After Chopping Firewood and Kindling With It, I’m Hooked on This Hand-Forged, Swedish Axe

Mass-produced axes often leave something to be desired. The Hults Bruk Spika axe is perfect in almost every way. Crafted by experts blacksmiths, this axe is the one to have on hand for any wood-chopping.
Hults Bruk Spika Axe on log
Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More ›

Rating: 5/5

Whether you’re deep in the woods or stacking firewood by the fireplace, a good axe is essential. I jumped at the chance to test the Hults Bruk Spika, and it exceeded my every expectation. The difference between this hand-forged Swedish axe and the hardware store options I’ve used before is night and day. I used the Spika to chop small logs, split kindling, and carve wood spikes, and it handled each task with razor-sharp precision. 

Built to Last

Hults Bruk Axe

Hults Bruk Spika Axe

Razor Sharp and Ready to Chop Right Out of the Box

The Hults Bruk Spika arrived with a blade so sharp that when I accidentally brushed my thumb against it, I instantly regretted it. This isn’t just factory sharp—it’s field-ready, precision-forged, and ready for use right out of the box. 

I put it to work chopping small logs, splitting kindling, and shaping wood stakes, and it sliced cleanly through everything with minimal effort. If you’ve only ever used a dull, mass-produced axe, the Spika’s razor edge will forever change the way you look at axes. You can order a sharpening stone separately, too. (After I put the Spika through its paces, I tried out the stone, even though the blade’s edge was still ultra sharp.) 

  • Hults Bruk Spika Axe made in Sweden
  • Splitting kindling with Hults Bruk Spika Axe
  • Splitting wood for fire with Hults Bruk Spika Axe
  • Hults Bruk Spika Axe and Accessories
  • Hults Bruk Spika Axe with overstrike guard

Compact and Balanced—Perfect For Field, Trail, or Firewood

The axe features a 1.5-pound head and a 20-inch American hickory handle, making it just the right size for splitting logs at home or heading off-grid. It’s perfectly balanced—light enough to pack, heavy enough to split—and yes, I even threw it for fun and stuck it in a tree. From the hand-forged steel head to the vegetable-tanned leather sheath, every detail is well thought out and expertly crafted.

This is not Paul Bunyan’s chop-a-tree-down axe; instead, it’s a finely crafted tool designed for precision tasks, compact carry, and real-world backcountry use.

Heritage Quality, Hand-Forged in Sweden 

Crafted at the historic Hults Bruk forge in Sweden, the Spika axe is built with the kind of care and precision that modern mass production can’t replicate. The steel head is hand-forged and heat-treated by skilled blacksmiths, a process that gives it exceptional strength and edge retention. 

The company has been forging axes since 1697, and that tradition shows in every detail, from the blackened finish to the quality of the accessories. This is more than just a tool—it’s a piece of Swedish craftsmanship that’s made to be used, admired, and passed down for generations.

More Than a Tool: A Backcountry Companion

At $199, the Hults Bruk Spika isn’t cheap—it’s a backcountry companion built to handle real work in the wild. It’s compact, powerful, and crafted to last a lifetime. After putting it through its paces, I couldn’t find a single flaw. If you need a tool you can rely on—whether you’re deep in the woods or prepping your next campfire—the Spika axe delivers with confidence and control in every swing.

Where to Buy the Hults Bruk Spika Axe

Get the Hults Bruk Spika Axe at:

 
The Best Lawn Care Product Option Weeder

All You Need to Care for Your Lawn & Garden

Keeping your grass green and your plants thriving doesn’t just take a green thumb—it starts with the right tools and supplies.

 
Glenda Taylor Avatar

Glenda Taylor

Staff Writer

Glenda Taylor is a BobVila.com staff writer with a background in the residential remodeling, home building, and home improvement industries. She started writing for BobVila.com in 2016 and covers a range of topics, including construction methods, code compliance, tool use, and the latest news in the housing and real estate industries. 


Learn more about BobVila.com Editorial Standards