Sometimes the best stories begin with a conversation. About six months ago, we connected with Buckin Billy Ray. Buckin’s relationship with axes hardly needs an introduction, and Hults Bruk wasn’t new to him either. He had visited the forge many years ago, so when we started talking, bringing him back to Hult felt like a natural next step. 

A few months later, Buckin arrived in Sweden together with Luke, his daughter’s future husband. We spent a full week together, exploring Swedish history, craftsmanship and industry. The journey took us from Ovako and the story behind the steel we use, to Husqvarna, the Vasa Museum and other places that have helped shape Sweden’s industrial and cultural heritage. 

But the heart of the visit was Hults Bruk. Buckin got to meet the people behind our axes and take part in every stage of production – following the journey from steel to finished axe. He spent time with our blacksmiths at the presses, experienced the grinding and sharpening process, and followed the final assembly, fitting and inspection. 

Of course, an axe belongs in the woods as much as it does in the forge. So we also headed out into the Swedish forest, where Buckin put our Jursla felling axe to work and took down some timber. For someone who has spent a lifetime around axes, it looked almost effortless. He certainly didn’t break a sweat. 

Throughout the week there was plenty of talk about axes – forging, patterns, handles, balance, sharpening and what makes an axe feel right in the hands of someone who truly knows how to use one. And there is more to this story. For now, we simply want to say that it was great to have Buckin back at Hults Bruk – meeting our people, sharing his experience and becoming part of everyday life at the forge for a few days. 

Much of the journey was captured along the way. Visit Buckin Billy Ray’s YouTube channel to follow the trip and see Hults Bruk through Buckin’s eyes.