Help id on swedish axe

F

Flemm

Joined
Oct 3, 2020
Messages
46
Hi everyone,

I'm new here. I've been getting into axe restoration recently. I started by picking up an old Plumb axe which turned out great (will post photos later).

I then went to my father's shed and raided some of his old rusty axes. I found one called a Hytest craftsman which is next on the restoration list.
The axe I'm currently restoring has no visible name due to pitting rust. The only features i can make out are a crown logo, a number 4 stamp and made in sweden.
The history of the axe is that it came from my Nana. These axes were apparently some of my great granddads who was a forrestor 3 generations ago.
I was thinking that maybe this could have been an old gransfors bruk but the crown symbol looks different. A few google searches later and I found the Helko werk crown which looks a little more similar to the design on this axe however I understand this is a German brand not swedish.

Like I said I'm new to this. If anyone here would be kind enough to have a look at the images and let me know what you think then I would appreciate it.

https://ibb.co/kQ4TBBj
https://ibb.co/CtQj5SN
https://ibb.co/YTsWmcm
https://ibb.co/ys6wPnz


Kind regards,
Jesse.
 
Last edited:
Flemm said:
Hi everyone,

I'm new here. I've been getting into axe restoration recently. I started by picking up an old Plumb axe which turned out great (will post photos later).

I then went to my father's shed and raided some of his old rusty axes. I found one called a Hytest craftsman which is next on the restoration list.
The axe I'm currently restoring has no visible name due to pitting rust. The only features i can make out are a crown logo, a number 4 stamp and made in sweden.
The history of the axe is that it came from my Nana. These axes were apparently some of my great granddads who was a forrestor 3 generations ago.
I was thinking that maybe this could have been an old gransfors bruk but the crown symbol looks different. A few google searches later and I found the Helko werk crown which looks a little more similar to the design on this axe however I understand this is a German brand not swedish.

Like I said I'm new to this. If anyone here would be kind enough to have a look at the images and let me know what you think then I would appreciate it.

https://ibb.co/kQ4TBBj
https://ibb.co/CtQj5SN
https://ibb.co/YTsWmcm
https://ibb.co/ys6wPnz


Kind regards,
Jesse.
Click to expand...
Cannot help with the name but found a pic of full maker's mark
vintage-made-sweden-axe-hatchet-crown_1_96bd61ce6a24813c7601389d8701060e.jpg

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-made-sweden-axe-hatchet-crown-1979885468
 
Flemm said:
Hi everyone,

I'm new here. I've been getting into axe restoration recently. I started by picking up an old Plumb axe which turned out great (will post photos later).

I then went to my father's shed and raided some of his old rusty axes. I found one called a Hytest craftsman which is next on the restoration list.
The axe I'm currently restoring has no visible name due to pitting rust. The only features i can make out are a crown logo, a number 4 stamp and made in sweden.
The history of the axe is that it came from my Nana. These axes were apparently some of my great granddads who was a forrestor 3 generations ago.
I was thinking that maybe this could have been an old gransfors bruk but the crown symbol looks different. A few google searches later and I found the Helko werk crown which looks a little more similar to the design on this axe however I understand this is a German brand not swedish.

Like I said I'm new to this. If anyone here would be kind enough to have a look at the images and let me know what you think then I would appreciate it.

https://ibb.co/kQ4TBBj
https://ibb.co/CtQj5SN
https://ibb.co/kQ4TBBj
https://ibb.co/CtQj5SN


Kind regards,
Jesse.
Click to expand...
crbnSteeladdict said:
Cannot help with the name but found a pic of full maker's mark
vintage-made-sweden-axe-hatchet-crown_1_96bd61ce6a24813c7601389d8701060e.jpg

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-made-sweden-axe-hatchet-crown-1979885468
Click to expand...
Thanks for poviding some more info, appreciate it!
 
Flemm, in the petterson files - I'll refer you to the section of the forum called The Woodsman - you can track down shit-loads of historical information on these axes and the company that made them.
 
Sorry it has taken awhile, here is where the restore is up to!
After getting rid of the rust, grinding out some of the shallower pitt marks and lots of sanding, I've got it ready to hang.

