Craftsman Pack Axe vs Norlund Voyageur

[rjdankert]

Looking for another axe in a 1971 Sears catalog earlier, I came across their Craftsman "Pack Axe". I thought it would be interesting to post a comparison of it to a Norlund Voyageur (O. A. Norlund Co., Lewistown, PA).

Pack Axe

Found on the internet:

VINTAGE CRAFTSMAN HUDSON BAY PATTERN HATCHET | #1811423433

A NICE VINTAGE CRAFTSMAN HUDSON BAY PATTERN HATCHET, TOTAL LENGTH (12'')L PREVIOUS OWNER TOOK A RASP TO THE END OF THE HANDLE.PLEASE SEE THE PIC'S THEY ARE PART OF THE DISCRIPTION.I ONLY SHIP TO THE L

www.worthpoint.com

Vintage CRAFTSMAN 5" Hudson Bay Camp Axe Hatchet Tool | #1920532065

We have out of this large Gunsmith estate, a great Craftsman Hudson Bay camp hatchet,,, has original leather sheath but it shows wear..11 inch handle,,axe is 5 inches long..the blade is 3 inches wide,

www.worthpoint.com

Voyageur

My Norlund Voyageur (total weight with sheath 1 lb. 6.2 oz.)

Bob

 

[rjdankert]

Click for YesteryearsTools article:

Norlund Co.

Bob

 

[Hickory n steel]

The Craftsman was probably also made by METCO, and if it differs at all from the norlund it could be made on the same tooling as the Collins HB hatchets of the era.

 

[Square_peg]

The Craftsman was probably also made by METCO, and if it differs at all from the norlund it could be made on the same tooling as the Collins HB hatchets of the era.

I'm certain you have this right.

 

[Alocksly]

I've got the Norlund and it does look very much like the Craftsman above. My Norlund needed a new handle after being salvaged from the junk shop but I was lucky enough to find an original sheath for it in another shop a few months later.

 

[catspa]

I rescued my Norlund from a neighbor’s scrap metal pile with a busted haft. Hung it on a straight 13” hammer handle and half octagon-ed it. The eye is just over 1-3/8” tall, but the other dimensions are similar.

Cool history Bob, thanks for posting this.

Parker

 

[rjdankert]

Here is a Sears 1969-70 Fall-Winter catalog snip (earliest listing of the Craftsman Pack Axe I found):

I did not do an exhaustive search, but it looks like the Craftsman Pack Axe was not continued into 1973 (and beyond).

Here is a 1973 snip:

Bob

 

[catspa]

That 73 looks less HB and more Michigan-like.

Companion, not Craftsman. Must have changed suppliers.

Parker

 

[Hickory n steel]

That 73 looks less HB and more Michigan-like.

Companion, not Craftsman. Must have changed suppliers.

Parker

Sears had the Craftsman line of tools and the less expensive companion line.
This would be a different tool under a different line, and both were likely available at the same time.
Craftsman was the flagship line though so it would naturally take priority over the companion when it came to deciding what to feature in the catalog.

Btw examples of this companion hatchet found online feature the M code which was used for tools contracted by Vaughan & Bushnell, and they look to be a dead wringer for the Vaughan value brand hatchet of the era.

 

[Travbud1]

Great timing for this thread, Bob!

I found this at the flea market today, I assumed it was a Norlund but a quick look under the rust shows a "flat-top A" Craftsman stamp.