Help me find an axe

[rjdankert]

. . .
As for Helko, I'll just leave this here.

From the link above:

. . .
But then I would not have paid $10 for it if it was accurately described. . .

What happened to that marriage? It had such a great beginning too.

. . . I'll bet that it's a great budget bushcraft tool. Also, I have always wanted one of the German-European style heads to play with. These also have the potential to be great carvers. I couldn't pass on it for $27 delivered. Good steel too. I actually bought it mostly for the head. If the handle is good that's great but I'm prepared if it isn't. . . .

The way I read the Helko responses, it wouldn't deter me from buying from them.

Bob

 

[Hacked]

What happened to that marriage? It had such a great beginning too.

Don't know, the only reason I recalled that thread was because it was brought up recently in a thread discussing another Helko with issues. Point being while I wouldn't say don't buy from them, European axes can have issues just the same as any other place of origin.

 

[rjdankert]

Don't know. . .

Looking back, I shouldn't have put that question in my reply to your post. It wasn't really my intention to ask you specifically why the sudden change.

. . .the only reason I recalled that thread was because it was brought up recently in a thread discussing another Helko with issues. . .

That's strange, I also thought there was another thread, but darned if I could find it.

. . .Point being while I wouldn't say don't buy from them, European axes can have issues just the same as any other place of origin.

Of course.

Bob

 

[Brazos_Jack]

House Handle is were a good number of us source our handles from.

I've ordered House handles for the 2 axe heads. Will the handles come with wedges, or do I need to source those separately?

 

[Hacked]

I've ordered House handles for the 2 axe heads. Will the handles come with wedges, or do I need to source those separately?

Yes, they will come with wedges. In some cases I choose to make my own but generally there is nothing wrong with the wedges they supply. They also come with a metal cross wedge, personally I opt to not use these as they can do more harm than good IME.

 

[NormP]

The best bet would be the Snow & Nealley single bit axe at 3.5 lbs, 30" handle, USA made, and all for less than $80.00 shipped if you know how to shop.

The head is made in China then shipped to the US where the head is put on the American handle. The factory in Maine closed in the early 2000s.

 

[Alnamvet68]

The head is made in China then shipped to the US where the head is put on the American handle. The factory in Maine closed in the early 2000s.

That's was the case until the new Amish family purchased the facility in 2012. While there may be some old stock still available with heads made in China, the single bit has been USA forged since 2014. How can youtell you ask, it's simple, the handle will say Smyrna, and the head will be stamped Snow & Nealley, USA, Est. 1864.

 

[markv]

Yes, they will come with wedges. In some cases I choose to make my own but generally there is nothing wrong with the wedges they supply. They also come with a metal cross wedge, personally I opt to not use these as they can do more harm than good IME.

good advice. don't use the metal wedge unless you absolutley have to.

 

[skillgannon]

I bought a Hults Bruck Altan felling axe on Amazon for 99.00 with free shipping with prime. Its a very well built axe for the price. Its 3.5 lbs. with 32" handle. It took very little time to add a razor edge and it holds it very well.

Because I like to tinker with my tools I re-profiled the handle to more of an egg shape than oval.
I also used my Kelly Perfect Jersey pattern for inspiration and laid out the blade and removed some material from the top and bottom mid blade and then blended all the lines in. I just used my 4.5" grinder for most of it and scotchbrite pads to clean up grind marks, I then used green and white compound on a bench grinder to mirror polish the blade. I only removed a few oz. but now the head is balanced perfect. In fact the whole axe feels very nimble. It only took a couple of hours.

For under 100.00 bucks you can have a awesome tool. It doesn't need to be modified but its a lot of fun if you want to.

 

[NormP]

That's was the case until the new Amish family purchased the facility in 2012. While there may be some old stock still available with heads made in China, the single bit has been USA forged since 2014. How can youtell you ask, it's simple, the handle will say Smyrna, and the head will be stamped Snow & Nealley, USA, Est. 1864.

This is excellent news to hear. Has the product shown improvement in quality since then?