A little more history I dug up on the maker of this axe as well. Ferro smidesfabrik / forserum started as a small forge in the town of Forserum, sweden with ~20 staff. They operated betwen 1914 and 1951, mainly exporting to Russia and South America. It appears that they may have had a bit of a speciality in producing a type of axe known as a bergslagen pattern axe (see reference for design).

Anyway, enjoy the images. Hopefully when I get some more time in the coming weeks I'll hang this and move to finish the Hytest!

Reference: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAGegQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw2ABmGoCWBN0FnKvzD0AjXT





 
Flemm said:
If anyone knows how to translate it that would be cool:
Click to expand...
Google Translate:

Forging factories Ferro - Ax factories

“The forging factory Ferro is one of the newest industries in Forserum, which has just been launched.
going on. ” This could be read in Eksjö newspaper the same year the company started. This was the issue
an ax factory on a significant scale, not less than 400 pcs. axes per day came to be delivered from here and
this was a significant production figure for that time.
Even old axes in the factory had to undergo a renewal treatment, which made them full
as useful as newly manufactured.
The jury member Sven August Forsberg was its owner from the start. He was also the leader in
Forserums Sparbank, and involved in some of society's industries, including Forserums Mechanical
Workshop (Vågfabriken).
The initiators were Gustav Forsberg and Hjalmar Frisk. The former was the son of Sven August
Forsberg, and the later old professional in the field, so they expected something special from him
its manufacture.
The factory, with its spacious and practically arranged premises, is said to have been the most modern of its kind in
the country. Had especially machine house, smithy and grinding mill, which the latter were provided with a practical
suction fan with hoods at each grindstone. In the factory premises, the best machines were installed, such as
were available in the industry, and many were specially designed for the needs of the factory, and of newer types.

Particular attention was paid to the huge hammer and press, where 400 - 500 ax blanks
produced every day.
The sales of the manufactured axes, which were expected to give a plus number to some extent, came to
take place, of course, primarily in Sweden, but eventually also abroad.
Only Swedish material was used as a raw material and the edge steel used by the factory is said to have been
the very best, which were available in our country, and that did not mean much.
The factory had been set up in a well-located place near the railway, which, incidentally, is connected
with through a 40 meter long stick track that goes all the way to the factory.
The power consisted of a 45 hp sowing plant, also of Swedish production. For lighting answered
a dynamo for 100 lamps.
The workforce initially consisted of about 20 men.
The new industry, whose management seemed to be in the best hands, wished all the best of luck and success
origin.
Our country needed such industries at that time, it was considered, judged by reliable calculations below
expert and energetic men's leadership. They should grow strong, give both their owners and one
significant workforce, a business area worthy of them and not least, a safe addition
for Forserum's society.
In Smålands Folkblad from April 26, 1937, you could read about Sweden's oldest ax blacksmith who had
produced one and a half million axes. It was seventy-year-old Simon Jansson in Forserum who told. He
had been in the smithy since he was 12 years old and then he had eight öre an hour. And the working hours were it
not so careful. It could last most of the time from four in the morning until eight o'clock
the evening. Simon Jansson came to Forserum in 1915, but he only stayed until 1917, when he moved
to AB Gefle Smidesfabrik Åbyfors Valbo.
Simon returned to Forserum in 1919 and worked there until he retired in 1939. He was then 72 years old.
Simon was involved in resuming Forserum's Arbetarkommun, which had been closed for some time in 1915.

He was also involved in forming a local union in iron and metal, and was active in
the sobriety movement in Forserum. The music was close to Simon's heart, and it was he who formed it
Forserums Musikkår.
Gustav Forsberg was the owner and leader until 1941, when he sold the factory to G Lindström, Stockholm, who
was a representative for a number of united ax factories in the country. The company was transformed the same year into
limited liability company, and at that time had 15 employees.
The factory manufactured axes until 1951. At that time, there were 25 workers and two white-collar workers at the company.
This year, about 160,000 - 170,000 axes were produced. Most went for export.
The company was moved from Forserum to Säter in 1956.
Sources: Eksjö Tidning 1914,
Smålands Folkblad 1937
Forserum From Before


Bob
 
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