Chinese Snow & Nealley

upnorth

upnorth

Joined
Nov 25, 2006
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Does anyone know when the Snow & Nealley Hudson Bays began to be produced in China ? And how can you, if it is possible, identify an older U.S. production piece ? Furthermore, were S&N axes any good back in the day or should a guy bypass it all and possibly go Council Velvicut ? But that is a pretty pricey option to get an item like that sent up here. My Wett. and G. B. were reasonably priced, but I have a Jones for a Hudson Bay style some day. I think that it is more of my romanticed view of the old fur trade over practicality. Thanks.
 
Upnorth , I used to sell Snow & Nealley in my store for years and it was always high end U.S. made. Some was still hand forged . I retired in 2002 and did not know they went China . I am very sorry to hear that. Bill
 
Thank you sir. I have very little axe knowledge but much interest. I came across this lower end Council that should meet my desire for a user Hudson Bay. This would probably be ok for my ignorance level. I'm not in the Boreal forest anymore so this is just as much hobby\interest as general use. :) At $60.00 up here in western Canada, I can't complain. Believe me, I'd rather send the bucks to the U.S. then China, when I can.

http://woodtrekker.blogspot.ca/2010/12/council-tool-hudson-bay-camp-axe-review.html
 
Watch the head for signs of loosening. The Hudson Bay pattern has low haft/eye contact surface area so any slight sloppiness in the hafting process (as there almost always is in a production setting) can result in the head loosening up a bit. Council's budget-level HB's have been particularly known for this. Just expect it and be ready to re-wedge it and you'll be good.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Watch the head for signs of loosening. The Hudson Bay pattern has low haft/eye contact surface area so any slight sloppiness in the hafting process (as there almost always is in a production setting) can result in the head loosening up a bit. Council's budget-level HB's have been particularly known for this. Just expect it and be ready to re-wedge it and you'll be good.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'm running in the dark here. :thumbup:
 
Sometime in the late 80's early 90's I bought a 3 1/2 pound S&N on a 30-inch handle. The only marking was a nice foil label glued to the head. That is long gone so the head is now totally unmarked. No make in the USA, S&N or anything else. It could be from any where if you found it at a flea market and didn't know its history like I do this one. There must be a lot of other S&N axes out there like this.
 
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