodpile.

Want to see how these compare with other brands? Our Best Hatchet in Canada (2026) guide covers our honest picks from across the shop.

Hults Bruk Forest Axes: The All-Rounders

A forest axe sits between a hatchet and a full felling axe. It's long enough for two hands and real chopping, yet light enough to carry all day. If you only own one axe, it's often a forest axe.

Åby Forest Axe: Our pick for the most versatile axe in the lineup. The 1.5 lb hybrid head has a straighter edge and a finger notch under the head, so you can choke up for fine work like carving or feathering kindling. Then slide your hands down the 24" handle for real chopping power. It's built for shelter building, firewood and bushcraft.

Getå Forest Axe: A 2 lb Yankee-pattern head on a 20" handle. It gives you true two-handed chopping power in a size that tucks behind a truck seat or into a canoe pack. At $169, it's a lot of axe for the money.

Rodga Forest Axe: The same 2 lb head on a longer 26" handle. That extra length adds reach and leverage, and puts you in a more comfortable working position for long days of limbing and firewood. The name comes from Rodga, a sister works run by the same owners as Hults Bruk in the forge's early days.

Not sure about weight? Our guide on choosing the right axe weight for your strength walks through it.

Hults Bruk Felling Axes

Felling axes are made for dropping trees and limbing. A longer handle and heavier head deliver more force, but they also ask more of your technique. Here's how the four in stock compare, from lightest to heaviest.

Ekelund Small Felling Axe: A 2 lb head on a short 20" handle. It's easy to carry through the bush and gives you solid power with good control. Great for limbing, trail clearing and anywhere you need to move around.

Qvarfot Felling Axe: A 2 lb head on a 26" handle, made for small-scale forestry. The longer handle adds force, and it also handles splitting and bucking well. It's named after the Qvarfot family, who worked as smiths at Hults Bruk for generations.

Bråbo Felling Axe: The heaviest of the Yankee-pattern axes, with a 2.6 lb head on a 26" handle. It bites deep into medium-sized trees without the length of a full-size felling axe. A strong choice for firewood processing and heavier forest work.

Jursla Felling Axe: The big one. A 3.3 lb head on a 32" handle delivers serious force on large trees, and it splits well too. It needs two hands, experience and good technique.

And for the competitors and big-wood choppers, there's the Arvika 5 Star Racing Axe. At 4.5 lb on a 32" handle, it's the largest axe Hults Bruk makes. It comes with a polished convex edge, ready for you to profile to your liking. You can read more in our Arvika 5 Star story.

Hults Bruk Splitting Axes

With the stormy El Niño winter ahead, a good splitting axe earns its keep. Splitting axes have a wedge-shaped head that pushes the wood apart instead of slicing into it. Hults Bruk makes two, one for each end of the woodpile.

Jakobsdal Splitting Axe: A compact splitter with a 2 lb head on a 20" handle. It's made for small to medium rounds and for re-splitting into kindling. It's easy to carry to camp too, so you're not stuck with a hatchet when the wood is thick.

Kvillinge Splitting Axe: The serious woodpile tool. A 4.2 lb wedge-shaped head on a 32" curved hickory handle drives deep into medium and large rounds. The curved edge reduces bounce and helps turn the log without sticking. It comes with a premium leather sheath and a storage box. It's named after Kvillinge parish, the home of Hults Bruk.

If you're deciding between a splitting axe and a maul, our Splitting Axe vs Splitting Maul guide will help you choose. And for the wood itself, see The Best Firewood to Burn Across Canada.

Hults Bruk Gift Ideas for Christmas

A hand-forged axe is one of those rare gifts that gets used for decades. Here are our picks by budget:

• Under $160: the Pjältån Hatchet ($149) or the Sätra Hatchet ($159). Perfect for the camper, cabin owner or new outdoorsperson.
• $160 to $230: the Getå Forest Axe ($169) for the canoe tripper, or the Hultån Hatchet ($209) for the hiker.
• The one they'll keep forever: the Åby Forest Axe ($269) for the bushcrafter, or the Kvillinge Splitting Axe ($299) for whoever keeps the woodstove going.
• Stocking stuffers: the Premium Overstrike Guard ($39.99) protects the handle just below the head from missed swings. The Hults Bruk Premium Leather Belt ($80) matches their leather sheaths.

For more ideas across every brand we carry, see our 2026 Axeman Holiday Gift Guide.

Ordering for Christmas? Please order by Dec 18th for delivery before December 25. Each axe ships from our shop in Langley, BC.

Don't just take our word for it. Our customers have given us 4.88 out of 5 across more than 2,200 reviews. Here's what one wrote about a Hults Bruk-made splitting axe from Hultafors:

"Great weight, amazing craftsmanship, and a perfect blade geometry... It never binds, even in stringy/knotty wood." Rob G., Hult Splitting Axe review

Hults Bruk Axe FAQ

Where can I buy Hults Bruk axes in Canada? Right here at Axeman.ca. We're a family-owned, first responder-owned shop in Langley, BC, and we ship Hults Bruk axes across Canada.

Are Hults Bruk and Hultafors axes the same? They come from the same forge. For years, many Hults Bruk axes were sold in Canada under the Hultafors name, which is why you'll see familiar names like Qvarfot and Ågelsjön in both. You can still browse our Hultafors axes too.

What's the best Hults Bruk axe for a beginner? The Hultån Hatchet for camp, or the Åby Forest Axe if you want one axe that does a bit of everything. Both are light, balanced and forgiving.

What's the difference between the new Yankee-pattern axes and the classic models? The Pjältån, Sätra, Getå, Rodga and Bråbo use an updated Yankee-pattern head with a higher grind. That makes the edge more durable and helps the blade release cleanly from the cut. They're finished forge-black.

How hard is Hults Bruk steel? About 54 to 56 HRC on the Rockwell scale. That's hard enough to hold a keen edge and tough enough to resist chipping. Learn more in our Complete Guide to Axe Steel.

How do I care for my Hults Bruk axe? Keep it dry, store it in its sheath, and give the head a light coat of wax or oil before storage. Touch up the edge with a stone as needed. Our guide on how to sharpen an axe covers the rest.

Find Your Hults Bruk Axe

There's no wrong choice in this lineup, only the right one for the work in front of you. Pick a hatchet for the trail, a forest axe for everything in between, a felling axe for the bush, or a splitter for the woodpile.

You can browse every model in our Hults Bruk collection. And if you're still not sure, just reach out. Tell us what you'll be cutting and we'll help you find the right axe. That's what we're here for.

Thank you for supporting a small Canadian shop. We'll see you out in the woods.