It followed me home (Part 2)

Crazyotter · May 26, 2015

Good to know. I'd sell it but I'm just having trouble letting anything go. Not worth the regret later, though I'm trying to downsize. Oddly enough my CT truck axe does does most of the work, when I have time to put the saw down. On topic, heres one that technically followed my mailbox home. Snagged it.

jblyttle · May 27, 2015

Crazyotter said:
Good to know. I'd sell it but I'm just having trouble letting anything go. Not worth the regret later, though I'm trying to downsize. Oddly enough my CT truck axe does does most of the work, when I have time to put the saw down. On topic, heres one that technically followed my mailbox home. Snagged it.

That's in really nice shape. Probably a newer one, but excellent. That will make a nice axe, and great looking too.

garry3 · May 27, 2015

Crazyotter said:
Few reasons, though I think it's a "new" Norlund now that I've found other's in this pattern and size (1 3/4 hatchet). Offset stamp on opposite side of other Norlunds, rough grind marks and thick eye walls, horrible grind on poll, and what appears to be mold marks. Please correct me if I'm wrong, I really have no idea what those marks are.

I know it's all cosmetic too, and I plan on using this, but the quality I expected just isn't there.

Mann was the manufacturer of these. I have seen some really rough grinding on what I think are later Mann axes. Yesteryear tools says some Norlunds may have been manufactured else were also.

garry3 · May 27, 2015

Crazyotter said:
Good to know. I'd sell it but I'm just having trouble letting anything go. Not worth the regret later, though I'm trying to downsize. Oddly enough my CT truck axe does does most of the work, when I have time to put the saw down. On topic, heres one that technically followed my mailbox home. Snagged it.

That's a nice one. Very hard to find in that condition, beautiful.

Axe Master '94 · May 27, 2015

I had a Norlund rafting axe with similar grinding and almost flat cheeks. Probably just a bad egg out of the newer ones that snuck past quality control.

halfaxe · May 27, 2015

Norlunds were made after chainsaws were invented. The later ones especially were poorly finished. I don't really understand the high prices on them.

Remzy · May 27, 2015

halfaxe said:
Norlunds were made after chainsaws were invented. The later ones especially were poorly finished. I don't really understand the high prices on them.

Some people will believe anything some youtubers tell them, thats why...

DarthTaco123 · May 27, 2015

Norlund cultists are the axe world katana cultists

Agent_H · May 27, 2015

halfaxe said:
Norlunds were made after chainsaws were invented. The later ones especially were poorly finished. I don't really understand the high prices on them.

In 93-94 I picked up a Norlund, painted red, had a sticker, rode in the back of my truck for most of the time. Had a sheath but it's been long gone. Looks like the equivelant of a CT "rail splitter" on a short/straight shaft. It's a full-sized head with a metal wedge. Came from a place in Grants Pass. Think it was $12 or so. I remember other more expensive axes offered but I bought it to use for camping. It's done a great job but I can't say better than anything I've acquired and used since. I see the Hudson Bays go for a premium but most other patterns seem to languish on auction sites in comparison.

I'll have to dig it out and take a picture. Not sure if something 20+ years owned falls into the "it followed me home" category at this point but I seem to remember the poll looked darker like the bit when I scrubbed it then let it sit for a while. Did Norlund make some with hardened polls without the elongated and beveled poll that we kind of associate with rafting axes? It doesn't look like the one Square_peg has posted before.

jblyttle · May 27, 2015

Speak of the Devil, look what followed me home today. I snagged these three for $20. Also is a never seen before by me Breck's Victory, apparently a local (Boston) hardware company from WAY back. Also an unmarked boy's axe head.

garry3 · May 27, 2015

JB. That Brecks is really nice. And them Norlunds are just like money in the bank.

garry3 · May 27, 2015

Agent_H said:
In 93-94 I picked up a Norlund, painted red, had a sticker, rode in the back of my truck for most of the time. Had a sheath but it's been long gone. Looks like the equivelant of a CT "rail splitter" on a short/straight shaft. It's a full-sized head with a metal wedge. Came from a place in Grants Pass. Think it was $12 or so. I remember other more expensive axes offered but I bought it to use for camping. It's done a great job but I can't say better than anything I've acquired and used since. I see the Hudson Bays go for a premium but most other patterns seem to languish on auction sites in comparison.

