Marbles "Double Bit" belt axe

T

Tractorshaft

Joined
May 7, 2006
Messages
58
MR009DB.jpg


Hi Guys,

Just received my little Marbles Double Bit #9. Its on a clearance sale for $19.56 at the E-Blade store, you can find it here if interested. They are routinely selling for over $35.00 on Ebay, when you can find them! I had never purchased anything from the EBlade store, although it took a little over a week to get the axe they were very good communicators, emailing me every step of the way, something like three emails, got your order, order at warehouse, order shipped. An A+ experience with them, I just happened upon the site, I normally buy from Dantes or Knife Center but these guys have very very good prices and appear to be on the up-and-up. They have a high dollar e-knife site for sure. I would reccomend them, anyways here is where to find the little Marbles if interested. It is too "Cute" if that does not sound too fruity.

http://www.ebladestore.com/knives/MR009DB.html

I opened the box and was pretty impressed with the cute little axe. Of course its not very sharp but for less than twenty bucks I can remedy that. It came complete with a very nice leather belt sheath. All in all a great deal. You will be surprised at the size of the little axe, it is small but not so small that you would turn your seven year old loose with it on the big maple in the back yard :eek: I am going to do a Nessmuk grind on it and give it a workout and proper review at the end of the summer.

Or you can save your beer can money like me and get on the waiting list of Lee Reeve's for a Nessmuk Double Bit Belt Axe like these little beauties;
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I am waiting on the one in the middle, high polish with flame maple handle, sharp as a "Double Bladed Hen Turd" & twice as nasty :D

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I posted awhile back about the one that I got and I was happy with it until I went to use it- just basic messing around comparing it to a Gerber- three hits on a seasoned mulberry branch about 4 inches in diameter and the head went flying off :( Looks better than it works. (The Marble's one that is)
 
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digitalrebelttu said:
I posted awhile back about the one that I got and I was happy with it until I went to use it- just basic messing around comparing it to a Gerber- three hits on a seasoned mulberry branch about 4 inches in diameter and the head went flying off :( Looks better than it works. (The Marble's one that is)
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So the head came loose from the handle? Scary.
Got any pics? Was there a wedge (wood and/or metal) in the top of the handle?
was the top of the axe painted or anything?

I had an old no-name Chinese import full sized double bit that "looked" solid, until i chopped with it.
After two or three swings i started to see "pieces" flying through the air.
The pieces flying in the air were chunks of epoxy that had broken loose!
:eek:
Turns out there was no wedges of any kind just a grossly undersized handle filled in with brittle epoxy hidden under red paint.
Thats why i'm now always wary of axes with painted eyes.

Hopefully your bad experience with the Marbles was just a fluke.
I might still buy one of these marbles as i can alway rehandle it if need be.
At the very least i'd give it a good once over before even considering using it as is.
 
tholiver said:
So the head came loose from the handle? Scary.
Got any pics? Was there a wedge (wood and/or metal) in the top of the handle?
was the top of the axe painted or anything?

I had an old no-name Chinese import full sized double bit that "looked" solid, until i chopped with it.
After two or three swings i started to see "pieces" flying through the air.
The pieces flying in the air were chunks of epoxy that had broken loose!
:eek:
Turns out there was no wedges of any kind just a grossly undersized handle filled in with brittle epoxy hidden under red paint.
Thats why i'm now always wary of axes with painted eyes.

Hopefully your bad experience with the Marbles was just a fluke.
I might still buy one of these marbles as i can alway rehandle it if need be.
At the very least i'd give it a good once over before even considering using it as is.
Click to expand...


Actually it was quite scary because the head came completely off and luckily flew forward and down. Now I know why some people don't like double-bitted axes.

The head is held on with a metal wedge, no painting or anything. If you look down at the head, with the edges facing straight up and down, there is an opening in the head like a figure 8 with an extra circle or 3 circles on top of each other. That is where the wood handle comes up through the head of the axe. A metal wedge goes all the way down the wood, parallel with the axis of the head; it touches the head at both sides. Hard to describe but I will try and take a pic tomorrow.

My copy came wrapped in a heavily oiled piece of paper, so I have some suspicion that the oil caused the wood to shrink a little. It was literally 3 fairly good whacks on the branch (which is hard as hell, its been in the yard for 2-3 years) when the wedge and head went flying. I was the using the one edge that actually had the 2 edges meeting in an edge- the other side is dull as heck because the edges do not meet. I did not do any work on the edge. I just happened to get a bug up my butt to test it vs. my Gerber Gator Combo (which is the Back Paxe with knife) and Gerber Gator Axe II. I had not done anything with the edges on either of the Gerbers and they both massively out chopped the Marble's.

I like the Marble's because it looks cool and was supposed to be a cheap alternative for my Nessmuk trio but I could never trust it now. And I have come to the conclusion that the wiser men who say that the double-bits are too dangerous are right. And after watching Axmen that a Stihl beats the crap out of a hatchet.:cool:
 
I have a Marbles double bit hunters axe. I used it this spiring for the first time and in about 3 minutes the head flew off. I was very dissapointed, but grateful about having sunglasses on. I finished the job of cutting up some apple branches with an old Kukri that I had, it did the job great. It looked to me like the wood may have not been seasoned and shrunk in the axe head, maybe moist because of rust on the wood. The wedge was still in the handle and the head fit right back on. I was told by Marbles company owner that he would look into it after I sent it to him. I received a woodcraft knife for my troubles. He sent me a new axe a month ago. I haven't used it. If this one comes off, I may try to grind the weird handle hole and taper it if I can for a tomahawk style handle. I don't have confidence in it. I wonder how their other axes fare? The company was very helpful, the woodcraft knife was much appreciated. The axe is made overseas. The kukri is my go to chopper. Regards, Loosearrow
 
So thats at least two here who have had the marbles heads detach on them.
Scary!
:eek:
I've heard some people drill a hole through the side of axe-heads and put in a metal pin.
That should make sure the head doesn't fly off.
Sounds like it could be difficult to drill though.

