Vaughan 1/2 lbs. Sportsman Sub-Zero Hatchet: Available (for now)

[bikerector]

I ordered some for gifts this week and shipping via fedex was $16.46 or so, and a $3 hidden handling charge. I ordered 4 mini axes, an oyster axe, and 2 hammers and a pick axe handle for my Imacasa axe head. Nothing close to $59.

 

[fullswing]

Word of warning on the shipping.

My pair of mini axes arrived in a single box, with no bubble wrap or protective wrapping of any kind. Just thrown in together with no padding at all in a box that was too big for them.The heads were scratched from hitting each other during travel and there are a few small nicks on the handles.

If I am paying for shipping then I expect a minimum of some protective wrap around each individual item. I understand that these are tools and are going to be worn either way, but I expect them to be in unblemished condition upon arrival.

Still, for the overall price, I feel like I got a steal on these bad boys as I intended to clean them up anyway.

 

[beeinak]

Are there any sheaths available for them? I didn’t see any listed, and I like to have blades covered. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Wild Willie]

Are there any sheaths available for them? I didn’t see any listed, and I like to have blades covered. Any help would be appreciated.

Mine came with a rubber guard on it. Just wound up making a mask out of the hdpe sheath material that FortyTwoBlades sells on his site, a bit of bicycle inner tube and a small aluminum carabineer (replaced the wire hook in the picture).

 

[Old Axeman]

Fedex to Hawaii is very expensive, the only affordable shipping is USPS flat rate. I tried to call Vaughan last week , tried every extension, and nobody answered. So, I left a polite phone message and never got a call back. SO, if you have a hard copy of "An Ax To Grind" manual, go to page 53 and scratch out Vaughan and Bushnell Mfg. Company.

 

[beeinak]

Mine came with a rubber guard on it. Just wound up making a mask out of the hdpe sheath material that FortyTwoBlades sells on his site, a bit of bicycle inner tube and a small aluminum carabineer (replaced the wire hook in the picture).View attachment 2356935

Thank you sir. I like small hatchets/hawks but do prefer the edges covered when carrying

 

[beeinak]

Fedex to Hawaii is very expensive, the only affordable shipping is USPS flat rate. I tried to call them last week , tried every extension, and nobody answered. So, I left a polite phone message and never got a call back. SO, if you have a hard copy of "An Ax To Grind" manual, go to page 53 and scratch out Vaughan and Bushnell Mfg. Company.

I go through the frustration of shipping to Alaska as well. Many people will only ship to lower 48, and it is irritating when the item fits in a priority USPS box.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Are there any sheaths available for them? I didn’t see any listed, and I like to have blades covered. Any help would be appreciated.

when I ordered my 1st 10 years ago it came with a black faux leather belt sheath that I no longer have.

They were still available back in 2019 when I ordered my last 2, but they weren't including them at the time.


Btw can you imagine if they were still doing them like this ?

 

[Hickory n steel]

Here's another way to go with the handle by the way, a little on the skinny side but very proportionate and appropriate looking.
I like how I did the handle for this 60's Craftsman rebrand, but going this thin isn't gonna be for everyone.

I went with a much more abrupt flare at the fawns foot instead of gradual and I really like it , the others I reworked do / did ( gifted a couple ) feel a little better when doing other things besides just chopping though.

 

[Square_peg]

Here's another way to go with the handle by the way, a little on the skinny side but very proportionate and appropriate looking.
I like how I did the handle for this 60's Craftsman rebrand, but going this thin isn't gonna be for everyone.

That's pretty true to the way that the old Vaughans and Craftsmans were hafted. They were a scaled version of full size haft with an enlarged swell. Too thin for me but perfect for my grandkids. Modern haft on top. Classic haft on the bottom.

 

[Hickory n steel]

That's pretty true to the way that the old Vaughans and Craftsmans were hafted. They were a scaled version of full size haft with an enlarged swell. Too thin for me but perfect for my grandkids. Modern haft on top. Classic haft on the bottom.

This one came to me on a cracked original, I went much thinner than that.
Probably too skinny but I honestly don't mind it.


I gifted one of the two I bought in 2019, but kept one, I even went a little bit skinnier with it's handle.

I didn't go a ton thinner, just a little and this one really feels perfect to me.
I didn't have a vintage handle to compare with at that time , but I think I still would have done it exactly as I did.
The original handle feels okay, but not as good as this.

