Picked up an unmarked 'mini-/pocket axe'. How many companies make/made them?

[Eric H]

Got a pocket axe for a song off ebay. Appears to be decent, well-made, and older, I plan on re-handling it, cleaning it up, sharpening it and using it. There are no marks on it, and I don't know if the handle is original. Are these common? (I know of only two companies that make this size now.)

Pics:

 

[trailmaker]

Good score, that's a cool little hatchet. I snatched up a similar size head recently off the bay. Mine says "Super Banko" and "Made in Sweden". I don't see many that size. Show us some update pics when you get to work on it.

 

[bjp]

I just picked up the Vaughn version last week. it's a fun little tool, and at 20 bucks, far less painful to acquire than the Gransfors mini!

-ben

 

[Eric H]

Thanks. I'll probably end up sticking it on a craftsman hammer handle if I can find one the right size.

 

[leebrewer]

Looks like my Vaughn. Especially the tiny eye with no parallel wedge. Mine has two steel cross wedges because the wood was so small there was no way to split it for a wooden wedge. I want to put a longer handle on mine also. But, the 10" handle is still tight and going strong. I keep secretly wanting it to break.

 

[trailmaker]

Is that a metal cross wedge tac welded to the head? I haven't seen that before.

 

[Eric H]

Is that a metal cross wedge tac welded to the head? I haven't seen that before.

No, I it just looks that way from being pounded in/tightened over the years (I assume the wedge must be much softer metal than the head).

After lightly hitting a piece of 2x4 a couple times, the head came right off anyway. Time to look for a good replacement handle!

 

[bearhunter]

man i like that. i'll have to keep my eyes open for one of those.
how much does the head weigh?

 

[Eric H]

If it actually is a Vaughan, according to what I've read it's 8 oz. (even if it isn't a Vaughan, 8 oz. seems about right.)

I just found and ordered a replacement handle for it too!

 

[M3mphis]

Nice grab.

Old Jimbo has some pages dedicated to those little Vaughan's. You may have seen these before as they've been referenced on the forum before. Anyway some linkies:

Reprofiling and rehanging a vaughan:
http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/vaughangrind.html

Comparing the vaughan to other small hatchets:
http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/tinyhatchets.html

Splitting a large log with a small vaughan:
http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/tinyhatchets2.html

 

[Eric H]

M3mphis--your second link is actually where I found replacement handles for sale! Good stuff--I hadn't seen the other two before.

 

[Operator1975]

Lot of those little axes like that were saleman samples. I have a Craftsman, marked head and handle. Pretty neat.