I've never used a swedish hatchet so I can't speak to their quality. I have had an estwing sportsmans hatchet for 30 years that I have enjoyed using and owning. For splitting I would choose a splitting maul with a plastic tough handle. The weight of the head does most of the work and has the width to spread hard to split wood. I have had hickory hammer handles shatter with heavy use, that had never been struck on the wood.