My 1st one needs a new handle, and I'm thinking I might try to repair the vintage handle and use it.
These little hatchets are small enough that I don't think it'll be hard to do a strong enough repair..

 

[drj211]

Word of warning on the shipping.

My pair of mini axes arrived in a single box, with no bubble wrap or protective wrapping of any kind. Just thrown in together with no padding at all in a box that was too big for them.The heads were scratched from hitting each other during travel and there are a few small nicks on the handles.

If I am paying for shipping then I expect a minimum of some protective wrap around each individual item. I understand that these are tools and are going to be worn either way, but I expect them to be in unblemished condition upon arrival.

Still, for the overall price, I feel like I got a steal on these bad boys as I intended to clean them up anyway.

View attachment 2356860

I purchased 4 as gifts and they arrived this morning in a box without any padding, paper, packing peanuts, old trash, or anything else to keep them from banging on each other. I thought it was an oversight on the shipping guys, but apparently not. I emailed the company Just because I needed to. Glad the handling charge was only an extra $3!

 

[Hickory n steel]

I recieved my latest today.

The handle knocked out pretty easily with a punch, they're not going to just come off on you but are not hard to deliberately remove.

The best part is that punching in front of and behind the step wedge cause it to start coming out making it easy to remove.

Let's hope the Jasco does it's job.

 

[Hickory n steel]

The Jasco is working well, so while it's doing it's thing I'm starting on the handle.

I'll mostly just be removing wood here.

From the back here.

From the sides, and blending everything in.

 

[fullswing]

Thanks for sharing the updates Hickory n steel !

Looking good so far. Stoked to see it coming along.

 

[drj211]

Here’s one next to an old classic, the Marbles #5. The surface scrubbing on the Vaughan is from the previously mentioned shipping style!

 

[Hickory n steel]

Here's the head with the blue all stripped off, the jasco worked wonders and the wire wheel made quick work of really getting all of it off.

It's a lot less rough than my 1st one, a very coarse grind yes but not sloppy.

Here It is sanded to 320 and blended in on the wire wheel, I started with an 80g flap disk and would have used all flap disks if my local hardware stocked any finer grits.


I didn't spend much time on the bit because it'll see a file and stone anyways.



That's it for now, time to make dinner and I'll finish the handle tonight or tomorrow.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Here's the handle roughed to shape.


Now it's time to sand it brand it hang it and oil it.

 

[Square_peg]

I also received my new mini today. There are significant changes between this model, the one I bought in 2016, and a vintage 1960s? Vaughan-Craftsman. The vintage hatchet is a Dayton pattern. The 2016 has a Dayton-style bit with more of a Michigan-style poll. The 2023 is all Michigan.

The new hatchet has a more slender haft than the 2016 model did. It's more like vintage hatchet in that regard. The eye size on the vintage model is slightly smaller.

The grinds have changed over time, too. The new and vintage both have traditional convex grinds. The 2016 model has a pronounced hollow grind.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I also received my new mini today. There are significant changes between this model, the one I bought in 2016, and a vintage 1960s? Vaughan-Craftsman. The vintage hatchet is a Dayton pattern. The 2016 has a Dayton-style bit with more of a Michigan-style poll. The 2023 is all Michigan

I believe with the modern examples it's just inconsistencies with the finish grinding.
My 1st example that I bought about 10 years ago was the most truly Michigan looking of all mine with the next 2 new examples being a little less Michigan looking and the latest a little more.
My 60's Craftsman example is more of a Michigan than yours, and I'm kind of expecting that those Dayton-ish examples may be the earliest because it's not seen in any of the other rebrands from LL Bean Hartwell Palco and True-Test.
I can't remember if I've seen a standard Vaughan with that exact shape either, so there's a chance those were the very 1st Vaughan made.

We'd need to turn up a 50's-60's V&B catalog and a 60's Craftsman catalog to figure out exactly when Craftsman first offered them and if Vaughan was already making them before hand.

As far as the handles goes they're definitely much better as were my 2019 examples.
The shape Is there but just needs to be accentuated and refined, they're a great starting point that's easy to work with.
My 1st was like your 2016 example, I didn't know where to take wood off and ruined it.
I ended up having to buy a link hatchet handle and whittle about 75% of it away.