The thin hunters field hatchet

[Loosearrow]

I have one of those Black Beauty thin hatchets made by Western.. It looks like the one that goes with the combo knife and hatchets. I have not used it, but the steel takes a razor edge and I threw it in a box for a later sheath project before I carried it. Well as it would happen, I was at the flea market and found a western thin hatchet all rusted up with a leather handle that was losing parts. I bought it for 5.00. I sharpened it up somewhat with a sharpening butcher steel just to get a quick edge. The steel is very good. You can just feel the potential sharpness of some steels. The handle has a two prongs that the odd shaped leather rings go on, kind of H shaped, and pommel (end piece) that is pinned. Two questions has anyone restored this type of handle? I might try some wood and pin it on down the prongs. Second question. The thin hatchet would save your knife for some of the hard tasks, splitting smaller wood, pelvis breaking. You could easily make feather sticks with it, and I think you could use it like an ulu for processing game. They were made for a reason in the hunting community, but I have never seen one in use over the years. Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[Pipeman]

Hi Loosearrow
If you can drill out the pommel pin you could probably cut washers to fit the "H track".
If thats a pain and there's room to pin a handle on slabs of leather work great and take most of the shock out of the hatchet. Here are a couple of pics of a leather handle I did on an old cleaver. Two layers each side of 15oz boot sole leather.

Best regards

Robin

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[Loosearrow]

Hi Loosearrow
If you can drill out the pommel pin you could probably cut washers to fit the "H track".
If thats a pain and there's room to pin a handle on slabs of leather work great and take most of the shock out of the hatchet. Here are a couple of pics of a leather handle I did on an old cleaver. Two layers each side of 15oz boot sole leather.

Best regards

Robin

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Thanks for the reply. What an outstanding piece of art there. Nice work. I did not consider a solid piece of leather for the slabs. Good idea. Yours looks great. Like the lines. Is that a lamb splitter cleaver? Would like to see the blade out of the sheath sometime. I just finished oiling and steel wool scrub on the hatchet blade. Nice and pitted. Will probably have to blue it in a damascus pattern to blend it in. I don't want a new, shiny looking product. A user that you want to pick up and go to work with. Function before beauty. Thanks for the idea. I hadn't considered leather slabs. The handle looks like a two pronged fork underneath that the washers ride on. All I have is 1/8 brass rods for pins and no washers. Maybe I could make some small brass washers(like a copper rivit back, forgot the name) and peen them over to hold. Maybe a piece of curly maple . Regards, Lee

 

[Pipeman]

Hi Lee
The cleaver came from an old farm up here in the boonies, I imagine it split eveything ;-)
Washers should work well with 1/8th brass rod. Here's a pic of the cleaver blade and another pic of a leather handled old timey skinner. The sheath and handles are held on with heavy copper burrs with washers.

Best regards
Robin

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[Loosearrow]

Hi Lee
The cleaver came from an old farm up here in the boonies, I imagine it split eveything ;-)
Washers should work well with 1/8th brass rod. Here's a pic of the cleaver blade and another pic of a leather handled old timey skinner. The sheath and handles are held on with heavy copper burrs with washers.

Best regards
Robin

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Robin,
Thanks for the follow up pics. Nice work. The cleaver almost looks like a cut down splitting butcher knife. I have an old Nicholson large butcher knife that is super thick and as long as my short Ontario machete. Thought of using it as a machete. the spine had been pounded on. The handle has a number of pins in it. Old school for sure. Not sure I should mess with it. If I have problems with the project I'll be sure to request your advice Thanks for the reply and help. Regards, Lee