Wetterlings Axe Factory was founded in 1880 and is one of the three remaining axe forges in Sweden. The factory was relocated to Storvik in 1885 and has since been an important part of Swedish industrial history. Today, 14 people work here, and the company is known for its traditional craftsmanship and high-quality axes.
The oldest axe factory in Sweden.
Wetterlings Axe Factory was founded in 1880 by Sven Axel Wetterling in Bäckefors, Dalsland. In 1882, his brother Otto Wetterling joined him after studying industrial axe production in America. The business was relocated to Storvik in 1885, due to its advantageous location for transportation and proximity to raw materials. The company purchased Walls Hammare in Storvik, a forge with roots dating back to 1870. Wetterlings quickly modernized and expanded, replacing the old water wheels with modern turbines as early as 1889. Despite the modernization, axe production remained artisanal, with 20–30 axes forged per day. Otto Wetterling passed away in 1915, and in 1917, the company was sold to wholesaler Magnus Lilieblad. He further modernized the operation with new machinery, including an Arboga forging press that was used until 2014. Lilieblad brought in his nephew, Gustav Johansson, later Jungefors, who became site manager in 1927 and owner in 1950. During the 1950s, axe production flourished, and the company expanded. They purchased Söderhamns Skaftfabrik and relocated it to Storvik.
Shaft production remains an important part of the business. Gustav’s son, Ingvar Jungefors, started working at the company in 1968 and took over ownership together with his brother Åke. Despite tough competition and declining demand for axes during the 1970s, Wetterlings managed to survive by diversifying its production. Lars Jungefors, Ingvar’s son, started working at Wetterlings in 1999, with a focus on shaft production.
Wetterlings today
In 2007, Wetterlings was taken over by Gabriel Brånby, the former owner of Gränsfors Bruks AB. Today, the company is owned by brothers Adam and Daniel Brånby, with Johan Ståhlberg as the site manager. Fourteen people currently work at Wetterlings, which still produces high-quality axes using traditional craftsmanship. The factory’s philosophy is to preserve and pass on the knowledge and skills developed by previous generations. Wetterlings axes are valued for their craftsmanship and durability, and the factory continues to be an important part of Swedish industrial history.
