Re-handling GB mini

[glinpik]

I was wondering if a longer handle for the Gransfors mini hatchet would add a little more versatility? I have a GB hunter's axe, but I like the smaller head on the mini for backpacking and the like. Maybe a 16" instead of the 10 1/4". Would be like a Tomahawk to an extent. Any opinions?

 

[Blue Sky]

Welcome to BF, glinpik. Interesting idea, I don't recall anyone discussing this before. A longer handle certainly would give you more chopping power. How long could you/should you go, that's the question. As the length increased, I would expect you to eventually reach a point of diminishing return. If I was going to do it, I would start long and choke up until I found that sweet spot of length vs. power vs. balance and cut it down to there.

 

[FoxholeAtheist]

"Old Jimbo" did something like this, as I was reading on the Outdoors Magazine site... let me see if I can find the article.

AHA! http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/tinyhatchets2.html

Also read the discussion thread he links to in the article.

Enjoy!

Edited to add:

If you look at the pics in another article, the eye on the GB Mini is much larger than that on the Vaughn in the first article, so I would think you would have proportionately more handle strength if you were to go with a longer handle. http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/tinyhatchets.html

 

[glinpik]

Thanks for the info. I've recently ordered a couple of the cheaper tomahawks to compare with my GB hatchets. Prefer those on the more compact side.