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

Originally Posted by Ftx325

there is a seller on trade me from nelson who sells smaller axes .... and I believe they are locally made ... and example in the link , check his other listings for other options .

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketpl...5?bof=6guJaJdB

look like excellent quality and could probably make to suit whatever is required .

That looks good buying
The ones I looking at would be 100$ up on that at least and long timeframe to secure
But prob a bigger variety (I wont put up more pics as might not get off the ground like the Gaiters :-(

Had their work axe for a while now and just come back from a trip (it showed up just in time!!) Using their smaller camp axe.

The smaller camp axe savaged through dead manuka 4-6 hits to get through 25yr old manuka (yes it was definitely dead being on doc land)

It has a small 'beard' enough to catch the back of your fingers if you holding the handle under the head and let the backs of your finger touch it, it will draw blood (even without you noticinf) and as with the big boy, it came sharp enough to shave and shiny enough to use as a mirror

When I ordered k8ne I mentioned putting a longer handle on it, they didn't seem that keen. Quite glad actually as it fits inside my bag nicely as it is

Originally Posted by 223nut

Had their work axe for a while now and just come back from a trip (it showed up just in time!!) Using their smaller camp axe.

The smaller camp axe savaged through dead manuka 4-6 hits to get through 25yr old manuka (yes it was definitely dead being on doc land)

It has a small 'beard' enough to catch the back of your fingers if you holding the handle under the head and let the backs of your finger touch it, it will draw blood (even without you noticinf) and as with the big boy, it came sharp enough to shave and shiny enough to use as a mirror

When I ordered k8ne I mentioned putting a longer handle on it, they didn't seem that keen. Quite glad actually as it fits inside my bag nicely as it is

Who's Axe @223nut ??

Great story Tentman, exactly why I think people out in the bush should carry a small axe, it might save your life one day....And always good to see quality stuff getting used well and not being chucked out when it breaks. 5 decades for an axe is nice going! I like to buy stuff that's good quality, repairable, and will see me out.
I think overall weight of around 1.1 - 1.2kg max is suitable for this type of axe. Any heavier and you don't want to carry it. Plus a 1kg head is way too heavy for a handle of 14- 18". So I think the head is going to have to come in around 600g max, which leaves about 600 for the handle. Has to be balanced and not stress your wrist with a too heavy head when using one handed

Originally Posted by mimms2

I would be interested to know if tutahi cast their own heads or what...

Yes they make them from scratch

Originally Posted by berg243

just bought a eastwing tomahawk for possuming , would have been better if it had a hammer piece instead of the spike but will be taking it on overnight hunting trips for firewood gathering as its fairly light.

I used one of these when trapping, very handy


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Perfect for setting traps into the ground


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Originally Posted by terryf

Have you had a look at the Dragonhawk by Black Dragon Forge?

That is a wicked looking weapon, I'd be afraid of stabbing myself in the face on the backswing....

Originally Posted by Ftx325

there is a seller on trade me from nelson who sells smaller axes .... and I believe they are locally made ... and example in the link , check his other listings for other options .

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketpl...5?bof=6guJaJdB

look like excellent quality and could probably make to suit whatever is required .

Yeah I have seen these, they look pretty close to what I want Tuatahi to make. At 1.7kg and 23" handle I think maybe a bit heavy though. I like the head shape though. I'd want something with a bit shorter handle, and a lighter head, all up weight not more than about 1.2kg. Because he is regrinding axe heads from probably old school felling axes, they are pretty chunky to start with. But he does a nice job and it looks like a sweet little axe

These guys have nice quality little axes too ;

https://piranhatools.co.nz/collections/handsaws

Originally Posted by Gruffle

That is a wicked looking weapon, I'd be afraid of stabbing myself in the face on the backswing....

at only 600 grams its surprisingly easy to control.

Originally Posted by Buzo

These guys have nice quality little axes too ;

https://piranhatools.co.nz/collections/handsaws

Hi Buzo, yep the Hultafors hunting axe: https://piranhatools.co.nz/collectio...-axe-hultafors is pretty much what I am looking for from Tuatahi. The handle length and weight is about right, I'd like a bit more beard so that the cutting edge can be longer and still keep the weight down so the head is around 600g. Then total weight about 1-1.1kg

Originally Posted by kukuwai

@Gruffle you have any idea of price if you get 10 buyers?


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I first need to get them to make a prototype or 2 - if they will do it. If they do, I'll post pics and specs of the proposed item and then we can all have a look and see who's keen...

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?

Originally Posted by 223nut

Had their work axe for a while now and just come back from a trip (it showed up just in time!!) Using their smaller camp axe.

The smaller camp axe savaged through dead manuka 4-6 hits to get through 25yr old manuka (yes it was definitely dead being on doc land)

It has a small 'beard' enough to catch the back of your fingers if you holding the handle under the head and let the backs of your finger touch it, it will draw blood (even without you noticinf) and as with the big boy, it came sharp enough to shave and shiny enough to use as a mirror

When I ordered k8ne I mentioned putting a longer handle on it, they didn't seem that keen. Quite glad actually as it fits inside my bag nicely as it is

Haha, yeah they are sharp buggers alright, and by all accounts cut like a laser. Hands as well as wood....Which is why I'd like a bit of a beard or notch so you can hold it right behind the head and not risk losing a digit