Whats the deal with Vaughn tools?

G

garry3

Joined
Sep 11, 2012
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There web sight leads you to believe that it is made in the USA. They made very good hammers and hatchets for a long time. I know that they offer axes as well. I never hear of anyone saying good or bad of them. Strangely not much information.
The picture below is of two rigging hatchets one new the other older. The new one has a collar I guess you would call it as the old one just has the traditional cheeks. Both weigh the same at 28oz. The poll is the same diameter at its striking surface but not as long. I do wonder if it will be as efficient. The older hatchet is a Vaughn and Bushnell hewing hatchet with a forge welded hardened poll. Nice old tool.
001.JPG

So fill me in guys. What is this grand old company doing today? Are they USA made? Just some? What is the quality like?
 
garry3 said:
What is this grand old company doing today? Are they USA made? Just some? What is the quality like?
Click to expand...

Last time I looked at their stuff in the local hardware store I saw hatchets clearly stamped Made in USA and axes with no such stamp. I think their hammers are still made here and Vaughan makes terrific hammers as I'm sure you know. Their 16oz straight-claw finish hammer is the industry standard.

Their website implies that all of their stuff is still made here.

http://www.vaughanmfg.com/pages/american-made-tools
 
I also am a fan of their hammers. They were able to handle abuse beyond what they were designed to. I keep a 24 oz smooth face framer in my tool kit in the truck at all times. It has helped me out of several situations.

Chris
 
Square_peg said:
Last time I looked at their stuff in the local hardware store I saw hatchets clearly stamped Made in USA and axes with no such stamp. I think their hammers are still made here and Vaughan makes terrific hammers as I'm sure you know. Their 16oz straight-claw finish hammer is the industry standard.

Their website implies that all of their stuff is still made here.

http://www.vaughanmfg.com/pages/american-made-tools
Click to expand...

The Federal Trade Commission is evidently pretty serious about keeping "Made in USA" claims legitimate.

"Made in USA means that “all or virtually all” the product has been made in America. That is, all significant parts, processing, and labor that go into the product must be of U.S. origin. Products should not contain any – or should contain only negligible – foreign content."

(Quoted from http://www.ftc.gov/opa/reporter/shopping/madeinusa.shtml)

An interesting written comment from Vaughan to the FTC about making sure that "Made in USA" really means it:
http://www.ftc.gov/opp/jointvent/madeusa/ftp/usa/097.txt
 
What is leading you to believe that your axe is not made in USA? They are still making them in the USA and yours is stamped USA. They just changed the poll design that is all.
garry3 said:
There web sight leads you to believe that it is made in the USA. They made very good hammers and hatchets for a long time. I know that they offer axes as well. I never hear of anyone saying good or bad of them. Strangely not much information.
The picture below is of two rigging hatchets one new the other older. The new one has a collar I guess you would call it as the old one just has the traditional cheeks. Both weigh the same at 28oz. The poll is the same diameter at its striking surface but not as long. I do wonder if it will be as efficient. The older hatchet is a Vaughn and Bushnell hewing hatchet with a forge welded hardened poll. Nice old tool.
001.JPG

So fill me in guys. What is this grand old company doing today? Are they USA made? Just some? What is the quality like?
Click to expand...
 
spike116 said:
What is leading you to believe that your axe is not made in USA? They are still making them in the USA and yours is stamped USA. They just changed the poll design that is all.
Click to expand...

It does not say Made in the USA. And the whole head has changed. Even the eye. So yes, I am suspicious.
004.JPG

Its not stamped but seems to be printed.
 
I actually think they are lasered on there. They are made in the USA. When you get a chance go to their website.
 
Steve Tall said:
The Federal Trade Commission is evidently pretty serious about keeping "Made in USA" claims legitimate.

"Made in USA means that “all or virtually all” the product has been made in America. That is, all significant parts, processing, and labor that go into the product must be of U.S. origin. Products should not contain any – or should contain only negligible – foreign content."

(Quoted from http://www.ftc.gov/opa/reporter/shopping/madeinusa.shtml)

An interesting written comment from Vaughan to the FTC about making sure that "Made in USA" really means it:
http://www.ftc.gov/opp/jointvent/madeusa/ftp/usa/097.txt
Click to expand...

Quoted from the same source as above:
"Vaughan does not object to foreign sourcing. In fact, it purchases some hand tools
overseas, such as its soft-face hammers, and clearly marks those tools with their foreign country
of origin."

Seems they do import some products but claim they clearly mark them as such.
 
Curtis_Lowe said:
Quoted from the same source as above:
"Vaughan does not object to foreign sourcing. In fact, it purchases some hand tools
overseas, such as its soft-face hammers, and clearly marks those tools with their foreign country
of origin."

Seems they do import some products but claim they clearly mark them as such.
Click to expand...

OK, my concern might not be valid.
But what about there full size axes? Any one own any? Are they all imported? No stores that I know of carries them here, so I have never seen them.
 
I once picked up a Vaughan bargain brand at an estate sale and put it back, figuring it was made overseas to sell cheaper. As I recall it said Vaughan and bargain or economy or some such word, but not USA.
As for USA, I'm suspicious when it doesn't say "made in". Vaughan USA might mean Vaughan is an American company rather than that this tool is USA-made.
This is not my field, so don't rely on my remarks as anything more than paranoia.
 
scrteened porch said:
I once picked up a Vaughan bargain brand at an estate sale and put it back, figuring it was made overseas to sell cheaper. As I recall it said Vaughan and bargain or economy or some such word, but not USA.
Click to expand...

Vaughan used to use a 'Value Brand' stamp. I had one that I know came from the 70's or earlier and was a good piece of steel. I think it was made in USA but I don't recall if it was stamped as such. That wasn't as important back then because virtually everything was made here back then.
 
scrteened porch said:
...As for USA, I'm suspicious when it doesn't say "made in". Vaughan USA might mean Vaughan is an American company rather than that this tool is USA-made...
Click to expand...

I was also wondering about "Made in USA" vs. "USA", and found that the FTC considers them both to be similar claims:

A Made in USA claim can be express or implied. Examples of express claims: Made in USA. "Our products are American-made." "USA."

(Quoted from http://business.ftc.gov/documents/bus03-complying-made-usa-standard)
 
scrteened porch said:
I once picked up a Vaughan bargain brand at an estate sale and put it back, figuring it was made overseas to sell cheaper. As I recall it said Vaughan and bargain or economy or some such word, but not USA.
As for USA, I'm suspicious when it doesn't say "made in". Vaughan USA might mean Vaughan is an American company rather than that this tool is USA-made.
This is not my field, so don't rely on my remarks as anything more than paranoia.
Click to expand...

They are good tools. I picked this one up the other day. Boy's axe.
001.JPG

002.JPG
 
I have one of their old pattern rigger hatchets -- after 20 years i finally had to replace the handle after breaking it last fall.
 
Got ya. I'm always curious on the tools RC's because it is good data that I would like to know for comparison purposes.
 
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