Maine Axes -post 'em up

Yeah i do too, that one came with the axe. But out to the spiders web in hinckly i found a stash of 4 of the same shaped handles. There all gone now tho.. Alot of the hand carved handles i find have off sized eyes.. usualy to small it seems.
 
You can see why older Snow & Neally's are so well respected -- look at the depth of the temper. Cleaning this one up...

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Whoa! Sweet find.

I just moved to Maine and haven't had much luck at all finding old quality axes.
 
Today's pickings! One maine wedge that's been painted over but I suspect is an emmerson an Stevens, and a gorgeous Snow And Nealley "our best" (the handle says so!) jersey pattern. Both are 3 1/4 lbs.
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That S&N Jersey is perfect. bit looks unused.

Emerson & stevens will usually have the date stamped (two digits) on the bottom (underside) of the poll along with a letter (underside of the bit)

That double is nice too.
 
Snow & Nealley, as well as Peavey are responsible for putting the Hudson Bay pattern up front and highly desirable. Add that to the fact that these two companies made the HB for many other axe companies, and retailers, such as LL Bean, Abercrombie & Fitch, Eddie Bauer, et all. I'm not from Maine, but I own rental property in Bangor, and usually spend 4 to 6 weeks in the summer in Bangor in my house, which I don't rent for 6 to 8 weeks a year for upkeep and maintenance. I love Maine, and probably have more affection and loyalty to the state than most native Mainer's, and I am very happy that Snow & Nealley is back; if we can just get Peavey to make their own axes instead of outsourcing production to Council, and get Emerson & Stevens, the John King Axe Co (both from Oakland, ME), Hubbard & Blake, Spiller Axe Co, and Dunn Edge Tool Co aka North Wayne Tool Co back in business, then I would say that the Maine axe renaissance will be in full bloom. Maine has always been known for its axe manufacturing industry, and no other state can make that claim.
 
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It is rather well known that Snow and Nealley made the majority of the LL Bean axes but if you have one, please post a source regarding S&N or Peavey making axes (Hudson Bay or any other type) for others like Abercrombie and Fitch, Eddie Bower or other axe manufacturers etc. All the A&F marked axes I have seen were made by Collins.

There is one version of the LL Bean Husdon Bay that does not match up as being a S&N but it looks very similar to a Collins. I have not seen any that match up to a Peavey. It would certainly seem possible that Peavey would have made axes for some of the larger retailers but I have yet to see an example of this.

Perhaps some of the large retailers were selling S&Ns and Peaveys but they were marked as S&N and Peavey, not marked using a stamp of the retailer such as the case with the LL Bean Hudson Bay.

Just trying to keep this straight. I am always looking for new information on this and no one has it all but I need to know if what you are saying is based in fact or something else.
 
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It is posted in the book Axe Makers of North America that Abercrombie and Fitch axes were made by Mann Edge.
 
I enjoyed that book very much but there is some questionable info in it. That side box on page 47 of that book that talks about the A&F axe is full of questionable information.

It states that S&N made an identical pattern and they did not. Also states that S&N made this same pattern in a 2.5 pound and I believe that is also incorrect. Moreover to state that Abercrombie and Fitch are "noted more for clothing than camp equipage" is to completely ignore the rich history of probably the leading purveyor of camping/outfitting equipment the world has ever known. Comparing A&F with Buster Brown Shoes and a coffee company in regards to "Promotional piece" axes would likely have David Abercrombie rolling in the grave.

One day I am sure someone will come up with the correct answer....that's the fun part!
 
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Yeah, A&F used to sell Collins bowie knives, for goodness' sake. They were very much a genuine outfitter.
 
Not to the best of my knowledge, but it's probably just standard 1045-ish or thereabouts.
 
I still suspect that these are Chinese axe heads - now being stamped snow & Nealley. They look pretty much the same as the ones pre-new owners
 
cooperhill said:
I still suspect that these are Chinese axe heads - now being stamped snow & Nealley. They look pretty much the same as the ones pre-new owners
Click to expand...

First off, the logo is roll marked, not stamped. Second, you really should do some research regarding the midwest forgers who make the axe heads. I know who they are, and you would too if you took the time to make a few phone calls.:rolleyes:
 
They're U.S made. Forged in the mid-west and finished/hafted here in Maine I believe. There ARE SOME models still made in China last I remembered but the Hudson Bay's certainly are NOT.
 
Operator1975 said:
It is posted in the book Axe Makers of North America that Abercrombie and Fitch axes were made by Mann Edge.
Click to expand...

grafton said:
I enjoyed that book very much but there is some questionable info in it. That side box on page 47 of that book that talks about the A&F axe is full of questionable information...
Click to expand...

Allan Klenman also wrote about the Abercrombie & Fitch "promotional" axe in the March 1999 edition of the Chronicle magazine, page 38. He was basing his identification on one example of the A&F axe which was found at a flea market. The "No. 986" stamp was still there, which he had never seen before, but the Collins marking must have been worn away because Klenman concluded that the axe was made by Mann (asserting that Collins made Hudson Bay axes after being acquired by Mann). However, other examples of the A&F axe clearly show that they were made by Collins (with Collins stamps as well as the 986 stamp), and a source from 1915 also identifies the maker as Collins.

More details can be found in this thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1152684-The-drawback-in-the-Hudson-Bay-pattern/page5?highlight=abercrombie
 
Posted this shot in another thread...but I figure it fits here too. Got these from my Dad who got them from his Father. Gramps got these right before S&N sold the first time....some of the final real Bangor Maine axes.


 
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