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

Nearly 2 years in the making and still no pics you axe guys are special all right

Don’t worry about it, everyone got hypothermia waiting and won’t require an axe now.

Whats the dark line circled in red ? Could this be a potential weak point ? No hate genuinely curious what has caused this blemish in what is otherwise a very nicely finished and well thought out axe.

Originally Posted by dannyb

Attachment 224629

Whats the dark line circled in red ? Could this be a potential weak point ? No hate genuinely curious what has caused this blemish in what is otherwise a very nicely finished and well thought out axe.

I have no idea, didn't even notice it myself. There is certainly nothing like that on my axe, and I think extremely unlikely they'd release a product with an obvious flaw. In my experience with them I've never had an issue with quality, they seem to be very fastidious. Not fast, but fastidious...

Originally Posted by Gruffle

I have no idea, didn't even notice it myself. There is certainly nothing like that on my axe, and I think extremely unlikely they'd release a product with an obvious flaw. In my experience with them I've never had an issue with quality, they seem to be very fastidious. Not fast, but fastidious...

I think you will find that the line is the transition in the heat treatment (ie a quench line). The eye will be softer than the edge for improved toughness.

Here are some pics I took of my test axe, as far as I can see its identical to the commercial model.
It's dirty of course, but was obviously spotless when I got it. And wickedly sharp.
Looking forward to getting the cover, TBH I'm not using it much now because I'm afraid of chopping off a finger rummaging for it in the back pack.
You can see it's quite a bit smaller than the camp axe, and truly backpackable at 1kg.

Attached some fancy pics from Tuatahi

Originally Posted by dannyb

Attachment 224629

Whats the dark line circled in red ? Could this be a potential weak point ? No hate genuinely curious what has caused this blemish in what is otherwise a very nicely finished and well thought out axe.

Looking at other pics I think the dark line is just where the rust proofing meets the part of the blade where it's been ground. I can vaguely see it on my axe, but there's definitely no damage to the metal. And I think the crappy image quality in that pic has vastly exaggerated the colour change. It's not visible on my axe at all unless you look very closely.

Ordered one today, looking forward to it turning up.

Originally Posted by NZ32

Ordered one today, looking forward to it turning up.

Cool, I'm totally stoked with mine, just need to get the cover on it, it's lethally sharp and no way you want to touch that blade. Seems to be holding a good edge too, I've chopped all kinds of gnarly old hardwood and seems very sharp still

Hows it look on the handle after a serious amount of work? I had one similar to this design with the front bottom of the eye hole is cut away, and it was a bugger for working loose on the haft. All I could put it down to was the leverage of the impact on the heel of the bit working the head loose on the haft. It was a bit of a pest, and it got to the point where it needed a new handle as the old one had been compressed. Might have been an issue with the density of the handle timber but I've never had another like it to compare and I got rid of the thing.

It is in no way a slight on the manufacturer as well, my work axe is a bloody tool and a half. Best axe I've ever seen let alone used - it's just too heavy for fine work so the camp axe or the new 'Trapper' version will be a much more useful tool I think. I have a Bullock Bros axe that is about 3-3/4Lb and it's almost perfect for fine work. Too heavy for backpacking, probably the same class as the camp axe but with a longer handle.

Originally Posted by No.3

Hows it look on the handle after a serious amount of work? I had one similar to this design with the front bottom of the eye hole is cut away, and it was a bugger for working loose on the haft. All I could put it down to was the leverage of the impact on the heel of the bit working the head loose on the haft. It was a bit of a pest, and it got to the point where it needed a new handle as the old one had been compressed. Might have been an issue with the density of the handle timber but I've never had another like it to compare and I got rid of the thing.

It is in no way a slight on the manufacturer as well, my work axe is a bloody tool and a half. Best axe I've ever seen let alone used - it's just too heavy for fine work so the camp axe or the new 'Trapper' version will be a much more useful tool I think. I have a Bullock Bros axe that is about 3-3/4Lb and it's almost perfect for fine work. Too heavy for backpacking, probably the same class as the camp axe but with a longer handle.

The head on mine is totally solid. I highly doubt it would ever come loose. The head is also pinned, which is kind of overkill for a small axe like this, but they use the same methods on their work axes as on their racing axes.
So even if it ever loosened up, it's sure as hell not coming off.
The handle is hickory, expensive but very hard and dense.

The cover arrived today, so now I can start using it a bit more without worrying about losing fingers...
Think I'll get a belt loop so I can keep it handy and hands free when working on the section clearing paths etc

Originally Posted by Gruffle

The head on mine is totally solid. I highly doubt it would ever come loose. The head is also pinned, which is kind of overkill for a small axe like this, but they use the same methods on their work axes as on their racing axes.
So even if it ever loosened up, it's sure as hell not coming off.
The handle is hickory, expensive but very hard and dense.

The head on your axe might be pinned, but I don't think the production one is. You can see the difference in the photos, and the one I've handled (sadly not mine) isn't pinned either. Not that it would be any kind of deal breaker!

Originally Posted by Gruffle

The head on mine is totally solid. I highly doubt it would ever come loose. The head is also pinned, which is kind of overkill for a small axe like this, but they use the same methods on their work axes as on their racing axes.
So even if it ever loosened up, it's sure as hell not coming off.
The handle is hickory, expensive but very hard and dense.

I would like to get one but photos are conflicting as to whether the head is pinned or not - some photos show it pinned some dont - that design needs it pinned - what is the story