CAMP AXES-new, high quality, affordable, available now

Ripshin Lumberjack · Oct 1, 2016

I own two new, camp axes. They are made by an American Company. Vaughan is the company and they date back into the 1870-1880's. The head of the hatchet is 1 1/2 lbs., 14" handle, and very good quality metal. The handles have been stained red and are attractive. I replaced my two axe handles with 19" octagon handles from House Handle and reformed the handles to my liking. I then stained the two handle in a red cherry stain from Laurel Mountain. Laurel Mountain"s name was given to me by a member from this forum. BLESS HIM! The metal is of such quality that you can get a razor edge and the metal will retain the edge very well because it is a Vaughn Axe.

NOW.................THE COST OF THIS HIGH QUALITY TOOL IS=$17.95!!!?????! Yes, Yes,Yes,Yes! $17.95 at your local SEARS STORE! What a deal! $17.95 for a high quality, American made tool. One can order Vaughan Camp Axes from Amazon, BUT, It will cost much more than Sears. The camp axe from Sears says Craftsman-made in U.S.A.(it's made by Vaughan).

Hope this helps someone.

ripshin

Hickory n steel · Oct 1, 2016

Vaughan is an excellent American company and they're 20oz 999 rip claw framer is just perfect👌
I also own they're sub zero hatchet and while it is a one day project it's still an excellent tool. A word of warning regarding the current craftsman branded hatchets is that from what I've seen and experienced Sears has much lower standards, and the hatchets and hammers have been pretty rough and sloppy regarding finish. I've seen craftsman and Vaughan brandings on the same shelf , and the Vaughan marked tools were much nicer looking than they're craftsman marked twins.
BTW Vaughn's full sized axes are imported from I don't know where and may not be as good.

In January my grandmother needed a hatchet for kindling so while at sears i picked her out the best of the craftsman hatchets on the shelf, and while the head was very sloppy looking the steel was great and I'm certainly not unhappy to know that I'll inherit it one-day.
If I had the choice of a new one I'd rather pay an extra couple bux to get one directly from Vaughn , unless I can find one in stores as the f&f is better.

Ripshin Lumberjack · Oct 2, 2016

Hi Hickory n steel

My two axes seem to be very, very nice. The metal is ground to a very nice smooth finish and coated with varnish. The hatchet heads are ground and shaped very nicely.
Also, my new hatchets are actually approximately 18 months old. Perhaps I purchased them when they were more nicely finished. However, mine are actually beautiful with the 19" octagon shaped House Handles that I rehung them with. I totally saturated the handles with boiled linseed oil to the point that I had to wait for a very long time before I could use the little axes. The handles were sticky for well over 14 months. I will not do that again. The blade cheek is pretty much thin enough BUT I will also thin out the cheek near the cutting edge with very judicious use of a angle grinder and old fashion file. This will totally equal the thin blades of the Scandinavian imported axes.
I purchased one of the axes for $10.95 because Sears had a sell on much of it's hardware tools. I am grateful that my axes seem to very nicely finished.

You're right when you tell us that the other Vaughan larger felling axes are imported. This is why so many people like us distrust ANY axes made overseas. We cannot be sure they are quality heat treated axes. A alternative hatchet is the 2lb. Council Tool Axe. Council tends to be a little too thick at the cutting edge. Grinding and filing will take care of this problem.

ripshin

Hickory n steel · Oct 2, 2016

Ripshin Lumberjack said:
Hi Hickory n steel

My two axes seem to be very, very nice. The metal is ground to a very nice smooth finish and coated with varnish. The hatchet heads are ground and shaped very nicely.
Also, my new hatchets are actually approximately 18 months old. Perhaps I purchased them when they were more nicely finished. However, mine are actually beautiful with the 19" octagon shaped House Handles that I rehung them with. I totally saturated the handles with boiled linseed oil to the point that I had to wait for a very long time before I could use the little axes. The handles were sticky for well over 14 months. I will not do that again. The blade cheek is pretty much thin enough BUT I will also thin out the cheek near the cutting edge with very judicious use of a angle grinder and old fashion file. This will totally equal the thin blades of the Scandinavian imported axes.
I purchased one of the axes for $10.95 because Sears had a sell on much of it's hardware tools. I am grateful that my axes seem to very nicely finished.

You're right when you tell us that the other Vaughan larger felling axes are imported. This is why so many people like us distrust ANY axes made overseas. We cannot be sure they are quality heat treated axes. A alternative hatchet is the 2lb. Council Tool Axe. Council tends to be a little too thick at the cutting edge. Grinding and filing will take care of this problem.

ripshin

This particular hatchet had a decent dip in the top of it, but other than that the finish wasn't horrible considering what was payed. The problem I have is what I saw with the ball peen hammers which had offset ball ends that were misshapen and pointy, this is something I've never seen on a tool Vaughan has made and put their own name on. I know that the Steel is still there, but the heads are currently just a bit rougher ( maybe they let a bad batch out, because this was never something I'd see )
I still wouldn't hesitate to go to Sears and pick up the best of their hatchets because they're worth the effort if you just can't find a good vintage head around.

BTW would you mind posting a picture of your hatchets.👍