Mini Axes

J

jurisprudence

Joined
Jul 17, 2009
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414
Mini axes, small hatchets, pocket axes, call them what you will. Thought I would share a few with you all. Post up some of your favorites.

The double bit is a Collins that I picked up on the on-line auction site. It came in good condition, cleaned up well, and to my pleasant surprise, has an original handle. At the time I bought it, I had planned on putting it to use. However, given the condition and the handle, I have been unable to bring myself to use it.

The three in a row are an old Craftsman, GB Mini, and Bark River mini. I should have included something for scale, but many of you are familiar with the GB mini. These are tiny and light. The handles are around 10'' each. The Bark River has an incredible profile and is extremely thin. By comparison, a GB Wildlife Hatchet seems like a man's tool.
 

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Little hatchets are very useful. I have a small Plumb that I use often. Some others are a Lakeside, another plumb, a couple from Sweden (one of which I keep in the trunk of my car) a few unmarked and the best of all is a very small Herters double bit with the original handle and sheath which is way too nice to even use. A curious one is an unmarked head that is only 4 1/4" long with a 2" edge. It is no toy since it is made of high quality steel. It is in top shape and appears to have never been used or sharpened. I have no clues regarding it at all.
I've tried pictures, but haven't had much luck. I type it all in and it seems right, but when I post it, it remains just the typed name and no picture shows up. Sorry.
 
a herters huh... boy i sure would like to see that...
get the picture thing figured out... please:)
ive got a couple of small ones myself, ill have to get some pics on here in a day or two...
one of mine is a tiny DB collins...

nice pics fellows;)
 
same here, i'd love to see the Herter's double.
'OL man Hereter had a knack for finding great tools. and fishing gear

buzz
 
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Well here is a picture of my little wee axes.

IMG_0082-2.jpg


Left side GB wildlife for size comparison, Top row L to R Estwing, Craftsman, Hartwell, Lee Reeve's. GB Mini. right side wetterling's Wildlife for comparison.

Bottom L to R Mustad ( made in Norway) Norlund.

Who made all the little axes like the Craftsman, Vaughn, Hartwell, BelNap, they all seem to look a lot a like to me?


It may be the angle of my photo but all the middle hatchets are under a foot long.

and here is an old Norlund double bit. but I have change the handle since this pic

62308338_tp.jpg
 
omniviking said:
Who made all the little axes like the Craftsman, Vaughn, Hartwell, BelNap, they all seem to look a lot a like to me?
Click to expand...

I've wondered the same thing. I have a little old Craftsman hatchet that looks a lot like a Vaughn. Since Craftsman typically re-brand tools made by others I just assumed that it is a Vaughn. And I've got a 3 lb. Craftsman splitter/feller that I'm wondering about, too.

And BTW, sweet collection you have there.
 
Square_peg said:
I've wondered the same thing. I have a little old Craftsman hatchet that looks a lot like a Vaughn. Since Craftsman typically re-brand tools made by others I just assumed that it is a Vaughn. And I've got a 3 lb. Craftsman splitter/feller that I'm wondering about, too.

And BTW, sweet collection you have there.
Click to expand...
according to the referance book (that i have) 'axe manufactures of north america'... craftsman actually made their own axes...
i have an old DB and a newer hatchet... from craftsman...
 
That's surprising. Are their axes well regarded? My hatchet is a little dandy but I haven't hung the other one yet.
 
Square_peg said:
That's surprising. Are their axes well regarded? My hatchet is a little dandy but I haven't hung the other one yet.
Click to expand...
yeah, from my understanding, the older ones are very 'highly regarded'...
i have spoken about the old DB that i have on the forum before, but never with a pic... i need to get one up...
it was my father-in-laws fathers... my FIL is almost 70, so its an old one...
the hatchet is a newer one that my FIL bought me (us) several years ago, just because... its a really nice hatchet as well...
 
I agree. Craftsman made their own axes. The older ones made in America were excellent. I don't know where the more recent ones are made. Craftsman is a pretty good name, but generally speaking, any axe coming out of a department store lately requires a bit more caution when buying. If you buy such a new axe and are happy with it, that's good, but I've seen some real duds. I have an unnamed hatchet that is snapped right off at the front of the eye and inside is a hard plastic filler with just a thin metal skin over it. Hard to believe such junk is passed off as an axe.
 
The Craftsman axes and hammers are made by Vaughan. Craftsman may have made their own at one time but they have been rebranding Vaughan tools for a long time.
If you have an old Craftsman hammer (or axe?)that they no longer carry(I have an old 24oz smooth face framer that Craftsman doesn't carry anymore) they give you contact info for Vaughan and they Take care of it. I do not know what Vaughan will do(either replace or refund) but that is the process.
 
thriller100 said:
please tell me a little about the 2 on the top row:D i feel like i need some of my own:D
Click to expand...
Upper row right?
It's Backpack axe from Svante Djarv, Sweden.
I was on factory at this summer- it's my lovely carving axes.
HERE my little revue about S.Djarv axes, sorry- in russian )))
 
spike116 said:
The Craftsman axes and hammers are made by Vaughan.
Click to expand...

That's encouraging. I've had a number of Vaughn hammers over the years and they've all been very good. My current finish hammer is a Vaughn and I still have my old 24 oz. Vaughn framer - though the waffle pattern has long since been beaten off of it.
 
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