Nessmuk-style Double-bit belt axe -- anyone???

Kismet

Kismet

Joined
Jan 30, 2002
Messages
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George Sears, writing as "Nessmuk" in Forest and Stream at the turn
of the 1900s or before, described his investment in a belt or "pocket" axe that had a "thick, stunt edge for knots, deers' bones, etc., and a fine keen edge for cutting clear timber."

He shows a drawing of it, and mentions he got it from a surgical instrument maker in Rochester, NY, by the name of Bushnell. The drawing, (if to scale) shows a Marbles-type bladed knife next to the axe...guessing it is 9 inches long...so the belt axe would be about 13-14 inches.

QUESTION? has anyone in the forum ever made, or even seen, one double-bit belt axe-- a "Nessmuk"-type pocket axe? Opinions...granting that Sears lived 100 years ago in a much different outdoors environment... would be welcome.

Sears, Kephart, and their ilk fascinate me, so any discussion is appreciated.

Thank you all.

Kis
 
It is very common among those who use double bitted axes to keep the edges at very different profiles, just as you would keep the blades in a stockman with different edges, for different tasks. I have never seen a small pack size version, but there are lots of makers here who could easily make one.


-Cliff
 
I was looking threw my dixie gun works catalog and they have a short double bit axe 16" long for 13.00 and a slightly longer one for 16.95, go to http://www.dixiegunworks.com/ and order there catalog they've got a lot of good stuff including books about Mountain Men and all kinds of backwoods stuff.........
 
I had a similar post about a month ago and didn't get much info. A couple of knifemaking catalogs used to carry a "backpacking hatchet" kit that had a hatchet about 3/8 in thick at the poll. I have one and I think I will grind the poll edge down for a thick bone splitter edge. It might also serve as a skinning edge like the Gransfor Bruks wildlife ax. The Dixie catalog doesn't have the above mentioned ax online yet. Regards.
 
Here it is:
nessmuksknives2.jpg


I think a regular hatchet is tough to beat. Norlund used to make a larger version of the Nessmuk double bitted hatchet
 
There's also a Norlund double-bit cruiser's axe, sooo pretty, on Eby til ? March 5 2002. 28 in handle.

AND, this just in, there is a double-bit hatchet on Ebay, ending March 7th, 2002, with a 2 1/2in blade and 5 1/2 in head...but it is already up to $50..and probably going much higher. This must be about the size that Nessmuk's hatchet was.

Thanks for all the information. This is a pleasure to learn.
 
FYI, the Norlund cruiser axe went for $92, and the Norlund
hatchet for $62. Sometimes I think that if I get interested
in an item, the price automatically goes up.:( But they were
lovely.
The nice thing is that I have a reason to keep on looking around.
In TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY, Steinbeck talks about being in Mexico City
with a friend, and starting a search for something almost impossible
to find, but which had them wandering all over.
The Nessmuk axehead that I can afford may fit that category.

Thanks for all the information.

Kis
:rolleyes:
 
A marvelous customer-service person from Dixie Gun Works
understood that I didn't want to pay the $5.00 for the
entire catelog, and in response to my request...mailed me a
photo-copy of the one page with the two double-bit hatchets on it.
The axes weren't online.

Nice lady, didn't have to do it, but will always be remembered.

They have two sizes: 6" x 2 1/2" for $12.95, and 10" x 3" for $16.95.
Hand-forged blades, hardwood handles which must be fitted, large handle is 18", smaller is 16".
Weights are: large 3 pounds, smaller..hard to tell, but maybe 1 3/4 pounds.

But, you know? These don't seem to be functional as much as symbolic
tools. Not sure, just conjecturing, but maybe more for a re-creation than a camping trek.

But, how nice of the customer service lady to go to the trouble, eh?

Keep the faith. If the water gets high, they won't see us tunnel out.

Kis
:rolleyes:
 
I gave up on a Norlund at half that price during my search for a Nessmuk hatchet. The problem that I see is that they're just to heavy. The whole principle of Nessmuk's gear was lightness.
Horace Kephart considered the double bladed hatchet a poor choice and it would seem that everyone except Nessmuk did too.
Maybe what you really need is a Kephart hatchet which isn't the 1lb head version he specifies in the gear section, but an 8oz head Colclesser tomahawk (Bivouacs section). Think the Gransfors mini hatchet and you could have one too. My Wildlife hatchet goes 1lb 4oz total. My new 1 1/4lb head hatchets go 2lb total no matter what the brand.
 
In fact, exactly: Weight is the issue. (Of course, I'd dearly love
to have a Nessmuk double-bit belt axe--but that's romance, not reality.) And, aside from a light shingling hatchet,
the only real alternative I can see is a khukri
on my belt--not too big, not too heavy. My other hatchets--a Plumb, and a Geo.Washington model farm auction buy--are simply too heavy
to carry around for the contingencies that Might occur. At 5'8",165...each pound I carry is valuable, AND expensive.

