GB mini-hatchet

A

Alastair

Joined
May 1, 2003
Messages
21
After attempting to buy an mp3 player from ebay, I came to my senses and ordered a GB mini-hatchet (I do a bit of camping, and quite a lot of wittling/carving).

Looked around for retailers in europe - and found, to my suprise that the TV survival expert Ray Mears has an internet shop - and reasonable prices on GB mini-hatchets. They also claim to have lots in stock. The listed price is £35 - about $50. That includes postage in the UK - but they will post overseas - probably wouldn't be much, considering the light weight of the axe.

Try this link - look in the shop under cutting tools.
http://www.raymears.com
 
I'm glad you came to your senses. The GB mini is a great little hatchet. I have a marbles safetly axe (actually one made by AG Russell) and the GB is so much better that there is no comparison.
The GB mini fits easily in a day pack and is there if you need it.
Great purchase.

Tom
 
Arrived this morning - wow, so nice to see an axe that looks like it has been forged and not stamped out of a machine.

Looked at the edge - didn't look very sharp, didn't feel sharp on thumb, hang on, it really does shave hair! And slice paper. Guess it is a proper polished edge. The handle is so nice.

I'll try maintaining it on a mousemat when required. Will have to do some carving tonight - probably another spoon, since I don't have to think about that.

Really looking forward to being able to chuck it in my rucksack when I go away.

Does anyone know what sort of wax GB put on the head? I have some Renaissance wax I was going to use, but it comes thoroughly waxed.

Now, anyone know of any small motion sensor alarms I can use to stop ppl playing with it?
 
Forgot to add - since I live in the UK, it came with a sheet detailing the circumstances under which I can be arrested for carrying said hatchet.

Basically, in any public place, except "for use at work". "I was going to use it to slice tomatoes for my sandwiches at my desk, your honour."
 
You surely got a good price. A blade forums member put me on to a mini in the Midwest USA a few months ago for $65 plus shipping - and that was cheaper than the other vendors that I found - in addition the other vendors were all out of stock. My mini will go on Elk hunts and Woods Walks. I've already gotten my money's worth by way of pride of ownership. Enjoy yours!!
 
Alastair:
You're going to love that hatchet which is good for a few lifetimes of use if you look after it! I'd suggest some emery cloth on a mouspad to really get the bevels into shape. It may be sharp, but a few scratches from emery cloth and lots of slight imperfections will show up - probably including a secondary bevel. Once you have everything into shape, stropping on a leather belt loaded with abrasive will keep up a very fine polished edge - and you'll have the best chopping tool for its weight. It'll even work for knife duties!

Not many of us carry hatchets around for social occasions, and that tiny hatchet is one deadly fighting tool. We live with the laws around us....
 
Since you are talking about preserving the condition of your mini, I'll mention one thing I did to aid longevity of the sheath. If you put the sheath on carelessly (or let a non-axe/knife person do it), you may put some cuts in the leather. Since the mini is so sharp, a few in the same spot could eventually become a problem. I rubbed a couple thin coats of carpenter's/wood glue into the leather on the inside of the sheath, where the leading edge of the blade comes to rest. It stiffened up the finish of the leather and eliminated any nicks from less-than-perfect sheath replacement.
 
Thanks for the tip re: the sheath.

My hatchet does have a steep secondary bevel - and I was thinking of get rid of it - will give the mousemat a go. I think this bevel really reduces the hatchet's woodworking potential.
 
That secondary bevel reduces potential more than a person would believe. When I got my mini, it was soundly outperformed by a small horn golok of similar weight. Reprofiling the mini sure changed things around! Now that it's in shape the mini is also far more useful for knife tasks like making fuzzy sticks.
 
I finally gave in and ordered one of these. I just had to have one.

I ordered mine through the Ray Mears site even though I'm in the USA. My receipt says my credit card account "has been degbited by a total pounds 35.00 (with delivery charges and VAT)." If that's correct, then my card will be dinged for about $57 at today's exchange rate.

I will try some searches, but if you guys point me to the info on optimizing the bevel and sheath I would appreciate it.
 
I bought 2 GB mini-hatchets and two GB Wildlife from Jim Behring (www.treemanknives.com) last week when I was in his shop. I plan to keep one of each and give the others to my hunting partners. The job of clearing branches for my climbing stand just got a lot easier.

Bill
 
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