Does anyone have any experience with a Snow & Neally "Our Best" 3.5lb 30"

S

soapboxpreacher

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Apr 3, 2010
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I posted a either or thread a few days ago with only one reply. So now I am just calling on those who have just used this axe. I cant find any valuable info on it. The Hudson and Kindling have tons. I am not certain of the hardness, grind, chopping ability...etc. Please let me know if anyone has used this. I am looking for a good chopper that can split and wont break the bank. This one seems to fit the bill. I live in North America in the MidWest. Wisconsin and Illinois I call home, so this gives you guys a reference to trees. Let me know thanks.
 
Let me clarify my statement from the other thread:

The steel I was comparing the S&N to, and said it was softer, was a Gransfors Bruks.

It's definitely better than something like a "Made in Mexico" Collins, or Tru-Temper axe you'd find in a hardware store.

I don't have that particular axe, I do have a Pen Bay, Hudson Bay, and their double bit axes. They are great work axes. Can't say I've ever had any trouble with mine.

They do not come shaving sharp, you'll have to put in some work to get that.

The one you're looking at is a standard Michigan style axe, and if you're doing some serious wood chopping, it's a very good choice.

You're probably not going to get a lot of responses, simply because most people here carry axes when backpacking, and rarely do a lot of work with them -- thus why the Pen and Hudson Bay get so much attention and the full size axes don't.
 
Spoke with S&N and they are a great group of guys...what a warranty! They did tell me the heads are made in china and heat treated here in the US. The edge is not shaving sharp and the hardness isnt near a wetterlings, Husqvarna, or GB. I have actually considered a Husqvarna 26". They are made by wetterlings, the cost is about the same as a S&N. Plus they are shaving sharp. Head is 4" and weights 3lbs. If I want I can always put a longer handle on it and I have the 32" wetterlings I was originally looking for. That is the axe I have truly wanted.
 
soapboxpreacher said:
Spoke with S&N and they are a great group of guys...what a warranty! They did tell me the heads are made in china and heat treated here in the US. The edge is not shaving sharp and the hardness isnt near a wetterlings, Husqvarna, or GB. I have actually considered a Husqvarna 26". They are made by wetterlings, the cost is about the same as a S&N. Plus they are shaving sharp. Head is 4" and weights 3lbs. If I want I can always put a longer handle on it and I have the 32" wetterlings I was originally looking for. That is the axe I have truly wanted.
Click to expand...

From my personal experience I think you would be better off with the Husqvarna...you're right about it being a re-branded Wetterlings. If it were me, that's what I would do.

My .02
 
Husqvarna were around 65 bucks and I was able to get a wetterling chopping axe (32" 3lb head) for 75. I went that route. If I do an axe around 24+" I think I would do the S&N Hudson bay...they head really looks nice. I will need to put an edge on it but it is something! I have heard nothing but great things about them...many better than the GB once the axe is modified which many have done. I was shocked but not necessarily surprised to hear that the Hudson bay cut hardwood better than the GB counterpart. And it is significantly cheaper!!! The Hudson Bay IMHO is clearly one of the nicest camping axes out. Add the edge and you have an excellent axe...even sand the handle down and coat with some boiled linseed oil.
 
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