Thread: Tuatahi axe project - small axe / hatchet for hunting, tramping, fishing etc

Have a couple other Kelly’s, and a ‘black prince’ Canadian. Had several others, but some other prick must’ve deserved them more.


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Don't know whether, this Axe was bought like this or the grandfather who did some competition stuff, modified it.

Originally Posted by flock

Don't know whether, this Axe was bought like this or the grandfather who did some competition stuff, modified it. Attachment 175219

Speed holes

Axe equivalent of a muzzle brake to reduce recoil

Ive gave another try to get their attention and contact them, Ive placed new order and also sent an email which I will copy and share with you guys as I dont have anything to hide.

"Hello there, Ive just placed an order again.. because I wasn't getting answer nowhere, Ive tried to call your hot-line, ended up leaving voicemail but nobody contacted me back, Ive tried to email you several times, message your Facebook page and even leave comment on one of your photos but nobody reached me out.

There was some miss-understanding and because of that you don't want to deal with me? First time youve recieved order with my name was about 1 year ago done by my son, but because of some health problems he wasnt able to pay.
You had my USA address which is wreight forwarding company address, you googled that address and found some articles about scammers using that address, but I'm not that type of man to scam anyone. That company is called USA2GEORGIA and has around 2 millions of users, we all share same address there but we get some our unique "room" numbers which is being used for identification of user.
Because of some stupid scammers you shouldnt help and deal with me? I never scammed anybody, didnt wanted to get in details but why should I scam somebody when Im owner of company called S.K. Impex and Im working on importing high quality medicine from Europe and USA. Usually scammers are people without much money and besides of my company and well-being I was risen as honest person and after 57 years of living I never scammed anybody in my life...

Anyways when I ask to pay by bank transfer, its totally safe way of payment for seller to recieve money, you will have tota control of my money and even if you wont send my order I wont be able to do anything so evenmore Im under risk of loosing money, not the seller.

So please answer me and if you have any more questions please ask and I will answer any. If you dont have any questions please send me an invoice so I can pay for my order #12741

Looking forward to hear from you.
With much respect,

Aleksandre"

Well, it's been a while, but at long last have some solid news on the Tuatahi small axe concept.
They have made a couple of prototypes, and one is on its way to me now. They have asked me not to post any pics yet, as it's still under development. I should receive it early next week, and will post my thoughts. From the pic I have seen, it is pretty much the way I requested it, a bearded design, approx 19", head weight approx 800g.
They want me to test the hell out of it and give feedback, which I will certainly be doing!
Once they give me the OK I'll post pics, but if anyone wants to give it a try drop me a PM and you can some over and chop some kindling for me!
I'm in Auckland, North Shore and more than happy to meet up and let others have a whack.
The way I see it, the more feedback the better and we end up with what could be a very useful little axe.
Not sure when they will start commercial production, but hopefully not too far away.

Good news

awesome to hear some progress has been made.

many years ago I had stolen in a breakin at my house at Kaitaia a camp axe and have never seen anything like it again to replace it - I understand it was a carpenters axe and likely very old (sorry dont have pictures ) it had a wide blade and a hammer head with nail claw on back - bloody ideal as a camp axe as one obviously could hammer in and or remove nails as well as a small axe - love to get one again

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

many years ago I had stolen in a breakin at my house at Kaitaia a camp axe and have never seen anything like it again to replace it - I understand it was a carpenters axe and likely very old (sorry dont have pictures ) it had a wide blade and a hammer head with nail claw on back - bloody ideal as a camp axe as one obviously could hammer in and or remove nails as well as a small axe - love to get one again

any half capable engineer could make you one.....cut the required bits off a claw hammer and weld them onto back of a 2.5lb axe...mate used to cut head off hammer and weld it onto fencing pliers to give a better all round tool.