Anybody have any problems with the Marbles single-bits?
I was going to buy a Vaughan but now they seem scarce so i may buy a Marbles single bit instead.


All this talk of drilling holes,dang i wish i had bought that drill press that was on sale a few weeks ago (i knew i'd regret that).
Oh well next time they are on sale i'll buy it for sure.
 
I have a small Norlund that I like alot. Fairly lightweight, can choke up on it and seems to hold a fair edge. Regards, Loosearrow
 
riddleofsteel said:
I finally got my Reeves after a year waiting.

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Love it...love it.....love it!
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Anxiously :eek: awaiting the arrival of my matched pair from Lee and still may see them by Saturday. I went with the Osage handle just based on the durability factor but did not ask for the polished heads (because I didn't know about the options). What is your handle material?
 
Thats a good looking rig! I ordered the fancier version, tiger maple handle with polished head. I have a few belt hatchets that I use, this one wont be too much of a user, more of a wall hanger in my trophy room in a handmade knife display. They guy does beautiful work. The "Nessmuk" concept of chisel/fine edge is a dandy for a little double bit. Congrats on "Waiting your turn". I think you will probably get more enjoyment out of your "User" than my "Looker"! I am still a few months out! Best regards!

Jerry
 
tholiver said:
So thats at least two here who have had the marbles heads detach on them.
Scary!
:eek:
I've heard some people drill a hole through the side of axe-heads and put in a metal pin.
That should make sure the head doesn't fly off.
Sounds like it could be difficult to drill though.

Anybody have any problems with the Marbles single-bits?
I was going to buy a Vaughan but now they seem scarce so i may buy a Marbles single bit instead.


All this talk of drilling holes,dang i wish i had bought that drill press that was on sale a few weeks ago (i knew i'd regret that).
Oh well next time they are on sale i'll buy it for sure.
Click to expand...

I bought a Vaughans sounding axe from Forestry Suppliers about a month ago. Looks like they still have them.
http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/View_Catalog_Page.asp?mi=1747
 
The Marbles you find now are Chinese-made poor replicas of the originals, and IMO, not worth the effort. I bought one, and the fit, finish, and quality was terrible. Bill.
 
There are still US made Marbles hatchets out there and they are great. I think they were put out by the Custom Shoppe in 2003. My #9 stood up to frequent use last summer and will see plenty more this year. :thumbup:
 
i am currently modding a Marble's China-made double bit Nessmuck with one of our hybrid composite handles.

the head looks mighty well done, for what it is. - frnkly, i was surprised.

at 19 bucks a pop, i might have to get some more.

i intend to put a little retaining collar of material just beyond the eye, so it will be held on the bottom, in the eye, and on top - but if they used the right epoxy on even a straight-walled eye, it should have held.

sounds like they simply used the wrong stuff, or hung the hatchet wrong.

what do you guys think of keeping a wooden handle soaked, for tight fit...?

vec
 
vector001 said:
i am currently modding a Marble's China-made double bit Nessmuck with one of our hybrid composite handles.

the head looks mighty well done, for what it is. - frnkly, i was surprised.

at 19 bucks a pop, i might have to get some more.

i intend to put a little retaining collar of material just beyond the eye, so it will be held on the bottom, in the eye, and on top - but if they used the right epoxy on even a straight-walled eye, it should have held.

sounds like they simply used the wrong stuff, or hung the hatchet wrong.

what do you guys think of keeping a wooden handle soaked, for tight fit...?

vec
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Vector,

I agree , for less than twenty bucks, the head alone is worth the price. Now lets get realistic folks, if you cant manage to come up with a creative solution to keep the damned head on the handle you need to upgrade your tool kit from a butter knive and tube of superglue :jerkit: to something more creative and craftsman like. Like they say, "it is what it is". I too was very impressed with the quality of the steel, fit and finish of the little axe. Country of Mfgr. aside, the "Cute" factor alone makes it a bargain :D. If you dont like it, give it to a wife or girlfriend to whack their rose bushes with.

Jerry,
 
sarge said:
Anxiously :eek: awaiting the arrival of my matched pair from Lee and still may see them by Saturday. I went with the Osage handle just based on the durability factor but did not ask for the polished heads (because I didn't know about the options). What is your handle material?
Click to expand...

My matched pair of Lee Reeves Nessmuck axes came today :D Well worth the year long wait.

Thanks Lee, and the leather covers are awesome.

A true American craftsman :)
 
sarge said:
My matched pair of Lee Reeves Nessmuck axes came today :D Well worth the year long wait.

Thanks Lee, and the leather covers are awesome.

A true American craftsman :)
Click to expand...

....you just hit my jealousy button with a sledge hammer, brother....

:D:thumbup:

vec
 
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