B&D Co, ever heard of them? And KATCO pics...

Crazyotter · Aug 18, 2012

All I know about this axe is everything but the poll and toe are in meh shape, and it appears to be a Maine pattern. Compared to some of the ones I've seen, I think this is the thinnest. Anyone know anything?

Thanks for any info, and for your time, heres some pics of another yard sale find.

G-pig · Aug 18, 2012

Holy crap. nice ones. Ever want to trade that katco let me know =D

markv · Aug 19, 2012

the diamond shaped eye in the Atco is unique.
what a minute is it Katco?

thanks for posting
you did good at the sale

buzz

G-pig · Aug 19, 2012

markv said:
the diamond shaped eye in the Atco is unique.
what a minute is it Katco?
thanks for posting
you did good at the sale

buzz

Katco stands for King Axe and Tool Co. I think this has had the K kind of abraded off. Beautiful shape to it, love the maine patterns.

cooperhill · Aug 19, 2012

That double bit is gorgeous. It looks just like my Snow & Neally.

Crazyotter · Aug 19, 2012

G-pig, I hit the Katco with a wire wheel and started sharpening it last night, it cleaned up so well you may not recognize it. Don't know if I'll ever get rid of it now.

Markv, the diamond shape eye is a traditional characteristic of the maine patterns, like G-pig said.

Cooper, thats a nice Snow and Nealley. I have one double in the garage still, that I'm pretty sure is S&N. I need to look up the cost of water jet cutting, I have an idea in mind with it. Getting tired of trying to find a cruiser axe.

Square_peg · Aug 20, 2012

Crazyotter said:
I need to look up the cost of water jet cutting, I have an idea in mind with it. Getting tired of trying to find a cruiser axe.

Patience. I've found 3 of them in recent months. I started repairs on the first of those yesterday. They're out there. No need to do something drastic.

G-pig · Aug 20, 2012

Yeah, just send me the snow & nealley instead =)

Ive been working on my Maine double bit of unknown make (I think it might be a S&N). It looks like 3 3/4 pound stamp though I could be wrong. I hung it on a 33 inch red oak handle, which is kind of an experiment. Seems like good handle material though, fairly flexible and very stringy grain. The axe handles really well for an axe of that size and weight though, I think its because of the short bits and the weight being more centered. I have a 3.5 pound michigan double that is so heavy and unwieldy in comparison.

Tallahassee · Apr 1, 2016

I'm reviving this old thread today (2016) because today I have a garage sale find, an older hatchet that is simply marked "B & D Co." along the poll.
It's a Maine pattern, probably close to 2 pounds, and there are no other markings. Unlike the OP, mine does not say 'WARRANTED' or 'Special', just the Company name, so I expect mine is an earlier version.
Hardened poll. Seems well made.

The original poster didn't receive an answer to his 'B & D Co" question, so I'm asking it again.
Google does not bring up any info about the mystery company "B & D", and I do see one B & D hatchet that sold on eBay, but the Seller didn't know anything about it either.

So I'm curious. Does anyone have any info on this 'B & D Co"?

Can't post a photo right now, but will try to add pics later. But mine looks exactly like the OP's photo, just a shorter one-line stamp.

Steve Tall · Apr 1, 2016

I would bet that the B & D Co. is
Bigelow & Dowse Co.
A big hardware house in Boston.
Company (as named) founded in 1894.

Steve Tall said:
Bigelow & Dowse Co.
A big hardware house in Boston.
Company (as named) founded in 1894.

Steve Tall said:
Description of Axe Brands (from catalog page in photo in previous post):

AROOSTOCK
Highest grade of steel, hand forged and hand tempered. Special black finish...

BLUE JACKET
Highest grade of soft and crucible steel. Eyes punched from solid metal, which prevents stretching or splitting. Each axe carefully inspected. Silver bronzed finish.

SHAWMUT
Highest grade of soft and crucible steel. Eyes punched from solid metal. Gold bronzed finish.

FRANKLIN
Medium quality crucible steel, gold bronzed finish, a good low priced axe.

RUSSELL
Medium quality crucible steel, gold bronzed finished. Furnished handled only.

Company history:
http://books.google.com/books?id=ypVQAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA111#v=onepage&q&f=false

300Six · Apr 2, 2016

There's no doubt that Maine axe patterns are unique. To an untrained eye they look to be dead simple compared to everyone else's designs. Anyone care to hazard a guess on why this was so? Maine forests are composed of the same tree species and conifer/deciduous composition as most of eastern n. America (such as where I live in Ottawa) and yet their axes were radically different.

halfaxe · Apr 2, 2016

300Six said:
There's no doubt that Maine axe patterns are unique. To an untrained eye they look to be dead simple compared to everyone else's designs. Anyone care to hazard a guess on why this was so? Maine forests are composed of the same tree species and conifer/deciduous composition as most of eastern n. America (such as where I live in Ottawa) and yet their axes were radically different.

I would guess because Maine axe companies were the earliest axe factories. Maine forests were the earliest cut of the white pine forests. Later came competition in axe designs to capture market share. This is speculation only.