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

many years ago I had stolen in a breakin at my house at Kaitaia a camp axe and have never seen anything like it again to replace it - I understand it was a carpenters axe and likely very old (sorry dont have pictures ) it had a wide blade and a hammer head with nail claw on back - bloody ideal as a camp axe as one obviously could hammer in and or remove nails as well as a small axe - love to get one again

@Barry the hunter that as described is what is known as a slate roofers axe in the UK Link here

hey thanks for that its a natty looking tool be handy

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

many years ago I had stolen in a breakin at my house at Kaitaia a camp axe and have never seen anything like it again to replace it - I understand it was a carpenters axe and likely very old (sorry dont have pictures ) it had a wide blade and a hammer head with nail claw on back - bloody ideal as a camp axe as one obviously could hammer in and or remove nails as well as a small axe - love to get one again

@Barry the hunter, I've got a carpenters hatchet that sounds like what you're describing. I found this at a garage sale in a sad state so cleaned it up and it'll still hold a lovely edge. Often gets used for taking ribs off for slow cooking.

Originally Posted by Joe_90

@Barry the hunter, I've got a carpenters hatchet that sounds like what you're describing. I found this at a garage sale in a sad state so cleaned it up and it'll still hold a lovely edge. Often gets used for taking ribs off for slow cooking.

Attachment 207788

thats it - I put a pin thru head on mine as it tended to loosen the handle I put on - yup bloody burglars they got into my workshop and flogged all my knives -reels -rods -knives I had english butchers knives my Grandad had given me - he had bought some back from England for his butchers shop and I was lucky enough to get a couple - puma as well gone lol

So that means overall length would be approx 58-59cm (same as camp axe, 23") for long handle, and 45 cm (17.5") for the short handle. My prototype is short handle, OAL 43cm. It is a little short for 2 handed use, but an extra inch and a chunkier knob would probably make it 2 -handed useable when really needed. I do not know pricing yet, or when these products will be ready to order. You guys will be the first to know...

Hi guys, here's an update on how I have found the small axe over the last couple weeks.
It currently has a 17" handle, I think 19" (50cm) would be a better fit for this axe.
This is the quick review I sent to Tuatahi, they tell me they have other prototypes underway...

I've given the axe a really good workout the last couple of weeks, carrying it with me in a backpack on my walks into the forest, and also using it for some small scale firewood process and felling of saplings, dead trees etc.
It's handy to leave it in my backpack all the time, so I can take the dog for a walk in our bush and do a bit of path clearing on the way.

It has very impressive cutting capacity for such a small axe. It whips through green wood up to 6" diameter pretty easily and quickly.
It does fine with splitting too.

On seasoned wood, even manuka and other hardwoods, it still cuts very well. I can get through seasoned manuka 5-6" without too much trouble, although this is not the primary use of an axe like this.
The cutting edge of just over 4" is quite wide for an axe of this weight, due to the bearded design, which I like.
For comparison the Gransfors Bruks SFA of similar head weight has only 3" cutting edge, so 1/3 more than that.

The bearded design leaves room to use the axe choked right up to the head, great for carving, woodcrafting, cutting stakes, tent pegs etc.
I'm still totally in favour of the bearded design, I believe it adds to cutting efficiency by lengthening the bit without adding weight, and also allows choked up use for the above mentioned purposes.
As a comparison, if you tried to use your camp axe like this you run a real risk of slicing your fingers. And I have heard from guys on the forum who have cut themselves like this with the camp axe.
The camp axe is too big for this type of work anyway, but there is a tendency to slide the hand up near the head for ease of balanced carrying, leaving fingers open to cuts.
I always wear gloves for this reason, but a sharp axe will easily cut through a glove.

The handle is a prototype I know, but I think it should definitely be longer, 50cm (19"), it's currently 17".
I have found that because of the short handle length, I am always using it with my hand right slid all the way to the bottom of the handle.
And the short length makes 2-handed use difficult.

The knob needs to be bigger, with more of a pronounced palm swell, especially in the width.
Maybe a bit more meat in the throat, my handle is a bit too narrow in this area I think, a little hard to keep a firm grip.

I find that my hand tends to want to slip past the knob.
Combined with the short handle, this makes for a situation where one could lose grip, as the hand slides back in order to get the longest swing from the short handle.

I like that I can use the axe for decent periods of time, even on hardwood, without any wrist strain and I'm not getting any shock up my arm either.

So I think it's great in terms of head design, just some minor changes needed for the handle IMO...

Two inches longer in the handle would not add much to weight, would still fit in a backpack, but allows 2 -handed use, a longer swing for more efficient cutting, and safer since a shorter handle always means we need to have our body closer to the axe head.

Hope this feedback is useful...