playing with a Vaughan tiny hatchet

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siguy

Joined
Aug 26, 2006
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Theonew recently sent me a Vaughan tiny hatchet (i call them pocket axes) to sharpen up, suggesting that i do whatever i could to make it work.

first, i want to mention that it is hard to grasp just how tiny these things are until you hold it. after using this one for a short chopping session, my 14" Fiskars felt like a felling axe when i picked it up.
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as it came, theo had done a little work on it, but the edge bevel was really thick. the primary grind area was nice and thin. i took it to a coarse belt on the grinder and knocked the bevel way back, really thin. i took the burr off and got it shaving sharp. it peformed well on wood up to around 2" with no problem, a couple or three wacks went through. then i took it to a hard 4-5" maple log. about halfway through i noticed a tiny roll (probably from hitting a tiny knot going through the trunk), but decided to proceed chopping. the roll quickly rolled even more. oops :o
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so i took it inside and fixed the edge, giving the bevel slightly more curve, for a slightly thicker edge. i finished with about a 90 degree inclusive microbevel on a spyderco ultra fine stone, followed by a strop to remove any remaining burr.

this time it survived finishing the cut fine, and the edge held up well.

this hatchet is really a great little tool, i can't wait to pick one up myself and try a longer handle on it (something like 18") to provide alot more speed at the head, so it should bite deeper with the same amount of effort, greatly speeding up chopping time.

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because it is so short, i mostly used the thumb-forefinger/wrist snap cutting technique that alot of the leuku guys say to use. i just started chopping and ended up with that technique.
 
I had one of the BRKT modified ones a couple of years ago. Nice little axe, but I could not shake the feeling I was going to break it, it`s so tiny.
 
those are great little guys...:thumbup: Bark River mods those to make their mini-axes... i had one a while back...:)
 
Looks good. I have had one for a little over a year now, and I like it alot. When I first received it I was kind of supprised with how small it was. It only took about half an hour to thin the edge and convex it with a 12'' double cut file, then I finished it with a arkansa stone . I like it because it fits inside the cargo pocket of my heavy wool coat, and in the game pocket of my wool hunting coat so that it is always handy. I use it alot for gathering fatwood, and making feather sticks for fire starting. For 20$ I couldent be any more happy with it. Joe
 
camo kit, unfortunately, it looks like i can't get one for a good price. i have mostly seen then for around $30, which isn't so bad, but the shipping is always crazy (like $20 or more!)

does anyone know if the marbles pocket axe is the same as the vaughan? it looks like its the same size and shape, but as far as i know, aren't all of marble's things made in china? (the vaughans are marked USA)
 
Personally I would rather have my modified Norlunds or my Reeves for wood work. However, for its weight and size I would much rather have my BRK&T Mini Axe and a four inch knife than any huge chopper knife by itself.

My woodland companion blades often include a woodcraft or hunting knife, depending on the season, my BRK&T Mini Axe, and whatever pocket knife I fancy at the time.

Like I said I dont feel any more weighed down than with a big chopper knife and each member of the trio does the job better.

IMHO

nessmucktrio.JPG
 
I think that BRK&T stopped modifying the Vaughns axes due to some quaility control issues with them. I can't remember the details. An older one might be better.
 
siguy said:
camo kit, unfortunately, it looks like i can't get one for a good price. i have mostly seen then for around $30, which isn't so bad, but the shipping is always crazy (like $20 or more!)
Click to expand...
I got mine on ebay (30$), shipping from Utah to Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada for 10$. Took a while to get here though, lol.
Shipping should be even cheaper for you.
visualkarma was the ebay seller.

Mine had some quality control issues.
I had to regrind the head for it to cut properly and the handle was straight but skewed by about 15 degrees.
I solved the handle problem by sanding the handle flatter and reshaping it.
Works fine now.
I still like it a lot but if you buy one expect to have to mod it.

Embarassingly my China made Marbles double-bit had much better fit and finish than the Vaughan.

Lately i've been using a small Norlund hatchet.
Its only slightly bigger and heavier than the Vaughan but is miles ahead of the Vaughan in performance and quality.

The eye-hole on the Vaughan is really small and the handle is fairly thin and weak where it enters the head.
The Norlund is much sturdier.
You can find used Norlund hatchets on ebay.
 
I used to own a BRKT mini hatchet until the head came loose on me. The connection at the eye is really thin and didn't stand up to my use. While the GB Mini isn't as good of a grind as the BRKT mini, the head attachment is more secure.

Here is a sweet setup if someone wants to make it. Take a Vaughn head, reprofile it and attach it to a polymer handle. No breakage, sweet grind and ultralight. Kind of like the vectorhawks but hatchet style.
 
I agree than my reprofiled Norlunds is light years ahead of the tiny Vaughn. It is one of my primary companions when I am camping or backpacking and have planned on the weight.

norlundsnessmucktrio2.JPG


The main advantge of a good "mini" axe is in that it will fit in a large pocket and is a better chopper than a big knife.

Last year a friend of mine gave me a GB Mini and it is a real Cadillac of hatchets. I am still getting used to reaching for it when I leave the house. Currently it is in my hunting pack along with a Wyoming Knife and collapsible Wyoming saw, rubber gloves, portable block and tackle ect. It may replace both the BRK&T MIni Ax and my re profiled Norlunds before it is all over.

:D
 
siguy said:
camo kit, unfortunately, it looks like i can't get one for a good price. i have mostly seen then for around $30, which isn't so bad, but the shipping is always crazy (like $20 or more!)

does anyone know if the marbles pocket axe is the same as the vaughan? it looks like its the same size and shape, but as far as i know, aren't all of marble's things made in china? (the vaughans are marked USA)
Click to expand...


I ordered one through a True Value hardware or ACE hardware. Don't know if you have those where you are. I would guess your local hardware store could do the same. Most people don't ask and assume that if its not on the shelf it's not available. I didn't have to pay for shipping either. It just came on the truck with their regular shipment.
 
k_estela said:
I used to own a BRKT mini hatchet until the head came loose on me. The connection at the eye is really thin and didn't stand up to my use. While the GB Mini isn't as good of a grind as the BRKT mini, the head attachment is more secure.

Here is a sweet setup if someone wants to make it. Take a Vaughn head, reprofile it and attach it to a polymer handle. No breakage, sweet grind and ultralight. Kind of like the vectorhawks but hatchet style.
Click to expand...

I asked Vector about doing that but the price was prohibitive.
 
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