AxelSweden AB

AXEL

The AXEL clamping hook was invented and developed by blacksmith Maria Grubbström. She runs her company AxelSweden in the Björkvatten valley in southern Lapland in the north of Sweden. Here, equipment such as rucksacks, rifles, cameras and binoculars are a natural part of everyday life.

The story of AXEL

The evening before the elk hunt, my hunting companion Viola said: ‘Maria, you have to come up with something so that I don't have to hold the rifle when I go stalking with the dog!

It can't be anything complicated, because I need to have the gun to hand in no time at all. What I've tried so far is too cumbersome. And taking the rifle off the rucksack takes far too long!’

The next day during the hunt, I thought about it. And then an idea came to me.

That evening I went to my forge and built the first prototype. The next day, Viola and I tested it.

After a whole day in the forest, she said: ‘With my sloping shoulders (Viola calls them “Pilsneraxel” in Swedish, because the shoulder shape is reminiscent of a beer bottle), I could even jump over the stream without any difficulty.

The weight was better distributed, the weapon hung securely, my arms and hands were free and I could walk more upright and relaxed.’

We were both surprised and very happy.

Who would have thought that something so simple could work so much better than anything else we had tried before.

AXEL - a product from Lapland

AXEL is produced in Norrland. The packaging is designed so that it can be used as information material, for mailing and in sales. This minimises the impact on the environment. AXEL is naturally recyclable.