HAX - Chopping and making wood curls

Mine should be here Monday so I should be able to answer some questions ASAP...as far as steel used I'm not sure I'm sure is somewhere I just missed it or forgot what it was.
 
Kind of Nessmuckian, isn't it? I like a tiny hatchet myself, though I feel safer with a single bit.

Could the flats of this be used to drive stakes?
 
I just visited your site. The $200.00 price for your "axe" is a deal killer for me. I would have thought it
would have been priced somewhere around $40.00.

Tom
 
It looks to me like a nessmuk hatchet that used a solid piece of steel for the head and handle. Its an interesting idea, similar to the Estwing double bit hatchet. I do like the idea, since I like to use and carry a lightweight hawk/hatchet when camping; however the solid-piece construction means that it is balanced wrong for power. Personally I would get more use out of a hawk the same weight, or a fixed blade of the same weight. With the hawk it would transfer into more efficient cutting instead of just bouncing like in the video; while the fixed blade would still be an ok chopper while offering all the uses of a knife.

I am sure that someone has a use for it, but not me. To me it does a mediocre job of answering a question that wasn't ever asked. Please don't take this as an insult though, as everyone's opinion is different and everyone's needs are different. It looks good but its just not for me.

Also $200 does seem rather outrageous for something like this. Without some sort of justification that is. As it stands its a piece of steel that has been hardened and wrapped in paracord.
 
Thanks everyone for your input so far.
This is a first run item and all your feedback is very helpful!
I've given out four of these HAX to folks who replied to my offer. I look forward to their feedback as well.

There are other examples of this type of tool from Busse, Winkler, Buck, Kershaw, Sog and others that use a wide array of metals and handles. Most are single bit examples and many have "entry" or "pick" ends on the opposite sides.

I wanted to make something with a lifetime design that had two bits and would be small enough to weigh close to a hunting knife but provide better chopping at the same weight. I also wanted the design to allow the HAX to be thrown without fear or damage or breakage. The S7 steel and my heat treat provide that. I will say the bevels are shallow for a standard hatchet, but given the HAX's size this became necessary to allow it to stick when thrown into hard wood.

You can see the HAX thrown from about 15' in this video along with my other knives. Just as an example of this utility: [video=youtube;gl4CFe3sOEM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl4CFe3sOEM[/video]

I'm attaching the specs for the HAX. The COB is about 1/4" below the meeting of the handle and blade. In the video I was not chopping with full leverage but about half... And really not very hard...

What I think makes this HAX unique is the double bit design, the size, the metal and the all metal construction. I also think there's room for improvement but I'm not the best judge, you all are, and I appreciate the comments thus far and the folks who've agreed to try one out for themselves.

Weight as shown is 14 oz.

Thanks again everyone.

- Hal Zucati
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I like the reasoning behind your design. I run into a large amount of knots in my AO and can appreciate it and the double bit is a nice touch for one side hitting knots and other for cutting type task. The use of paracord is smart to I think as it allows more weight in the head area and the end user can adjust size of diameter & easy and on the cheap. The ring on the end looks comfortable and snag free even wrap it with paracord for an even better feel if a person wanted. It's not my cup of tea. If I was into the whole light weight deal than it looks like a good made in America option but I value performance over the energy spent hacking the a branch that size. If I cant get through that size of branch in 1 chop then I wont bring it into the woods, but to each his own and I like it for its intended purpose and the fact you can throw it just adds to the fun and diversity of it. Nice job.
 
Other than for throwing use I'm not sure I see a strong advantage in a double bit this small. I'd personally also narrow the bit by a half inch so you could extend the bit length a bit for a little extra striking power and knuckle clearance for equal weight. Maybe even keep the edge length the same but beard it out a little to create the extension without extra mass.

As a "utility thrower" I see it as a fairly sensible design, though I'd still rather have the bits extended.

Nice throwing, and those "rocket" throwers are pretty dang cute. :D:thumbup:
 
FortyTwoBlades,
I hear exactly what you're saying and I think I've got something like that I nabbed on Ebay a while back...
Yea, here's one just like it:

$_57.JPG
 
R
halzucati said:
LizaMari,
Replied.
Thanks!

One left!
- Hal
Click to expand...
I got this little beauty in the mail this evening and I wanted to thank you. The pink paracord wrap was a nice surprise! I've got a lot of yard work and brush clearing to do tomorrow, so I'll be putting this baby to work! It feels great in the hand and it is razor sharp. I can't wait to beat the hell out of it tomorrow! I'll report back with photos.
 
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LizaMari said:
R
I got this little beauty in the mail this evening and I wanted to thank you. The pink paracord wrap was a nice surprise! I've got a lot of yard work and brush clearing to do tomorrow, so I'll be putting this baby to work! It feels great in the hand and it is razor sharp. I can't wait to beat the hell out of it tomorrow! I'll report back with photos.
Click to expand...

"Beat the hell out of it..."
Music to my ears. That's the spirit!
Very cool and exciting, please do let us know how it goes.
Thanks for your interest and willingness to share!
 
I agree that it looks very well made and I appreciate the skill that was required to produce it. However, I also see it as kind of a knife on a stick. I would personally rather buy or make a heavy bushcraft knife. I agree with the price in that there is no way to make such a well crafted tool from such high quality steel in small batches for much less and have it be worthwhile to put the time in. It might just be that there is not enough call for such a tool to justify manufacture. I would look more towards a heavy bushcraft knife. It can be made for the same cost or less, have more of a market and probably have more utility.
 
jblyttle said:
I agree that it looks very well made and I appreciate the skill that was required to produce it. However, I also see it as kind of a knife on a stick. I would personally rather buy or make a heavy bushcraft knife. I agree with the price in that there is no way to make such a well crafted tool from such high quality steel in small batches for much less and have it be worthwhile to put the time in. It might just be that there is not enough call for such a tool to justify manufacture. I would look more towards a heavy bushcraft knife. It can be made for the same cost or less, have more of a market and probably have more utility.
Click to expand...

I agree with you completely, which is why I only had a small run of these made this time around. If they catch on, great, if not then I've not put all my eggs in one basket.
As for the heavy bush craft knife... at the risk of going off topic, this is all I'll say about that, and then encourage this converstation to continue either offline or in the fixed blade forum if you or anyone else wants: (This was my take on that...)


With Guard (For hunting and heavy cutting) (Made to be balanced and thrown as well)
IMG_1225.jpg




Without Guard (For cooking and camp chores) (Made to be balanced and thrown as well)
IMG_1221.jpg


Now back to the Axes and Hatchets!

HAX1.jpg
 
Got mine today and I was lucky enough to get the red paracord wrapped one seen in the pics and vids! Its nice and thick, sharp as hell and definitely not a toy! The wear signs were minimum and barely noticeable. The weight felt right on maybe 1-3 inches longer and a single bit would make a differance,but I don't think that's what the maker was going for. What so far I see you getting is a solid and great tool that can also be tons of fun! Can't wait to play with it tomorrow ! Thanks for this great tool. Also ultra light campers should check this out! Could cut some weight off your pack and as we know ounces count.
 
It came to day so I got some quick throws in . It must stuck every time and no damage its thick I'll get pick up later. It took small branches of trees and did about every camp chores and then flip the blades and prep your food! I can think of a hundred uses for it. The coustomer service and quality control is great and Life time warranty $200 isn't a bad price at all I'm dAmn lucky I grabbed one and he wrote a nice letter inside the box and sighed it...now that's time and effort there ! I'll continue to support this company. just wish I had buizsness cards from them to hand out. But overall first observations great for. Day hike and such. CAnt wait to put it through its paces and just beat it....lol
 
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