H Karlsson Chisels

Below is an example of a gouge made by H Karlsson Klensmide AB of Motala, Sweden. The blade is made using traditional smithing techniques and tools (some of which date as far back as 1914). Karlsson handles are made from ash or elm, rather than the typical birch or beech seen on most Swedish chisels. The ash and elm is grown locally and Karlsson harvests and prepares the wood for the handles themselves.

The black marking on the side of the handle is the H Karlsson trademark.

The trademark is also stamped on the gouge stem as is shown below.

Hans Karlsson started H Karlsson Klensmide in Varv outside Motala, Sweden in 1981.

In 1990 the business was transformed into a limited company — H Karlsson Klensmide AB.

H Karlsson took over the Svenson Brothers (Bröderna Svensson) chisel and gouge manufacturing business which had been started in 1931 in Vaggeryd, Sweden.

In 1997, the workshop was moved from an old farm in Varv to the ancient Motala Workshop district in Motala near the Göta Canal. The map below shows the Motala location (in the middle) in relation to Eskilstuna and Vaggeryd.

H Karlsson now makes about 800 different tools and has a room set aside at the factory for viewing and testing their tools.

I recommend that you take a look at the Karlsson web site and check out their beautiful tools.