Bark River Knives at Crystal Falls Trading Company

Bark River Custom Half Axes




Small Forest Ax (back) and Modified Carpenter (front)


Here are the Custom Half Axes that Bark River have been working on. This is kind of a rare occasion where they had the opportunity to find a stash of Wetterlings Swedish Axes and get to totally re-work the heads into what they feel is a very superior ax.

A Half Ax is a very handy size. It is larger than a Hatchet or Hawk and it is smaller than a Cruiser. It is large enough to take down pretty fair size trees and split some large firewood yet small enough to actually have with you by attaching it to your pack frame or even stowing it inside your pack. In the 2 pound range they are more than manageable for including in your outdoor kit if you think you might need an ax.

There are two different models that they had to work with but they are so similar that once re-worked they are virtually interchangeable in the field.

Those of you that know these Wetterlings know that they are supplied totally black from forging and are very rough with pockmarks and pits from the raw steel surface. They are flat ground on the bit only and are not ever shipped anywhere near what any of us consider sharp.

Here is a list of what Bark River did to these Axes.

They clean up the exterior of the ax to remove all of the black slag.

Each ax is then inspected to see what is the best way to re-grind it into our performance version (Remember that all of these are a bit different because they are all hand forged)

The head is then ground to blend out the deep pits and pockmarks.

The ax is re-inspected (by Skittles) to make sure that the right amount of material is removed.

The Sides of the Face are then Slightly Hollow Ground to thin out the face on each side and shape it like a speed ax without making it too thin.

Small Forest Ax
Overall Length: 20 Inches
Length of Ax Head: 5.875 Inches
Height of Bit: 3.625 Inches
Weight: 34.4 Ounces

Modified Carpenter Ax
Overall Length: 18 Inches
Length of Ax Head: 5.875 Inches
Height of Bit: 3.5 Inches
Weight: 32.4 Ounces
Balanced Small Forest Ax


SFA with Blade Cover


Close up of the SFA and Carpenter Axes


Top View to show the Slight Hollow and Speed Grind



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A Sad Note