The Best Bushcraft Axe you've Never Heard of...The NORLUND Hatchet
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- Опубліковано 28 лип 2024
- My favourite axe and how I came to have one. The Norlund Hatchet is held in high regard by many (Dave Canterbury calls them “the Cadillac of Axes”). Find out why.
Enjoy
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My grand father passed away a year ago he left me his from the 60’s i just keep it in my truck to remember him
My dad bought me a Norlund Voyager hatchet when I was about 12. I think it was probably about $13 in the early 1980's. Still have it. It's pretty beat up, but I love it. I have a second voyager in pretty much mint condition, as well as a mint condition Norlund Tomahawk axe (which isn't really a tomahawk at all, but a 2lb Hudson Bay axe). Great axes. Probably my favorite axes of all time
Just picked one up yesterday head weighs 460g with 10" handle came with original Norlund leather sheath. paid $10.00 CAD. I am restoring it, but could be used as is. Nice shape.
Found my little Norland at an estate sale in horrible condition . Cleaned sharpened and re-hafted and I couldn't be happier. Fantastic little hatchet for camp.
Love my Norlund axes.
Prices are getting insane though. I routinely see them over $150USD on eBay. Fortunately I got mine several years ago before the latest bushcraft craze got started.
Love my Hudson Bay as well. Just secured a Voyageur hatchet also. So, I’m feeling pretty blessed. Keep up the great videos.
WOW! THANKYOU NEAL
Several years I bought a complete camp kitchen at a charity shop. In it was a small ax. After seeing your video I checked yep a Norlund.
30cm long Hudson bay style head. What a delight.
I just used it in the garden to tie up some fig trees.
Any ideas on walking staffs, I want to make one while we there in June 23.
Cheers
I bought mine on clearence back in 1980 never failed me carried it on my trapline for years but there was a small norlund axe in the same store.would jave bought it but I had bought the same size axe the week before.My loss.
Good stuff again nice
A great 'Blast from the Past' .. thanks.
Have never seen, handled or owned one so for those who can, good on them 👍.
I have a little GB Mini-Hatchet. An extravagance for sure .. but then, Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder.
Together with a Terävä Jääkäripuukko 140 in Carbon Steel, a Mora 'Light my Fire, Opinel Folder, Kershaw 'Outlaw Bill Folder, an assortment of SAK's and a Felco Folding Pruning Saw, I have sufficient Firepower for most of that which the Swiss Forests and Urbanizations can throw at me.
That's what my Head tells me .. my Heart .. another story. However, so far, a self-imposed blanket ban on further acquisitions in this field is holding firm .. so far ..
Nice to see something from you again .. Take care ..
Like a mini Hudson bay axe 👍
I did a restoration on an antique toy tractor about 35 years ago as a gift for a friend who’d asked if I could do it. We never discussed any price for the work but to show his appreciation, he gave me some engine parts, an old knife that needed restoration and a very small hatchet. No mask was with it and the handle was extremely dried out and loose on the head. It had minor rust but appeared in overall good condition. I stuck it in a shop drawer and figured I’d get around to it someday. It was in that drawer until I saw a UA-cam video two years ago and I recognized the hatchet was identical to mine. I went and looked till I found it. Carefully cleaned it and sure enough it’s a Norlund. NEVER BEEN SHARPENED!!! What? I’m so glad I was careful with my cleaning because it revealed slight bits of original colors still on the head and still some of what appears to be lacquer on the haft! It’s only 12” overall and I’ve looked for a new handle but I can only find them at 14” or longer and I’ve never tried to re-haft an axe or hatchet and really didn’t want to alter an UNMOLESTED original. I’m dumbfounded that the edge is absolutely original and never been touched by a stone or file. The video I’d seen informed me of the desirability and value for Norlund hatchets and this is the “Scout” model. I’m too old to look forward to actually enjoying really using it and I’m not techie enough to do any online chat stuff, etc. I’d just watched your video on jungle knots and looked at your channel and BOOM, Norlund was mentioned and now here I am. If anyone has the time to offer me advice on how to see that it might find a good home, without me being screwed over, I’d appreciate the help. I have ZERO interest in sending it off for “evaluation” or appraisal and hope to get the same one returned. I can take a bunch of pictures and send them and go from there.
Neither my friend or I had any clue about what the little hatchet was. Just a small hatchet but I loved it’s size, weight and the little swell at the end of the handle. I got old while it sat forgotten in a drawer and it deserves a home with an avid outdoorsman. If anyone reads this, reply back. I didn’t know Dave Canterbury is a fan of these till this video. Maybe I can message him somehow where he’ll get it and get his opinion too. I’m enjoying your channel.
Thank you Jason. I'm glad you liked the video and that you enjoy the channel. I hope the little Norlunds life in the outdoors is long and useful. Atb
Neil
Hang a 14” handle on it. Gives it a nice feel and look
Nice video👍
As expected, Mors is right again. This "axe" looks very much like the G.B. Wildlife hatchet. I purchased the Small Forest axe a few years ago (fortunately before the price went nuts) to see what all the fuss was about. It is without question a very good axe. But to me, it's more of a hatchet on steroids. If I were to do it all over, I would probably get the Wildlife Hatcher instead. It does all the things the SF Axe does really well and is even more compact. His axe recommendation for wilderness travel is also spot on. An axe with a 2 - 2.5 lb head and a handle length of around 28 inches.
