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nessmuk axes

j williams

j williams

Joined
Nov 14, 2005
Messages
11,135
Who has one of those double bit axes, they call the nessmuk hatchet? What are your thoughts on em, and where can I find one??:confused:

Thanks gents.......J
 
Most people will agree that Lee Reeves makes the nicest ones.

$165-$205 with a 10-12 month wait.

http://members.tripod.com/ssidders/id121.htm

IMG_5855.jpg
 
Thats exactly what I was lookin for, thanks B!

I thought I saw one in osage a while back on here somewhere.....

What are your thoughts on it? Have you used it alot?
 
Thats it HD. Great looking axe! What do ya think? Is it a usefull tool, or am I better off with a GB?
 
I like it. It's light and easy to pack. With the two edges each having different bevel angles you use one for heavier chopping and one for finer work.

I used mine to extract the core of a fallen tree. It was the best dry firewood around and it was coming out no matter what. Despite being a small hatchet I did a bit of prying with it and it suffered no ill effects.

My favorite thing about it is that is "sings" when you chop with it.

I think I'm gonna gun blue mine.
 
Those DB hatchetts are nice!! I am just rediscovering small axes/hatchets- 15" and 19" Wett. and a 20" GB. Siguy will be reworking an old DB head for a 25" for me. Waiting on a traditional Hawk as well.
Looking more at how vertsatile a light hatchett might be as my "one sharp edge" for camp making and food prep. Just a skill building thing.

2Door
 
j williams said:
Thats it HD. Great looking axe! What do ya think? Is it a usefull tool, or am I better off with a GB?
Click to expand...

Well like anything it's what are you going to do with it?

Will it out chop a GB Mini? By a huge margin.

Will it out chop a GB Wildlife? NO WAY



IMO it's good for what Nessmuk intended it for. A really lightweight axe to be carried but still have decent cutting power.

Mine is 12" oal (Reeves' standard is 14") and around 18 or 19 oz(I think).

The GB Mini is what 10 oz?
The GB Wildlife is 14" and close to 2 lbs?

If extreme lightness is your goal the mini is better.

If super good chopping power is your goal the GB Wildlife is better.

To me, I liken the Reeves to almost a khukuri. It has wider bits than almost any hatchet it's size but yet it's really light so the technique is almost like a khuk as far as chopping. Good aim and the sharpness contributes to the deep chopping more than the heft.

For me it's my backpacking hatchet. I've had mine 3 years now and it's great for that. If I have to really watch the weight like when I'm carrying a lot of water I bring the GB mini but mostly the Reeves.

At home I use a khukuri or any other larger heavier implement.

But for what it was intended for it's good.

While I am at it I'd like to say there is a shortage of hatchets that weigh about a pound. Seems like you can get heavier and lighter but not a pound.
 
Thanks HD. I am lookin for it to be a backpacking hatchet as well. Lightweight, but still a worthwhile chopper.

I agree, you dont see many at a pound.
 
I'm with ilbruche...I've had a Reeves Double bit hatchet for over a decade now...awesome tool.
 
T-minus 6 months left for me. I've been in hatchet withdrawl because I don't want to buy another one until my Reeves shows up. I keep telling myself, whatever I buy now will just get replaced with the Reeves anyway.
 
I'm on the list too but near the bottom. :grumpy:

Everyone talks about the orange osage and how strong it is but I don't care for the orange tinge. I am thinking of the curly maple. For an axe this small and light does it really matter that one side is thicker for knots? How much heavy duty chopping are you going to do? Maybe someone who owns one can comment. Also what "song" does the axe sing when it chops and do you get a choice of songs. ;)
 
I got on the list for one today. I've been meaning to do that. Just been slackin...
 
The stock axe sings "another one bites the dust", but for an extra $50 Lee can put any tune you want in there.

As far as the edges. I'm thinking mine will be more like one side for chopping, one side for knife-like work with an extremely thin sharp edge.
 
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