Interesting vid! Those companies sure know how to market their gear, hand forged, bushcraft lifestyle etc. Some of the stuff definitely looks cool. A Paling knife should be sharp, not a froe. Cool that the kids checked in on ya 🤣
On the froe front we don't have many options either. I think Bison makes one. There may be a US options from Lehmans. I know Seven Pines forge makes one. When I have to research these things though its upsetting to me that I find more outsourcing and junk than I find quality products. The people sitting on the boards of these companies just don't care anymore. It's not even in question.
I have a scribe knife from Ukraine that I use for leather cutting. It came very dull, after working it on a stone I got it hair popping sharp. And it holds a good edge, only needing a strop to maintain it. Oddly it’s a dual bevel convex edge. It was cheap & quality is good enough. That’s my 2 cents of input..
Thanks for making the video, I've been seeing those shops and something just felt off about them. One thing about a froe is that your supposed to take the blade off of the handle so it can store in a bag more neatly and for what you do with it it doesn't have to be as secure as an axe
I'm interested to see if this is even heat treated the right way. Is the spine soft? If the entire thing is hardened I'd be worried about it snapping. In my little experience with froes they're either too soft or too hard haha. But they should always be dull.
@@urbanlumberjack 52100 is a horrible steel for a froe, even if heat treated 'right'. This makes zero sense. What the hell are they doing? 52100 is a great steel for blades though, but that's a very different application. Even if you have a soft back the edge will chip on harder or silica/calcium impregnated wood
I've been on etsy looking at cool tools, and I truly just get a bad vibe. Like you said, the rabbit hole. It all looks really cool! But it's still makes my spidey senses tingle. Would you recommend a good froe? I wouldn't mind adding one. Thanks for the video
One thing I've realized is that places like Ukraine and China can make top quality stuff and when they do they look at what the item they're making costs in the US and set their prices to be sightly below that when you add postage costs. Buying from someone in your own country who takes pride in his workmanship and reputation is worth the extra cost especially when you get a dodgy item.
Only edged tools coming out of Ukraine that I know are legit and quality are BPS knives and tools. I can say they're legit because i own them. I think there's a few axe manufacters in Ukraine that make the Russian style axes I've really wanted to get my hands on because I really like those Russian style trappers axes but no where in the states can they be found.
I don’t trust those Ukraine products! Seems like they have to build everything nothing is in stock! Plus their prices are high! When I needed a Froe I went with Ray Iles out of England!! Incredible build quality & price was fantastic! Ground correctly & heat treated to perfection!
I'd like to take this opportunity to remind everyone about blade safety. Assume all blades are sharp. Never put anything in front of the blade that you don't intend to cut. And know your backstop when cutting.
@@urbanlumberjack I placed 2 orders in May 2023 for mini hatchets. Both orders were processed quickly and I was happy with the quality of the hatchet's and the leather masks. The steel has held up fine although they haven't seen hard use as they are very small tools. Perhaps I got lucky and that was about 18 months ago.
I completely agree, I ordered an axe from one of those Ukrainian Etsy vendors and it came insanely sharp and after just limbing a few trees it was deforming the edge, I'll just buy an antique next time.
Do you recall which vendor? Thin axes are such a problem, there seems to be a trend where people expect them to be “sharp” without really understanding how to set up an axe
52100 is a horrible steel for a froe, even if heat treated 'right'. This makes zero sense. What the hell are they doing? 52100 is a great steel for blades though.
People either forgot with what is going on over there, or never really paid attention, but Ukraine was well known for its scammy, low grade products. Just like India has been even more well known for its dodgy pot steel damascus and tin knives. Yes, the nation has historically had great products, but it was from very select makers.
Nice vid! A customer brought to my attention that it could be interesting to supply Strongway Tools here in Canada. Do you know them? I came to know this company from following Steve Smith from Renaissance Timber. They seem to have high quality tools at a decent price, a fair one. You pay for what you get. Let me know your thoughts on it!
Strongway is one of the companies preserves judgment on for quality but their pricing is nuts. They have been called a bunch of different things over the years, and actually run at least three or four different Etsy shops under different names. But same company. They run all of their distribution independently in Ukraine, though, I don’t believe they retail outside of their Etsy shop
I'm currently in Russia but the Ukraine is all the same. Never trust anything or anyone that comes out of these places. I think using google translate you can surf ebay Germany or ebay Sweden and find old instruments from barn sales at a suitable price.
It is the death of a society absolutely. When market returns are worth more to a company than customer relations, things get weird quickly.
Interesting vid! Those companies sure know how to market their gear, hand forged, bushcraft lifestyle etc. Some of the stuff definitely looks cool. A Paling knife should be sharp, not a froe. Cool that the kids checked in on ya 🤣
Thanks for sheading light on this as I have eyeballed several of those Ukrainian shops on etsy. I'll save my money.
On the froe front we don't have many options either. I think Bison makes one. There may be a US options from Lehmans. I know Seven Pines forge makes one. When I have to research these things though its upsetting to me that I find more outsourcing and junk than I find quality products. The people sitting on the boards of these companies just don't care anymore. It's not even in question.
