Back in 3020, a scientist mercenary by the name of B.Banzai was hired by Hanse Davion to design an effective close combat mech.
After analyzing many possible ways to make a mech better at physical combat, Banzai decided on the titanium core hatchet as the best weapon for a mech.
The design team needed a test bed for the new weapon, and the result was a light and flimsy light mech named, appropriately enough, Hatchet Tester.
Hawkings Consortium got the blueprints from Doctor Banzai, and proceeded to manufacture the mech for home guard and militia units.

The Hachet Tester was meant to test the hatchet, and it mounts the prototype on its right arm. Three medium lasers round out the design, meant more to make up the weight than for any real purpose.
Capable of more than 100 kph, the Hatchet Tester can close in quickly with opponents to deal a swipe from its hatchet.
In tests with other light mechs, the Hatchet Tester consistently defeated its opponents in close combat, proving once and for all the utility of the hatchet weapon, which eventually led to the Hatchetman.

Hatchet Testers were produced in large numbers, and sold to many nobles and militia units throughout the Inner Sphere. The mech is fast gaining popularity as a companion for the Urbanmech, largely from a single battle on Tikonov when two Hatchet Testers and two Urbanmechs managed to fight a medium lance to a standstill.

Only small time household units and poor militia operate this mech, though it is slowly becoming popular for city defense.
No house unit currently operates this mech, and even few mercenary units use it, with other designs like the more capable Bee available for slightly higher prices.