Snow & Nealley Hudson Bay Axe

Sharp Knives 86

Sharp Knives 86

Joined
Oct 27, 2009
Messages
783
I've been meaning to get another axe for awhile and have set my sights on the S&N Hudson Bay Axe and I have a few questions. First what's the cutting length of the blade if anyone knows? Also how well do S&N axe heads it hold an edge and are they worth the extra $. I have an old $20 axe of similar size and weight ( Michigan brand I think) which does very well and really doesn't need to be replaced, but gets butter knife dull after about 5 mins of use. Also looking around at various retailers, i've seen some S&N axes seem to have a black coating on the head while other sites show the same model with no coating. Do the current S&N axes have any coating on the heads at all or do they come plain?
 
Sorry, I can't answer about the current axes.

But I've bought several S & N axes over the years, back when they were the family-owned company, and I think they are great axes.

The cutting edge is almost exactly 4".

None of my S & N axes came with paint on them.

Are they worth the money? I think they are. The steel, at least on the ones I have stays sharp longer than the old hardware store axes I've bought in the past. But I have to admit, I don't take a long time to polish the edge and such as some folks do. I just hit it with the Fine side of a Norton Puck, and a few swipes on a soft Arkansas stone.

I haven't had my Gransfors long enough to compare the two.

If you're willing to go more expensive, Brian Andrews offers his Modified Hudson Bay axe. It looks very nice, and all the reports I hear of them, they are extremely good.
 
Both of mine are about 25 years old, so I've no idea about current coatings and such. Cutting length is right around 3.5", the one I measured is a little under that, but of the two it has been sharpened less so is more likely closer to full length. How good is the steel? Well if you were inclined to get it shaving sharp for some reason, it might not hold that for 5 minutes of use :D, but you can cut all day without sharpening. I use mine just a few times a year now and go a couple years before they need work.
 
Just measured mine and it"s 3.75" cutting face niether of mine cme with paint on them and they hold an edge pretty well I used mine for a coulpe hours and it's not shaving sharp but it would slice you if you ran it down across your arm.
 
Great ax. I pinned the head on mine, sanded down the handle and applied tung oil (it seems to last longer than linseed oil). Holds an excellent edge as noted above.
 
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