OLD V & B Hatchet Had A HARD Life, Single-Bevel-Scandi-Grind Hatchet Worth Rehab?

[joejeweler]

I picked up this WELL used older Vaughan & Bushnell Hatchet at my local Salvation Army for $5.00 recently, mainly because I was intrigued with the Single Bevel Scandi Grind on this decent weight hatchet.

It's obvious from looking at it that this old girl has led a hard life, which actually tells me it was probably a worthwhile tool. Otherwise why use it so extensively???

I noticed this grind axe is still offered at Vaughn on a similar hatchet, but they call it "Right Hand Cut". Not the same overall shape, however. This old girl looks to have been "retired" from the Vaughn line before her time!

Before I put a useable edge on this and re-handle it for safety,.....I was wondering if someone has used a hatchet ground like this, and could explain what advantages (if any?) this grind may have over the more traditional hatchet grinds?

I probably won't do much more than the handle and edge, as it looks pretty cool with all the battle scars. Certainly has what some might consider "character"!

Anyway, what might I expect with a good edge applied, if you've used this style of grind?

Some Pics:









The handle looks really compromised, with lots of wood spiderwebs as seen in the next few photos. You can also see the left side of the blade is flat, while the right side of the hatchet head makes a pronounced inward curve, and also has the single bevel edge similar to my old jeweler's hand graver set. The gravers WERE easy to keep a sharp edge maintained,......possibly the reason here?

The sharp angling in on the right side of the axe is interesting.....







As acquired the blade edge appears to have been used at times with the GROUND as a backstop! Geeze.....

(Edited: ......the rolled over edge in some areas were smoothed up last night, and will be worked a bit more today to get a fine cutting edge back. )



Hatchet shows some junk in her trunk.....







Why re-handle when electrical tape will do the job!

 

[300Six]

That old girl isn't even close to being a write-off! Lots of blade steel left on there and no serious chips to file out and the poll hasn't been unduly pounded out of shape. Back when building studs and joists were not planed/smoothed nor featured rounded edges a carpenter's hatchet was quite handy for smoothing and straightening, much like a large chisel. Hence the asymmetry and single bevel.
100 years back an apprentice would spend hundreds of hours hammering down lathe (strips of wood about 1 1/2 wide and 1/4 inch thick) on all walls as a backer for scratch coat and final plaster. Presumably he'd use something similar, or one with a hammer poll, for trimming and splitting and driving the thousands of nails involved.
I don't think they make nor sell too many of these specific designs anymore!

 

[flexo]

i have seen worse! nothing wrong with this hatchet! handle is to change or might be just the tape!

 

[joejeweler]

That old girl isn't even close to being a write-off! Lots of blade steel left on there and no serious chips to file out and the poll hasn't been unduly pounded out of shape. Back when building studs and joists were not planed/smoothed nor featured rounded edges a carpenter's hatchet was quite handy for smoothing and straightening, much like a large chisel. Hence the asymmetry and single bevel.
100 years back an apprentice would spend hundreds of hours hammering down lathe (strips of wood about 1 1/2 wide and 1/4 inch thick) on all walls as a backer for scratch coat and final plaster. Presumably he'd use something similar, or one with a hammer poll, for trimming and splitting and driving the thousands of nails involved.
I don't think they make nor sell too many of these specific designs anymore!

I felt that way too, and last night trued up just the cutting edge a bit. Still not finished but diamond stones take awhile.

I haven't decided yet whether to file out the hammer end or leave the battle scars as a testimony to the hard and usefull life she must have led.

Thanks for the info on what this design might have been used for. It certainly caught my eye at "Sally's". (Salvation Army)
The clerk asked as I brought it up to pay the $5.00 ,....."You want THAT old thing! ????"

Answer,....."YES Mame! I'm getting old too,..... but I ain't done YET!"

