Overview
Identifying and dating Hults Bruk axes can be a challenging task. Much of the old manufacturer’s histories have been lost. Companies either threw out print material or had it accidentally destroyed by flooding and fires. Of all the manufacturers that remain Hults Bruk is the most straightforward to date and also the only manufacturer actively trying to preserve their history.
You can find more information on their vintage Axe page, including a few old PDF copies of catalogs. Often, however, you can estimate production dates on your own.
To start I will discuss the logos used and then move on to how to go about estimating the date of production yourself.
Recommended Product: Hults Bruk Kisa
Logos Used
Starting near the beginning of the forge the above four logos where used. The Circle HM being fairly most commonly seen. It was first started in 1884 as a poll stamp and was used until the 1930s. As seen in the excerpt below from their 1899 catalog & again in 1911 the HM logo was used almost exclusively for those years.
Then for a short time between 1900 and 1910, they also began using the Circle H poll stamp. Both for their standard & Agdor lines.
By 1930 the Circle HM logo was still in use along with the current HB logo making its first appearance. Referenced in their 1930 catalog excerpt below. At this time the HB logo was still not commonly used and, from what I can tell, was being used as a poll stamp. Remember placement counts.
Moving into 1958 the Circle H shows up again. As well as the HB logo which continued to grow in use. Both were now being used as bit stamps.
Also around the 1950s they began producing axes for the Swedish military. Along with the HB logo every military model had three crowns stamped on the opposite side.
Eventually, Hults Bruk began to exclusively use their HB logo sometime around the 1970s. These were cold stamped and generally very shallow, which, combined with their placement, made them tend to fade with use. The weight was always stamped on the opposite side as well.
Finally, we get their current logo. These hot stamps where introduced in 1988 and include the weight. They are considerably deeper and hold up better over time.
Then just to make things more complicated they also had numerous private labels that were only stamped “Made in Sweden.” Accompanied by the customers own paper label. Which means you would need a reference to confirm they were indeed made by Hults Bruk.
Putting It All Together
Now that you have the above information you should be able to guess the production date fairly accurately for most axes. However, there are other things that may help. Along with certain things to watch out for. I’ll quickly walk you through my evaluation process just so you can get a feel for it.
Take this hatchet for example. With the Circle H poll stamp, you would probably guess it was made around 1910. But look closer and it’s a recently produced commemorative piece that says 1947.
Or how about this NOS Wira pattern carpenters axe?
If you were to look at the eye you would see the original permabond is still in place. Which started in 1958. Only they were still using the Circle H paper label at that time. As well as an advertisement from 1970 that verifies when “Agdorfix” first came into use and clearly shows the current “HB” paper label. So it’s a pretty good guess it was made somewhere around 1970. Especially since the Wira pattern was discontinued shortly after. Probably around 1980.
Here’s another uncommon one. I’ve only seen one reference to Norwegian style axes in a 1930’s HB catalog. It’s certainly a tough one.
If you look closer at the logo it says “HB Agdor.” Now the Agdor line only ever used the Circle H stamp until 1958. Then by 1970, they switched to the current HB logo and paper label. They also dropped the Agdor stamp.
This gives a pretty small window for production. Likely sometime in the 1960s.
Sometimes it takes a few references to pin down dates. This is a massive Puget sound pattern with a cold stamped HB logo. So we know it was made before 1988.
It’s also a bit stamp so maybe around the 1960s? Only double bits don’t have polls. Also, it would have been competing directly with chainsaws right when they started to take over the industry.
More than likely it was made in the early 30s. I would assume that because of this 1930s advertisement that shows a Puget Sound model. As well as knowing that the HB logo first showed up in 1930. It’s not much to go on but you only ever see smaller double bit felling axes & cruisers later on.
This one is tough to read but it says “Jarah Jack”. Quite a unique axe.
Now I know this axe was from around the 1970s & was made for the Western Australian market because the fellow that owned it was around to see them in the stores.
But suppose you didn’t know that. How would you guess the date?
Well, you can see the permabond at the bottom of the head. So it’s no older than 1958. It also has a handle sticker & “Made in Sweden” stamp identical to later production Agdor models, suggesting at least the 1970s.
Now this one is fairly straightforward. It has the 1884 logo and is a collared axe. Virtually every company stopped producing collared axes by the mid 1920s. With no collared axes showing up in their 1911 catalog.
It’s also a very clean pattern; well developed compared to the almost simple look of very old collared axes.
I would guess this axe was made between 1900 & 1911.
Finally, a Hults Bruk made for Plum. This one came from Australia with Cooper Tools holding the license. It’s the only private label I’ve seen that doesn’t just say “Made in Sweden.”
Right there should be the giveaway. It’s hot stamped with the weights. So it was made after 1988. Probably near the end of the licensing agreement which started in the early 70s.
Hopefully, that got you thinking a little more about how to look at these old Hults Bruk axes & estimate dates. It is all still just an estimate after all but worthwhile none the less. Also, make sure to take advantage of the resources out there. Like the Hults Bruk Vintage Axe page. As well as their online PDF catalogs .
If anyone has questions you can also message me through my blog or my Facebook page. I’ll do my best to date your old axes & provide info. If anyone has any old print material, catalogs or advertisements that they’d like to share that’d be great too. I’m always looking for more information.
I’m trying to identify an HB hatchet head. It has an unusual shape and I can’t find a similar shape in the old catalogues. On one side it has the HB logo in a circle with the word ‘Made in Sweden’ close to the edge face. On the other it is stamped with ‘1.0’ and ‘2 1/2’ (which presumably means two and a half). I’ve weighed the head in both pounds and kilograms and neither relate to the stamped markings.
Any information would be helpful. I have photos but I can’t see any way that I can include. Thanks.