HaglofHaglof Swedish Brush Axe

The concept is smart, the tool hefty and well balanced. This tool should be the perfect brush cleaning tool. I used it in privet thickets with mixed results. Cutting a 1/2' to 1 1/2" privet is ease but you are leaving a stump that looks like it would easily impale you if you would stumble. Anything thinner than 1/2' bends out of the blades way, everything thicker than 3" has a strong potential of bending the blade or getting the blade stuck. I still love the idea of this tool, its weight, handle, the aggressive look, but to be true it is hanging most of the time next to a borderline useless machete in the basement. When I am out on a trail or in the backyard I am carrying my trusty loppers for everything up to 2 1/2" and a sharp little bow saw for things up to 8". After that I strongly consider coming back with my chain saw. 4 stars? Yeah, its that cool!

My brother-in-law introduced me to these axes some years ago and I wouldn't be without one. They are light and easy to carry and you can get significant power and tip speed behind the blade when swinging it two handed or one handed. These are most ideal when clearing brush that is 3 inches or less in diameter. As long as it is green you should be able to blow through it with one swing. Not so good on dry dead stuff but you can chip away and get through it. For things over 3 inches you can still make it work pretty easy and it is better than most other axes I have used. Currently I'm using them to cut grape vine, poison oak and virginia creeper out of mature timber and they are working like a charm. I bought this one because my wife stole my old one and wouldn't let me have it back.

This thing is insane. My husband grew up with a Swedish grandmother who had one of these and one evening he was explaining it to me and I kind of laughed as I google searched this interesting shaped tool BUT it made a nasty job of chopping back wild blackberries, fairly painless. Pretty cool! And seems pretty well made but I would have no way of comparing.

Item is of good quality but the utility of this tool is pretty narrow. The intended use is for cutting small trees and or limbs. A sharp tramontina machete will limb trees far faster and can also be used on brush. Also can be potentially more dangerous if using one-handed.

I had used a Swedish brush axe at a former place of work and finally decided to purchase my own a couple years ago. This is the one I bought and couldn't be happier with it. I have two friends, one who swore by machetes and one that swore by a hatchet.... After one day of brush clearing and using my Swedish Brush Axe, they both went out and bought one. It genuinely does all that these reviewers say it will and more. If you are clearing thick brush or blazing a trail, this is the one tool you can't live without.

I used the SANDVIK made version of this many years ago. There is another like this but almost twice the cost. The handle and balance is good, but the blade is soft and bends easy for the work. I am cleaning off the lower dead branches from my pine trees. After just one day, the blade bent. I expect the blade to hold up better. Also, the blade edge was not sharp. I recommend you reconsider this unit ... or at least have an alternate blade supplier. I could pound the blade close to back in shape ... but I should not have to do this.

Purchased this as a Christmas gift for my dad. We saw someone else use one when they came to survey the property and it works like a charm. I know my dad will get a lot of use out of it!

The Swedish brush ax is a great tool for chopping brush and shrubbery around the home. It is much safer to use for most people who are less familiar with the machete or the ax. I've used two different brands over the years. The "Haglof" is the heavier of the two. It is a solid, well built tool.