Yup I took your advice 2 or 3 years ago and luckily picked one up reasonably and crafted a handle. It’s everything you said it would be with nice weight and balance generating good power too. It splits all my log burner kindling every winter as well as completing plenty of woodland camping tasks....it’s decent for carving too. Of the modern hatchets, maybe the Wetterlings is a reasonable match in terms of the wedge shape on the blade. Wouldn’t swap it though...👍🍻
It was you I was talking about Stu. The GB Outdoor axe looks similar, but I have not handled one, so no idea how it performs
Just got mine and it’s in great shape. Rehung a new handle that gives it a more tomahawk look. Now looking for a sheath
Huh. Cool. I have that exact axe and a larger Norlund as well, sitting in my garden shed right now. I think I traded a folding knife for mine (it was a nice knife though....). Who knew? I like the larger one for winter time around here. My go-to favourite hatchets (except in the winter) is either an official Boy Scouts of Canada hatchet with a birch bark sheath on an old shortened axe handle, or a Fiskars x7 (or whatever that little fella is called).
The Norlunds are nice axes. 👍🏻🇨🇦
Good video.
I have a Norlund 600 that I cherish.
A guy I know lived in Alaska and he only owned norlund axes. He had one collins in the same pattern and I had to about beg him to sell it but it was worth every penny.
Tons on EBay right now. But prices are a bit high. One actually still in factory package, starting price is 150. Nice video
Well i read(or he said it) from Mors that the best bushcraft axe he's recomending is the Swedish army 1.2kg axe. On the way one for me😉
That's an excellent axe, I did two video's o it a few months ago.
@@RobEvansWoodsman thanks! I saw them😎🏔🔥
I got husqvarna does the job
They sometimes pop up, and are great steel
Norlund started in 1963 with stamping original norlund ending in 1968 after 1968 it was just Norlund till 1975 then sold out to another disturber though the. 80s I do have a 1963 first year I must say as a collector and bushcrafter it the top of the line also I use my collans hatchets they work very well also
Nice axe. A quick search on eBay does show some for sale in the US but will cost more than £200 once shipping and taxes are brought into the mix. I wonder whether the Gransfors Small Hatchet is a close comparator? Looks to be a similar size head but a shorter handle (26cm). This is what I use most of the time in the woods and it punches well above its weight.
Marttiini do a hiking axe that is similiar in form and is very light in weight .
We call that pattern a "Hudson bay"
Cold Steel makes a Hudson bay pattern axr, both full sized and hatchet.... being made currently.
Maybe 6 years back I got word that husqvarna contracted with Gransfors Bruk to help them produce a large run of small forest axe's and that they were currently being sold online on Amazon. I picked one up for something like $50 USD I think. I've compared them to newer and older husqvarna small forest axe's and there's a difference in quality for sure. It's stamped with a husqvarna emblem and the words Hand Forged in Sweden, but I'm pretty sure it was made by Gransfors smiths. Does anyone have any info about this?
Where can I find a handle like that?
Good looking hatchet , thanks for sharing , God bless !
What are the specs on the head? Size and weight?
In fact there are quite a few on eBay, all from America, so big shipping charge, all starting at £130/140. There are a few that have “Genuine Norlund” on the side, assuming they’re the later poorer quality version?
Where did you find a replacement handle? I have a Norlund Voyager that I bought in the 80s, but cannot find a handle to fit it. The original handle loosens easily.
You're lucky, the only time my brother gave me an axe was when he wanted me to put a new haft on it for him!
How would you say the Norlund compares to a GB Wildlife hatchet?
Norland is great but doesn't compare to GB. GB forging is a bit better in my opinion...
Dimensions of handle?
Where can I get one?
That is where the challenge begins!
I found a Norland Camp axe at an auction I had to go fifty bucks to get it
for just over $12.00 US those of us in the USA can buy a reasonable facsimile of your Norland
They sell for between 40and 160 pounds.
It’s. Only. A. Hatchet. I. Use. A. Stanley. Hatchet. Cost. £5. From. A. Car boot. Sale. It. Cuts. Wood
You like a full stop!
Surprised that the franchise hasn't been picked and replicated by some Chinese manufacturer ??
I'm sure they are good if Mors liked the Norlund. Years ago I read in one of those reprints of the 1920's camping and woodcraft books that the Hudson Bak axe style was worthless if you were to have a base camp in the far north. So heading the questionable advice, when I bough my first axe in 1972 I didn't buy the LLBean Hudson Bay Axe and bought another light LL Bean camp axe, a Collin's axe with a "shorter" handle and no beard. It's served me well, but the handle is too thin and can be taxing on the hands. It's still a good light axe to carry along with a chainsaw, but when serious chopping is needed a heavier axe is much better. Enjoy that axe.
450 - 500 grams ... 15.87328 OZ. - 17.63698 OZ. from just shy of 1 pound to just over 1 pound I don't think that Norlund meets that
If someone has £180 to spare, there’s one on Etsy right now, £140 odd plus a whopping £40 shipping from US to UK. I think I’ll pass on that!🤬🙄🤣😂. Too much for the axe anyway, but why is American shipping so damned expensive. It would be nearly half the price going the other way.
Sorry they started in 1965