Bark River Mini-axe, how good is it?

C

carpediem

Joined
Dec 11, 2000
Messages
291
If you have used one of these please let me know how well it worked out for you. 10" overall, 1080 steel, weights about a pound. Looking for something to carry when hunting, backpacking, etc. rather than a 9" or so knife.
 
I haven't used one, but I'm it looks great, Bark River has some nice designs. Barring that, you may want to look at the Swamp Rat Hatchet.
 
I stumbled on it while viewing their online catalogue. I am trying to buy US made products. I want very good quality, I camp, hunt, fish, hike, just about anything outdoors. I use my tools. Tough sometimes to find quality US made items, but worth the time and effort. I will take a look at the Busse model, thanks.
 
I bought one but returned it. It's really really really small and the handle is very skinny! The case that is described as "leather", is cheap vinyl. I wasn't impressed with it. It's a Vaughn Sub-zero that is slightly modified by BRK&T.

If you really want a mini axe, get the GB Mini. Yes it's a little pricey but it's a very impressive little tool.

Collecter
 
collecter said:
I bought one but returned it. It's really really really small and the handle is very skinny! The case that is described as "leather", is cheap vinyl. I wasn't impressed with it. It's a Vaughn Sub-zero that is slightly modified by BRK&T.
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You mean it is an aftermarket Subzero whch BRKT modifies and puts their stamp on? Or is it made by BRKT but modelled on the Vaugn Subzero? :confused:
 
Yes, it is a stock Vaughn product that has been reground, "hotrodded" if you will, by BRKT.
I don't have one so I can't comment on it.
 
martin j said:
WOW you would think they should say so on thier web site no??
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Probably would not move many of them if people knew you could get the Vaughn for $21.

-Cliff
 
I personally don’t have one yet but have been meening to pick one up. From people that know way more about small hatchets and axes it is well worth the price. The Old Jimbo is a reall good web page for some honest upfront opinions. http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/
Yes Bark River starts out with a Vaughan but dthey do a lot of work on them 24 or 25 different steps. Bark river has not hidden this fact. It's a different hatchet when they are done with it. In fact they tell you everything they do to it, so you could even get a Vaughan and do it yourself if you wanted. Personally I’d get a Bark River one if a small hatchet is what your looking for.
 
For those curious :

http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/751703/

The step count is so high because every grit change is a step. Essentially :

-the edge is reprofiled
-hollows are applied to the primary grind
-the handle is sanded and oiled

A top down shot of the bit would be informative to see just how much material was removed. Of course this simply changes it from one type of axe into another.

A soft wood axe for example has a very thick and heavy bit, usually ful convex, compared to a hard wood axe which is much thinner and usually runs hollow grinds to increase penetration.

It would be interesting to see a BR compared to a stock Vaughn and a Vaughn which saw a few minutes work with a file, over a variety of wood types.

Interesting to see one manufacturer take such a hard line on another :

"Over a year ago Reid (Sharpshooter) brought me a Vaughn Sub Zero axe and asked me to make it actually cut and chop something.

The Vaughn--from the factory is not sharp and needs refining to actually be an effecient tool."

-Cliff
 
Yeah Clifff all of that would be interesting. But, the guy just wanted to know if it was a good hatchet. By the reports I’ve read by people that have used it it’s a great little hatchet and performs much better than the other small hatchets. Is it the cheapestthing he could get? No… He could buy a 2 pound hammer and a file and grind away on that until he had just what he wanted. Is the price worth it to have someone else do the work for you? Sometimes it’s much cheaper and turns out much nicer if they do.
 
db said:
He could buy a 2 pound hammer and a file and grind away on that until he had just what he wanted.
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Or he could just buy the Vaughn for $21 and start there, better steel for an axe than a hammer head as well.

-Cliff
 
Or he could just buy the Bark River one and not have to do anything. :)
 
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