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

Originally Posted by norsk

I think the Norwegian Kvisteøks is what you are looking for.
Bearded Axes look neat but unless you are hewing beams,the beard is pointless.

A Kvisteøks literally (branch-axe) is for limbing a fallen tree ,felling small trees and chopping out face cuts.It has enough weight to be useful and chops well above its weight.I use one for driving felling wedges at work and it's perfect.

The Grunsfors forest axe is a bit light as a general purpose axe. Here is a GB side by side with a Kvisteøks, both are the same lengte but have a different shaped head.

I googled Kvisteøks but it just came back with a translation "twig axe"....But I can see what you mean, it's a very typical style of axe in that part of the world. For a general purpose axe it's great, but I think it's going to be too heavy for something you can chuck in a day pack or for a couple night's camp where you need a small axe / hatchet just to make a fire or build quick emergency shelter. I reckon there is a great opportunity for Tuatahi to make at least 2 or 3 different axes.
1. Small axe, 48-50cm handle, total weight 1.2kg max, light enough to carry but chops well enough to make short work of wrist / arm thickness dead wood for fires or live wood for shelter. Can double up on some large knife duties
2. Using the same head, a hatchet with about 35-40cm handle, for those who really want to reduce weight, less than 1kg.
3. a general purpose "forest axe" like your Kvisteøks. This one would need a larger, heavier head of around 1 kg. Handle 58-63cm. Can be used around the house / property for firewood processing, limbing, or to be taken on camp when there is only a short walk or drive in. Something similar to their existing "camp axe" but maybe a bit lighter head. What weight is your Kvisteøks And handle length? Looks like about 58- 60cm?