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Whether you’re a weekend warrior preparing for the summer camping season or a backcountry traveler miles from civilization, every adventurer needs the ability to process firewood, build a shelter, and make the experience enjoyable. Hults Bruk has been forging metal products since 1697, and they’ve been manufacturing hatchets and axes for over one hundred years. In the last decade, Hults Bruk has refocused on their axe production, committing themselves to building the best product on the market. Their Hultan model hatchet is likely their most useful model for the camper. Let’s take a look at it.
Hults Bruk sized the Hultan Hatchet right in the sweet spot for packability and use. While I was learning about the company, I got to spend some time speaking with their marketing director and the conversation revolved around how well the forging process is perfected.
The guys running the hammers in Sweden are intensely committed to building the best. Before we ever talked about the hatchet, the focus was on the commitment to building quality tools that will serve the user for years. It’s nice to know that even before they ever touch the steel, serious effort is focused on the process.
The Hultan weighs 1.8 lbs, with a head weight of 1 lb. The head is forged from premium Swedish steel, with a 54-56 HRC. The handle is 16 inches and made of American Hickory. The Sultan comes with a nicely made leather blade cover. My example came with an exceptionally well-honed edge; it was evenly ground, razor sharp, and highly polished. The cutting edge is just a hair under 3 inches with a gentle, continuous curve. The Hultan was ready for the woods right out of the box.
The Hultan’s light weight is perfect for carrying in a backpack. I dropped it in a day-pack and hit a section of my local BLM. I have a favorite spot down by the river, but the remote 2-mile hike through steep terrain means it’s almost untouched. I carry a Grayl water filter, to keep me from having to pack pounds of water. I also added in my personal survival kit, a roll of bankline string, a poncho for a quick shelter if needed, and few protein bars. I generally travel light for day trips, and the Hultan didn’t weigh me down at all.
This area is littered with deadfall trees and brush, perfect for bushcraft experiments. I got to work with the Hultan to do a project I’ve been wanting to accomplish for a while; build a bushcraft chair with only a sharp tool and some string.
There are a lot of ways to do this project. I took inspiration from the book Bushcraft by Richard Graves. This book is a compilation of smaller pamphlets and is sometimes found as The Ten Bushcraft Books. Both versions are generally the same, and I recommend them highly if you’re interested in woodcraft project. The sections on navigation are particularly good.
The first cuts with the Hultan were on longer branches of Gambrel Oak, aka Scrub Oak. The Hultan zipped through 2” branches with one or two strikes, leaving clean and tidy cuts. I gathered 5 pieces about 5 feet long and used them for the framework of the chair. I trimmed them all to about the same length, popped off the small branches and stubs, and laid them out. I assembled the two sides separately, stood them up, added the rear support brace, and tied it all together.
Once the frame was assembled, I needed about 20 short sticks to make the seat and the back. I used the Hultan to cut all the pieces to size and then did a dry-fit to make sure the various curves fit together nicely. After I was happy with the test-fit, I tied them all in place, cutting the string with the Hultan. The entire project took about an hour, and I now have a very comfortable chair in my favorite spot. I’m happy to report that it’s still holding up after about 2 months, and I expect it will do just fine over the summer.
On another trip I took on a challenge that a few friends in the bushcraft community threw out; build a successful bow-drill kit using only one tool. The challenge allowed manmade cordage, but the remainder of the pieces had to be fabricated on site. I selected Red Birch for the project, and made sure to get the driest pieces I could find. I cut sections for the hearth board, spindle, and bow. I used the Hultan to make the round hearth board flat, and trimmed and pointed the spindle. I used a piece of mule deer backbone I found as the bearing block. Using the Hultan in a high grip, I was able to twist the point into the hearthboard to make the divot.
It took a little experiment with the hearthboard, and I ended up making two. The first one smoked a ton but refused to make an ember. The second version produced an ember that sustained itself for several minutes. The entire project was done with the Hultan and some 550 cord, and I was tickled pink with how well everything turned out.
I also used the Hultan to bust up a bunch of dried Juniper and Pinon Pine. If you know these trees, you understand how ridiculously hard these are. Getting them sectioned up and split was uneventful. The splitting was done by placing the Hulton on top and driving it down with a baton. The sections popped apart easily, and it only took a few minutes to start a cooking fire.
The handle on the Hultan is well shaped, smoothed, and very comfortable in use. Holding back towards the end gives enough arc in the swing to easily handle wood up to 4” in diameter. You can do larger stuff with this, but keep in mind that it’s a light hatchet and really at home in the arenas of crafting and firewood prep.
The 1 lb. head never fatigued me, and I could work the Hultan for extended periods with or without gloves and be perfectly comfortable.
Hults Bruk has produced a real winner with the Hultan. It’s the perfect companion for your upcoming summer adventures. It packs and carries well, cuts clean and smooth, and is a real pleasure to use. Pride of ownership is baked into every aspect of this hatchet; it’s the kind of tool you’ll build memories with.
The Hults Bruk website is packed full of great information on everything from care and maintenance to handle replacement. They’re committed to building the best quality tools on the market, and in my experience, they’ve certainly done exactly that with the Hultan. Check out www.us.hultsbruk.com for more information.
Overall Weight: 1.8 pounds Head Weight: 1 pound Overall Length: 16 inches Head Design: Premium forged Swedish steel, 54-56 HRC Handle: American hickory, linseed oil treated Leather edge cover Price: $200
