Hults Bruk Spika All-Function Axe Overview

Sooner or later after college 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 means down, I eliminated the limbs after which the trunk in 18-inch sections. By the point I used to be achieved, I had two neat piles of logs and branches, and a stump low sufficient for the lawnmower to roll over it with out problem.

I couldn’t have taken down that tree as simply or proficiently with an axe, as I might have misplaced my steadiness 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:

1. Hatchets, being smaller and lighter, are extra transportable and versatile than axes.
2. All the things it’s essential find out about a hatchet, you’ll be taught within the first couple of swings.

Just lately, Hults Bruk despatched me its new Spika All-Function Axe to check out. Regardless that the title 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 unbelievable steadiness. From the primary swing, I knew that I used to be going to finish up on a wide range of adventures with it, all of which might be aided by a sequence of equipment made to maintain this chopping device up and working for years to return.

In brief: 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 basic look and a line of equipment that may hold it an efficient and versatile device to your wood-processing wants for years to return. It’s not for large felling work, so in the event you want a real axe, look elsewhere.

Searching for your good hatchet? Take a look at GearJunkie’s information to the Greatest Tenting Hatchets.

Hults Bruk Spika All-Function Axe Overview

Options and Equipment

With an general size of 17.5 inches and a 1.5-pound hand-forged head, this axe is light-weight, transportable, and environment friendly. Whether or not it’s dry wooden or moist and cheesy wooden, the Spika slides by way of it with ease and precision. That is partly because of the head weight and the way it balances towards the size and form of its hickory deal with.

However a variety of the magic additionally resides within the form of the top itself. Not solely does it have thicker cheeks for splitting, however the notch within the backside of the top permits you to choke up on the deal with to work extra exactly and in tighter areas. It will let you limb a tree simpler, in addition to carve and slice.

In designing the Spika, Hults Bruk stated 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 permits you to 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 discipline 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 variety sufficient to ship one among every together with the Spika and so they not solely accomplished the package, but additionally the expertise.

Be aware 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 known as Hultafors that makes a wide range of instruments and out of doors gizmos.

A number of the equipment are on its web site, however not the Hults Bruk web site. I’ve additionally discovered that by Googling the hatchet title and accent title (“Spika + Overstrike + Guard”) will lead you to a couple on-line retailers the place you should purchase all the things in a single place.

First Impressions

Presently, I’ve no fewer than seven hatchets and at the least two axes. It’s one of many perks of the job, however they’re all used repeatedly, and every has a singular function I really like about them.

With the Spika, I instantly liked the distinctive form of the top. 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 come in useful with planing and shaping as nicely.

This degree 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 chance 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 objective line. It’s apparent Hults is attempting to enchantment to its customers by making the Spika simpler to hold and keep, in addition to prolonging its life.

Within the Subject

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 an excellent, moist one, the form of snow that makes nice snowballs.

I headed out to a neighborhood forest the place a household of beavers has been busy dropping random timber throughout the paths. Once I arrived, I should 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 by way of it. Every chop took out a smooth-sided chunk of the contemporary tree. I used to be stunned as a result of the bit appeared a little bit uninteresting, however there was no glancing. However I had zero points getting by way of the trunk and branches.

This leads me to the third truth I’ve all the time stated about hatchets and axes: The bit doesn’t must be razor-sharp to be efficient.

The sling certainly made issues means simpler, retaining my palms free. Every of the brass clasps on the sling swivel, so there’s no flawed method 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 inform you the Spika will likely be in that information subsequent 12 months.

You’ll be able to inform loads a couple of hatchet inside the first couple of swings; after the Spika cleanly eliminated greater than 1 / 4 of the fabric I needed to get by way of within the first two swings, I knew this axe was going to be an efficient, versatile device.

My solely qualm is that the entire head hasn’t been tempered, so utilizing the butt like a hammer is probably not within the playing cards. I believe it’ll be effective with wooden, plastic, or nylon — so, pegs, pins, and wedges — however with steel, it may deform the attention and trigger the top to return 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 choosing up at the least the sling for it, will take pleasure in how nicely 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 couple of hickory deal with and solid metal head in a compact bundle that fills my sails. The Spika can have a spot in my hand, or slung on my again, for years to return.