The Hults Bruk Almike is now sold in Hults Bruk’s US catalog as the Hultån Hatchet. The company’s listing identifies Hultån as the former Almike name, so buyers searching for the older name should look for Hultån and verify the exact model before ordering. The brand positions it for hiking and camp use; customer reports suggest it is best suited to kindling and smaller wood, not heavy log splitting.
What is the Hults Bruk Almike called now?
Hults Bruk’s current US catalog calls the hatchet Hultån and notes that it was formerly known as Almike. The catalog lists the Hultån at 15 inches and 1.8 pounds total, but that product tile is not a complete technical specification. See the Hults Bruk US product catalog and confirm the name and SKU on the listing for your market.
There is a specification wrinkle: Hultafors’ official hatchet page lists two variants—a 600 g head with a 375 mm (15 in) handle, and a 900 g head with a 500 mm (20 in) handle. The page does not clearly map those variants to the US Hultån/legacy Almike listing. Do not treat the head weight as the tool’s total weight or assume either variant is the Almike without matching the SKU. The Hultafors hatchet page also describes a hickory handle with a curved shape and linseed-oil treatment, Swedish axe steel, hand forging, and a tempered zone intended to allow sharpening without compromising edge strength. It lists a sheath as product information, but confirm whether it is included with the exact regional model you are buying.
What is it suited to?
The company describes the hatchet for hiking and camp use. REI customer reports offer a practical, but anecdotal, picture: reviewers describe carrying it in a backpack and using it for smaller branches, kindling, and other light wood processing. One reviewer said it was not the tool for splitting large logs. These are individual experiences, not standardized performance tests; read the REI customer reviews in that light.
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#1 Best Overall
- The axe head is hand forged at the historic Hults Bruk, a forge that has been in operation since 1697.
- Each axe is made from high-quality Swedish axe steel, expertly tempered to hold a very sharp edge even after repeated sharpening.
- Blackened, hand-finished, razor-sharp with a polished edge.
- Curved American hickory handle, sanded, protected with linseed oil and engraved with the HB logo.
- Each axe comes with a premium leather sheath with a loop or holster for hanging the axe on your belt, shipped with a storage box and detailed user’s manual.
For a compact hatchet, the trade-off is portability and one-handed control versus reach and leverage. A longer, heavier axe is generally the more suitable choice when the task involves processing larger firewood or demanding more reach. In one REI comparison, a reviewer found the Almike more controllable for fine work and preferred the longer Akka for firewood procurement and some felling. That comparison reflects one user’s needs, not a universal ranking.
What do customers report about edge and balance?
REI reviewers describe the hatchet’s balance and sharpness positively, while one reports receiving an uneven grind. Those reports do not establish a general quality issue or guarantee that every example will arrive with the same edge. Inspect the bit and edge on arrival, and follow safe sharpening practices if correction is needed.
Rank #2
- The axe head is hand forged at the historic Hults Bruk, a forge that has been in operation since 1697.
- Each axe is made from high-quality Swedish axe steel, expertly tempered to hold a very sharp edge even after repeated sharpening.
- Blackened, hand-finished, razor-sharp with a polished edge.
- Curved American hickory handle, sanded, protected with linseed oil and engraved with the HB logo.
- Each axe comes with a premium leather sheath, shipped with a storage box and detailed user’s manual.
One reviewer also reports using a sharpening puck to rework a dinged edge. That is a customer account rather than an official maintenance specification. Hults Bruk’s US catalog lists a Grinding Stone 180/600; its listed price was $44 when the catalog was crawled, so check the catalog for current price and availability.
How should you care for it, and what accessories fit?
A customer reviewer advises keeping the steel dry because it can rust if neglected. Wipe the head dry after use and store the hatchet somewhere dry; the report is a useful care reminder, not a quantified rust test.
Rank #3
- The axe head is hand forged and made from Swedish axe steel in a foundry that has been in operation since 1697.
- As part of the hand grinding production process, the steel is struck multiple times thereby increasing its density and resulting in more durability of the axe.
- The head is constructed in such a way that there is a tempered zone designed to hold a very sharp edge even after many sharpenings..
- The straight hickory handle is treated with linseed oil.
- Each axe comes with a traditional leather protective sheath that is embellished with some unique Swedish decorative elements.The axe is shipped in its own storage box and comes with a detailed users manual.
Bone Valley Co. lists a leather full sheath and an overstrike guard described as fitting the Almike. The seller says the hatchet is not included and notes that hand-forged variation can affect how closely the guard fits around the lugs. Check compatibility with your specific hatchet before buying either accessory: Bone Valley’s Almike accessories listing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who should consider it?
The Hultån/Almike makes the most sense for someone who wants a compact hatchet for hiking or camp tasks and expects to work mostly with kindling and smaller wood. If your regular job is splitting large rounds, gathering substantial firewood, or doing work that benefits from two-handed leverage and reach, compare a longer, heavier axe instead.
Rank #4
- The axe head is hand forged at the historic Hults Bruk, a forge that has been in operation since 1697.
- Each axe is made from high-quality Swedish axe steel, expertly tempered to hold a very sharp edge even after repeated sharpening.
- Blackened, hand-finished, razor-sharp with a polished edge.
- American hickory handle, sanded, protected with linseed oil and engraved with the HB logo.
- Each axe comes with a premium leather sheath with a loop or holster for hanging the axe on your belt, shipped with a storage box and detailed user’s manual.
Before buying, verify the exact regional SKU, overall length, total weight, head weight, and whether a sheath is included. Hults Bruk’s US catalog listed the Hultån at $200 when crawled; that is a time-sensitive catalog price, not a current-price guarantee. Check the live listing for the price and availability in your market.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The axe head is hand forged at the historic Hults Bruk, a forge that has been in operation since 1697.
- Each axe is made from high-quality Swedish axe steel, expertly tempered to hold a very sharp edge even after repeated sharpening.
- Blackened, hand-finished, razor-sharp with a polished edge.
- Curved American hickory handle, sanded, protected with linseed oil and engraved with the HB logo.
- Each axe comes with a premium leather sheath, shipped with a storage box and detailed user’s manual.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
