George Washington Sears was born in 1821, and is known as a great woodsman, outdoors writer, and early conservationist. He is commonly known as Nessmuk, a name he later adopted after his boyhood Indian friend who taught him hunting, trapping and outdoor skills.
Alongside Horace Kephart, Nessmuk is regarded as one of the grandfathers of modern bushcraft. His book Woodcraft and Camping has been in print since the 1880s, and is a staple for outdoor and bushcraft libraries ever since.
Nessmuk was a sportswriter for the Forest and Stream magazine in the 1880s. In his writings, he popularized self-guided canoe camping tours through the Adirondacks, using light-weight canoes. Today this would be called ultra-light canoeing or ultra-light camping. Nessmuk was a very small man, so he had a light-weight solo canoe custom built for him. With this canoe he completed a 266-mile trip through the central Adirondacks.
Nessmuk is very well-known for his trio of outdoor tools. He believed that his combination of belt knife, pocket knife, and small double-bit hatchet could handle any task he needed to accomplish in the field. These three are made famous by a detailed drawing that he illustrated.
In his book, Woodcraft and Camping, he describes his little axe…
“And just here let me digress for a little chat on the indispensable hatchet; for it is the most difficult piece of camp kit to obtain in perfection of which I have any knowledge. Before I was a dozen years old I came to realize that a light hatchet was a sine qua non in woodcraft, and I also found it a most difficult thing to get. I tried shingling hatchets, lathing hatchets, and the small hatchets to be found in country hardware stores, but none of them were satisfactory… I had hunted twelve years before I caught up with the pocket-axe I was looking for. It was made in Rochester, by a surgical instrument maker named Bushnell… I prefer the double blade. I want one thick, stunt edge for knots, deers’ bones, etc., and a fine, keen edge for cutting clear timber.”
We’re very excited to release our new Wolf Valley Forge Nessmuk Double Bit Reproduction model! This little axe is our take on the famous Nessmuk hatchet, and we’re honored to have a replication of this outdoor tool.
Our Nessmuk has an overall head length of about 6-inches, approximately 1lb. 4oz. of head weight, and a bit length of around 3 3/8-inches. Both edges are razor sharp. Just like Mr. Sears preferred it, there is a difference in the two sides! One edge is ground to a finer edge for carving, etc., while the other edge is ground slightly steeper to be more robust for chopping through harder objects, like knots. This also makes it better for tasks closer to the ground, in case of hitting rocks.
The Double Bit has a straight handle, available in 12- or 14-inch handle lengths. The 12-inch handle is a very traditional length, patterned after Nessmuk’s hatchet. The 14-inch is a little more balanced, in my opinion. And we’re also offering 16-inch for a little extra length, as a $15 upgrade.
The handles are made from American Hickory. It’s available in our standard three color options (Natural Hickory, Chestnut Hickory, or Chocolate Brown Hickory), and we’re also offering a “burnt end” option on the Chestnut color, which adds a really cool touch! All the handles are oil finished.
Each Double Bit comes with a handmade leather sheath, made especially for the axe that it comes with. The axe slips down into the sheath from the top, keeping the edges protected and covered. The flap is closed using a button stud, and the edges are lined with brass rivets.
The Nessmuk – $345 plus shipping.
Important! Please note that I require a $25.00 deposit when taking an axe order online. By using the PayPal button below, you will be placing an order and paying the deposit. (please make sure to specify which color you would like!) The current wait time for your axe is about 12 months from order date. An email will be sent to let you know when your order is ready. Please make sure to specify in the form below which custom options you would like. Thank you!
Lucas Forge offers several fantastic replicas of the Nessmuk belt knife. I highly recommend you check them out to help build your own Nessmuk tools trio!