I have a scribe knife from Ukraine that I use for leather cutting. It came very dull, after working it on a stone I got it hair popping sharp. And it holds a good edge, only needing a strop to maintain it. Oddly it’s a dual bevel convex edge. It was cheap & quality is good enough. That’s my 2 cents of input..
Thanks for making the video, I've been seeing those shops and something just felt off about them. One thing about a froe is that your supposed to take the blade off of the handle so it can store in a bag more neatly and for what you do with it it doesn't have to be as secure as an axe
Good point, the handle is a big factor
I'm interested to see if this is even heat treated the right way. Is the spine soft? If the entire thing is hardened I'd be worried about it snapping. In my little experience with froes they're either too soft or too hard haha. But they should always be dull.
I think I’m going to put my hardness files to it. I don’t think it’s very hard. Probably very minimally heat treated.
@@urbanlumberjack 52100 is a horrible steel for a froe, even if heat treated 'right'. This makes zero sense. What the hell are they doing? 52100 is a great steel for blades though, but that's a very different application. Even if you have a soft back the edge will chip on harder or silica/calcium impregnated wood
I've been on etsy looking at cool tools, and I truly just get a bad vibe. Like you said, the rabbit hole. It all looks really cool! But it's still makes my spidey senses tingle. Would you recommend a good froe? I wouldn't mind adding one. Thanks for the video
One thing I've realized is that places like Ukraine and China can make top quality stuff and when they do they look at what the item they're making costs in the US and set their prices to be sightly below that when you add postage costs.
Buying from someone in your own country who takes pride in his workmanship and reputation is worth the extra cost especially when you get a dodgy item.
Only edged tools coming out of Ukraine that I know are legit and quality are BPS knives and tools. I can say they're legit because i own them. I think there's a few axe manufacters in Ukraine that make the Russian style axes I've really wanted to get my hands on because I really like those Russian style trappers axes but no where in the states can they be found.
I’ve heard a lot of good things about BPS!
Always informative always great job
I don’t trust those Ukraine products! Seems like they have to build everything nothing is in stock! Plus their prices are high!
When I needed a Froe I went with Ray Iles out of England!! Incredible build quality & price was fantastic! Ground correctly & heat treated to perfection!
I'd like to take this opportunity to remind everyone about blade safety. Assume all blades are sharp. Never put anything in front of the blade that you don't intend to cut. And know your backstop when cutting.
Good advice
Sounds like Anastasia sure gets around!
Haha she sure does!
Oh crap I just got something from “her” 😂
@chrissouthard503 oh no! I hope you get a good tool, let me know how it goes!
@@urbanlumberjack I placed 2 orders in May 2023 for mini hatchets. Both orders were processed quickly and I was happy with the quality of the hatchet's and the leather masks. The steel has held up fine although they haven't seen hard use as they are very small tools. Perhaps I got lucky and that was about 18 months ago.
That’s good to know, who was the seller? Was it on Etsy?
I completely agree, I ordered an axe from one of those Ukrainian Etsy vendors and it came insanely sharp and after just limbing a few trees it was deforming the edge, I'll just buy an antique next time.
Do you recall which vendor? Thin axes are such a problem, there seems to be a trend where people expect them to be “sharp” without really understanding how to set up an axe
@@urbanlumberjack just checked, it was from Kharvicforge.
Another view point or angle of reference, sometimes reveals the truth. Yes...the young men brought the smiles sir...
They’re wonderful to have around!
@urbanlumberjack It flies by. Do not take it for granted...
@@Brian2bears absolutely flies by
52100 is a horrible steel for a froe, even if heat treated 'right'. This makes zero sense. What the hell are they doing? 52100 is a great steel for blades though.
It certainly hasn’t held up on a froe. Lots of chopping rolling, and even bending. The trifecta of wrong steel for the job for sure!
Yes, a simple carbon steel or 5160 is best choice for a froe. 52100 is a great knife steel but not for a froe.
People either forgot with what is going on over there, or never really paid attention, but Ukraine was well known for its scammy, low grade products. Just like India has been even more well known for its dodgy pot steel damascus and tin knives.
Yes, the nation has historically had great products, but it was from very select makers.
Important to keep that in mind absolutely.
Haha the youngins make it even better.
Nice vid! A customer brought to my attention that it could be interesting to supply Strongway Tools here in Canada. Do you know them?
I came to know this company from following Steve Smith from Renaissance Timber. They seem to have high quality tools at a decent price, a fair one. You pay for what you get.
Let me know your thoughts on it!
Shout out to the boys! Hope they like their caps 🧢 🪓!
Strongway looks like good stuff, but would want to test out some pieces before jumping in the deep end.
Strongway is one of the companies preserves judgment on for quality but their pricing is nuts.
They have been called a bunch of different things over the years, and actually run at least three or four different Etsy shops under different names. But same company. They run all of their distribution independently in Ukraine, though, I don’t believe they retail outside of their Etsy shop
They LOVE them!
I bought two Bushcraft knife and I experience the same
I'm currently in Russia but the Ukraine is all the same. Never trust anything or anyone that comes out of these places. I think using google translate you can surf ebay Germany or ebay Sweden and find old instruments from barn sales at a suitable price.
You got video bombed !!
They found me! lol