Hudson Bay company gear

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_Bay_Company

hudson1.jpg



The good ol' HBC. Knives, axes, blankets. What else did they market/make? Seeing pics of Dan Schectmans HB camp knives in TK and Backwoodsman started my fascination with these knives. I picked one up at a powwow, picked up a Hudson Bay Snow and Neally axe from a member on here, and traded into an Idaho Knifeworks HB camp knife from Dan (Dan is an enabler :D). I picked up a few books about the HBC, and Dan photocopied an article he had published in Muzzleblasts about them.

Now, I want to get some more HBC products. A good roach belly, and a trade blanket. I think I know a good knife forum to start looking for a roach belly, but I am stumped on where to find the blanket? This does not have to be authentic, just look like an HBC blanket.

What other products did the HBC make/market? What are some good books I can read about them? It is very interesting to me that the free trapper reigned in the USA, but the HBC and North West Company were it in Canada.
 
I do not know of a cheap HBC blanket. As you have probably already discovered HBC/Whitney blankets are super expensive especially in the 6 and 8 point size. Avoid the white ones in weather warm enough for flies as the blanket color acts like a fly magnet.
 
If you comb evil bay you can usually find a 4 pt blanket with a couple of moth holes in them in the $100 range. They are worth the money and you might as well go authentic if you are really on an HBC kick. Otherwise you will buy the look-a-like and then leave yourself wondering what the real one is like. Thats just how it goes with us nutballs. You can still buy new blankets from The Bay. When Canada recently hosted the winter olympics, they started selling these like gangbusters. Then the store in my area screwed up the prices or something so we picked up two 8 point (king size blankets) for $250 a piece. Great deal, but these are way too big for use in a camp setting. We use them for a bedspread.

Personally, I happy enough with my British army wool blanket for the times when I want to bring a wool blanket with me.
 
Nice HB Knife! It is gorgious!

HB blankets are still available. I've picked up a few at garage sales. You can still find them with on-line auctions. Don't forget to obtain a HB char cloth tin!
 
I have two HBC camp knives, Two HBC blankets, both very large size. Two HBC axe's & one HBC hatchet. most of these, I have had over 20 years. & still use them. Also a HBC tobacco box. most of this is from my days of reenacting the fur trade, but they are great pieces of gear for anytime period.
 
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Good thing this was brought up! I never got to finish Ray Mears' series "Northern Wilderness" on Youtube featuring the HBC.

"The Company That Built A Country" (It's a six-parter)

[youtube]VoBWJqZfmsU[/youtube]

I read that TK article too. From what I read also somewhere, it was the first tool to be called a "camp" knife.

I also remember our mod Rick showing off a cool fire kit based on the original set issued by the HBC.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/747208-Hudson-Bay-Company-Brass-Tinder-Box-Loaded-with-fire-kit?highlight=hudson+bay+fire+kit
 
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Check - Company of Adventures by Peter C. Newman. Its a long read but well worth it. I am also fascinated by the HBC. They are basically responsible for everything above the 49th (and quite a lot of the NW States). Keep me posted on your search.
 
HBC blankets are all over ebay and froogle. At one point Woolrich made a traditional looking point blanket. There was a Hudson Bay bullnosed skinner on ebay recently, went around 30 bucks. You can buy the sherpa style blanket cardigans and such as well.
 
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