Lee Reeves belt &/or Bark River mini Vs. GB-mini

J

JWBirch

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Oct 13, 2002
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Hello all, just wondering if anyone out there owns a Lee Reeves Belt axe or a Bark River mini-axe, or could compare experience with one of these to the Gransfors Bruks mini-axe.

http://members.tripod.com/ssidders/id76.htm
http://www.barkriverknifetool.com/biggame/mini-axe.html
http://www.ehardwicks.com/product_line/pros/GRB-410.htm

In the "Nessmuk" spirit of things I've gone and ordered a GB Wildlife, but may also like a true mini-hatchet with old-world craftsmanship (no fiskars or estwings...), and these three hatchets top my list. I'm also not considering the true Nessmuk double-bit.

Thanks for your responses!
 
Yeah, I'm almost through bluing the Wildlife. 24hrs of oil and a steel-wool polish and I'll post a pic or two.

I think this is the perfect size for the woods, but maybe folks with the minis like theirs better??? I just can't be certain I'd want anything smaller than the Wildlife.

Still interested in opinions on the mini hatchets though.

just for comparison
wildlife: 24 ounces in sheath, 13.5" overall, 5" head, 3" edge: my exact measurements.

uncomfirmed measurements from websites:
GB mini: 16 oz. (head weight or overall weight?), 10.5" overall, 2.5" edge.
Reeves belt: 16 oz. (head weight or overall weight?), 4" head, 3.5" edge.
Bark River mini: 10 ounces, 10.5" overall, 3.7" edge,
 
I dont know about the Reeve but I have handled the Mini.

It really is that, it has a well finished head, but to me, its just too small.

My 'take along' is a tuned #16 Wetterlings for a hatchet and a #26 Limbing axe for trips that might require a bit more 'umph'.

I have seen a GB SFA for sale on the auctions here for less than they go for in the US. Muuuusssst reeeessiiiiiiiiittttt temmmmmmmptaaaaaaaaaatiooooooooonnnnnn! ;)
 
JWBirch said:
uncomfirmed measurements from websites:
GB mini: 16 oz. (head weight or overall weight?), 10.5" overall, 2.5" edge.
Reeves belt: 16 oz. (head weight or overall weight?), 4" head, 3.5" edge.
Bark River mini: 10 ounces, 10.5" overall, 3.7" edge,
Click to expand...

Here are the stats for my GB and Bark River Minis:
Gransfors Bruks: 12.3 oz. overall without the sheath, 4" head x 2.5" face, 11.5" long
Bark River: 9.7 oz. overall without the sheath, 3.75" head x 2.25" face, 11" long

I guess we can't post pics right now but I can send you jpeg size comparisons of these two if you like. Just email me at gmimura_at_yahoo_dot_com.

I haven't done much work with the Bark River yet (actually, not a whole lot with the GB either; I just started learning to use hatchets and axes about a year ago). But in the garage and around the home it chops up and splits scrap wood very nicely, vastly more powerful and efficient than knives I've used in its comparable size/weight. There are some interesting reviews by more skilled folks if you haven't already seen them:

http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/tinyhatchets.html

http://forums.outdoors-magazine.com/viewtopic.php?p=36295

http://forums.outdoors-magazine.com/viewtopic.php?p=32921

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5825
 
I have a GB mini and a Reeves Double bit but there's no comparison there cause the double bit is so much heavier, like 7 oz.

The GB mini is great when weight is an issue but you have to kind of whip it to go for the full cutting power cause it's so light.:thumbup:

I'd like to hear about the Reeves single bit myself
 
It is hard to judge performance from unknown woods and unknown users but :

http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/vaughanaxe2x4.jpg

in about 300 hits is just staggering. This is about 10-15 hits with a decent 7" knife on a piece of seasoned spruce. I spent some time the weekend comparing a few blades and saws. I find it hard to reason with an axe of that size vs a knife, aside from legality of carry. The Sub-Zero is so cheap though I am still tempted to see how it performs and just how much performance is lost vs the Wildlife.

-Cliff
 
Was that 300 hits to get through a 2x4? Was he just letting the mini-axe fall on its own weight? I made it through a 2x6 in about 40 whacks with a SRKW Desert Jack while testing my edge durability the other day, and that's a relatively light 6" blade knife.
 
Correction, it was :

"I cut through the 2x4 in 2 1/2 minutes using 234 strokes"

If you check the picture you note that the wood is coming off in really small pieces which matches the huge number of swings. As noted, it is hard to judge things in isolation because of variables like density of wood, but I have cut lots of lumber which is well seasoned (years old) and anything over 30 s with even a moderate chopping tool is a *long* time. With the right knife this is 3-5 seconds for the top ABS choppers though I don't know exactly what type of wood they cut. But they are not cutting balsa or similar, the softest I would expect is pine and I would expect times on spruce and similar to only be about double. Assuming the tool can clear the wood, it doesn't matter if you go through one side or flip it. If you have to multiple notch it, then the times are increased, I worked out the time ratios for this a few years back and posted them based on the number of notches necessary.

-Cliff
 
The mini is cute and thats about it. I can never understand people that think about the weight of kit (within reason) I had one client ask me about what ficed blades I reccomended for hiking. I listed a few that I though would suit his needs and budget, he writes back saying a 190g knife is too heavy :rolleyes: This is a guy that is about 10KG overweight, the mind boggles.

The #13 Wetterlings is a probably the best hatchet at that size, personally I think the GB Mini is a tad too small. Note though, I have only held the GB at SHOT this year, but I have used the #13 to chop up some decent sized wood and if you sharpen it right and get the wrist flick down, it really throws chunks (the wood kind, not the carrot tainted sort)
 
IS the GB Wildlife really 24oz?

My Reeves is only like 17.

gear3.jpg
 
Mine, which is well worn and heavily used and sharpened is still 620 grams, which is ~22 oz. It is also not unusal to have hand forged heads vary by an ounce or two.

-Cliff
 
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