Over the past few years along with my appreciation for axes I've developed a bit of an obsession with tiny axes/hatchets. These axes are referred to by many names Bag Axe, Trappers Hatchet, Pocket Axe, Sportsman's Axe, Sounding Hatchet, Mini Hatchet, Small Hatchet, Belt Axe, Child's Axe, Kitchen Hatchet, and even Salesman's Sample Axes though I find that in most cases that is not their true intention.
My obsession began with my desire to have a lightweight tool that could chop and split wood on trips into the mountains where a heavier axe just couldn't be justified. I'm not a fan of heavy thick camp knives and I tried a light machete but found it wasn't worth its weight. That's when I ran into a passage that I'm sure many are familiar with.
Kephart's Colclesser Tomahawk
Woodcraft (p.32):
"Among my most valued possessions is a tiny Colclesser tomahawk, of 8-ounce head and 2-1/2 inch bit, which, with hickory handle and home-made sheath, weighs only three-quarters of a pound. I seldom go anywhere in the woods (unless in marching order with a heavier axe) without this little trick. It is all that is needed to put up a satisfactory shelter wherever there is hemlock or balsam, or bark that will peel, while for other services I use it oftener that I do my jackknife"
I found mention of Kepharts tiny 8 oz hatchet in various places around the web, however the best illustration that I could find was of a catalog image. Well after some digging I was able to come up with the below images. Most of the following were pulled from an auction of a Colclesser Brothers 12 oz Tomahawk.
Not having the means to drop the coin on a GB Mini, and realizing that getting my hands on a Colclesser was a pipe dream I picked up a Vaughn Sub Zero Sportsman's Axe. When I got it the head was covered in thick blue powder coat and the edge resembled that of a well used cold chisel. After some quality time with sandpaper and files I was able to find a nicely performing mini hatchet weighing only 13 oz with sheath.
A quick Feather Stick I made with my little hatchet.
And some fine shavings just to test out how it did with finer work after being put to use.
Here is a hardwood limb that I went through with the mini. it is somewhere in the 3-4" range. The hatchet made surprisingly quick work of it given it's size and weight.
I was using my mini hatchet to limb some branches that I had trimmed from an overhanging tree in my yard. In process I was sinking the bit of my hatchet into a pear wood log that I had picked up for use in my fire pit. I noticed that it was starting to open a split in the log with very little effort. A wooden wedge would make quick work of competing this split.
Here is another small hatchet that was kindly gifted to me. The head on this one comes in at 14 oz. I actually took the time to document the hafting process on this one. First up was some clean up and re-profiling work on the head.
Then it was time for the haft, an 18" hatchet handle from house handle that I never liked on the head it was originally fit to.
I thinned out the handle significantly and began to fit it to the eye.
Like many I test fit multiple times getting the handle into the eye a little further each time. In this case I was lucky to have part of the old haft to use as a drift.
Almost seated
Last fit before the finishing work begins.
Sanded and a little BLO applied.
Finished, I still need to get some in use pictures.
A couple of links of interest.
Karesuandokniven Unna Aksu
Old Jimbo
As I said it has become a bit of an obsession for me and so I have yet another tiny little hatchet head in route to my house. This one is an older vintage Vaughn head since the vintage ones were said to be of better quality, time will tell. The plan is to put it on a slightly longer haft to help with head velocity, but not too long as to keep it packable. I also have hopes to pick up an old Craftsman version of the Vaughan. Unfortunately it seems that the fine sellers on eBay believe these hatchets to be much more rare and valuable than they really are.
If you've read this far through my thread then I assume you have at least some interest in these little hatchets. Please feel free to share your thoughts, pictures, and videos. I plan to update this thread with use pictures, future projects, and comparisons.
My obsession began with my desire to have a lightweight tool that could chop and split wood on trips into the mountains where a heavier axe just couldn't be justified. I'm not a fan of heavy thick camp knives and I tried a light machete but found it wasn't worth its weight. That's when I ran into a passage that I'm sure many are familiar with.
Kephart's Colclesser Tomahawk
Woodcraft (p.32):
"Among my most valued possessions is a tiny Colclesser tomahawk, of 8-ounce head and 2-1/2 inch bit, which, with hickory handle and home-made sheath, weighs only three-quarters of a pound. I seldom go anywhere in the woods (unless in marching order with a heavier axe) without this little trick. It is all that is needed to put up a satisfactory shelter wherever there is hemlock or balsam, or bark that will peel, while for other services I use it oftener that I do my jackknife"
I found mention of Kepharts tiny 8 oz hatchet in various places around the web, however the best illustration that I could find was of a catalog image. Well after some digging I was able to come up with the below images. Most of the following were pulled from an auction of a Colclesser Brothers 12 oz Tomahawk.
Not having the means to drop the coin on a GB Mini, and realizing that getting my hands on a Colclesser was a pipe dream I picked up a Vaughn Sub Zero Sportsman's Axe. When I got it the head was covered in thick blue powder coat and the edge resembled that of a well used cold chisel. After some quality time with sandpaper and files I was able to find a nicely performing mini hatchet weighing only 13 oz with sheath.
A quick Feather Stick I made with my little hatchet.
And some fine shavings just to test out how it did with finer work after being put to use.
Here is a hardwood limb that I went through with the mini. it is somewhere in the 3-4" range. The hatchet made surprisingly quick work of it given it's size and weight.
I was using my mini hatchet to limb some branches that I had trimmed from an overhanging tree in my yard. In process I was sinking the bit of my hatchet into a pear wood log that I had picked up for use in my fire pit. I noticed that it was starting to open a split in the log with very little effort. A wooden wedge would make quick work of competing this split.
Here is another small hatchet that was kindly gifted to me. The head on this one comes in at 14 oz. I actually took the time to document the hafting process on this one. First up was some clean up and re-profiling work on the head.
Then it was time for the haft, an 18" hatchet handle from house handle that I never liked on the head it was originally fit to.
I thinned out the handle significantly and began to fit it to the eye.
Like many I test fit multiple times getting the handle into the eye a little further each time. In this case I was lucky to have part of the old haft to use as a drift.
Almost seated
Last fit before the finishing work begins.
Sanded and a little BLO applied.
Finished, I still need to get some in use pictures.
A couple of links of interest.
Karesuandokniven Unna Aksu
Old Jimbo
As I said it has become a bit of an obsession for me and so I have yet another tiny little hatchet head in route to my house. This one is an older vintage Vaughn head since the vintage ones were said to be of better quality, time will tell. The plan is to put it on a slightly longer haft to help with head velocity, but not too long as to keep it packable. I also have hopes to pick up an old Craftsman version of the Vaughan. Unfortunately it seems that the fine sellers on eBay believe these hatchets to be much more rare and valuable than they really are.
If you've read this far through my thread then I assume you have at least some interest in these little hatchets. Please feel free to share your thoughts, pictures, and videos. I plan to update this thread with use pictures, future projects, and comparisons.
Yeah, I've probably posted pictures of it half a dozen times now. It's so cute I can't help showin' it off. 
