At some point after faculty once I was 14, I took my grandfather’s hatchet and ladder, and meticulously chopped and bucked a 20-foot-tall pine tree in our yard. Ranging from the highest and transferring my manner down, I eliminated the limbs after which the trunk in 18-inch sections. By the point I used to be completed, I had two neat piles of logs and branches, and a stump low sufficient for the lawnmower to roll over it with out challenge.
I couldn’t have taken down that tree as simply or proficiently with an axe, as I might have misplaced my stability on the ladder. The shorter deal with of the hatchet and its lighter head allowed me to work utilizing exact chops versus huge swings. Ever since then, I’ve most popular a hatchet to an axe, as they’ve confirmed to be extra adaptable to the issues I would like them for.
That afternoon taught me two issues:
- Hatchets, being smaller and lighter, are extra moveable and versatile than axes.
- Every little thing you should learn about a hatchet, you’ll be taught within the first couple of swings.
Not too long ago, Hults Bruk despatched me its new Spika All-Function Axe to check out. Though the identify would point out in any other case, the 17.5-inch deal with on the Spika confirms that it’s certainly a hatchet.
It’s additionally a really proficient one which has unimaginable stability. From the primary swing, I knew that I used to be going to finish up on quite a lot of adventures with it, all of which might be aided by a sequence of equipment made to maintain this chopping instrument up and working for years to come back.
Briefly: With the Spika All-Function axe, Hults Bruk carries on its custom of providing solely heritage-inspired merchandise which have been field-tested over time. The Spika blends energy and portability with a traditional look and a line of equipment that can hold it an efficient and versatile instrument on your wood-processing wants for years to come back. It’s not for enormous felling work, so if you happen to want a real axe, look elsewhere.
Searching for your excellent hatchet? Try GearJunkie’s information to the Finest Tenting Hatchets.
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Hults Bruk’s heritage and craftsmanship -
Distinctive and efficient head form -
Steadiness -
Leather-based carry sling
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It may be an journey discovering the equipment talked about inside
Hults Bruk Spika All-Function Axe Evaluate
Options and Equipment
With an general size of 17.5 inches and a 1.5-pound hand-forged head, this axe is light-weight, moveable, and environment friendly. Whether or not it’s dry wooden or moist and cheesy wooden, the Spika slides via it with ease and precision. That is partly as a result of head weight and the way it balances towards the size and form of its hickory deal with.
However numerous the magic additionally resides within the form of the pinnacle itself. Not solely does it have thicker cheeks for splitting, however the notch within the backside of the pinnacle means that you can choke up on the deal with to work extra exactly and in tighter areas. This can mean you can limb a tree simpler, in addition to carve and slice.
In designing the Spika, Hults Bruk mentioned it trimmed half a foot off its Akka axe deal with. The tip result’s a extra versatile, all-purpose forest hatchet, made simpler to hold with the sling that ties into the sheath and deal with of the hatchet. This sling means that you can strap the Spika to your again leaving your palms free to hold extra wooden again to your camp or cabin.
Hults additionally launched an overstrike guard, leather-based belt, axe holster, spare deal with, and grinding stone. All of those work so as to add choices for carriage, safety, and subject upkeep.
Although a few of these equipment, just like the leather-based belt, axe holster, and grinding stone, are common, that is the primary time I can bear in mind an organization launching a line of equipment together with a brand new axe or hatchet.
Hults Bruk was form sufficient to ship one among every together with the Spika they usually not solely accomplished the equipment, but additionally the expertise.
Observe on Availability
Getting your palms on the equipment for the Spika might find yourself being an journey all by itself. Hults Bruk is owned by an organization referred to as Hultafors that makes quite a lot of instruments and outside gizmos.
A few of the equipment are on its web site, however not the Hults Bruk web site. I’ve additionally discovered that by Googling the hatchet identify and accent identify (“Spika + Overstrike + Guard”) will lead you to a couple on-line retailers the place you should purchase every part in a single place.
First Impressions
Presently, I’ve no fewer than seven hatchets and at the very least two axes. It’s one of many perks of the job, however they’re all used usually, and every has a singular function I like about them.
With the Spika, I instantly cherished the distinctive form of the pinnacle. By sloping down on the underside, you don’t simply get a bigger bit, you additionally get a spot to tuck your hand. This lets you make quick chops for limbing and carving and can turn out to be useful with planing and shaping as properly.
This stage of precision can actually amplify your general effectiveness working with moist and/or frozen wooden. We’ve bought snow within the forecast on the finish of the week, and I plan on heading out with the Spika as soon as it begins falling.
Past that, I actually just like the accent assortment, the sling particularly. To have a possibility to throw the hatchet over your shoulder and be hands-free means I can carry extra wooden again to the cabin.
And the addition of a belt holster and belt actually took the preliminary presentation over the aim line. It’s apparent Hults is attempting to attraction to its customers by making the Spika simpler to hold and keep, in addition to prolonging its life.
Within the Area
I actually find it irresistible when a plan comes collectively. As promised, we bought our first snowfall of the 12 months final week, and it was a great, moist one, the type of snow that makes nice snowballs.
I headed out to an area forest the place a household of beavers has been busy dropping random bushes throughout the paths. Once I arrived, I will need to have simply missed them as there was a contemporary yellow birch ready for me to course of.
The tree itself was not more than 4 inches in diameter, and it took solely eight swings to get via it. Every chop took out a smooth-sided chunk of the contemporary tree. I used to be shocked as a result of the bit appeared somewhat boring, however there was no glancing. However I had zero points getting via the trunk and branches.
This leads me to the third truth I’ve at all times mentioned about hatchets and axes: The bit doesn’t should be razor-sharp to be efficient.
The sling certainly made issues manner simpler, maintaining my palms free. Every of the brass clasps on the sling swivel, so there’s no improper solution to throw it over your shoulder. Plus, having the hatchet on my again additionally makes assembly somebody on path much less creepy.
Total Impressions
Having simply wrapped up GearJunkie’s yearly Hatchet Information, I used to be within the mindset to check out the Spika when it arrived. I can let you know the Spika might be in that information subsequent 12 months.
You possibly can inform rather a lot a few hatchet inside the first couple of swings; after the Spika cleanly eliminated greater than 1 / 4 of the fabric I needed to get via within the first two swings, I knew this axe was going to be an efficient, versatile instrument.
My solely qualm is that the entire head hasn’t been tempered, so utilizing the butt like a hammer might not be within the playing cards. I believe it’ll be high quality with wooden, plastic, or nylon — so, pegs, pins, and wedges — however with metallic, it might deform the attention and trigger the pinnacle to come back off the deal with.
Is that this a deal breaker? No. I believe anybody who will get their palms on the Spika, in addition to considers selecting up at the very least the sling for it, will take pleasure in how properly it performs and carries.
A part of the pleasure of utilizing a hatchet is the expertise you get out of it. However, the opposite half is the heritage and craftsmanship. There’s simply one thing a few hickory deal with and solid metal head in a compact bundle that fills my sails. The Spika may have a spot in my hand, or slung on my again, for years to come back.
