Velvicut Hudson Bay?

I've had mine for awhile. I did touch up the bit when I got her. Haft grain was nice. She's a sweet one.



Tom
 
Alright the depot by me didn't have linseed oil and my baby showed up today. I have feed-n-wax here. Will that work for the handle and the bit as a protectant?
 
Never heard of it but after a quick internet search it sounds like it might do OK. Give it a try and tell us what you think.
 
That feed-n-wax shouldn't hurt it but it might make it too slippery. I don't know. The handle should be fine for a while, they are oiled at the factory.
 
The handle came and looked pretty dry so I wanted to do something with it and I didn't care what. So I did a coat of the wax n feed last night after reading up that it's good for wood and metal and is a good rust inhibitor. I'm doing another coat this morning just to enrich the handle further because it makes the handle look so lovely :)

One thing that drew me to the wax n feed is that it's flammable.. Ever hear of the vasoline cotton balls for tinder/fire starting? This stuff blows it out of the water. I like to have things around that are dual purpose so if I end up putting a small bit of this in my BOB it serves multiple roles. Also, it made the handle have a nice smooth finish but I don't think it's gonna fly out of my hands. My plan is to coat it one or 2 more times and then go with the hockey tape to ensure this though. It has carnouba wax in it just like the wax they use on surfboards so I was just sort of hoping that would help lol

The axe is absolutely beautiful though.. Fit and finish is about as perfect as I could ask for especially for such a rough tool. The bit is SUPER close to being dead on when it comes to alignment with the handle, maybe 12:05 instead of sitting at 12 o'clock from the handle. The grain is super tight and in, basically, perfect alignment with the bit. The haft is tight with absolutely no gaps that I can see and no play in the head. And it came sharp, not shaving sharp, but sharp enough to cut my thumb while I was messing with it last night. The sheath is really nice but I'm going to see if I can find something that doesn't require me to drop the axe in from the top.. I also put a coat of the fee-n-wax on and in that hoping it'll act as a waterproofing of sorts, if not I have silicon spray that I use for my work boots. Overall I'm happy and thanks for the advice fellas. Guess this means I'm gonna have to get the bigger velvicut soon :eek:
 
You should go swing it a bit, before you do the hockey tape. The great thing about BLO is the grip, slick enough to let your hands slide, but tighten up your hand and no slip. I've never tried your wax n' feed, but if it's too grippy it can cause blisters.
 
Finally worked it out a bit. Splits like a monster. Handles extremely well. No sign of the handle loosening or anything like that. Love this axe. Buying the American felling version of the velvicut next
 
Square_peg said:
I'm so glad that there's still an American maker of premium axes.
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That's why I went with council over one of the Swedish varieties. Wanted something made in the US for once. It's definitely worth the money, the same amount I'd spend on a Swedish one anyway. So next is the big boy version of the velvicut and if this Hudson Bay is an indicator or what count tool produces ill stick with them forever!
 
I want one of these so bad. it just looks awesome. I used to live in live oak, post country (North Texas). Now I live in the high desert of New Mexico. The yuccas and ocotillo are liberally taller than the mesquite bushes out here. I will still find a way to justify buying one!
 
biglapdog said:
I want one of these so bad. it just looks awesome. I used to live in live oak, post country (North Texas). Now I live in the high desert of New Mexico. The yuccas and ocotillo are liberally taller than the mesquite bushes out here. I will still find a way to justify buying one!
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Trust me its worth it.. Buy one and if you don't like it I promise I'll take it off your hands :D
 
ManOfSteel89 said:
Trust me its worth it.. Buy one and if you don't like it I promise I'll take it off your hands :D
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I was at Smoky Mountain Knife Works this weekend and they were sold out of the Hudson Bay Velvicut. When I was there a couple of months ago they had four in stock and I felt good knowing that there are some people appreciating and purchasing high quality axes made here in the States. I should also mention that I examined the four Velvicuts thoroughly on my previous visit and was impressed with the quality. The heads were shaped/ polished/ sharpened nicely and all of the axes were hafted well with superb quality handles. I like the handle Council supplies with the Velvicut so much I ordered two replacement handles from Council just to have on hand. This isn't the standard Hudson Bay replacement handle listed on their web site but I called Council and spoke with a very nice lady named Margo who fixed me up and I had the handles in a couple of days.

Actually the Velvicut isn't a bad deal if wanting a high quality Hudson Bay style axe.....especially considering the prices Norlund, Collins, etc. Hudson Bay axe heads are bringing on the auction sites. The Norlund axe heads if in decent shape are regularly going for around 50.00-60.00. I've got about seven Hudson Bay Axes that I need to post pictures of sometime. I like the traditional Norlund and Collins style but also like the Plumb and Snow and Nealley versions which are about 1/2 inch deeper in the eye area which equates to more head/handle contact. The LLBean Hudson Bay style heads which were made by Snow and Nealley are also good being particularly good splitters with their wedge shaped heads.

In the Smoky Mountain Knife Works store the Council Velvicuts are displayed on the wall between the Wetterlings and Gransfors Bruks which is appropriate considering the quality of the Velvicut line. Like some of the posters above I think there may be a full sized Velvicut coming my way in the future.

Steve
 
ManOfSteel89 said:
Hey lovetohaft.. If you ever get sick of one of those 7 let me know I love the Hudson Bay pattern :D
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I think there are a lot of us that love the Hudson Bay pattern, even the small Hudson Bay pattern hatchets. I already have a couple of the small Norlund hatchets but it's hard to believe what they're selling for lately. Nice little Norlund Hudson Bay pattern hatchet on ebay right now that's already at 160.00 and climbing. This style really is getting popular lately, glad I bought mine before they became so popular.

Steve
 
As noted, Hudson Bay's are beautiful, functional axes but if you want to work them hard, you'll be replacing handles quite a bit. Just not enough metal to wood contact compared with other patterns.
 
I collect Hudson bays and like them a lot. Their purpose was a light axe for camping, canoeing, backpacking etc. Being able to get a hand up behind the bit for carving tent stakes and other camp items is also a nice part of the design. The handles do break easy though, just look at the number of hudson bay heads that show up on ebay.
 
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