Ol Snow & Neally Axe question

H

halfaxe

Joined
Nov 29, 2012
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I have a couple questions for some of the Maine axe experts here. When I first saw this axe it looked to me that the toe had been worn down. Now I'm not so sure. It looks like it was only sharpened a few times so I think it was made that way. What do you guys think? It is 1 3/4 lb. axe with a 25" handle that appears original. It has that big metal Snow and Nealley wedge. Also did Snow and Nealley call this a Hudson Bay axe when they made this early Maine wedge shape?

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Thanks, Jerry
 
I have that same one, albeit it had a ton (TON) of toe wear, took about 2 hours of filing to end up with a symetrical, but sill somewhat half moon shaped edge. I would call it a hudson bay, and its how they all should be. Short, fat bit with a big poll. I like mine a lot. All the early snow and nealleys had that wedge shape to them, but it doesnt make it a wedge pattern per se. Wedge shaped axe with a thin taper into the edge is a mean, mean chopper in green wood, believe me. Throws a great chip.
 
Not a Hudson Bay -- the poll is way too wide. A good felling ax that has seen a lot of use. Check Snow & Neally's website to see their Hudson Bay ax, one of my favorites.
 
I know it doesn't match the later design Hudson Bay, I just am wondering if it was Snow & Nealleys product name for this earlier axe. I am going to try an straighten the handle before I use it. It feels excellent for camp carving chores.
 
cooperhill said:
G-pig. Can you show an example? of this thin tape into the edge.
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Absolutely coop.

This is an old Maine pattern double bit I picked up a long time ago. It was rust but the bits were in good shape (never sharpened back) so its a good example of how the edges ought to be tuned in on a wedge shaped bit.

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There is no bevel, similar to a true flat grind on a knife. rapidly penetrating but fattens out and throws a good chip. The thickness also regulates the depth of cut to a certain extent. Chopping is a balance of cutting and wedging/ splitting. Different thicknesses and tapers are good for different things.

Alberta Ed said:
Not a Hudson Bay -- the poll is way too wide. A good felling ax that has seen a lot of use. Check Snow & Neally's website to see their Hudson Bay ax, one of my favorites.
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Its defenitely not a felling axe, since the weight (1 3/4 pounds) is stamped on it. I have this same axe, and ive seen atleast 3 on ebay that are the same. It differs from the typical hudson bay (which S&N also made) in several ways, but I think its exactly what a hudson bay *should be* since the differences all fixed problems the standard pattern had. Leave it to the Maine companies to make the best =)
 
G-pig said:
This is an old Maine pattern double bit I picked up a long time ago. It was rust but the bits were in good shape (never sharpened back) so its a good example of how the edges ought to be tuned in on a wedge shaped bit.

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That's amazing. Virtually an untouched wedge edge.
 
Thanks for the info G-pig. I'll have to try that. I have three wedge double bits that aren't hung yet. One E&S, one S&N, and one not marked.
 
cooperhill said:
Thanks for the info G-pig. I'll have to try that. I have three wedge double bits that aren't hung yet. One E&S, one S&N, and one not marked.
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Ive got this one, which I just hung today on a 31 inch sugar maple handle, and another North Wayne Tool double which I was not super enamored with. The sellers pictures didnt illustrate some damage caused by a too long bath in the electrolysis barrel. The bits also dont line up right and itd been hammered with a bit. Probably not worth 20 bucks, but when i get access to a wirewheel and angle grinder I will regrind the whole face on each side and at least get a fine user axe.

I will try to get some pictures up soon of some of the other wedge patterns edges and how I try to tune them in. As well as some pics of Maine pattern geometry vs. wedge geometry.
 
I think we are allowed to post ended auction, so I will link to these;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snow-Nealle...aultDomain_0&hash=item2c699b8f4c#ht_97wt_1005

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snow-Nealle...faultDomain_0&hash=item2c68981863#ht_78wt_968

The weight is 1 3/4 pounds stamped on these two, mine, my neighbors and yours (?), and from comparison we can conclude that yours was not worn down. Mine is probably closer to 1 1/2 because of all the grinding I had to do on it to bring the edge back as well as thin the edge. I can say that after thinning its a superb little axe, I think you will like yours a lot. The wedge shape makes it chop bigger than it feels. Ive seen a few with short handles but to me that is squandering its potential as a light carrying axe that can do some real work. Mine is on a 26 inch handle.
 
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