Snow & Nealley HB - soft, soft, soft

[Square_peg]

At work I sharpened a Snow & Nealley Hudson Bay axe today. This is a new model, purchased this year. It looks like this.
http://www.campfitters.com/sites/def...on-Bay-axe.jpg

This is the softest axe I've ever filed, even softer than my import hatchets. A sharp file just blew material off the edge like it was shaving cheese or butter of something. I was very disappointed. It did take a nice edge which easily shaved the hair off my forearm.

We have another one in the shop. I'll put a file to it and see if it's the same or if this one was a fluke.

[FortyTwoBlades]

Duh--you weren't using the right kind of sharpener. Use one of these next time.

[Double Ott]

It will be interesting to see what the results are for the second HB you have. I have read many poor comments on the new S&N axes, but no one has ever really gone into any detailed comments to back up their claims.

[G-pig]

Yup, the new ones arent any good. dont judge the old ones on it though, they are excellent. some of the best as far as Im concerned.

[Square_peg]

Duh--you weren't using the right kind of sharpener. Use one of these next time.

I think that might have done the job.

[Crazyotter]

I've had, wait, it was four of the new ones, that I hand picked. Soft as a butter knife. But as G-pig said, don't judge the older ones.

[FortyTwoBlades]

It just makes my Maine pride cry a little every time S&N takes another dive.

[cooperhill]

Funny my newer S&N double bit was terrible to file. Very hard and impossible to get any purchase.

[Square_peg]

Do you know if it was manufactured in the US or elsewhere?

[cooperhill]

It's a newer one so it Chinese.

[scrteened porch]

The heat-treating was said to be the last bit that S&N were doing themselves, on heads made in China, wasn't it? Sounds a little uneven.