I guess I naively thought that surely SOMEONE would have made and
marketed a Nessmuk-styled, light-weight belt axe.

Thanks for all your help.

Kis
:rolleyes:
 
Neolyth made his own concept of the light axe by grinding a Hudson Bay model with an angle grinder.. You could try the same.
neolythaxe1.jpg

neolythaxe2.jpg
 
That axe head is a beautifully done piece of machining, but
if I tried anything like that the balance would be permanently
destroyed.
FYI: There's a Norlund hatchet on ebay right now, going for 6.95
at the moment that has a very similar profile to the one you depicted.

And,

Two or three years ago, I met Gabriel Branby of Gransfors Bruks at a huge canoe/outdoor show up in Madison, Wi. He said he was compiling
a bibliography of books with axes, or about axes. I sent him my copy
of WOODCRAFT AND CAMPING to let him read the small part of Nessmuk's
axe description. Some months later, I got it back with a polite note.
(smiles) I haven't noted that they had added such to their inventory,
though. I don't expect to. But...wouldn't it be nice?

Thank you again

Kis
:rolleyes:
 
If GB made one then I'd definitely get it. The point is though, that for now their two smaller hatchets seem to cover every angle. As far as I'm aware nothing else is in production of those weights.
 
The historic prototype of what was originally described here is the FORT MEIGS AXE from the pre-Revolutionary War period. It was a very small double bitted pack axe weighing a pound or less.
As all double-bitted "only tool in the pack" axes it was not very practical. Properly ground, the one cutting edge of a light pack or belt hawk will split an elk pelvis, split kindling, work as a butchering tool if you don't have a knife, and flesh hides. And on the other end of the head you should have a hammer poll for all the hammer type tasks in the woods from pounding trap pegs to busting marrow bones.
TWO HAWKS
http://www.2hawks.net
 
I have an image of that in the DixieGunWorks photo-copied page.
Says:"11 oz., head 4 1/2 long, cast from 1095 carbon steel, with 2 " cutting edge tempered to 55Rc. Poll is flat and unhardened, 13" over all. Fr. Megis Axe...$35.95.
And, as you suggest, it is a compromise tool, but at the moment, I'm thinking the khukri is still the most practicable answer.
Thanks.
Kis
:rolleyes:
 
Himalayan Imports had an AK Bowie on the drawing board back some time ago. It was 1/2 inch thick. I've made a few of these and they were pretty handy camp knives. You might want to see if they are making them yet.
 
Kismet,
I just ran across this thread and remembered I had seen a web site of a custom maker who made axes, one of them being a Nessmuk style double bit. After some digging I managed to locate his website again and here it is:
http://www.members.tripod.com/ssidders/id76.htm

I think he makes exactly what you are looking for but I bet they are not cheap!
 
for going to the trouble. The belt axes are beautiful. I tried
the email link, but no joy, so I'll try writing him.

I suspect you are right, they are probably out of my price
range, but maybe I can start saving.

I REALLY appreciate the effort you went to.

Thanks again,

Kis
:rolleyes:
 
Alex and folks...
Got an email through to Lee Reeves regarding his belt axes.
Very nice man, superb craftsman. This is his response:

char_reeves@hotmail.com>
Subject :
Re: double bit axe

Date :
Wed, 20 Mar 2002 14:46:09


I appreciate your interest in the axes I make. They are my favorite thing to make. A small axe is a great tool for an outdoorsman.

On the double bit axe, the main feature I use from the "Nessmuk" design is the heavy duty bit on one side and fine bit on the other. It makes a lot of sense to me. The axe head is approximately 5 1/2" X 2 1/2" and weighs about 1 1/2 pounds, each one varies slightly. The handle is about 13" long. The scabbard completely covers the head and can go on your belt or carried in your pack safely. It is small and light, but because of the balance, you can do a surprising amount of work with it.

The head is made with the technique smiths have used for making an axe head since Colonial times and most likely for centuries. The iron eye and high carbon steel bits are forged together to make a very tough head that will take and hold a keen edge.

I normally use ash for the handle, but other materials are available at an extra cost.

The double bit axe with an ash handle is $125.00.

Osage orange, coco bolo or curly maple add $20.00.

Shipping for one axe is $7.00.

I am about four months behind right now.

No deposit is required, except on custom jobs, with payment on completion.

If I can answer any other questions, let me know.

Thanks for your interest.

Lee Reeves

The cost is out of my league, although I have no question that his work is worth it...but nice that SOMEONE is crafting these, eh?

Kis



:rolleyes:
 
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