The Mini Hatchet

The flat cheeks on those cruisers reminds me of this Palco that came to me several years ago in NSO condition. Shortly after it arrived I made the mistake of leaving if leaning against the coffee table, the bit is duller than a butter knife so no safety concerns. One of our pups decided to modify the handle. I picked it up today to take these pictures and it's grippy for sure :thumbsup:

I'm assuming Vaughan made this Palco and probably the Craftsman too. The flat cheeks must cut costs and manufacturing times.

zCRcj3q.jpeg


tUQaV69.jpeg
 
rockman0 said:
The flat cheeks on those cruisers reminds me of this Palco that came to me several years ago in NSO condition. Shortly after it arrived I made the mistake of leaving if leaning against the coffee table, the bit is duller than a butter knife so no safety concerns. One of our pups decided to modify the handle. I picked it up today to take these pictures and it's grippy for sure :thumbsup:

I'm assuming Vaughan made this Palco and probably the Craftsman too. The flat cheeks must cut costs and manufacturing times.

zCRcj3q.jpeg


tUQaV69.jpeg
Click to expand...
Yes both are definitely Vaughan's.
The cheeks on that don't look completely flat, but definitely not as convexed as they normally are.
 
Hickory, I thought you would know if they were both Vaughan, the eye gives it away. Thanks
I'm not sure the convex cheeks make much of a difference in performance in this weight range. That's a comparison I plan on making once I get around to hanging it on a similar handle.
Hickory n steel said:
Yes both are definitely Vaughan's.
The cheeks on that don't look completely flat, but definitely not as convexed as they normally are.
Click to expand...
 
rockman0 said:
Hickory, I thought you would know if they were both Vaughan, the eye gives it away. Thanks
I'm not sure the convex cheeks make much of a difference in performance in this weight range. That's a comparison I plan on making once I get around to hanging it on a similar handle.
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Too bad about that handle.

My pitbull pup chewed up the handle of a brand new cabinet scraper burnisher the day I got it a few months back.
At a year old this month she's still a long ways away from growing out of this phase but it'll happen eventually.
Every pitbullo I've had has chewed up something I cared about and it's kind of a tradition I suppose, I just hate to think of what thing I really care about is doomed.
 
P. Ortiz said:
Well, my Sears Craftsman mini hatchet arrived today via USPS Flat Rate mailer. I must say; when I took the package out of the mailbox, it felt VERY light. I was expecting small, but even so, I was a bit surprised when I opened the envelope and saw just how little this axe is. However, within minutes, I could really see a reason for owning this little guy. I tried removing some bark from a big live oak: check. I split some pieces of wood as if making kindling: check. Tried some feather sticking/light carving: check. All this with a not-so-sharp edge.

My original intent was to restore this one. But, it might be in good enough condition to just sharpen up and use as is. The original handle was the tiniest bit loose so I tapped it in tight, and then drove-in the metal wedge a bit with a small punch. It feels nice and tight now. This one doesn't look like it's been sharpened much, if at all. The poll is in perfect condition with no signs of abuse. I like everything about it, especially the way that it fits right in the pocket while still packing some real usability. I'm not kidding myself about its capabilities, but what a nice hatchet to have when you don't feel like carrying a hatchet.

My main question to all of you: would you put a good edge on this one and call it a day, or would you restore it? I found a Rustoleum paint color (Satin Moss Green) that looks like a dead ringer for this old Craftsman green. Whether I restore it or not, I plan to either purchase a back-up handle from Vaughan or make one myself out of hickory. Also, do you know of someone who makes a sheath/mask for this little axe? I would appreciate any and all input and ideas. Here's a quick picture of the hatchet:

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Sharpen it and use it. Those original handles are just the cat's ass! So well formed.
 
I've wanted a vintage example of the Vaughan sub zero for awhile now, and just scored this 60's Craftsman example on Ebay.
$60 shipped is the only reasonable price I've found the past couple years, because people always think they'rec some kind of rare salesman sample even though they're pretty abundant.
This one is very full, and doesn't look like it was ever sharpened or used much.
I'm assuming they broke the handle in short order and just left it in the shed to rust.
It'll be great to finally be able to personally compare my modern examples to an older one
s-l400 (1).png
s-l400 (14).jpg
s-l400 (15).jpg

I decided to look and see if there was any chance of Vaughn still offering the replacement handles which thankfully they did, and to my surprise I also discovered this.
www.vaughanmfg.com

ZS1/2 Sub-Zero Sportsman Axe

33301,ZS/2,supersteel,sportsman axe This excellent small 1/2 lb axe is made to fit right in your tackle box or jacket pocket. Rust resistant powder coat finish with a curved American hickory handle. MADE IN USA.
www.vaughanmfg.com
www.vaughanmfg.com

Tough Fibre Hickory Replacement Handle

Tough Fibre Hickory Handle For ZS-1/2
www.vaughanmfg.com
It seems like the Sub zero has returned which I certainly never expected.

Hopefully it's okay for me to post these links since their not a knife dealer.
 
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I just noticed that the current replacement handles say " factory fitted " on the sticker, I'm certainly going to test that out.
I'll have this vintage example to test that with, and my 1st example that I had bought new maybe 6 years ago that also needs a handle.
It's weird to me that the replacement handles for the super sportsman always seemed a bit nicer shaped than the handles they're hung on, and that still seems to be the case based on the current stock photos.
Maybe it's just an illusion based on the hung handles having the fawns foot clipped ?
 
I got my first one at an estate sale for $6 and then I had to have more. The estate sale find is the one in the upper right corner. The others were ebay purchases which were a bit cheaper a few years ago. Funny thing is, that is how I got started on this forum, by looking these little guys up to get some info on them. It brought me to this exact thread.
 
JLRubicon said:
I got my first one at an estate sale for $6 and then I had to have more. The estate sale find is the one in the upper right corner. The others were ebay purchases which were a bit cheaper a few years ago. Funny thing is, that is how I got started on this forum, by looking these little guys up to get some info on them. It brought me to this exact thread.
Click to expand...
Are all of your Vaughan minis Craftsman branded examples?
Nice collection you've got there
 
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