Genuine Norlund "baby/mini" axe information needed

C

chevyguy72

Joined
Apr 11, 2016
Messages
15
Picked up this little guy the other day. I did some legwork and can't come up with ANY info on it. I searched the web and couldn't even find a picture of one. As you can see, its small, about 3 1/2in. poll to bit and has a "wedge" shape to it. Anyone have any information on this one?



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I see where you are going with that....I do see what could be grind marks on the bottom. I don't know much about Norlunds but it seems as if the lettering would have been too small if this were ever a full size axe or hatchet and the stamp is centered in the middle and not really off set.
 
The more I research these Hudson Bays, the more I think someone just butchered one and made this thing. And to think I came across something cool :thumbdn:. Not sure how I didn't think of this butcher job to begin with
 
My guess was it was the Norlund Hudson Bay hatchet and someone lopped the bit off (at leasy judging from that little kick-down at the "beard").
 
It would be something if that axe could talk! Norlunds were made under contract and were likely the financial equivalent of a Harbour Freight item today. So it started life as a cheap hatchet. Why someone would thoroughly modify a Hudson Bay pattern (did they completely ruin the original head through misuse and abuse at one time?) escapes me. The stamp is off center which suggests the front of the head has been trimmed and the heel looks very suspicious but ought to if an inch of the blade had been ground off and then re-tapered. See if you can find a clean Norlund HB to compare this one to. They didn't offer very many different models I don't think.
 
chevyguy72 said:
The more I research these Hudson Bays, the more I think someone just butchered one and made this thing. . .
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Bummer. :(

Nothing really enlightening here. Took some pictures of my Norlund to compare to your pictures.

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Bob
 
300Six said:
It would be something if that axe could talk! Norlunds were made under contract and were likely the financial equivalent of a Harbour Freight item today. So it started life as a cheap hatchet. Why someone would thoroughly modify a Hudson Bay pattern (did they completely ruin the original head through misuse and abuse at one time?) escapes me. The stamp is off center which suggests the front of the head has been trimmed and the heel looks very suspicious but ought to if an inch of the blade had been ground off and then re-tapered. See if you can find a clean Norlund HB to compare this one to. They didn't offer very many different models I don't think.
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Are you sure they were cheapo's ? I only ever hear good things about them.
You'd be surprised just how many things were contract produced that are of fine quality.
 
Thank you for those comparisons rjdankert! That helped out a bunch. Well at least I didn't spend much on this Frankenstein job. I'll hang on to it purely for the story of "hey remember the day I found a mini Genuine Norlund that nobody has ever seen before?"....:D

Oh and flannel shirts :thumbup:
 
I say that example is just ground down residue of a common Norlund HB.
Its offset stamping is meaningless. mine is crooked too, no doubts thousands more.

As far as quality, its good. But not up to the level of magical mystique bestowed upon them by TV & YouTube Superheros.

As far as a cheap-o, it is.
I bought mine 1973. As a kid with paper route & odd job money, no way I could afford a Craftsman axe.
 
Norlund axes value lay in the nostalgia factor they Give people in my opinion. There's really nothing special about them, or makes them different from any other axe made by Manm/Collins in the late 60's
 
DarthTaco123 said:
Norlund axes value lay in the nostalgia factor they Give people in my opinion. There's really nothing special about them, or makes them different from any other axe made by Manm/Collins in the late 60's
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this is the same with the black ravens etc, they look good on the wall of a TGI friday.
 
Likely as not the blade temper has entirely been ground off and what's left is soft steel at a rather obtuse angle.
 
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