Some of You Makers Should Offer a Nessmuk!

D

DWK2

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Nov 3, 2003
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I was reading the various Lee Reeves threads and thinking about how many people have expressed interest in his double-bitted Nessmuk style hatchets. However, there's at least a year wait---maybe 14-16 months from what I've read.

Now I know that Mr. Reeves makes a great Nessmuk, but I would think that many other skilled axe/hawk makers could also produce one. If there's a wait of over a year and dealers are asking a $100 premium (around 50%) for no-wait Reeves axes, it's pretty obvious that demand significantly exceeds supply. Unless other makers are blessed with similar backlogs or feel that they can make better margins on different axes/hawks, Economics 101 suggests that they should start offering some Nessies.

What do you think? Am I missing something or is this an opportunity for some makers to increase their revenues while bringing happiness to some impatient buyers?

DancesWithKnives
 
DWK,

Great idea, I wish I was a blacksmith. I wonder if Koyote (Christof Harper) who hangs out on the WSS sub-forum could do this? I imagine that Koyote Girl (Sierra) would make a great sheath to compliment it.

Can you post something for him or contact him by email? I would certainly buy one from him.
 
Lee's working on my Nessmuk hatchet this week. I can't freaking wait!

Personally... and this is just me being selfish, I don't want to see the market flooded with 20 different makers making nessmuk hatchets. I like how unique it is to own one :)
 
Thanks. The Fehrman is no doubt an excellent weapon and I can see the argument for a shorter handle on a fighting hawk. For a wilderness Nessie, I'd want another few inches of handle. But it's a beauty regardless of length.

I very much appreciate the link!

DancesWithKnives
 
DWK2,

I Don't understand it either. I would have thought someone would jump on board and start making them. It must be a difficult pattern to do right.

You can actually score an old Norlund double bit off evilbay sometimes.

I am in the middle of a project right now. Very similar double bit. Just a tad bit larger.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=624095

Check it out and let me know if you think this would be a good size double bit.

Paul
 
Great project! That looks like it would be a perfect size for horse packing, canoe camping, etc. If I were going to carry a double bit while backpacking, I'd probably want something a bit lighter.

I was just working on a mahogany piece the other day and will be interested to hear how that works for the haft.

Best of success with it!

DancesWithKnives
 
All of the axes and hawks I have made over the years have all been made out of solid bar stock except for maybe one or two. The link I'm going to attach is one I made 3 years ago. The piece of steel I used was 2 1/2" wide, 3/4" thick and around 5" long. It took me some time to figure out the proper size of the finished Nessmuk ax and what I needed to produce it. The first thing I had to do was drill about six 1/8" holes through 2 1/2" of steel and then turn it into a slot. That's a major challenge in itself not to mention doing all the forging by hand. There a lot of work not to mention they all don't turn out. I did run into a fellow at the Oregon Knife Show a couple years ago that was casting them I believe out of D-2 and he really did a nice job. I can't remember who he was but if I happen to run into him in April I'll try to remember to get his name. I've had several people contact me on purchasing a hawk or ax but as soon as they receive the price that's the end of the conversation. Unfortunately by the time I finish one I've got 4 or 5 days work into it. When a person is expecting to pay 50 bucks and he hears $500.00 to $600.00 bucks the shock is to much. I know it would be for me but that's just the way it is. http://www.bladegallery.com/shopexd.asp?id=84518
 
Wow! The antiquing on that axe head is terrific!

I can see how it might be very expensive to do all that work from forging through finishing. It was a beautiful piece.

Thanks for your input,

DancesWithKnives
 
Raymond Richard said:
All of the axes and hawks I have made over the years have all been made out of solid bar stock except for maybe one or two. The link I'm going to attach is one I made 3 years ago. The piece of steel I used was 2 1/2" wide, 3/4" thick and around 5" long. It took me some time to figure out the proper size of the finished Nessmuk ax and what I needed to produce it. The first thing I had to do was drill about six 1/8" holes through 2 1/2" of steel and then turn it into a slot. That's a major challenge in itself not to mention doing all the forging by hand. There a lot of work not to mention they all don't turn out. I did run into a fellow at the Oregon Knife Show a couple years ago that was casting them I believe out of D-2 and he really did a nice job. I can't remember who he was but if I happen to run into him in April I'll try to remember to get his name. I've had several people contact me on purchasing a hawk or ax but as soon as they receive the price that's the end of the conversation. Unfortunately by the time I finish one I've got 4 or 5 days work into it. When a person is expecting to pay 50 bucks and he hears $500.00 to $600.00 bucks the shock is to much. I know it would be for me but that's just the way it is. http://www.bladegallery.com/shopexd.asp?id=84518
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Raymond, I'll be the first to say that I love my Lee Reeves "Nessmuk" double-bit, but yours has GOT to be the most accurate recreation of the one pictured on/in Nessmuk's book that I've ever seen! Can I ask how the haft was fitted to the eye? I can't really tell from those pics.
 
Its fitted in the same fashion that a wood handle hammer would be. I've seen some pretty close examples of Nessmuks except the doda on the bottom of the head is missing. I probably used the same picture of the ax that most likely has been seen by many that contains the fixed blade knife, ax, and folder. Normally I won't try to be so accurate but I was really trying on this piece. I did two like this one and that was all I wanted to do. Is Lee the one that handles his in osage orange? He does a nice job.
 
Raymond Richard said:
Its fitted in the same fashion that a wood handle hammer would be. I've seen some pretty close examples of Nessmuks except the doda on the bottom of the head is missing. I probably used the same picture of the ax that most likely has been seen by many that contains the fixed blade knife, ax, and folder. Normally I won't try to be so accurate but I was really trying on this piece. I did two like this one and that was all I wanted to do. Is Lee the one that handles his in osage orange? He does a nice job.
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Ah, thanks for the explanation. You certainly did a great job matching that piece to the picture you mention. That's the one I was talking about.

Yeah, Lee is the one who does some hafts in Osage (for a little extra). It looked so nice, that's what I had mine hafted in.
 
FSCJedi said:
Ah, thanks for the explanation. You certainly did a great job matching that piece to the picture you mention. That's the one I was talking about.

Yeah, Lee is the one who does some hafts in Osage (for a little extra). It looked so nice, that's what I had mine hafted in.
Click to expand...

There's been times when people are interested in one of mine and I knew the money was a problem and I directed them in Lee's direction. As for the Nessmuck axes I make the match didn't come till the third time around. One of the reason I don't like trying to copy others work plus I'd rather do my own thing. I've just got me to please. Anyway its been nice conversing with you.
 
Well, you guys persuaded me. I ordered the Lee Reeves with the curly maple haft. In a year or so I should be happily complaining about how I was stupid to have not done it sooner!:D

DancesWithKnives
 
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