Thread: No Bergs in Sweden

Good story on the chisel mattocks.

I am also reading that you went all the way to Sweden to catch up with an Aussie in an antique store.

With the crazy pricing and popularity of Bergs, what's happening with Jernbolagets?

For instance, what might a set of wooden handled Jernbolagets, including sizes from 3mm to 50mm, be worth roughly?

Originally Posted by NZStu

With the crazy pricing and popularity of Bergs, what's happening with Jernbolagets?

For instance, what might a set of wooden handled Jernbolagets, including sizes from 3mm to 50mm, be worth roughly?

They should be worth exactly the same as Bergs in my humble opinion - as I have found no discernible difference in performance in use.
However, I would be very surprised if they went anywhere near the Bergs in price on the open market, simply because they are not as well known.
Anyone who has acquired a set of Jernbolagets will have a fine set of chisels, and will likely have paid for them at bargain basement prices.

Cheers
SG

Good story, please knock the sharp edges off that horrendous handle then give it a buff up and post a pic.

I am also reading that you went all the way to Sweden to catch up with an Aussie in an antique store.

Good story, please knock the sharp edges off that horrendous handle then give it a buff up and post a pic.

He was definitely a Swede Christos although he lived here for 25 years and still has a house here. He picked me for an aussie straight away.

I'm a bit reticent to do much at all to the handle Toymaker Len in case I ruin it. It is a nice piece of wood though and I have it in mind as a project later on.

Another thing I found out in Sweden, that some of you may already know but I didn't, is that all the liquor stores are state run. It's called the system bolaget, bolaget is apparently swedish for "company". I discovered this when we ended up in the large department store in Stockholm called NK. I thought I might look through the liquor section while my wife was off somewhere else. I couldn't find it, and I asked the waiter at the hotel bar about it and thats what he told me. I was even unable to find one of the state run stores wile I was there to have a look at it. They say it cuts down on alcohol related problems this way.
But I also visited Helsingor castle in Denmark, which is where shakespeare set Hamlet. I noticed large ferries coming and going every 20 miutes from the port. I asked our friend who was showing us around about the ferries and he said they were full of Swedes coming over to Denmark to buy liquor load their cars up and go back to Sweden with it as it was a lot cheaper to buy there.
I didn't see any Jernbolaget chisels up there either NZStu otherwise I would've snapped them up as they are great chisels. One of the first chisels I bought was a jernbolaget and it's fantastic. I have bought a few more but they seem harder to get than Bergs. Although I have over the last few years seen a few sets on ebay that sold for good prices. Can't quote exactly though.
Sounds like you have a set to sell?
Cheers
Frank

I will be in Sweden in about three weeks. Hoping that it is not as cold as it was for you when you were there in January.

Originally Posted by mattocks

I didn't see any Jernbolaget chisels up there either NZStu otherwise I would've snapped them up as they are great chisels. One of the first chisels I bought was a jernbolaget and it's fantastic. I have bought a few more but they seem harder to get than Bergs. Although I have over the last few years seen a few sets on ebay that sold for good prices. Can't quote exactly though.
Sounds like you have a set to sell?
Cheers
Frank

Not a set to sell. I was looking at these: Set Of 8 Swiss Made Wood Chisels. "JERNBOLAGET" | Trade Me

They had a starting bid of NZ$95, but ended up going for more than I was prepared to pay - but I think the winner still got a pretty good deal!

Originally Posted by NZStu

Not a set to sell. I was looking at these: Set Of 8 Swiss Made Wood Chisels. "JERNBOLAGET" | Trade Me

They had a starting bid of NZ$95, but ended up going for more than I was prepared to pay - but I think the winner still got a pretty good deal!

Eight chisels with both the rare sizes 1/8 inch and 2 inch for around $200 AU is good value.
Not that long ago each of those two sizes mentioned could fetch between $60 and $100 depending on the auction.
These averaged around $25 AU.
Yep, the winner did OK.

Looks like Jernbolagets are beginning to come out of their shell and be recognised for what they are - excellent.
Cheers
SG

Here is an interesting one, I have a chisel without a makers name but is inscribed, "Toledo steel, made in sweden", on the flat face. I also have two chisels, one 1" and the other is 3/4", both with the fish logo. These chisels are a part of my kit and are probably 50 years old and well used.
Jim

Originally Posted by powderpost

Here is an interesting one, I have a chisel without a makers name but is inscribed, "Toledo steel, made in sweden", on the flat face. I also have two chisels, one 1" and the other is 3/4", both with the fish logo. These chisels are a part of my kit and are probably 50 years old and well used.
Jim

Swedish Toledos are also very good. There are some Forum members who collect them.
A fish logo without the Berg name could be Sandvik who also made very nice chisels. I have a little voice in the back of my head saying that Sandvik chisels might have been made in Holland - like Nooitgedagt - from Swedish steel. I wish I was more certain of this. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Good chisels anyhoo!

Cheers
SG

Originally Posted by Scribbly Gum

Eight chisels with both the rare sizes 1/8 inch and 2 inch for around $200 AU is good value.
Not that long ago each of those two sizes mentioned could fetch between $60 and $100 depending on the auction.
These averaged around $25 AU.
Yep, the winner did OK.

Looks like Jernbolagets are beginning to come out of their shell and be recognised for what they are - excellent.
Cheers
SG

If I hadn't already headed down the Japanese chisel route, I would have tried a bit harder!

Just found out there are bergs in Sweden.

try tradera.com (swedish ebay)

search for Berg or stamjarn or lockbettel

It's the most comon brand. Every celler/basement/shed has a few sitting around. They are amost all tanged - perhaps 1 in 300 is a socket chisel.

Most are in very used condition and/or rusty from disuse, of course. Sweden is no different than anywhere else. And the climate here is not kind to tools. When collector-grade (NOS or like new) Bergs do come up for sale they often fetch prices about 50%-75% of where they would probably land on ebay; that is, they cost less but are rarely a steal because there are enough buyers here to keep the prices up.

Hi Pacman,
I have tried a few times to get onto tradera but without success.
But I'll keep trying.

Thanks for the info

Frank