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

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...

Ordered one today, looking forward to it turning up.

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.

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!

I have to say I was on the waiting list to buy one. I have been the owner of one of there beautifully finished working axes for a few years now and rate them. I am quite disappointed with the outcome in design and finish. I had expectations they would be a superbly finished like their working axe. It’s all about personal taste and expectation I guess. I am sure they will be functional but I believe they missed the opportunity to finish the axe to a level not found in competitors.

They aren't 'not finished' - the surface is textured by bead blasting or something like that I think to give it a satin finish. It makes the grind on the blade really stand out, and I think it looks quite good. The material spec and heat treatment will be bloody first class... My work axe is the fully polished finish typical with that model, but it really needs to be repolished and cleaned up as it's really quite stained with crap and rust. Be interesting to see how the satin finish holds up. It is a different class of tool, not expected to chop in as deep but even though it's a smaller head with less material in it the forging and working time and final grind and surface prep would still take near as long as the bigger heads I expect. The changed surface finish is likely a cost saving measure to hold the product to a price point - a good move I'd say.

Design is interesting, with the lower front part of the eye cut away as part of the bearded design I have the query on leverage on the handle haft in the eye. That's the issue I had with the last bearded axe I had that would work itself loose, although I didn't have the interest and knowledge to really work out waht was going on at that stage. It was drop the thing on the heel to knock the head back down and hammer the wedge and steels in a bit tighter until it worked loose next time. I got rid of it in the end, can't recall if I sold it or traded it or what happened. Now I'd probably look closely at the handle and likely there would be a large part of the issue there i.e. a crap low-density chunk of crap where a good solid piece of hickory would have been a totally different beast. But with a lighter weight head that's actually sharp like the 'Trapper' there probably isn't the impact on the eye with the loosening forces...

Mine turned up a few days ago and I am happy with it. Ordered the 49cm handle one, its the right length. Any longer and you would be wanting a bigger head.

Sharp edge and good cover. Might make another cover myself with a belt loop on it but see how things go.

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

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

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

Mine is not pinned, assuming it a production model. Would not be hard to do it you were worried about it, thinking of doing mine but see how it goes