Old(er) Snow and Nealley Jersey Find!

DarthTaco123 · Mar 30, 2015

So I spent my weekend out and about looking for the usual, Maine Made and Vintage tools. Came up with two axes, a beat up double bit head, and three ball pein hammers. The best score of the week (probably the year in all truth) was a darn good Snow and Nealley (Our Best) Jersey pattern weighing in at 3 1/4 lb on the original handle. The head came pitted, and the stick dry but with some oil you can nearly fully read the stamp on the axe head, and even read the stamp on the handle.Still has the factory edge on it from what I can tell and it's scary sharp, cuts paper like noone's business (not a good test for an axe, I know). Gonna have to go on my trail tomorrow and try it out on some dead falls for sure!

No exciting scenery for images tonight, tomorrow on the otherhand I'll get some action shots for sure!

jblyttle · Mar 30, 2015

I would be thrilled beyond belief with a find like that, and i have found some nice ones by now. That could easily be a top find for the year. I am envious and happy for you.

DarthTaco123 · Mar 30, 2015

Gonna probably chop some stuff into larger sections so I can do a comparison to my 3.5 lb Collins jersey, my 3 lb TT Kelly Works "Worlds Finest" connie, and maybe another one or two. Still trying to date it (waiting for either Steve Tall or G-Pig the almighty Maine Axe Master to show up). I find it funny that I live about 25 minutes from where they used to make the Axes yet never seem to find them that often. Same thing with Oakies.

-Edit-

Coyotes have been out in force, gonna take this out to make myself a nice little blind to see if I can get one or two of the buggers. Just saw three in my back yard chasing down a rabbit.

G-pig · Mar 30, 2015

DarthTaco123 said:
Gonna probably chop some stuff into larger sections so I can do a comparison to my 3.5 lb Collins jersey, my 3 lb TT Kelly Works "Worlds Finest" connie, and maybe another one or two. Still trying to date it (waiting for either Steve Tall or G-Pig the almighty Maine Axe Master to show up). I find it funny that I live about 25 minutes from where they used to make the Axes yet never seem to find them that often. Same thing with Oakies.

-Edit-

Coyotes have been out in force, gonna take this out to make myself a nice little blind to see if I can get one or two of the buggers. Just saw three in my back yard chasing down a rabbit.

Pffffffff, I only know that they chop wood real good and not much else about them. In terms of dating it, if it's stamped "Snow & Nealley" instead of stickered, you've got a good one. Even some of the unstamped ones weren't bad, although a bit long in the bit. But as far as the years of manufacture for different stamps, that I definitely do not know.

Enjoy it, it's a good axe.

DarthTaco123 · Mar 31, 2015

Ain't that all anyone needs to know about them?

Chased off the coyotes (again) probably looked like an idiot trudging through the woods with a khukuri on my hip, rifle in my hands and axe on my back. Fairly warm today so I'll head back out to take care of a dead pine with this sucker soon.

DarthTaco123 · Apr 1, 2015

So I got to feeding the beast! An uprooted pine that's leaning in the trees (still is the stubborn bugger) but ole Snealley here did the job without complaining! Admittedly the tree was fairly rotted on the outside so it was easy work.

stevewest · Apr 1, 2015

I would think I had died and gone to Heaven if I were to find something like that out here in the flatlands.

DarthTaco123 · Apr 1, 2015

I feel bad for you flatlanders, 'course living in new England (the northern part at that) which had such a heavy logging industry helps.

stevewest · Apr 2, 2015

I have found a few nice ones, but it gets really discouraging. I am afraid I am going to have to resort to the big bay. I was given an old Shapliegh boys axe by my father in law awhile back that was in poor shape and had a lot of fun restoring it. I am afraid I have caught the bug.

garry3 · Apr 2, 2015

DarthTaco123 said:
I feel bad for you flatlanders, 'course living in new England (the northern part at that) which had such a heavy logging industry helps.

The North East and the North West is pretty rich for logging tools. The contrast between what you guys get and us is very interesting. Them short handled axes just are not here, and dang I like them. I think the curved short handles would not work well for a felling axe with are bigger trees, Probably beat the hell out of the handle in short order. Which is why I suspect the DBL bits are so prevalent out here.
Great find you have there.

DarthTaco123 · Apr 2, 2015

If a tree is too big for an axe it's time for a saw! In all actuality I've felled some quite large trees with 28" haft axes with not much of any issue.

garry3 · Apr 2, 2015

stevewest said:
I have found a few nice ones, but it gets really discouraging. I am afraid I am going to have to resort to the big bay. I was given an old Shapliegh boys axe by my father in law awhile back that was in poor shape and had a lot of fun restoring it. I am afraid I have caught the bug.

Well you can be sick with the rest of us. Better out in the garage hanging axes than down at the local watering hole though.

I probably find my share of vintage axes but I still buy from that auction sight also. Some things I just can't get here so I treat my self on occasion. In most cases them axes are still a bargain.