OT Norlund Hatchet

Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
13,182
Have one on the way from ebay. Anybody know how they stack up against like GB? This one is 12.5" Looks like the head is more curved and slightly more cutting surface than a GB from the pix.
 
they're the best for the money!

Kismet knows all about 'em....;)
 
That's a good price. That hatchet is one of the best brands for light duty, belt carry.

GB makes a good one, but for more $$.


still waiting for Kis' response....



this it?
 
I've got the happy little axe family goin' now. I have a GB Hunters Axe, a GB mini, a Firestone Belt Axe and then the Norlund when it arrives. :cool:
 
Back in the day, Norlund was THE brand. For some reason, the new ownership stopped making axes some years ago. They have a good "angle of attack" and good steel. Not as thin a profile (from top) as a GB, but a real good axe for the $$$. Not always easy to find replacement handles that fit without a lot of file work (That would be "belt sander work" for Pen. ;) ).
 
that's the one for me, and Kis knows it. He teases me relentless about it.

A double bit Norlund/Nessmuk belt axe.

It's like a holy grail for me....something I'll long for, but probably never get my hands on.
 
While axes have come up, is there any feasible advantage to carrying a full sized axe around in the mountains? As opposed to a hatchet or small-mid sized axe that is. I wouldn't think there'd be much need to actually fell a tree while backpacking (sad to say I've never gone camping for more than a night despite living in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains) but I was wondering.

At that rate, would it be possible to fell a tree with axes like any of the ones on this site? http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_type/axes.html I was just wondering since some of those seem like they'd be okay to carry around, but they don't seem like they'd be up to the task.

In case you were wondering why I'd even think of trying to use an axe instead of a chainsaw or even a "normal" (lumbering) saw I will explain. My 2nd cousin had a big fire pass through his land a few years back in a horrible forest fire (here in Colorado we can't seem to stop lighting things up). So there are a LOT (possibly hundreds) of dead trees to be felled up there. I thought it would be some good exercise and training to do it with an axe.

A bit... senseless I know but I can't get the idea out of my head even if I'm more likely to break an axe or get myself killed than actually accomplish it.
 
I have no complaints with the Norland I have seems to be made of very good steel and isn't hard to sharpen and the edge holds pretty well. I guess I am just a nut for the Hawk type of handles. The Battleaxe handles are so much stronger than those that come with the Norland. There isn't' much comparison. If you like the handle style keep hold of the Norland. When I have used mine is has always done the job asked of it.
 
I got the Norlund Hatchet yesterday. I really like it. Sharped it up and it cuts really well. My only complaint is the handle was loose. Which was not in the description. The handle didn't look like a replacement, but there was a slight gap between the head and the handle in the front and one side.

I took a hammer and drove the head down about 1/2" Then I mixed up some acraglass and put it in the depression. It drained down through and came out the other side. After I was satisfied that it had drained down through the head I drove the head back down on the handle. I had taped the handle with thick tape below to stop the draining once the head was all the way down on the handle.

This morning it seems to be solid, but I am going to let it set before using and sand off the excess on top since I left excess acraglas on top to allow it to seep into the cracks as it sat overnight in the vise.

Pen, do you think this should fix the head solid?
 
It should, but I'd plan on doing at least one more test and glue-up. Go beat it a few times and see if it comes loose.
 
I went up in the woods today after work and wailed on an 8" hard dried Virginia pine. Took a while, but cut it all the way through and the head was still solid. I pounded harder than what I normally would and it held on. I'll test it again, but hats of to you Pen for turning me on to the Acraglass.
 
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