Finally. just what you`ve been all waiting for!

Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Messages
312
Here are some crappy pics of that little double bit hatchet that will soon be headed off to Matt ( Long Rifle )
O-1 tool steel forged from a 1 3/16 round bar, curly maple haft. Hatchet is numero uno, this is the first time I`ve ever attempted it, and it looks great, Matt had been kind enough to give her a good test run for us, as it is really pretty much a proto type.

Enjoy

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Looking very nice. I like the handle profile you gave it. Appears like it would be very comfy to use. Clint
 
That looks great! I really like the haft too. Beautiful grain and finish, and I'd imagine it feels good in the hand - an oft-forgotten attribute but one that makes a huge difference after splitting kindling for an hour.

Got plans to make more of these? If so, is there anything you'd do differently after the experience you gained with number 1?
 
Very nice Ron! That's the best & fanciest handle I've ever seen on a hatchet. Long Rifle is going to be very proud to own that one. Now show us what's on your 'left' hip to off-set the hardware on the 'right' hip!
 
Thanks Guys:)

The handle profile was Matts idea. Put a swell close to the head for fine kindling, and a swell at the end for general comfort.
I`ll definitely make more of these hatchets, but I sure won`t bump a 1 3/16 round bar to 2 1/2 x 4" again...that was a huge amount of work!
I do carry quite the colection of knives, all mine of course. If you look close at the pic you will see three knives and the hatchet. one friction folder, one liner lock and my "LHK" I usually only carry one or two, but this is hunting season.
During hunting season my left hip is carrying, possibly a compass, but during local rifle season it carrys a 9 cartrige wallet, and I sure needed them this year till I broke the ice and shot a coyote at ove 500 yards!! serious I clocked it out with my car odometer, after that two days later I got an average 4x4 buck at 270 big paces at almost a flat out run...one shot!:D Car odometer you say? yeah I was hunting out of my car after I blew up the rear dif in my truck.
 
Awesome hatchet Ron. Serious chunk of steel. I love the horizontal striping of the maple.

Longrifle - what are you going to test it out on?

-- dizos
 
The first thing I plan on doing is taking some 26 grit sand paper to the handle, so I can have a good grip. Then I am going to stick the head into a bucket of brine for a few hours. I will then inspect the head for rust damage- I am assuming there will be none. I have been collecting some nails and bolts I have found on the street, I want to check the edge for impact resistance. To aid in this test I bought 10' of rebar, I will be chopping that also. After the rebar test I plan to check the cutting ability on old dirty carpet. If the hatchet survives the rebar and carpet test I am going to do some edge to edge impacts using a wedge. After all the tests I plan on checking its fire resistance. I plan on throwing the whole rig into a fire for an hour or so. I think the hatchet will do well :) ;).


Actually I have a HI AK and a bowie, I want to test all three of them together.

The AK weighs a little over three pounds, and the bowie weighs about 32oz, I am guessing the hatchet weighs a pound and a half or so (I'll weigh it when it gets here).

I want to test the splitting ability, chopping ability (on 2x4's and trees), I want to clean some fish, make some fuzz sticks, test edge holding on some rope, and chop some drift wood. Hopefully this will give a pretty well rounded review. I think testing the hatchet against the AK will give some pretty good contrast. I'll take photos of the whole thing too :). I'll test the cutting ability with Ron's integral too. Here are the knives in question.
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Let me know if you guys want me to test anything else.

Matt
 
Matt:eek: It`s a good thing I haven`t sent it off yet, I like it too much to see it chop rebar! I think I`ll keep it a while, till you come to your senses..lol;)
It will be on it`s way right directly, and I hope you have fun with it, but keep your fingers attached to your hand.
 
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