By the way,....any idea when Vaughn might have last offered this style hatchet blade? It sure LOOKS to be 80-100 years of wear and tear imposed, and based on your mention of it's intended use may very well be or a bit older, perhaps?

i have seen worse! nothing wrong with this hatchet! handle is to change or might be just the tape!

.......and maybe some epoxy filled up here?

 

[Twoinch]

i have a GTW stamped hatchet of the same exact pattern, also flat sided, similar to a hewing hatchet. when i found mine, it had been ground to a double bevel bit for general use, so i kept it that way and use it as such.

there is a picture of it in my other thread called "New, and my collection!"

 

[300Six]

Your old girl is designed and made as single bevel. Aside from the angle of the edge don't mess with it. Sort of like naively deciding a heritage wood chisel suddenly needs to be improved upon. If this becomes a 'camper hatchet' (and what a conversation piece) then so be it; it'll chop saplings, and branches and split sticks with the best of them and better yet allow you to out-carve and smooth craft projects better than anyone else.

 

[Steve Tall]

Your old girl is designed and made as single bevel. Aside from the angle of the edge don't mess with it. Sort of like naively deciding a heritage wood chisel suddenly needs to be improved upon. If this becomes a 'camper hatchet' (and what a conversation piece) then so be it; it'll chop saplings, and branches and split sticks with the best of them and better yet allow you to out-carve and smooth craft projects better than anyone else.

Hear hear. I second the motion.

 

[joejeweler]

Your old girl is designed and made as single bevel. Aside from the angle of the edge don't mess with it. Sort of like naively deciding a heritage wood chisel suddenly needs to be improved upon. If this becomes a 'camper hatchet' (and what a conversation piece) then so be it; it'll chop saplings, and branches and split sticks with the best of them and better yet allow you to out-carve and smooth craft projects better than anyone else.

A full camping hatchet not what she's good at anyway. I found that out today, that because of the single bevel (holding right handed), it ONLY cuts well chopping DOWN into the channel I started felling a dead 10 inch tree. (Damn Kudzu vines choked the life out of the small tree!) Once you attempt to cut UP to remove some of the pieces, the angle of the bevel makes it hard to "catch", and glancing blows result. Not the hatchet's fault,....just not designed for that job.

I suspect it will split small logs for firewood just fine, but I haven't tried that yet. Should be fine breaking smaller branches in pieces on a stump or log also.

 

[Twoinch]

Your old girl is designed and made as single bevel. Aside from the angle of the edge don't mess with it. Sort of like naively deciding a heritage wood chisel suddenly needs to be improved upon. If this becomes a 'camper hatchet' (and what a conversation piece) then so be it; it'll chop saplings, and branches and split sticks with the best of them and better yet allow you to out-carve and smooth craft projects better than anyone else.

i agree with this also.

i wish mine had not been ground improperly.

joe, you are correct in that it will not make a good chopper as a single bevel, especially with the chisel grind often used on hatchets of this type. more so as the bit gets worn, and the bevel gets steeper because most people seemed to not want to remove so much material to keep it thin.

 

[300Six]

A full camping hatchet not what she's good at anyway. I found that out today, that because of the single bevel (holding right handed), it ONLY cuts well chopping DOWN into the channel I started felling a dead 10 inch tree. Once you attempt to cut UP to remove some of the pieces, the angle of the bevel makes it hard to "catch", and glancing blows result. Not the hatchet's fault,....just not designed for that job.

Excellent revelation about the disadvantage of single bevel blades as "choppers". But you did have the gumption to find this out for yourself!

 

[joejeweler]

Excellent revelation about the disadvantage of single bevel blades as "choppers". But you did have the gumption to find this out for yourself!

Yep,....I've never been one to be afraid to try something new and different.

It DOES show how much Hatchet/Axe head "design" plays in actual performance,...... given the task at hand. Lot's of minor differences can make a specific design work well, or not so much!

......and gives us all an excuse to pick up SEVERAL!