I was looking for a hand axe, and wanted something a little different from anything else I owned. I know that Snow and Nealley went through a rough patch and was importing axes made in China, but recently they are again made in the USA, though not in the original Snow and Nealley factory in Bangor. Under new ownership, they have become a micro-brand that, as reported here at various times 6-8 years ago, contracts out the basic forging and then does the tempering, grinding, and assembling in their shop in Smyrna, Maine.
The price was right and I bought their Penobscot Bay Kindling axe, which is their standard Hudson Bay bit on an 18" handle.
They claim they are sharpened, but I would call it "new axe" sharp, meaning it won't cut the customers in the store who drag their finger along it. I expected it to need sharpening when it arrived, and I was not surprised.
The steel is 1080, treated to the lower-middle 50's on the Rockwell C scale, per the son of the owner (the owner is Amish and eschews the Internet). Reports I could find of their recent production under their current owners suggests a decent product.
The handle is probably made by Tennessee Hickory and the grain is straight as an arrow but not at the best angle. No heartwood. It won't matter about the angle--it's as thick as a baseball bat and designed for one-handed operation. I have very large hands (XXL in gloves are often but not always large enough), and don't mind a fat handle. When I hold the handle, the tips of my fingers just touch the palm of my hand, which is about right for me. The handle seems to have a clear finish on it, so I'll sand it off, though for a hatchet it's not as big a deal.
The blade's shape is a little too rounded on the toe, in my view, but I'm okay with it. The head is fully ground and covered in a clear lacquer. The wedge is aluminum.
But quibbles aside, the balance is absolutely dead on, with the balance point even with the heel and just behind the front edge of the handle. That means that when choked up to the head, the axe will be perfectly balanced in the hand. The bit points to the bottom of the handle about 1/8" off center.
The sheath is more than good enough, and it comes with one, which isn't always the case at this price point.
Anyway, a HB bit with an 18" handle isn't that common at a decent price (under $60), and it's half the price of, say, a similarish Hults Bruk standard axe, and about the same as a Flying Fox in standard trim. It was a way to check out a returning brand. I'll say more when I've sharpened and used it.
Rick "probably a toss-up with the Council" Denney
The price was right and I bought their Penobscot Bay Kindling axe, which is their standard Hudson Bay bit on an 18" handle.
They claim they are sharpened, but I would call it "new axe" sharp, meaning it won't cut the customers in the store who drag their finger along it. I expected it to need sharpening when it arrived, and I was not surprised.
The steel is 1080, treated to the lower-middle 50's on the Rockwell C scale, per the son of the owner (the owner is Amish and eschews the Internet). Reports I could find of their recent production under their current owners suggests a decent product.
The handle is probably made by Tennessee Hickory and the grain is straight as an arrow but not at the best angle. No heartwood. It won't matter about the angle--it's as thick as a baseball bat and designed for one-handed operation. I have very large hands (XXL in gloves are often but not always large enough), and don't mind a fat handle. When I hold the handle, the tips of my fingers just touch the palm of my hand, which is about right for me. The handle seems to have a clear finish on it, so I'll sand it off, though for a hatchet it's not as big a deal.
The blade's shape is a little too rounded on the toe, in my view, but I'm okay with it. The head is fully ground and covered in a clear lacquer. The wedge is aluminum.
But quibbles aside, the balance is absolutely dead on, with the balance point even with the heel and just behind the front edge of the handle. That means that when choked up to the head, the axe will be perfectly balanced in the hand. The bit points to the bottom of the handle about 1/8" off center.
The sheath is more than good enough, and it comes with one, which isn't always the case at this price point.
Anyway, a HB bit with an 18" handle isn't that common at a decent price (under $60), and it's half the price of, say, a similarish Hults Bruk standard axe, and about the same as a Flying Fox in standard trim. It was a way to check out a returning brand. I'll say more when I've sharpened and used it.
Rick "probably a toss-up with the Council" Denney