I'll have to dig it out and take a picture. Not sure if something 20+ years owned falls into the "it followed me home" category at this point but I seem to remember the poll looked darker like the bit when I scrubbed it then let it sit for a while. Did Norlund make some with hardened polls without the elongated and beveled poll that we kind of associate with rafting axes? It doesn't look like the one Square_peg has posted before.

I think a lot of guys want to collect what they used as kids. Probably good memories connected to them axes.

The Hudson Bays are very popular. They are very light with flat cheeks. With not enough eye, a design that just begs for the heads to loosen on the hafts. I am not a fan. I am very happy that we don't all like the same things though. Lets me unload them Hudson Bays.
The Norlund cruiser is pretty popular and the saddle cruiser is twice as popular.

DarthTaco123 · May 27, 2015

I've got one hudson bay, it's a Collins. Only reason I have it is it came to me near free.

Steve Tall · May 27, 2015

jblyttle said:
...Breck's Victory, apparently a local (Boston) hardware company from WAY back. Also an unmarked boy's axe head.

The stamp says Victor (not Victory).

The company history (from Wikipedia):

"Joseph Breck (17941873) was born in Medfield, Massachusetts. He founded his business, Joseph Breck & Company, in 1818, in Boston, Massachusetts...In 1840, Breck published his companys first catalog, the New England Agricultural Warehouse and Seed Store Catalogue, to promote his companys products...Breck bought a house in Brighton, MA, in 1854 and lived there until his death. The company continued through the years as a garden supply company. In the 1950s, Luther Adams Bo Breck, the fifth-generation Breck, transformed the family business into a Dutch bulb importer and flower bulb catalog company... The company still exists today as Breck's." [Brecks.com now sells bulbs and perennials.]

Victor axes in the catalog of Joseph Breck & Sons, North Market Street, Boston

jblyttle · May 27, 2015

Steve Tall said:
The stamp says Victor (not Victory).

This is a case of the brain following a pattern as opposed to the eyes actually seeing. You are of course correct. Also, thanks for the company info, I love the history. I have been in both of those towns.

Square_peg · May 27, 2015

DarthTaco123 said:
I've got one hudson bay, it's a Collins.

Also made by Mann Edge Tools. Likely the very same axe as the Norlund with a different stamp on it.

halfaxe · May 28, 2015

Square_peg said:
Also made by Mann Edge Tools. Likely the very same axe as the Norlund with a different stamp on it.

No they are different. The Collins HB was made before Mann bought them. Some are marked Collins Legitimus so they are early, but even the ones just marked Collins have a different shape than the Norlund and are more finely polished (originally). Plus the Collins came with an excellent sheath.

Edit: I just put my Norlund and a Collins together. They are close. The Norlund has a 1/4" wider blade at the heel. The eye is back towards the poll farther about 1/8". Polish is about equal on the sides but the Collins polished almost like a mirror on the poll and finer overall. Norlund may have used the Collins dies when Mann took over. I would say the Norlund is like the Collins.

rjdankert · May 28, 2015

This adze head was given to me. It is 4 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches. As best as I can tell it's either a carpenters adze or a railroad adze.

I decided to soak it in vinegar. As the pics show it was very rusty. I'm very curious about the bit. I tried searching on how adzes were made, but couldn't find what I was looking for. The bit sits on top of the head (unlike the insert or overcoat methods used on axes), so I wanted to know if this was common.

Only hint of a mark.

As much as I'd like to have an adze to play with, I'm not sure this is the one.

garry3 · May 28, 2015

Excuse the off topic, but it kind of goes with this forum.

Big a$$ bucking wedge. Its a little shy of the 8lbs advertised.

When we think of big timber its the coast and Cascades of Washington, Oregon and northern California, but Idaho had some big timber also as did eastern Oregon and Washington.

[/URL][/IMG]

Remzy · May 28, 2015

rjdankert said:
This adze head was given to me. It is 4 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches. As best as I can tell it's either a carpenters adze or a railroad adze.

As much as I'd like to have an adze to play with, I'm not sure this is the one.

Please please tell me you did not soak this in vinegar and ruin that amazing patina... this clearly is wrought iron, which means its very, very old and almost ought to be treated as a museum piece!

Or you could just dont give a crap and do as you please, your call.