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Product details

Developed in cooperation with renowned carver Beth Moen, the Small Carver Axe by Julia Kalthoff is both  versatile and precise. Beginner and experienced carvers will benefit from the small yet strong design.

The head comes in at 550 grams and is easy to swing and manoeuvre. The axe head is hardened to 57 Rockwell so will hold its edge well and offers ease of sharpening.  The total weight of the axe is ~710gm.  The 30-32 degree angle on the axe makes it truly versatile and perfect for both hard and soft woods.

The balance point of the axe is the same as your grip point meaning the axe has a lighter feel and that every gram works to your benefit.

Forged in Sweden from Swedish steel with a Swedish ash handle, this axe is one you will treasure for life.

Julia is so confident in the quality of her axes that each comes with its own serial number and lifetime guarantee.

Sheath Included.

Small. Strong. Well Balanced. Tough Edge.

 

Axe Details

Axe head weight: 550 gram / 1.2 pound

Handle: 300 mm / 12 inch long

Edge: Long and curved 100 mm / 3.9 inch

Bevel: 30-32 degree slight concave

Blade: 130 mm / 5.1 inch long with carving cavity

Neck: 55 mm / 2.2 inch long

Steel: Swedish steel. Alloyed with carbon, molybdenum, chrome, and vanadium

Forging: Die forged in hammer press

Heat treatment, edge: Kalthoff slow hardening to 58 HRC

Steel finish: Rust proof oil

Wood: Swedish ash, grown in Skåne

Grain alignment: Straight grain, standing growth rings with +/- 25% variation

Wood moisture: Axe assembled with handle and wedge furniture dry at 8–10% moisture level

Handle finish: Raw linseed oil

Sheath: Leather sheath included. Made from vegetable tanned cow hides, bordeaux shade

Customer Reviews

Based on 8 reviews
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(8)
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L
Luke S.
Great axe - excels in its lightness

I got this axe from the good folks at Wood Tamer to be shipped all the way to me in the USA because the exchange rate for the USD to AUD is so favorable that it was cheaper even with shipping to buy from Australia, and I’m very happy with the axe. Julia clearly knew what she was doing when creating it. It’s an axe that I can swing and chop with for a LONG time without my arm tiring out. I have plenty others for comparison - Hans Karlsson carving axe, Gransförs Bruk Swedish Carving Axe, one of Svante Djarv’s carving axes, and of course one of the Farmer’s Forge >< Wood Tamer 770 carving axes. I truly admit, while the Kalthoff Axe is absolutely worth it, and I love using it for longer sessions, it has not become my “go-to” axe —- that honor is between the Farmer’s Forge 770 (I’m dying to get the bigger model when it’s restocked) or the Hans Karlsson carving axe. Still, Kalthoff Axe is 5/5 in my opinion. I just wish it were truly hand forged (it is not hand forged. It is die forged and then gets a lot of love and attention by hand in the finishing process). I’m biased towards hand forged axes, but Julia using die forging with hand-finishing likely gives the perfect alloy grain structure and consistency she needs to maintain production of this product, and of course die forging has some wonderful benefits so I’m not trying to imply it’s a lower quality product; it’s super high quality and thoughtfully designed and has been a great carving axe in my short time I’ve been using it. Thanks Julia, and thanks Wood Tamer!

M
Marc Dickerson

Gorgeous and just feels right in my hand! Best tool I’ve ever bought. I get a little sad when my arm gets tired and I have to stop swinging it to rest. I’d buy another one, if I thought I could safely use two at the same time.

R
Robbert Cook
Julia Jalthoff carving axe

I would highly recommend this axe to any thinking of purchasing this axe. It is a wonderful axe to use razor sharp straight from delivery and the weight means you can use it for long periods of time. Also the customer service from Chris at Wood tamer is of a benefit to all green woodworkers

D
D.T.

Beautiful!

C
Christopher Mongillo
Perfect for Spoons

I bought this axe to upgrade from a Helko Black Forest Hatchet. The Helko works fine now, but it took quite a bit of work to correct the bevel and it is quite heavy for detailed work and long carving sessions. This Kalthoff axe is light, really well balanced and holds and edge for a good long time. It is hung perfectly! When I choke up on the head it is super comfortable in my hand and I can make the smallest of cuts with precision. Sometimes I simply use it to shave off flakes of wood to clean up a spoon. It's no big tree chopper, but the weight is enough to carve without wearing me out. I recommend it.

Customer Reviews

Based on 8 reviews
100%
(8)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
L
Luke S.
Great axe - excels in its lightness

I got this axe from the good folks at Wood Tamer to be shipped all the way to me in the USA because the exchange rate for the USD to AUD is so favorable that it was cheaper even with shipping to buy from Australia, and I’m very happy with the axe. Julia clearly knew what she was doing when creating it. It’s an axe that I can swing and chop with for a LONG time without my arm tiring out. I have plenty others for comparison - Hans Karlsson carving axe, Gransförs Bruk Swedish Carving Axe, one of Svante Djarv’s carving axes, and of course one of the Farmer’s Forge >< Wood Tamer 770 carving axes. I truly admit, while the Kalthoff Axe is absolutely worth it, and I love using it for longer sessions, it has not become my “go-to” axe —- that honor is between the Farmer’s Forge 770 (I’m dying to get the bigger model when it’s restocked) or the Hans Karlsson carving axe. Still, Kalthoff Axe is 5/5 in my opinion. I just wish it were truly hand forged (it is not hand forged. It is die forged and then gets a lot of love and attention by hand in the finishing process). I’m biased towards hand forged axes, but Julia using die forging with hand-finishing likely gives the perfect alloy grain structure and consistency she needs to maintain production of this product, and of course die forging has some wonderful benefits so I’m not trying to imply it’s a lower quality product; it’s super high quality and thoughtfully designed and has been a great carving axe in my short time I’ve been using it. Thanks Julia, and thanks Wood Tamer!

M
Marc Dickerson

Gorgeous and just feels right in my hand! Best tool I’ve ever bought. I get a little sad when my arm gets tired and I have to stop swinging it to rest. I’d buy another one, if I thought I could safely use two at the same time.

R
Robbert Cook
Julia Jalthoff carving axe

I would highly recommend this axe to any thinking of purchasing this axe. It is a wonderful axe to use razor sharp straight from delivery and the weight means you can use it for long periods of time. Also the customer service from Chris at Wood tamer is of a benefit to all green woodworkers

D
D.T.

Beautiful!

C
Christopher Mongillo
Perfect for Spoons

I bought this axe to upgrade from a Helko Black Forest Hatchet. The Helko works fine now, but it took quite a bit of work to correct the bevel and it is quite heavy for detailed work and long carving sessions. This Kalthoff axe is light, really well balanced and holds and edge for a good long time. It is hung perfectly! When I choke up on the head it is super comfortable in my hand and I can make the smallest of cuts with precision. Sometimes I simply use it to shave off flakes of wood to clean up a spoon. It's no big tree chopper, but the weight is enough to carve without wearing me out. I recommend it.