Snow and Neally? Penobscot or Hudson or ... ?

S

Sid Post

Joined
Oct 14, 1998
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I am looking for a good reasonably priced small axe. I have a Stihl brand German pattern hatchet and it is a bit too small (and lightweight) and seems to dull pretty quickly chopping Sweet Gum saplings around the house and barns.

I have tried Lowes and Home Depot and have been underwhelmed by what I saw. It looks like the Snow and Nealley's are ~$20 more money. I know S&N has a negative reputation after outsourcing their forgings to China but, I'm thinking the new Amish owners in Maine are probably going to restore their formerly good name in a few years. My experience with Amish products has been good so, I'm willing to give the new owners a chance too.

I should note that I have had shoulder surgery on my dominant side so, a big heavy axe with big swings is not something I'm looking for today. I need more than a hatchet and less than a full blown axe. I think my Stihl hatchet is 13"~14" and ~1.25lbs so, I'm wondering if the S&N Penobscot Bay axe is too small and too similar to my current hatchet. Is the S&N Hudson Bay a better choice for me?

How do the Penobscot Bay and Hudson Bay compare to each other? I would love to see them in person but, that isn't going to happen.

What other axes should I consider?

TIA,
Sid
 
Sid Post said:
I am looking for a good reasonably priced small axe. I have a Stihl brand German pattern hatchet and it is a bit too small (and lightweight) and seems to dull pretty quickly chopping Sweet Gum saplings around the house and barns.

I have tried Lowes and Home Depot and have been underwhelmed by what I saw. It looks like the Snow and Nealley's are ~$20 more money. I know S&N has a negative reputation after outsourcing their forgings to China but, I'm thinking the new Amish owners in Maine are probably going to restore their formerly good name in a few years. My experience with Amish products has been good so, I'm willing to give the new owners a chance too.

I should note that I have had shoulder surgery on my dominant side so, a big heavy axe with big swings is not something I'm looking for today. I need more than a hatchet and less than a full blown axe. I think my Stihl hatchet is 13"~14" and ~1.25lbs so, I'm wondering if the S&N Penobscot Bay axe is too small and too similar to my current hatchet. Is the S&N Hudson Bay a better choice for me?

How do the Penobscot Bay and Hudson Bay compare to each other? I would love to see them in person but, that isn't going to happen.

What other axes should I consider?

TIA,
Sid
Click to expand...

i can tell you that i do quite like my penobscot, my only gripe is the handle isnt long enough. it's very much a soft-ish wood axe. the bit is much less than 1/8" thick towards the edge and the steel is plenty nice. your handle will need reshaping if you want a good fit.

(iirc) the owners have moved the forge back to maine, smyrna i believe. something similar in quality but with a rough finish is the CT hudson bay axe, same weight and handle but $44 instead of $59.

i'v heard good things about husqavarna axes (that they're cheaper versions of GB axes) so you might give them a look.

All axes will need a proper filing fresh out of the box, especially the CT.

if you feel you want a powerful 1 hand axe, the penobscot is good, it's underwhelming with 2 handed use. it would be an upgrade in effectiveness for sure from your current hatchet, 2" longer and a half pound heavier.

if this is for chpping/bucking, get a long handle. if this is for kindling splitting and limbing, get a short handle
 
I was under the impression that snow & neally for a short time called their Hudson bay axes "penobscot" bay to be different. Were they in fact a different axe?
 
Ahh i see. Thanks for the clarification. Do you know the different handle lengths? Is the penobscot bay the one that has around a "24, fat handle with the large knob?
 
Good to know! Thanks for clearing that up for me. I have two of these. This was only the second axe I'd ever hung and it needs to be redone. Maybe I'll use a "16! The eyes are awful small on these so the shorter handle may fair better over time and use .
rpCux5F.jpg
 
phantomknives said:
i can tell you that i do quite like my penobscot, my only gripe is the handle isnt long enough. it's very much a soft-ish wood axe. the bit is much less than 1/8" thick towards the edge and the steel is plenty nice. your handle will need reshaping if you want a good fit.

(iirc) the owners have moved the forge back to maine, smyrna i believe. something similar in quality but with a rough finish is the CT hudson bay axe, same weight and handle but $44 instead of $59.

i'v heard good things about husqavarna axes (that they're cheaper versions of GB axes) so you might give them a look.

All axes will need a proper filing fresh out of the box, especially the CT.

if you feel you want a powerful 1 hand axe, the penobscot is good, it's underwhelming with 2 handed use. it would be an upgrade in effectiveness for sure from your current hatchet, 2" longer and a half pound heavier.

if this is for chpping/bucking, get a long handle. if this is for kindling splitting and limbing, get a short handle
Click to expand...

They've moved the forging back to the USA, but not to Maine, as that would require building outrageously expensive new facilities. Instead, they partnered with an industrial drop forging firm in the Midwest to produce their rough-forgings, which are then finish-ground, heat treated, and hafted in Smyrna, Maine.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
They've moved the forging back to the USA, but not to Maine, as that would require building outrageously expensive new facilities. Instead, they partnered with an industrial drop forging firm in the Midwest to produce their rough-forgings, which are then finish-ground, heat treated, and hafted in Smyrna, Maine.
Click to expand...
thanks for clarifying
 
Sid Post said:
I am looking for a good reasonably priced small axe. I have a Stihl brand German pattern hatchet and it is a bit too small (and lightweight) and seems to dull pretty quickly chopping Sweet Gum saplings around the house and barns.

I have tried Lowes and Home Depot and have been underwhelmed by what I saw. It looks like the Snow and Nealley's are ~$20 more money. I know S&N has a negative reputation after outsourcing their forgings to China but, I'm thinking the new Amish owners in Maine are probably going to restore their formerly good name in a few years. My experience with Amish products has been good so, I'm willing to give the new owners a chance too.

I should note that I have had shoulder surgery on my dominant side so, a big heavy axe with big swings is not something I'm looking for today. I need more than a hatchet and less than a full blown axe. I think my Stihl hatchet is 13"~14" and ~1.25lbs so, I'm wondering if the S&N Penobscot Bay axe is too small and too similar to my current hatchet. Is the S&N Hudson Bay a better choice for me?

How do the Penobscot Bay and Hudson Bay compare to each other? I would love to see them in person but, that isn't going to happen.

What other axes should I consider?

TIA,
Sid
Click to expand...

You could check out the Vaughan & Bushnell riggers axe.
It's 1-3/4 lb and 18" long, plus the head has lugs and would likely stay put a little better than a Hudson Bay.
 
Sid Post said:
chopping Sweet Gum saplings around the house and barns.
Click to expand...

Hickory n steel said:
You could check out the Vaughan & Bushnell riggers axe.
It's 1-3/4 lb and 18" long, plus the head has lugs and would likely stay put a little better than a Hudson Bay.
Click to expand...

Bingo! Just where I was going. Saplings call for speed and a thin bit. Otherwise you just push them instead of cutting them. I can't think of a better off the shelf hatchet for the work Sid described than a Vaughan riggers axe. It will still need a little filing and honing. Any axe will need that.

http://www.vaughanmfg.com/shopping/Products/RB-28-oz-Rig-Builders-Hatchet__20420.aspx
 
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