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

Hi all, I have been on the look out for a small "forest" axe, something like Granfors Bruk small forest axe, or hunter's axe. This type of axe is quite common overseas, but there don't seem to be any NZ made options.

I discovered Tuatahi (a fantastic NZ manufacturer of specialty racing and work axes) has recently come out with what they call their "camp axe":

https://www.tuatahiaxes.com/copy-of-work-axes

I put my name on the list to buy one, everything is made from scratch and it takes about 2-3 months, and offered them a few suggestions about how I think it could be improved to suit hunters, fisherman, trampers etc.

At 2kg and 23" long it's really a bit too big and heavy to carry in a day pack, and is a bit overkill for small jobs around a camp or building emergency shelter if the weather packs it in and you need to doss down away from main camp.

the head is 1.5kg which is enough for pretty serious firewood processing / splitting etc around the house, but at 23" I think the handle is a bit short, somewhere around 26" - 28" would suit most people better I think.

So, I asked whether they can make me the camp axe with a slightly longer handle, and while they're at it why not make a small version which really does suit use in the bush in a day pack?

Expecting them just to say "thanks, we'll consider it" then just ignore me completely, I was blown away to get a return email saying, "OK, send us a drawing for the kind of axe you want".

So, I have taken it upon myself to get together a design brief for what I will call the Tuatahi Bush Axe, and would love to hear some feedback from the clver folk on this fine site who would use such an item.

Here are my thoughts which I have already sent to Tuatahi, would welcome any feedback I can pass onto them.
And if they can make something to suit, maybe we can set up a group buy? If we can get together 10 buyers I'm sure they would make it work, and we'd have the world's best bush axe...

This type of axe is quite common overseas, but there don't seem to be any NZ made options.

I have done a lot of thinking about this topic, and over the weekend did a lot of reading which backed up my original thoughts.
BTW, the Finnish and Japanese designs are closest to my way of thinking...

The basic brief would be:

A light, accurate tool with the emphasis on balance rather than heavy chopping power.

Uses: cutting dead wood (ie manuka, pine etc) for making fires.
Splitting small wood for fire making.
Felling small live trees less than about 6" diameter
Cutting saplings for trail clearing, campsite clearing, limbing branches from larger dead trees for firewood, making stakes to be used in shelter building.

This axe would be of interest to people who take a day pack for hunting, fishing or tramping, but the weather closes in and it's necessary to quickly make camp. It's light and handy enough to carry in a day pack, and means a large knife does not need to be carried also.
In this "survival" scenario it is used to cut small trees and branches to make shelter, split firewood etc. With the bearded shape you can hold it behind the head and use it like a big knife to cut rope or large flax etc for shelter building.

Skinning and game processing:
For small game it can be used to cut off rabbits' feet and head before skinning etc.
Could also be used for helping to skin larger game like deer and goats, breaking bones, cartilage, sinews etc, and those heavier jobs normally done with a large knife.

Axe head:

head weight 700- 1000g max

The head has a bearded shape, deep notched to allow the axe to be held right behind the head and used for smaller tasks such as whittling points on stakes, small carving jobs, stripping bark off stakes etc.

Cutting edge approx 5" , fairly straight edge.
This axe can double up and take over some of the duties of a large knife when held right behind the head.
The poll is tempered, and squared off for small hammering duties, like knocking in tent pegs or small stakes for shelter building.

handle length 19" (mainly for single handed use, but long enough for two handed use occasionally for felling a larger tree or cutting firewood) This length allows it to be put into a day pack, or strapped to the outside. Light enough to carry tramping, hunting, fishing etc (I would also suggest offering this same axe head with a shorter (14") handle, as a hatchet, for people who really want to keep it light and portable.

Handle has a prominent end knob for good grip.
Handle just below head has enough thickness to provide strength against twisting (ie when splitting tough wood you can twist and wiggle the head and it won't snap)
But not so thick you can't wrap your hand around it, for using when doing finer work holding the axe right behind the head.
Some subtle knurling just behind the head to improve grip when hands are wet and slippery.
Handle is fairly straight for more accurate cutting.

These are just my brief thoughts, but I think you could find a very good market both in NZ and overseas for an axe like this.
Using Tuatahi's great reputation for racing and work axes, and combining in some features to suit the outdoors people (and there are lots of those in NZ) these type of products would open up a whole new market for you I think.
After all, every good kiwi bloke man should have a reliable small axe than can turn it's hand to many jobs, small enough to carry on a tramp or a hunt.